UNREST IN EGYPT

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 33

UNREST IN EGYPT

CAIRO, May 26. Two youths., who were expelled front the Government schools at Cairo in connection with a secret society in favour of obtaining, a Constitution by all means, including violence, entrained for Alexandria, and thence tor Europe. The Nationalists gave tliem a 'noisy farewell. Sir Eldon Gorst, Consul-general, left by the some train, and the Nationalist*, when they saw him, shoute'd " Down witli the occupation." Down with despotism," "Long live Independent Egypt."

An extraordinary discovery (says the Egyptian Gazette) lias been made by the police at Cairo, which shows the fanatical delight of the Nationalists at the assassination of the Prime Minister, Eoutros Pasha. This information appears in Idvis Bey Rag'heb's newspaper, so it may be assumed to he correct. Of late some people in a street in the Khalifa quarter of Cairo have been annoyed at the crowds flocking! to a house there. It was occupied by a man whose name wes mentioned frequently in regard to the Denisbwai affair and the recent murder of the Premier. On Friday night (March 25) the police) raided the house, and were astounded .%fc the spectacle which greeted their eyes. A. room had been converted into a " Chapelle ardent-e," and in the middle was a catafalque on which reposed a coffin containing a figure dressed up to resemble thai late Boutros Pasha Ghili. Wax candle* surrounded the coffin in mockery of Christian ceremonies, and around _ it» danced a crowd of fanatics, hurling imprecations of every kind against the dummy corpse. When the arrival of the police was observed there was a rush to escape, but the police prevented this, and took: them to the caracol.

Writing from Damanhour on March 28, the correspondent of the Egyptian Gazette says:—"The murder of the Prime Minister has increased the fanatical hatred of the Moslems for the Copts, especially among the lower class Moslems, who are attached to the Nationalist .Party. The efforts' cf the authorities to restore' peace and order are in vain as long as the Moslem press is allowed to stir up strife. Yesterday a. tragic example of this state of things was in evidence jn this - neighbourhood, wben a green-turbaned sheikh of Abour Hommos made a murderous attack on a. hoy with a 'sharshara' (reaping hook} simply because the latter was a Copt. The poor victim of fanaticism was rescued from' the sheikh, but his condition is very serious. The authorities of the Parquet, on being informed of the outrage, at once proceeded! to the spot and arrested the assassin. An inquiry ha® been opened." A later telegram says that the nhnikh of Abour Hommos is said to be insane.