The Democratic advocate., 1888-06-09

Few people can successfully ueuy euo pen-
eft Egypt is deriving from the English
control. For the first time in ages the
'fellah" or producer in this land gets re-
ceipt for his annual tax payments, and he
seems to be correspondingly happy and in
dustrious over it. Formerly taxes were
wrung from him as long as his money and
worldly goods held out-often with the lash
and as often as two and three times in
the year. One sees great quantities OF
cotton on the wharves, and much evidence
of large trade in Alexandria, while from
the ruins of the old city is rising vast,
and in many parts elegant, metropolis.
Alexandra promises to be again great
city, and in the building activity one is re-
minded of a growing Western city in our
own country 1t is now estimated that the
population is 25O,O0O, and plans for the
entire building of several new sections of
the city are in progress. The English gar
rison are rarely seen, though they have two
large buildings in the heart of the city, and
occupy commanding fortiGcation in the
old citadel, near the railway station, besides
an encampment few miles out, near the
remains of the Khedive's unfinished sum-
mer palace Without going into the ques-
ton, one becomes impressed with the fact
of the solid benefits of English control
During visit to Egypt in 1881, formed
some idea of the order of things and the
management of affairs then, and, coming
now again, there seems 10 be change for
the better, though l should hesitate to
state why. Notwithstanding feeling of
insecurity, which is quite general, the
workers in the country are probably gaining
a better spirit, there is more production,
more industry, and less fear of summary
and brutal official and military class In
government
There is now prevailing at Cairo form
of fever, of malarial type, sometimes with
a continuous or typhoid tendency engraft-
ed on it, in all probability due to the ex-
cessive height and overflow of the Nile,
and consequent stagnant pools OF water,
decaying vegetable matter, and the forma-
tion of specific miasms The mortality Is
reported as very low. The disease IS, how
ever, very general, and will in all hkeh-
hood unfavorably influence the coming
season for tourists, as strangers to the
country seem to be especially prone to ex-
perience an attack. In some cases symp-
tons of joint involvement and deep-seated
pains are noted, and hence unusual reports
of dengue and "bfeakbope fever are In cir
culation, but there is an absence of the
cbronicitv and serious sequele usually
attendant on dengue.
In the older and strictly native portions
of Alexandria the old order of things still
obtains, and one winds through miserably
kept streets, wooden bazaars, by heaps OF
garbage and refuse, and other annoying
nuisances made more potent by the heat.
As usual in the East, the Jews seem to
have the bulk of the trade, and the money
to do il with, but there is wonderfully
mixed population to be found in all man
ner of trades and occupations, and the
country undoubtedly nov contains great
number of rene.;ades and adventures ffop
Europe-men and women with no good
behind them. In many sections there are
blocks upon blocks of the poorest novels
and wooden structures serving as shops,
cafes, workshops and dwellings, and inhab-
tied by motley crowd of Egyptians, ne
proes. Armenians Jews and low Europeans.
There did not appear to be many unem-
ployed people, and was assured that there
was work to be had by everybody desiring
it-coarse labor on the many new buildings
in course of construction. One, however,
sees here as else where considerable num-
ber of the frock-coated gentry here wear
ing the fez, J always fairly wellfed and dress
ed, idle. vicious, engaged in small peddhng,
or acting as quondam guides when subsls-
tence becomes precarious. They aeeost
one everywhere and are of all countries
and languages. There are two large and
influential clubs in Alexandria, several
frst-class hotels, an exchange, many ele-
CANT shops and stores, and at evening quite
a display of pretentious equipages. Hotel
rates are higher than in Europe, and tirst-
class accommodation, without any extras,
cannot be obtained under four dollars per
day.
After October the climate OF Egypt is
not surpassed 1OT uhunSso anu S1a'y
anywhere, and many lives are prolonged
for the winters spent here. In some re-
spects the Messrs. Cook control much OF
the country's prosperity, and the number
of people moved about by them is amazing.
When one considers their paraphernalia,
servants, and far-reaching influences gener-
ally, Egypt in winter without Cook would
be aHamlet' without the titler6le. One
only requires long purse to do Egypt
thoroughly and particularly; there is no
trouble or annoyance about it. The ma
tives are long-suffering, patient, and gen
erally honest lot, and thievery and rascal
ity occur, if at all, in contact with the
superior being from abroad. l have met
with instances of rigid honesty and ortho-
doxy among the natives, both Mahome-
tans and Gopts, and going about among
them is both safe and agreeable. Should
some of the projected schemes for more
general irrigation come to successful con-
clusion, the area of arabic and valuable
land will be increased at least million
acres-by several millions, as some assert;
This land is all in the Nile delta, easy OF
ccess, and correspondingly valuable.