DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0290
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT G1ZEII.
241
would be to employ his despotic authority in preventing
fraud and oppression, and by a firm administration of jus-
tice to establish the foundation of all prosperity — namely,
security of person and of property. But the idea of self-
interest seems to actuate every arrangement. Instead
of holding out an incitement to agriculture, (in which,
after all, the real wealth and power of Egypt consist), the
Pacha, according to a custom, which has long prevailed in
this unfortunate country, has taken possession of the
land, and carries on the cultivation by forced labour. A
great proportion of produce and of cattle of every descrip-
tion, is periodically taken from the villages; and, besides
the usual duties, taxes are levied upon the palm trees and
the sakias — imposts, which inflict great privations upon
the people, and directly tend to limit cultivation. With the
same interested view monopolies of every kind are esta-
blished ; the sale even of the necessaries of life is regu-
lated by the Pacha, and the prices vary from time to time
as appears most likely to suit his immediate speculations.
When to these measures are added the oppression of the
Sheiks, and of the other subordinate officers — the spolia-
tion arising from the farming of the taxes — and the rapa-
city that any appearance of wealth excites — together with
the actual poverty occasioned by commercial monopolies
and by legal enactments, that have the effect of sumptuary
laws — it is not surprising that provisions have risen con-
siderably in price; that corn is imported for home con-
sumption ; and that the people have acquired such habits
of hopeless and dejected indolence, that the common opera-
tions of life can scarcely be carried on without coercion,
and the dread of corporal punishment. In addition to
these evils frequent conscriptions for the military services,
VOL. I. H
241
would be to employ his despotic authority in preventing
fraud and oppression, and by a firm administration of jus-
tice to establish the foundation of all prosperity — namely,
security of person and of property. But the idea of self-
interest seems to actuate every arrangement. Instead
of holding out an incitement to agriculture, (in which,
after all, the real wealth and power of Egypt consist), the
Pacha, according to a custom, which has long prevailed in
this unfortunate country, has taken possession of the
land, and carries on the cultivation by forced labour. A
great proportion of produce and of cattle of every descrip-
tion, is periodically taken from the villages; and, besides
the usual duties, taxes are levied upon the palm trees and
the sakias — imposts, which inflict great privations upon
the people, and directly tend to limit cultivation. With the
same interested view monopolies of every kind are esta-
blished ; the sale even of the necessaries of life is regu-
lated by the Pacha, and the prices vary from time to time
as appears most likely to suit his immediate speculations.
When to these measures are added the oppression of the
Sheiks, and of the other subordinate officers — the spolia-
tion arising from the farming of the taxes — and the rapa-
city that any appearance of wealth excites — together with
the actual poverty occasioned by commercial monopolies
and by legal enactments, that have the effect of sumptuary
laws — it is not surprising that provisions have risen con-
siderably in price; that corn is imported for home con-
sumption ; and that the people have acquired such habits
of hopeless and dejected indolence, that the common opera-
tions of life can scarcely be carried on without coercion,
and the dread of corporal punishment. In addition to
these evils frequent conscriptions for the military services,
VOL. I. H