Brutal Punishment in Egypt.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 69, 27 September 1884, Page 4

Brutal Punishment in Egypt.

HvAin is a vivid little picture of what goes on in Egypt in the namo of the Government which we fought at Tcl-cl-Kcbir to save, and'whieh at this moment is absolutely dependent upon our bayonets for its existence. The scene is described by a Swiss, by name M. Hilairo Gay, recently captain in the Egyptian police, and the victim had been guilty of some slight offence against the piison regulations: — Tho victim was placed on one of the slabs with his chest resting on the stone, in which position ho was held by two of the executioners. Two others next raised his legs until his feet were in a hoiizontal position, a position in which thoy were retained by means of a coid fastened to either end of a stick. On this the fifth tortincr, who had taken no part in the preliminary proceedings, came forward, holding in his hand a soit of lash consisting ot five strands of twisted gut or hide. The tormentor raised his arm and struck with the regularity of a pendulum tho upturned feet of his helpless victim. At the fourth stroke the Arab uttered a cry of pain, and at every fresh stroke the cry was repeated. But soon the cry became a scream, the flagellated flesh visibly shuddered, and tho soles were seamed with red and livid streaks. I could not help shivering with horror at the sight of so much suffering. Osman Bey, his secretary, the five executioners with their stern and sinister features, looked unmoved on the cruel sight, listening to the heavy thud of the strokes and the screams of the victim. Helped by a guard, for b i maimed and bleeding feet refused to support him, he was then led, still moaning with agony, from the torture chamber. Yet to such men as his Excellency Osman Bey and his myrmidons would Sir Evelyn Baring now deliver over the country under the comfortable formula that our policy ought henceforth to be one of non-interven-tion in the native administration.

A speculator in Norway intends, it is stated, to attempt the introduction of whale meat as an article of food. He lately gave a "whale" dinner, at which he claims to have proved that the flesh may be cooked in numerous different ways to form wholesome and delicious dishes, equal to the best turtle, beef, or chicken,