Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1447

 AREA AND POPULATION

1825

it informs the Government of its opinion on all questions submitted to it. It examines the budget and all proposed administrative laws, but it cannot initiate legislation and the Government is not obliged to act on its advice. Of its members, 13 residing in Cairo receive an allowance of lOOZ. a year for carriage expenses, and 17, having their residences in provincial towns, receive allowances varying between 285Z. to 31 6Z. a year for residential expenses in Cairo. The General Assembly, which consists of the members of the Legislative Council with the addition of the 6 ministers and 46 members popularly elected, has no legislative functions, but no new direct personal or land tax can be imyjosed, and no public loan can be contracted, without its consent. It has to be summoned at least once every two years. The members, when convoked, receive an allowance of II. a day, with raihvay expenses. The Council of Ministers, with the Khedive, is the ultimate legislative authority. Since 1887 an Ottoman High Commissioner has resided in Cairo. The Provincial Councils have been reorganised, and in 1910 were endowed with the powers of applying bye-laws, authorising public-markets, fixing the number and pay of ghaffirs (village watchmen), authorising the creation of ezbehs (hamlets), and they are created local authorities in con- nection with elementary vernacular education and trade schools. They consist of two elected representatives from each Markaz. The Mudir is the ex-oflficio President of the Council.

Egypt Proper is administratively divided into 5 governorships (mohafzas) of principal towns, and 14 mudirias or provinces, subdivided into districts or Markaz. In 1890 tlie Powers consented to a decree constituting a Munici])ality in Alexandria, with power to impose local taxes. ^

In thirteen towns (Mansoura, Medinet el Fayum, Tanta, Zagazig, Da- manhour, Beni-Suef, Mahala el Rubra, Minia, Mit Ghamr, Zifta, Kafr el Zayat, Hebonau, and Port Said) Mixed Commissions have been formed with power to impose taxes on residents who have given an express consent to be taxed for municipal purposes.

In 30 other towns a third class of town council (Local Commissions) exists, but there is no power to impose local taxes, the revenue being derived from grants from the central Government and receipts from water supply, slaughter houses, &c.

Governorships. Mudirias.

1. Cairo. Lower Egypt : — Upper Egypt : —

2. Alexandria.

3. Suez Canal (Port Said. —

Ismailia).

4. Suez.

5. Damietta.

Sinai and El-Aiish (administered by the War Office).

A new district of Behera Province has been established at Marsa Matruh on the coast, near the Tripoli frontier, where increased port-accommodation has been provided.

Area and Population.

The total area of Egypt proper, including the Oases in the Libyan Desert, the region between the Nile and the Red Sea, and El-Arish in Syria, but excluding the Sudan, is about 400,000 square miles ; but the cultivated 1 In Egypt uo foreigner can be taxed without the consent of his Government.

1.

Qaliubia.

1.

Giza.

2.

Menufia.

2.

Minia.

3.

Gharbia.

3.

Beni-Suef.

4.

Sharqia.

4.

Fayum.

5.

Daqahlia.

5.

Assiut.

6.

Behera.

6.

Girga.

7.

Qena.

8.

Aswan.