[226] In a former chapter I gave an account of a voyage to Australia by way of the Cape of Good Hope. On a subsequent visit to the Colonies I went by the Canal route, returning through Egypt overland.[259a] It is understood that the Khedive’s English financial adviser is about to take in hand the case of the Fellaheen versus the Usurers. It may aid him to know how a similar state of things in a neighbouring country was dealt with about 2000 years ago.

“Lucullus, Roman general, in his wars against Mithridates, having occupied many cities in Asia which had long been a prey to tax-farmers and usurers, undertook to relieve the people from the extreme misery to which they had been reduced, and set about redeeming the properties given as security to the rapacious money-lenders. He first greatly reduced the rate of interest; secondly, where the interest exceeded the principal he struck it off. He then ordered that the creditor should receive the fourth part of the debtor’s income, but if in making his claim any creditor had added the interest to the principal, it was utterly disallowed. By these means, in the, space of four years, all debts were paid, and the lands returned to the rightful owners.”—Plutarch’s Lives.

[259b] Report of Mr. Villiers Stuart, M.P., to Lord Dufferin on “The Social and Economical Condition of the People.”