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under Munzinger Bey, I have now the honor to communicate all the information I have been able to obtain concerning the so-called invasion of Abyssinia.

The country of Bogos, containing about 10,000 inhabitants, lies between Egypt and Abyssinia proper, and has, until lately, been regarded as neutral territory, although in the time of Mohamed Ali it was claimed and acknowledged, I believe, as a part of that prince's terri tory.

Situated almost on the Red Sea, with Massowah for its only port, Egypt has always manifested an interest in its welfare, and has always claimed a right to possess it, should necessity require it, as a protection to its frontiers.

It is said to be naturally a fine agricultural country, but, from the nature of its position, it has been overrun and pillaged by both Abys sinians and Egyptians, until what little prosperity it is said once to have enjoyed has been entirely destroyed.

The Egyptian government claims that it has of late been not only overrun by the Abyssinians, but that Prince Kassa has made it the base for frequent predatory incursions into Egyptian territory, on which occasions large numbers of cattle, horses, and other property have been carried off. It is to restore peace to Bogos and prevent like incursions in the future that the expedition of Munzinger Bey has been undertaken; such, at least, is the explanation of the Egyptian government.

Munzinger left Massowah on the 25th of last June, at the head of 1,200 Egyptian soldiers, well armed and equipped, and after a rapid and unimpeded march, occupied Kevem, the capital of Bogos, where he is now installed as military governor of the province.

At the time of this movement Prince Kassa was engaged in a predatory war with the Walla-Gallas, a strong tribe of Abyssinia, occupying the territory just south of Tigré, Kassa's province. Having been beaten by the Gallas, and hearing of the invasion of Bogos by Egyptian troops, he hastily retreated to Adoa, the capital of Tigré, to prepare means to resist the forces of Munzinger.

Kassa's troops are represented to be badly armed and worse disciplined; and, however superior may be his numbers, he can never successfully cope with the well-trained and well-armed soldiers of Egypt.

It may be remembered that Kassa is the Abyssinia prince who rendered valuable service to the English in their expedition against King Theodore, and who, since that time, has claimed to himself the title of King of Abyssinia.

When that expedition left Abyssinia, an Englishman of the name of Kirkham remained behind and attached himself to the cause of Prince Kassa; he is believed to have been a sergeant, or some other petty offi cer, in the English army, honorably discharged. It is said that he has been of great service to Kassa, whose confidence he is said to possess to a remarkable degree, and over whom he has exercised a good influence.

Kassa has now, feeling his own helplessness, implored the protection of the European powers as against the movements of the Egyptian gov ernment, and has dispatched Kirkham to Europe with letters to the various sovereigns; his chief hope of assistance, however, being from the Queen of England. Kirkham passed through Alexandria a few days ago. and had an interview with Her Britannic Majesty's agent and consul-general, Colonel Stanton. He stated freely the object of his mission, and said that Kassa viewed the occupation of Bogos by the Egyptian troops as

an invasion of Abyssinian territory, which he felt sure the European powers would resent with force, if necessary.

Munzinger Bey is of German origin, and has lived in the vicinity of Massowah for the last twenty years; at present he is governor of MasSowah and Bogos. At Massowah, where he has been stationed as governor for several years, he has done much for the improvement of the country, and he is generally regarded, I believe, as an active, intelligent man, and a good executive officer.

What the Khedive's ulterior object is in this forcible occupation of Bogos, it is impossible to say; but his well-known and laudable ambition to bring within the pale of Egyptian law and authority all of that great country lying about the head-waters of the Nile, makes it reasonable to presume that it is a preliminary and experimental step toward the subjugation of Northern Abyssinia.

That the Nile is the natural and only practical outlet for all the country watered by its great lakes and their tributaries there is no question, and it would seem to be beyond doubt that its entire subjugation to the Khedive's rule would be a blessing to it beyond estimation; while at the same time it would open up to the commerce of the world a country unsurpassed, perhaps, in fertility and natural resources.

The slave-trade, the curse of the country, would be done away with; resources of mineral and vegetable wealth would be developed to the great interest of Egypt and Europe, and the ambition of the Khedive, now bounded by the deserts which overlook and hem in the valley of the Nile, would find legitimate satisfaction and employment in bringing within the pale of civilization and adding to his dominions an extensive territory, abounding in all that contributes to the wealth and material prosperity of a great empire.

The expedition under command of Sir Samuel Baker was the commencement of the realization of this grand project, and there is but little doubt in my mind that the occupation of Bogos is but another step in the pre-arranged programme. The telegraph is already completed and working to Kartoum, and the railroad is slowly but surely following it; while the project of making the cataracts passable for steamers has been considered and pronounced practicable by English engineers. I have thus endeavored to indicate the signification of the occupation of Bogos, and to express my belief that it is but one of a series of movements on the part of the Egyptian government with the objective aim of bringing all the territory bordering on the Nile and its sources under Egyptian rule; a result highly desirable to all well-wishers of Central Africa, provided it can be accomplished without interfering with the Christian church of Abyssinia, which, however debased it may be at present, is the only foundation on which can be reared a nobler fabric. I inclose herewith a rough outline of Upper Nubia and Northern Abyssinia, showing the small territory of Bogos, and its peculiar position as regards Egypt, the southern boundary-line of Egypt, and the course of the Nile and some of its tributaries.

I have, &c.,

71 FR

R. BEARDSLEY, United States Agent and Consul-General.

No. 32.]

No. 465.

Mr. Beardsley to Mr. Fish.

AGENCY AND CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE

UNITED STATES IN EGYPT,

Alexandria, November 15, 1872. (Received December 10.)

SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a translation of the Sultan's imperial firman, which was publicly read at Cairo on the 30th of September, as announced in my dispatch No. 16, of October 5.

It will be observed that the firman itself, which bears date of September 10, 1872, is general in its terms, and merely confirms the privileges granted by the former firmans of 1867 and 1869, while the hatt, which bears the later date of September 25, 1872, especially empowers the Egyptian government to contract and negotiate foreign loans without the authorization of the Porte.

It is believed that the firman alone was read on the date mentioned in my dispatch, and that the hatt was delivered to His Highness the Khedive, at a later date, having been brought by a special envoy who is known to have arrived in Egypt about a week after the firman was read at Cairo. This will account in a measure for the reluctancy of the Egyptian government to make known the contents of this important document and the fact that a translation of it appeared in the public journals at Constantinople before it was furnished to the foreign representatives here.

That the exact terms of the firmans of 1867 and 1869 my be on file in the Department, I propose to obtain translations of these documents as soon as possible, and forward in a future dispatch.

I am, &c.,

R. BEARDSLEY.

[Inclosure 1.-Translation.]

Imperial firman of the Sultan, read at Cairo on the 30th September, 1872.

The privileges accorded by our government to the Egyptian, government with a view to develop the prosperity of Egypt, are conditional on the entire fulfillment of the duties of the said government toward us, which duties have been already determined by our imperial orders.

In virtue of our imperial firman issued on the 5th Sefer, 1284, (7th June, 1867,) the internal administration, and, consequently, the financial interests of Egypt, have devolved upon the Egyptian government.

By our imperial favor it has been intrusted with the care of all that concerns the internal organization and the general progress of the country.

This being the case, you have represented to us that certain restrictions and exceptions contained in our firman of the 22d of Shaban, 1286, raised serious obstacles to the development and prosperity of Egypt.

You must be aware that the prosperity and happiness of our subjects are of the most vital importance in our eyes and the object of our most cherished desires.

The realization of these desires naturally depends on the means and facilities accorded for that purpose.

This being our imperial will, it is against our desire that the progress and the pros perity of Egypt should be trammeled by the restrictions appended to the privileges which our sovereign munificence accorded to the Egyptian government with a view to the development of its material and financial interests.

We have therefore ordered that the privileges conceded to you in our firman of the 5th Sefer, 1284, (7th June, 1867,) be maintained, and we have given the requisite instructions for the issuing of this supreme order from the Sublime Porte.

On the 7th day of Redjib, 1289, (10th September, 1872.)

HATT.

The material and financial administration of Egypt having, in virtue of several of our imperial firmans, devolved entirely upon you the power of effecting foreign loans and of applying them for the welfare of Egypt, is comprised within the bounds of the privilege specially granted to the Egyptian government.

Henceforth, therefore, whenever, for the prosperity of the country, the contracting of a foreign loan becomes requisite we renew and confirm to you our permission to borrow the necessary sums in the name of the Egyptian government, and without asking us for a previous authorization.

The 22d Redjib, 1289, (25th September, 1872.)

No. 46.]

No. 466.

Mr. Beardsley to Mr. Fish.

AGENCY AND CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE

UNITED STATES IN EGYPT,

Cairo, December 12, 1872. (Received January 27, 1873.) SIR: Recurring to my last dispatch, No. 45, detailing an interview with His Highness the Khedive, I have the honor to report in continuation of the same interview the substance of His Highness's remarks concerning the future railway development of Egypt.

His Highness considers that the railway system of Lower Egypt is sufficiently extended for the present, and that sound policy dictates that the resources of the country should now be devoted to the work of extending the railway into Upper Egypt and Nubia.

It is desirable that Port Saïd, Damietta, and Rosetta should be connected with Alexandria by a coast line; but that is a project of secondary importance. With Suez, Ismailia, Zagazig, and Mansoorah brought into close connection with Cairo and Alexandria, the Delta of Egypt is sufficiently supplied with commercial arteries to meet the demands of the hour. Egypt's mission, His Highness thinks, is to civilize Africa by pushing up through the valley of the Nile, and overflowing Nubia and the Soudan. To do this the railway system of Upper Egypt must be completed, and communication established with those countries.

The railway is now finished to Roda, 180 miles south of Cairo. It is proposed to complete the line to Assonan at the first cataract, and thus, with a few side branches to the several oases, make the railway systém of Egypt proper complete.

From Assonan to the second cataract it is estimated that, owing to engineering difficulties, the expense of a railway would be £4,000,000 sterling. This sum His Highness considers to be more than the resources of Egypt will at present bear, and it is proposed to establish water-communication between those two points by transporting the Nile steamers over the first cataract by means of a marine railway, the expense of which will be insignificant compared with either the expense of the railway to the second cataract or with locks at the first cataract. This work His Highness thinks will be completed in four years from this date.

From the second cataract the railway will again commence and run to Khartoum, from whence it will eventually be carried on one branch to Dongola, and the other to Massowah on the Red Sea.

To reach Massowah by rail the territory of Bogos must be crossed: It thus appears that the occupation of Bogos by the Egyptian government looked toward the completion of the railway system of Egypt

rather than to the invasion of Abyssinia, and was a preliminary step toward bringing all the territory tributary to the Upper Nile within the pale of Egyptain authority, as indicated in my dispatch No. 19 of October 16.

To accomplish this it is not necessary that Abyssinia should be dis turbed, and His Highness disavows all wish or intention of molesting her; conscious that in developing the resources of his own territory he has a difficult and arduous work to perform, which will sufficiently task all his energies, without the political embarassments which an invasion of Abyssinia would entail.

On this as well as former occasions His Highness emphatically asserted that Bogos has been Egyptian territory since the time of Mehemet Ali, and that in taking possession of it he was only asserting rights which had lain dormant since the time of Saïd Pasha, during whose reign the Egyptian forces were withdrawn owing to causes brought about by French influence exerted in favor of certain Catholic missionaries, to protect whom the government of Saïd Pasha was not disposed to wage an internal warfare. The history of Bogos for the last forty years appears not to be well known here, but I see no reason to doubt the statements of His Highness; and I believe Prince Kassa, of Abyssinia, has no good reason for apprehending an invasion of his territory.

If I have devoted more time and space to this subject than its merits would seem to warrant, it is because it has been a subject of considerable discussion here, as well as in Europe, where the idea seems to prevail that the Khedive is bent upon the annexation of Abyssinia.

I am, &c.,

No. 467.

Mr. Beardsley to Mr. Fish.

R. BEARDSLEY.

No. 53.]

AGENCY AND CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE

UNITED STATES IN EGYPT,

Cairo, January 3, 1873. (Received February 1.)

of Sir

SIR: I have the honor to report the arrival in Egypt on the 16th ultimo, and the departure from Egypt, via Suez, on the Bartle Frere, the nature of whose mission to the Sultan of Zanzibar, with the view of suppressing the slave-trade of those parts, has been, undoubtedly, fully explained to you already.

Sir Bartle had several interviews with the Khedive, and was very active in procuring all possible information concerning the slave-trade in Egypt. The general result of his inquiries may be inferred from his remark that he had not expected that his work was to begin in Egypt. I think he left Egypt with the feeling that it will be difficult to suppress the slave-trade in central Africa while the demand for slaves in Egypt remains as great as at present.

I hope to be able to send you some statistics on this subject which will throw some light on the much-debated question as to the actual extent of slavery in Egypt.

I am, &c.,

R. BEARDSLEY.

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