Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1470

 1114

TURKEY AND TRIBUTARY STATES

-EGYPT

Production and Industry.

The total area, land and water, of Egypt is a])out 8,000,000 feddans (1 feddan=^l-03 acre), and of this 5,022,000 was cultivated in 1891. Of the total area cultivated, nearly three-fourths, called Kliaraji lands, are, theoreti- call)'-, held in life tenancy, the State being the ultimate proprietor. The tax (in reality rent) on these lands is une(pially imposed, Init averages about 22 sh. per feddan. Other lands, nearly one-fourth of the whole are called Usimri, or tithe-paying. These lands, otherwise called "privileged," were originally granted in fee and are subject to an imjiost or quit-rent averaging about 7 sh. ]»er feddan. The JFakf lands, originally assigned to mosques for •religious or charita])le purposes, are let by the mosques at moderate rent ; the lease may descend to heirs or be sold, but, on failure of successors, it passes again to the mosque to be again let. In addition to tax or rent, holders of land are subject to charges of about 4 sh. ]ier feddan for the mateiials necessary for keeping up the irrigation system, andnlthough i\\Q corvee, or forced laboui', has for other purposes been aliolished, the inliabitants are still called out to guard or repair the Xile lianks in flood Xm\o, and are also liable in any sudden emergency. The agricultural population (Fellaheen) forms about 61 per cent. of the whole. A large proportion of thetn arc small land-holders with about .50 feddans, while others, almost or altogether landless, are laliourers, the relation between the employers and the employed being mostly hereditary. A considerable proportion of the land is under mortgage. The following table shows, for 1894, the number of land-holders, the areas mortgaged, and the amount of the debt. Besides the debt here stated there is a ceitain amount unregistered, due notably by small proprietors : —

Extent of lidldiiigs.

Number of

Totals of

Areas niuloi-

Amount of

lanclholdei's.

Areas.

mortgage.

de]»t.

Feildaiis.

Feddans.

£E.

T) fi'ddans and undei'

513,080

933,700

21,400

573,300

5-10 feddans.

75,130

552,700

16,000

392.200

10-20 ,, . ..

39,620

5(!0,30

20,400

407,700

20-30 ,, . ..

13,140

326,100

19,600

307,200

30 50 ,, . ..

8,980

347,800

25,900

409,900


 * Over 50 ,,

i

11,430

2,000,700

292,300

5,233,000

t

1 Total

661,380

4,721,300

395,600

7,323,300

The Egyptian agricultuial year includes three seasons or crops. The leading winter crops, sown in Novemlier and harvested in May and June, are cereal produce of all kinds ; the ]»rincipal summer crops, sown in March and harvested in Octo))er and November, are cotton, sugai', and rice ; the autumn crops, sown in July and gathered in Sejjtemlwr and October, are rice, sorgho (a sort of maize), and vegetaltles generally. In Lower Egypt where perennial irrigation is effected by means of a network of canals tap[»ing the Nile and traversing the Delta in every direction, the chief crops are cotton, sugar-cane, rice, Indian corn, wheat, barley, clover, cucumber ; in Upper Egypt where