The Egyptian campaigns, 1882 to 1885 Part 71

By these works, the design for which, in its present modified form, is due to Mr. W. Willc.o.c.ks, C.E., late of the Egyptian Irrigation Department, it is calculated that the failure of the cotton crop by reason of a low Nile will in future be avoided; 774,000 acres of land now imperfectly irrigated will receive perennial irrigation, other lands will get additional water, and 172,000 acres will be reclaimed from the desert.

The yearly increase to the wealth of the country is estimated at E.2,608,000, and the direct annual benefit to the State at E.378,400.

In addition to this it is reckoned that the sale of such of the reclaimed land as belongs to the Government will realize a sum of E.1,020,000 to the exchequer.[184]

Whilst dealing with prospective benefits, it is impossible to avoid some reference to the advantages to Egypt which may eventually arise from the opening up of the reconquered provinces of the Soudan to trade and commerce.

The future government of these vast regions was provided for by the Soudan Convention, made between the British and Egyptian Governments in January, 1899. Under this the British and Egyptian flags are to be used together, both on land and water, in the Soudan, and the supreme military and civil command is to be vested in an officer termed the Governor-General, nominated by Khedivial Decree, on the recommendation of the British Government. The Governor-General is alone to have power to make laws, and until otherwise provided the whole country will be under martial law.

The orderly administration of the country having been thus provided for, it only remains to wait and see the results. Though years may elapse before these realize the hopes formed, it is impossible not to believe that a territory which, under the most adverse circ.u.mstances, has produced such riches in the past, should not, under the present improved conditions, develop into a prosperous dependency of Egypt. Even should this not prove to be the case, the mere rescue of such a vast territory from barbarism will ever remain a triumph for the cause of civilization well worth the cost.

Whilst every one must recognize the beneficent work which has been accomplished in Egypt under England's guidance, there may be persons inclined to doubt whether it can be regarded as permanent. To this there is but one answer, viz., that England can never permit the country which she has rescued to drift back into a state of ruin and chaos. This may be thought to imply an indefinite prolongation of the Occupation. Such, however, does not of necessity follow. It may well be that the direction of Egyptian affairs will have to be left for some time in the hands of the Power under whose influence so much has been accomplished. Until the reforms effected have had time to consolidate, withdrawal would jeopardize the edifice so laboriously erected, and be the worst of calamities. But the progress which the country, under an enlightened ruler, is daily making, joined to the growing intelligence of the people, encourage the belief that the moment will arrive when England may declare her mission on the banks of the Nile at an end, and leave to a regenerated Egypt the control of her own destinies.

INDEX.

Abbas Pasha Hilmy, Prince (Khedive), page 497.

Abd-el-Al, 15, 17, 18, 184-5.

Abdel Kader Pasha, 210, 216, 233.

Abd-el-Kerim, 376-7.

Abdullah-el-Taais.h.i.+, see Khalifa.

Abu Hamid, battle of, 522-3.

Abu Klea, 340; battle of, 341-7; retreat to, 388; skirmish at, 389-90; evacuation, 341.

Abu Kru, see Gubat.

Adye, Gen. Sir John, 110, 132.

Afafit, 489; see Tokar.

Ahmed Arabi, see Arabi Pasha.

Ahmed Fedil, dervish leader, defeated, 593; killed, 595.

Ahmed Saha, 216.

Akasheh, action at, 509.

Al-ed-Din Pasha, 235, 239.

Alcester (Lord), see Seymour (Admiral).

Alexandria, wars.h.i.+ps sent to, 9, 35-6, 58, 60; riots, 44-60; bombardment, 60-75, 78, 90-4; forts, 67; European quarter burnt, 87, 97; outrages, 93, 97, 100, 102.

Ali Fehmi, 14, 17, 203, 208.

Ali Pasha Moubarek, 107, 109.

Alison, Gen. Sir A., 105, 114, 116, 117, 119, 120, 168, 174, 200.

Alleyne, Lieut.-Col., 394.

Amr-el-Makashef, 216, 233, 235, 237.

Anson (Lord), 316.

Arabi Dafalla (Emir), 591.

Arabi Pasha, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 32, 33, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 52, 57, 60, 88, 91, 99, 104, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 166, 183, 202-10.

Ardagh, Major, 111, 113.

Argin, battle of, 475-8.

Armour-clad train, 116, 187.

Army of Occupation, 199, 200, 230, 250, 450-9.

Ashburnham, Lieut.-Col., 172.

Aslam, Fort, 187.

Atbara, battle of the, 541-51.

Australian Infantry and Artillery in Souakim Expedition (1885), 410, 430, 432, 436.

Awad-el-Kerim, 217.

Azhar, El, 15, 109.

Baggaras, 213-14, 461-2, 472, 486, 509, 517.

Baker, Sir Samuel, 212, 243.

Baker, Gen. Val., 257-65.

Baring, Sir E. (Lord Cromer), 12, 232, 251-2, 357, 496, 501, 507, 590.

Barrow, Lieut.-Col., 284-5, 339.