AFRICA. 



EGYPT. 



POPULATION. 



The population of Egypt was, according to the census of 1897, 

 9,734,405. That census having been taken so recently, the present 

 population is about the same. The percentage of illiterates is 91. 

 The people have no mechanical traits which would enable them to 

 become producers of paper. 



CONSUMPTION. 



The principal uses of paper in Egypt are for writing, printing, 

 packing, and cigarette making. The latter is the only industry of 

 the country requiring paper. Nearly all classes or kinds of paper 

 are used at present. There are no special requirements as to qual- 

 ity, weight, size, etc. The market prices for each class or kind are 

 based upon the prices obtaining in the European cities whence the 

 paper is exported, with the import duty of 8 per cent ad valorem 

 and other incidental expenses added thereto. The terms of sale are 

 usually cash. The values of paper consumed for the whole country 

 for each class or kind, for 1897, were as follows: 



Writing paper $223, 040 



Cigarette paper 115,105 



Common paper and cardboard 204, 145 



Printed matter... 147, 905 



M iscellaneous 7, 580 



Total i 727, 775 



As little attention is paid to the collection of statistics, it is im- 

 possible to state the total number of paper firms, companies, or 

 brokers in Egypt. This business is conducted by small and unim- 

 portant dealers. 



PRODUCTION. 



The Nile, the one source of water power, is highly developed by 

 the distribution of its yearly tide as a fertilizing agency. This dis- 

 tribution would interfere with the development of any form of water 

 power for manufacturing purposes, especially as an elaborate series 

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