EGYPTIAN GAMBLEKS.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 411, 24 March 1904, Page 2

EGYPTIAN GAMBLEKS.

I have been compelled to believe that the gambling element exists ia the Egyptian atmosphere, and that men who live there long must gamble whether they will or jdo not will. It ia fair and true to say that colossal fortunes are made and lost within the space of a few weeks; and many a man who starts with a clear brain and a keen eye for the trend of events makes or loses so much that he always has enough over to live splendidly. Tie great source of gambling in the old days was the Nile, for upon its annual overflow the whole prosperity of the Egyptian season depends. Before the British occupation had permeatad through the desert the great financiers of Cairo and Alexandria used to have men posted as far down the Nile as they could go, and as soon as the rise took place the news would be carried from man to man until the financiers knew all about it, even before the Government. If the flow happened to promise well, within a few hoars the European Bourses would have orders to buy enormous parcels of Egyptian stock for the rise. If the prospects were bad, selling orders on a similar scale would be given. In this way huge coupe brought off. There was a large element of chance in this procedure, for now and again Father Nile would be so inconsiderate as to promise one thing and perform another; a season that was neither good nor bad was almost sure to result in loss to the men who had bought or sold heavily; but mistakes were very few and far between, arid the profits were worth a very big risk, I have been told b 7 Egyptians that the re-opening of the Soudan would make ample room for hundreds of new merchants ia Alexandria and Cairo, which cities will control the markets of the interior. People who don't know' what to do with their boys might well bear this ia mind, for the climate of Egypt is fine, the life is pleasant, and the prospects good for one and all.

The people who rise from their seats to leave a theatre before the curtain drops on the last act ato guilty of a breach of good manners.