New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-11
ENGLISH RULE IN EGYPT.
A TALK WITH AN AMERICAN TRAVELLER
JEREMIAH LYNCH TELLS OF THE HEAVY TAX
ALTON NEEDED TO PAY INTEREST on THE
soNDs-THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM: a
HIS CHAT WITH STANLEY.

BONDs-THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM a
HIS CHAT WITH STANLEY.
Few II any other Americans have made as thoroun
! a study OF Egypt and the Egyptian question has
jeremiah Lynch, expresident Of the San Francisco
Stock Exchange and Of the Geographical Society," who
returned to this country few days ago after spending
the autumn and the winter in the Land Of the Nile,
| He has written book entitled Egyptian Sketches
embodying the result Of his observations and studies
and giving picture Of Egypt and of Oriental customs
which has been published in London by Edward Ar
mold of Warwick Square, and which will be issued this
week by a well-knOwn firm in this city.
"Nly opportunity to study the natives and learn
their sentiments and manner Of thinking said Mr.
Lynch TO a Tribune reporter in the course Of CONVEX
sation on Egypt, unusually good. took house
in the native quarter Of Cairo hired native servants
and mingled freely with all classes of people Cairo
is becoming a fashionable resort for Europeans and
Americans Last the influenza drove multitudes
to the city, and the hotels along the Nile crowded
| with people. II Is a charming place for winter
sojourn, and is certainly as free from diseases Of
! contagious nature any part Of Europe There 10
now by the way only American In the service Of
Egypt. That is Mason Bey, Of Virginia, formerly "a
officer In the Confederate Army.
81 greatly indebted to Eugene Schuyler, rep
rcscntative in Egypt added Mr.. Lynch, "who gave
! me every aid in his power during my stay. Mr..
I
various capacities for fifteen years. lie is the best
equipped man America has for service in the East
understanding Russian, Turkish and Arabic In add
ton to the European languages. He has secured for
Americans in Egypt and the Levant that consideration
10 which they entitled but whch,,I regret to say
former consuls failed TO secure.
AMERICAN CoNsULs IN THE EAST
"The American consuls in the Orient pnder
paid set OF men, Their colleagues Of the European
| powers receive much higher salaries. Therefore the
American representatives suffer by comparison. Most
Of them spend more than their salary in order to sus
tain the honor Of the Nation. II Civil Service rules
exist they shoud govern diplomatic service. After
consul has acquired the language and customs Of the
place which he has been sent, he should not be
moved for political reasons. our consular and dplo-
matte service should be reformed.
Sc In company with Mr.. schuyler continued Mr.
Lynch -" went up the Nile as far as lhepes, having
an excellent chance to see how the people iNe' mo"
the country is governed, and what the natives now
think Of the English rule.
There is only answer TO the last-named ques
ton the native Egyptians DO not want the English.
Neither do they wish anybody else. They are in favor
Of home rule Egypt for the Egyptians Is the cry
Of the urban population at least But the Egyptians.
with the lympahtc temperament OF the oriental nave
no sense Of responsibility They are almost incapable
Of reasoning upon matters connected WIN inc WIZ
being Of nations They simply have the idea that II
I
THE FEELING TOWARD THE ENGLISH
~But.7 added Mr. Lynch, "they could not get along
without foreign aid They do not look far enough into
the future They remember the days Of lsma Pacha'
however, which, 10 them, was AN IDEAL peFlod' DUO
the English sway is fast and firm The upper classes,
the army and the common people all want the oh
dolce far nente manner Of lfe The action Oh inc
English In displacIng native useless anu CORFU"
officials by young Enghmen causes. naturally, soma
an however,
tends to the feaheen peasantry. They, In fact 90
not care All they wish IS 10 be let alone IheF
lot however, is not enviable one. Ihey laDof
almost necessarily and pay exoroitant taxes
They never change however, no matter what nap
pens in tho country. They are the same to-day
| as their ancestors. three thousand years ago.
The presence Of tho English people IN Esypt AT.
Lynch continued had had effect upon the position
of women there. The Egyptian women are treateh
as 50 many cattle yet srng 10 say, they Gu mol Sc
10 be disconnected with their lot This submission "S
due TO longestabshed usage and the total ignorah'e
Of the respect paid to women In Christian countries.
They conld be married or divorced at the will OF the
husband without rhyme reason. lie often took
advantage of this privilege also The Koran allowed
him to have four wives but he could always vary
them, If he desired.
THE TAXATION HEAVY
Regarding the effect Of the English rule upon the
felaheen Mr.. Lynch said: ten million pounds Is
raised every year. half OF which goes TO pay tue
intee,t on bonds That is really more than ought to
be levied in country Of only five million acres ana
six million people. In bad years. which como
frequently in Egypt this bears heavily upon tho
feahcen. A total failure OF the crops. however. Is
almost impossible about the Delta. owinS 10 the system
oystcm has not been extended 10 Upper Egypt how
ever and when the Nile i either too low or t2
to pay G his taxes when the crop falls Egypt Nigh;
The taxes were not so excessive and the English had
| the money 10 better the canal system .., -.
talents Of the Ehediye. lie eour t,ISs am, and
elegant gentleman lie said 6gt ne d a n asoDss
for which he is TO be commended lie Is an orthodox
Mussulman. and although he @ 1he respect .S a. us
ton His father once said Of him nm; "a, no
as no heart and n9 . Sent ne once beyend HIM
In wcetinr Arab Pacha and the English. he had not
force enough 10 TSS The ruler Of Esypt to day is
| in fact. not the Khedve, but Sir Evelyn Barring Hls
nsnence Is good without doubt and he Is A. popular
anon. the natives it is possible for foreigner to
be-
| THE BONpHOLDFRS GET EVERY THING.
When asked whether he could suggest any way
ont Of the present financial difficulty in Egypt, Mr.
| Lynch answered. "No. l cannot say that ! can.
II Is easy IL see however. that far too much money
| 4, forced from the people The English raise
| 100000 900 sterling from 25o,ooO.00o people IN
India and in Egypt they raise El0oooooo from about
5000 900 people. about five times a. much In pro
portion A in India To what is this due IL Is due
| Ia the great amount Of money that has to be PAID
to the bondhoders and not to the extravaganee 81
| the administration. DO not forget that the bond
holders did not give more than half OF the par value
of the bonds. But a fraction OF that, too, was eA
pended upon the works. While, I'm my opinion, we
English rule Is undoubtedly beneficial, IL Is soADG
to the whole civilized world 10 make the poor people
! pay interest on these bonds The English me-"
| Ice able 10 help IL, but il looks really a.
| did not go there TO better the condition Of E}
its inhabitants but for the benefit of the bOndhOatis
| alone.
The bonds have changed hands frequently that
il would be unfair. however, repudiate them. The
conversion, which the French opposing. will eject
a saving OF about 100 900. But that is mere mite
| compared with the whole. In fact. the only relief
| to the felaheen which seems possible 10 me IL
the extension OF the system of ir cation, which, be-
levc is now under serious consideration. Water 10
| thers i'm plenty. If IL ne distributed on tho
Delta i've crops are raised every two years while in