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 456 EGYPT superstitious reverence. Pigeons and various kinds of poultry are very abundant. The ostrich is found in the deserts. Among the reptiles are the cerastes and asp (nay a haye), both deadly poisonous. Fishes abound in the Nile and in the lakes, and furnish a common and favorite article of food. Locusts occasionally invade the country and commit great ravages. The cli- mate of Upper Egypt differs from that of Lower Egypt, which has occasionally considerable rain, while the former is an almost totally rain- less district. The average temperature of Lower Egypt ranges between 80 and 90 in summer and 50 and 60 in winter, and that of Upper Egypt between 90 and 100 in summer and 60 and 70 in winter. The most common diseases are dysentery, liver com- plaints, and ophthalmia, the last being very prevalent. The plague was formerly frequent and virulent, but owing to the sanitary precau- tions of the government it has not made its appearance since 1843. One of the most dis- agreeable features of the climate is the kham- sin, a hot wind from the desert which prevails for 50 days, beginning generally about May 2, and has a peculiarly oppressive and unhealthy effect. In 1871 the country was divided into 13 provinces, 7 of which belong to Lower Egypt and 6 to Upper Egypt, Middle Egypt being at present only a geographical abstraction. The provinces of Lower Egypt E. of the Nile are : Kaliubieh, capital Kalioob ; Sharkieh, capital Zagazig ; Dakalieh, capital Mansoorah ; in the Delta : Menoofieh, capital Menoof ; Gar- bieh, capital Tanta ; W. of the Nile : Beha- reh, capital Damanoor; Gizeh, capital Gizeh. The provinces of Upper Egypt, or Said, are Beni-Sooef, Minieh, Sioot, Girgeh, Kenneh, and Esne ; they are named after their capital ; cities, with the exception of Girgeh, of which | Sohag is the capital. To these has recently ! been added the province of the Isthmus, cap- i ital Ismailia. The cities of Cairo, Alexandria, i Suez, Port Said, Damietta, Rosetta, and Kos- seir are exempt from the provincial administra- tion and placed under governors of 'their own. Special governors were also appointed in 1865 at Massowah and Sooakin on the Red sea, who are dependent on the governor general of the southern provinces (residing in Khartoom), but are authorized to report directly to Cairo all im- portant matters concerning the Red sea, Sub- ordinate to the governor of a province (mudir) are the heads of districts (Icosafs) and cantons (nasirs) ; the heads of single localities bear the title sheikh el-leled, which is also that of the magistrates of the wards of larger cities. An- ciently, under its native rulers and their Per- sian, Greek, and Roman successors, the country was divided into districts called nomes, varying in number at different eras from 36 to 56 or 58. A government census in 1866 officially stated the number of inhabitants at 4,848,529. In March, 1871, the population of Egypt proper amounted, according to Regny, to 5,115,367 natives and 88,038 foreigners; total, 5,203 405 the foreign population consisting of 34,000 Greeks, 24,000 Italians, 17,000 Frenchmen, 6,500 Austrians and Germans, and 6,000 Englishmen. "With the exception of 600,000 Christians, namely, 350,000 Copts and 250,- 000 Franks, the inhabitants are all Moham- medans. They call themselves Arabs, though they are probably in great part descended from the ancient Egyptians. They are hand- some, well made, and courteous. In north- ern Egypt they are of a yellowish complex- ion, growing darker toward the south, until the hue becomes a deep bronze. Mr. Lane speaks highly of their mental capacity, and gives them credit for uncommon quickness of apprehension and readiness of wit. They are highly religious, and are generally honest, cheerful, humane, and hospitable. The Arabs of pure blood belonging to Egypt are chiefly Modern Egyptians. Bedouins who dwell in tents in the desert, and number about 400,000. The native Chris- tians, termed Copts, are the recognized descen- dants of the ancient inhabitants. They are generally employed as clerks and accountants in government and mercantile offices. Be- sides these there are about 20,000 Turks, the ruling class, and Armenians, Berbers or Nu- bians, and Jews. Agriculture is the chief pur- suit, and furnishes all the staples of export. The exports of Egypt amounted in 1861 to $19,465,000 ; in 1865 to $87,679,000; in 1867 to $51,950,000; in 1869 to $55,969,312 ; in 1871 to about $52,000,000. The exceptional amount in 1865 was altogether due to the English de- mand for cotton, which in that year was ex- ported from Egypt to the value of $77,215,000, while in 1867 it fell to $33,000,000, and in 1868 to $29,000,000. Next to cotton, the most valu- able article of export is wheat, which in 1868