DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0040
40 CHARGES FOR CONVEYANCE.
Egypt. But I was led to inquire, why these exorbi-
tant charges 1 All kinds of labor are performed cheap
by the natives, and provisions of every kind, so far as
I was informed, bought of them at low prices. The
obvious fact is, that individual monopoly is at the bot-
tom of this evil. Certain European managers at Al-
exandria and Cairo are doubtless amassing wealth by ,
draining from travelers all the money they can get
by any thing like plausible pretences. An English or
American traveler comes to Alexandria, and is una-
ble to make contracts or do business with the natives.
Thus situated, he may be compelled to either stop
where he is, or apply -to an English agency to be sent
up the Nile. For this he is sure to pay a round price.
He is then given over to a few natives, with a native
guide who can speak a little English. The agency
pays the natives very cheaply to do this business^
pockets the avails—and leaves the traveler to get
along as well as he can; while the natives will sponge
out of him bucJtsheesh every once in a while, or there
is no getting forward. When shall these evils be re-
medied, and travelers have justice done them in
Egypt X
For the sum paid at the India Agency Office, we
were not only to be conveyed to Cairo, but an ample
supply of good provisions was to be furnished us, and
a good cook to prepare our meals. I was also to have
■ a good matrass and covering provided me. All this
was promised most faithfully. On the 10th of De-
cember, toward evening, we were ready to start for
our boat on the Mahmoudieh canal, through which we
must be conveyed as far as Atfe on the Nile. Our
Egypt. But I was led to inquire, why these exorbi-
tant charges 1 All kinds of labor are performed cheap
by the natives, and provisions of every kind, so far as
I was informed, bought of them at low prices. The
obvious fact is, that individual monopoly is at the bot-
tom of this evil. Certain European managers at Al-
exandria and Cairo are doubtless amassing wealth by ,
draining from travelers all the money they can get
by any thing like plausible pretences. An English or
American traveler comes to Alexandria, and is una-
ble to make contracts or do business with the natives.
Thus situated, he may be compelled to either stop
where he is, or apply -to an English agency to be sent
up the Nile. For this he is sure to pay a round price.
He is then given over to a few natives, with a native
guide who can speak a little English. The agency
pays the natives very cheaply to do this business^
pockets the avails—and leaves the traveler to get
along as well as he can; while the natives will sponge
out of him bucJtsheesh every once in a while, or there
is no getting forward. When shall these evils be re-
medied, and travelers have justice done them in
Egypt X
For the sum paid at the India Agency Office, we
were not only to be conveyed to Cairo, but an ample
supply of good provisions was to be furnished us, and
a good cook to prepare our meals. I was also to have
■ a good matrass and covering provided me. All this
was promised most faithfully. On the 10th of De-
cember, toward evening, we were ready to start for
our boat on the Mahmoudieh canal, through which we
must be conveyed as far as Atfe on the Nile. Our