67 



forced to dispose of their land, and much of this is now included in the 

 large estates. 



Under Ismail largo tracts Avere contiscatcd by the government. 

 About a tifth of the agricultural area of Kg vpt is either directh' or 

 indirectly under the control of the state at the present time. Some- 

 thing- over 500,000 acres have been in charge of the Daira Sanieh, 

 which company has a contract with the government that stipulates 

 that the land shall ]>ring- a tixed price when disposed of. About 96 

 per cent of the tillat)lc land in this area is rented in small parcels to 

 the peasantry. They pay on an average aljout ^'Jo per acre per year 

 in rentals. The land remaining unsold in 190.5 reverts to the govern- 

 ment. The land sold prior to that date goes largely to the small 

 farmer, and whatever profit is made recompenses the company for its 

 bringing the land under irrigation and placing it on the market. 

 In this way a large area will return again to the fellaheen. About 

 4*40, 000 .acres are still included in the domains of the state. One hun- 

 dred thousand acres of this land are located in Tpper Egypt and the 

 remainder in Lower P^gypt. Probably so.ooo acres of this land will 

 never be cultivated. *» 



While Ismail Pasha intlicted many wrongs upon Egypt, one of his 

 acts has resulted in benotit to the people. He was indirectly responsible 

 for establi;^hing the first titles to farming land in P>gypt. He taxed 

 the people to the limit, borrowed money with whatever credit he 

 had, and without credit when this was exhausted. In an attempt 

 to secure ready money he finally issued a decree providing that all 

 persons who paid their taxes six 3'ears in advance would be given 

 permanent titles to their land. Those who could afi'ord to do so 

 took advantage of this otier, and the titles thus obtained have since 

 been recognized. The law was repealed in 18S0, however, because it 

 was not as good a financial measure as it had pnjmised to be. 



IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE LAWS. 



When the English engineers first undertook a study of Egyptian 

 irrigation it was found that the law of Egypt was fragmentary and it 

 was difficult for them to tell what provisions were in force. As early 

 as December, 1885, the public works ministry issued regulations 

 defining the respective powers of the governors of provinces and the 

 inspectors of irrigation. These regulations (see p. S3) are still in 

 force and are among the first reforms in irrigation law. 



Such duties as the law of Egypt prescribes for the officers in charge 

 of the division of water are not clearly defined. The relative powers 

 of the director-general of irrigation and the inspector of Upper and 

 Lower Egypt and the subordinates are not set forth. This leav(\s the 

 authorit}" wholly with the director-general and enables him to take 

 such steps as may in hi> judgment l)e necessary during times of omer- 



