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asked three hours to consider, but Commodore Decatur replied: "Not one minute." Through the mediation of the Swedish consul the captives were released, and a treaty was signed under which tribute was abolished, and it was agreed that American sailors should not be made slaves.

Decatur then proceeded to Tunis and instead of offering ransom demanded an indemnity of $46,000 for two vessels that had been captured. The dey looked at the commodore's fleet through the windows of his palace, combed his beard for a few moments with a tortoise-shell comb heavily set with diamonds, and saying "I know this admiral," ordered the money to be paid at once.

A similar scene occurred shortly after at Tripoli, when the bashaw, in response to Decatur's demands, paid $25,000 as indemnity for two American ships, and released the prisoners.

The summary action of Commodore Decatur and its result attracted the attention of all Europe, and the several nations which had been paying tribute soon after united to suppress the Barbary pirates. The United States was the first government to defy them, and set the example for Europe, but the expenditures in tributes alone, not including the cost of the naval operations, reached a total of $2,650,709 before these bandits were taught to observe the principles of civilization. The Egyptian Mixed Tribunals.

The methods of judicial procedure in the Oriental countries differing so widely from that in use in the United States, this government in its first treaty negotiations with those countries obtained their consent to vest American ministers and consuls with power to act in controversies affecting the property rights of our citizens. The criminal jurisdiction was also obtained, as the punishments inflicted by the laws of those countries were not in harmony with our own, bastinadoing and excessive fines being quite common penalties.

In 1860 a law was passed conferring judicial powers upon the ministers and consuls in China, Japan, Siam, Persia, and Turkey. This law remained in force in respect to Egypt until the organization of the Mixed Tribunals of Alexandria and Cairo. There were so many foreigners residing in Egypt, brought thither by the work on the Suez Canal and the extended commerce growing out of its navigation, that innumerable questions requiring settlement by lawsuits arose. Different nationalities being often represented in these controversies, resort was had to their respective consuls and great confusion naturally ensued.

The khedive, desiring that his government should be recognized as among the civilized countries, submitted plans for the settlement of these suits, and in 1873 there were established at Alexandria a Court of Appeals, and three inferior tribunals of first instance &t Alexandria, Cairo, and Zagazig. These courts were composed of foreign and native judges, and were so arranged that the foreigners should have a majority in each court.

To these courts all questions in civil and commercial matters affecting our citizens residing in Egypt come for trial, whether the controversies are between them and natives or with citizens of other countries. Upon receipt of the notification that these courts were organized the President issued, October 29, 1874, a proclamation suspending the consular functions in these matters, being authorized so to do by the act of March 23, of the same year.

There is an American judge in both courts of first instance at Cairo and Alexandria, and one on the bench of the Court of Appeals in Alexandria. These judges are appointed by the khedive upon the nomination of the President of the United States and receive salaries of about $5,000 a year. The proceedings before these courts are of a very novel nature

owing to the variety of nationalities represented. The judgments are delivered in French, but the testimony is given in almost every language in the world, while the pleadings and arguments depend upon the nationality of the counsel employed.

The government has not been willing to relinquish its jurisdiction over our citizens accused of crimes in Egypt, and it is still the duty of our consular officers to make the necessary investigations and punish offenders.

CHAPTER XIX.

RELATIONS WITH CHINA.

IN the sixteenth century China claimed Malacca as a vassal state. In the year 1510 it was attacked by some Portuguese pirates, who carried away a great booty. This was the first experience of the Chinese with the maritime powers of the West. From Malacca, Raphael Perestralo sailed to visit the coast of China, of which he had heard. A few years later another Portuguese, Ferdinand Andrada, found his way with his ship to Canton, and sent an envoy, Thomas Perez, to the emperor at Peking. He was well received, accorded the privilege to trade, and returned to Canton. But another Portuguese piratical squadron appeared off the coast and committed depredations which led to the execution of Andrada and Perez, in 1523. Such was the beginning of foreign intercourse with China.

The Russians and the Dutch established resident embassies at Peking as early as 1656. The latter were specially permitted to bring "tribute" and to send a trading ship to China once in eight years. This restriction upon trade was due to the generous consideration of the emperor, who feared that the boisterous winds might wreck the Dutch ships and cause him great sorrow, if he allowed them to come more frequently.

Since that time ambassadors from different European courts

have visited Peking with various experiences, but it is a question even to-day whether there is not, among the Chinese officials, beneath all the elaborate courtesies of formal diplomatic intercourse, a feeling of the infinite superiority of China over all other nations in greatness, power, and culture, and a disposition to regard or to represent to the people all foreign ministers as bearers of tribute to the Dragon throne.

The history of the relations between China and the nations of the Western world is full of strange incidents inexplicable even to-day. It is impossible for one of us to think as a Chinese thinks, or spontaneously to follow the strange course of reasoning which frequently leads him to most unexpected and astonishing conclusions. We should clearly recognize the fact that it was in response to a demand enforced by the conquest of allied armies, that the great empire was eventually opened to foreign trade and official intercourse, in entire disregard of the traditions and prejudices of the people and their rulers. The difficulties to be overcome were extraordinary. But China was too rich and productive a country to be neglected. Foreigners had already enjoyed the fruits of profitable trade at Canton for more than a century, but under conditions of ignominy and restraint which could not be indefinitely tolerated. So long as the Chinese had to deal with private traders alone, they could enforce such rules and restrictions as they pleased; but with the expiration of the charter of the great East India Company, in 1834, the traders became no longer members of a chartered company, but subjects of foreign powers, which was a very different matter.

But the Chinese government had always held itself high and mighty over all other powers. This was not a mere conceit, to be eradicated by an appeal to force and a crushing defeat of its brave but inefficient armies. It was, and still is, an inborn element of national faith, a belief fostered by cen

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