17 APRIL 1920, Page 22

The Unrest in Egypt. By Somers Clarke. (Cairo: Printing Office

of the French Institute of Archaeology.)—Mr. Clarke, an archaeologist who has lived for many years in Egypt, throws light, in this well-written pamphlet, on the causes of the unrest among the peasantry. He attributes it largely to the oppressive administration of the Omdehs or local Magistrates, who are unpaid, and who recoup themselves for their loss of time and trouble by extracting arbitrary fines from the fellahin. There are 3,600 Omdehs in Egypt, and it may easily be imagined that not all these men are honest and incorruptible. Mr. Clarke cites specific cases of injustice to support his argument. We must confess to surprise at learning that the Egyptian Government have left the peasantry at the mercy of these unpaid officials for so long.