The New York herald., 1921-09-17
The Egyptian Farmer.
Fall In Price Of Cotton May Turn
Feliah to Other Crops.
From ths Field.


We have received copy Of a little
periodical. the EGYPTIAN Journal, whici,
is mainly devoted to political questions
that do not concern the Field, but also
contains o descriptive article on the
fellaheen by Abu Eifotouh Pasha. who
ia a prominent landowner in Egypt ana
member Of the financial committee OF
advisers to the Egyptian official dele
cation now in this country. 1t Is a
short article. but throws good deal Of
Illumination on agricultural conditions
in Egypt.
In Egypt, II is pointed out. the word
feilaheen means not only farm laborers.
to whom 1t Is exclusively applied by
English writer's. but all classes Of agri-
Observation-Disclosures and tenant farm
crs as we'll as peasants. At the pres
ent time landowners who farm their
estates on their own account are far
from happy economically. Their posi-
ton improved greatly in 19i7-1e. when
cotton was booming. but the great re-
duction in the price Of cotton last year
affected them seriously. The reduction
| was much in excess Of tho decline In
their expenses, and their difficulties have
been further increased by the Govern
kantar---99 pounds of cotton. This tax
was fixed when the price Of cotton
was $l55, but when the time cainc TO
collect 1t the price had dropped to $25.
In some parts. where the quality of the
cotton was not good, the price was
found TO be insufficient to pay for gin
| ming and transport charges. Farmers
were only able 10 bear the heavy losses
because OF tho profits they had made
during previous years. Should the price
Of cotton continue to fall It Ia probable.
says Abu Elfotouh Pasha. that Egyp-
tian farmers will turn their attention
TO other forms OF cultivation.
The second class OF the farming COM
munity are the tenants. Those who
signed contracts before the boom years.
when prices were low, made n lot of
money, but those who entered into
agreements at the height of the boon,
hayo suffered severely. Their Losses
were so great that the Government IN
tervened and appointed committees with
power to settle the differences between
landlords and tenants. Tho third class,
the iaborors. are comparatively well OF
as a result OF the changed conditions.
Their wages were raised when prices
were high and have not come down In
proportion to the fall in prices. Some
OF them get daily wages averaging be-
! tween 1s. and Ss.. according to the ngri-
cultural season and tho districts In
\ which they work; for instance, wages
In Upper Egypt arc much lees than IN
Lower Egypt Others get from the
/ farmer. rent free. a plot OF land varying
In slze from one aero to three or four
acres, according 10 the fertility OF the
soil, and cultivate It instead OF receiving
n money payment for their services
Both methods OF payment work out
practically the same economically.
In Egypt tn. agricultural iaborer
usually lives on bread and vegetables.
He eats little meat. Eight shillinGs
worth of corn and SIX shlllngs worth
Of vegetables are enough to keep him
4 for month. He usually lives. rent free.
In cottage belonging to the landlord
or in cottage OF his own. cottage
costs about fs0 and there are harais
ever any TO let. Tho came clothes a'e
worn in winter as In summer. -Four se'.
labiehs--robeS--four shirts, four pairs o'
trousers and a cloak aud turean are
all the ordinary fellah needs 70 carry
him through the year. The cost OF SUI
a varcrobe is from, fio TO fi5. On the
whole. Abu Elfotouh Pasha est''nals' '''
the weekly expenses Of the single iarn
laborer az los. a week. In the case ~
= narr,ed man a similar sum should DC
allowed for his wife.