62 



canals and public works, a head physician, and a supreme judge, who 

 is a representative of the Mohannnedan Church and is the authorit}" on 

 religious affairs. Some of the larger towns have independent govern- 

 ments similar to that of the provinces. Each province is divided into 

 districts, over each of which there is a chief officer who is at all times 

 under the orders of the governor of the province. Under these dis- 

 trict officers come the sheiks, who are mavors or local maoistrates. 

 The larger towns are also divided into precincts, each of which has its 

 magistrate. 



In theor}^ the government of Egypt is one of the most complicated 

 in the world; in practice it is comparative!}^ simple. The British min- 

 ister plenipotentiai-y and his advisers are the real government. Native 

 Egvptian officers have certain duties, but the English have all the 

 authority. The theoretical heads of the government are the Sultan 

 of Turkey, represented by the khedive; a number of foreign nations, 

 including Great Britain; while tlie third and most important is Great 

 Britain alone. The government therefore has three heads, only one 

 of which is authoritative. Apparently the khedive is an absolute 

 monarch; in reality he has no authorit}' except such influence as the 

 locial representative of the Mohammedan Church in a Mohammedan 

 country would naturally have. Then again, Egypt is a dependency of 

 Turkey and pa3^s §2,262,000 annually in tribute to Turkey", receiving 

 nothing in return. While the Sultan has no political influence in 

 Egypt, he is at the head of the INlohanunedan Church. The ffnances 

 of Egypt are largely controlled l^y a conmiission made up of represen- 

 tatives from foreign countries. Foreign judges sit in the mixed tri- 

 bunals. Criminal suits against foreigners are tried in consular courts 

 of the nationality of the accused, or he is returned to his own country 

 and tried by a competent court there. 



A decree of the khedive has no weight unless sanctioned l)y the 

 British minister; neither can he veto a measure against the advice of 

 that official. Before any measure can become a law it is prepared in 

 the shape of a decree by one of the seven ministers. The minister of 

 the interior is the prime minister and president of the council of min- 

 isters. Under him are the minister of public works, the minister of 

 public instruction, the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of 

 finance, the minister of justice, and the minister of war and marine. 

 These ministers are native Egyptians, but the undersecretaries are 

 British and control the policy of each department. These under- 

 secretaries are advised by the British minister, and in this way his 

 influence is felt through every department of the government. After 

 a decree has been prepared by one of the ministers it is submitted to 

 the council of ministers and the British financial adviser, or his dele- 

 gate, who has a right to attend the meetings of the council. Any measure 

 which provides for a change in the financial affairs of the government 



