ECUADOR. 



EGYPT. 



237 



they die have the privilege of being buried 

 among the trees outside the church, but no 

 stone or memorial is there to recall the ' dear 

 departed.' 



" Polygamy exists to a fearful extent. All 

 who can afford it keep several wives and con- 

 cubines. Though there is a religious marriage, 

 few avail themselves of it, as it binds both for 

 life. Abyssinians prefer the more simple cere- 

 mony of marrying by the ' King's death ' (the 

 usual form of oath in the country), a marriage 

 as easily contracted as dissolved. But even 

 this shadow of morality is generally dispensed 

 with. Men and women live in concubinage 

 with no other tie but the pleasure they find in 

 each other's society short passing intercourse 

 sufficient only to gratify their grossest passions. 

 Women are kept in a very degraded position; 

 they are not allowed to sit or eat in the pres- 

 ence of the men ; they cook the food, spin the 

 cotton, clean the stables, and carry water and 

 wood. Men, on the other hand, wash the 

 clothes, go to the market, are dress-makers, 

 embroiderers, and tailors." 



ECUADOR, a republic in South America. 

 President, since January 30, 1868, Dr. Xavier 

 Espinosa. Area, 218,984 square miles; popu- 

 lation, 1,300,000. The value of exports from 

 the port of Guayaquil (exclusive of precious 

 metals) amounted, in 1867, to 3,894,234 pias- 

 tres (that of cacao alone 2,614,651). The num- 

 ber of entries in the port of Guayaquil, in 1867, 

 was 108 vessels, together of 11,798 tons. The 

 revenue of the republic amounted, in 1865, to 

 1,401,300 piastres (522,122 from customs), and 

 the expenditures to 1,399,672 piastres. The 

 foreign debt was, in 1866, 9,390,554 piastres, 

 and the home debt, 3,692,955 piastres. There 

 is neither a standing army nor a fleet. 



At the elections for a new Congress, which 

 ended -on the 7th of May, the Conservative 

 party was almost everywhere successful, ex- 

 cept in Guayaquil and Imbalura, and the north 

 and south frontier. 



In August the republic was visited by one of 

 the most terrific earthquakes known in history. 

 In the three districts of Otavalo, Ibarra, and 

 Cotacachi, of the province of Imbalura, in par- 

 ticular, the disaster was overwhelming, and it 

 was calculated that more than one-half of all 

 the inhabitants had perished. Altogether the 

 number of lives lost was estimated at more 

 than 30,000. 



In October, the Ecuadorian minister to Chili, 

 Don Antonio Flores, brought about an ar- 

 rangement with Chili to this effect : That Span- 

 ish vessels coming to the Pacific, whose desti- 

 nation is Ecuador, shall in no case be mo- 

 lested by the Chilian navy, and, in case of ne- 

 cessity, they may touch at any Chilian port. 

 This concession was made by Chili in conse- 

 quence of the great damages which Ecuador 

 had suffered from the earthquake, and the ne- 

 cessity of securing her some relief from the 

 misfortunes brought upon her by joining a 

 profitless alliance. 



EGYPT, a dependency of Turkey in Africa. 

 The government, since 1841, is hereditary in 

 the family of Mehemet Ali, and since May 14th 

 the rulers bear the title Khedervi, the Arabic 

 equivalent for viceroy. Present Viceroy, Is- 

 mail Pacha, born November 26, 1816, eldest 

 surviving son of Ibrahim Pacha, who was the 

 eldest son of Mehemet Ali. Heir-apparent to 

 the throne, Mehmed Tefvik Pacha, born in 

 1852. 



At the head of the administration is a Council 

 of State (established in 1856), which consists 

 of the princes of the viceregal family, four 

 generals, and four high dignitaries. In 1868 

 Sherif Pacha was president of the Council of 

 State. The Cabinet, in 1868, embraced the 

 Ministers of the Interior, Foreign Affairs, the 

 Viceregal House, Instruction, Finances, and 

 three ministers without portfolio. The- min- 

 isters of the Marine and War did not belong to 

 the Cabinet. Since 1866, there is also an As- 

 sembly of Delegates which holds annual ses- 

 sions. 



The area of Egypt is estimated at 659,000 

 square miles, and the population at 7,465,000. 

 Cairo has about 260,000 inhabitants; Alex- 

 andria, 170,000 ; Damietta, 37,000 ; Rosetta, 

 18,000; Suez, 5,000. The 'annual revenue of 

 the Government is estimated at 8,000,000. 

 The tribute to the Sultan was largely increased 

 in 1866, and is said to amount now to 150,000 

 purses (one purse=500 piastres, or 4.54 ster- 

 ling, or about $21). The total public debt 

 amounted to 19,420,000 at the end of 1868. 



The strength of the Egyptian army is 14,000 

 men, 8,000 infantry, 3,000 cavalry, artillery, 

 and engineers, and 3,000 black troops. The 

 navy, in 1867, comprised seven ships-of-the 

 line, six frigates, nine corvettes, seven brigs, 

 eighteen gunboats and smaller vessels, and 

 twenty-seven transports. In 1868 the English 

 captain, McKillop, was appointed to reorganize 

 the fleet, which is to be largely increased. 



The exports from Alexandria, in 1866, 

 amounted to 1,307,000,000 Egyptian piastres 

 (20 Egyptian piastres=$l). The number of 

 entries in the port of Alexandria, in 1866, was 

 3,698 vessels, of which 980 were steamers, to- 

 gether of 1,373,217 tons. 



The Egyptian Assembly of Delegates was 

 opened on Monday, March 16th, by the Vice- 

 roy, who delivered a speech in Arabic. The 

 principal internal and foreign questions were 

 thus referred to : 



I feel, gentlemen, a just pride in the assistance you 

 lend me for the development of the prosperity of 

 Egypt, and I have the firm hope that the approaching 

 deliberations, like those of last year, will have the 

 most salutary effect for all. During the year which 

 has just elapsed schools have been opened in the 

 towns of Benha and Siout. My government is occu- 

 pied with the creation of similar establishments in the 

 localities which are still deprived of them. Public 

 instruction is a capital question, the importance of 

 which has been felt. I have seen the proofs of this 

 in donations made to our national schools, and have 

 heard of those donations with sensible pleasure. 

 Such acts of generosity deserve all praise, and show 



