DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4995#0096
LEGTUBE ON EGYPT. 61
In case of danger from inundation or otherwise, it is
necessary that the authorities should have full power to
call for any labour they think proper.
Forced or regulated labour is therefore a necessity
to Egypt, but it may be safely assumed that in future
the old abuses will not be permitted to continue. As
regards the past there is too much reason to believe
that, provided taxes were paid into the Treasury to a
satisfactory amount, Governors were permitted to do
very much as they pleased, both as to cruelties in collect-
ing taxes and using forced labour for their own profit.
These things were admittedly shameful and scandalous
at the time, and cannot exist under an administration
pledged to England and France to reform abuses.
Slavery, as an incident of the patriarchal system, is Slavery.
of very ancient date in Egypt and the East, but it has
always been very different from the slavery of the
Southern States of America. Slavery, however, in any
form is now universally condemned, and the efforts for
its abolition will not cease until they have been suc-
cessful throughout the world. During my first visits to
Egypt I was anxious to see something of the working
of agricultural slavery. In Avalking through the fields
and seeing the labourers at work the slave cannot be
mistaken. His form, features, and colour are those of a
negro, and quite distinct from the Egyptian fellah. My
astonishment was great, however, to find him working
side by side with his master, with whom he was evi-
dently on familiar terms. This treatment is due to
In case of danger from inundation or otherwise, it is
necessary that the authorities should have full power to
call for any labour they think proper.
Forced or regulated labour is therefore a necessity
to Egypt, but it may be safely assumed that in future
the old abuses will not be permitted to continue. As
regards the past there is too much reason to believe
that, provided taxes were paid into the Treasury to a
satisfactory amount, Governors were permitted to do
very much as they pleased, both as to cruelties in collect-
ing taxes and using forced labour for their own profit.
These things were admittedly shameful and scandalous
at the time, and cannot exist under an administration
pledged to England and France to reform abuses.
Slavery, as an incident of the patriarchal system, is Slavery.
of very ancient date in Egypt and the East, but it has
always been very different from the slavery of the
Southern States of America. Slavery, however, in any
form is now universally condemned, and the efforts for
its abolition will not cease until they have been suc-
cessful throughout the world. During my first visits to
Egypt I was anxious to see something of the working
of agricultural slavery. In Avalking through the fields
and seeing the labourers at work the slave cannot be
mistaken. His form, features, and colour are those of a
negro, and quite distinct from the Egyptian fellah. My
astonishment was great, however, to find him working
side by side with his master, with whom he was evi-
dently on familiar terms. This treatment is due to