ABSTRACT
Born in Alexandria, Ahmad Zaki Pasha graduated from the School of Law (later the College of Law, Cairo University). He worked as a translator, then secretary, to the Egyptian cabinet (then under British occupation). His non-official translations include works on history, geography, and Islam, all from French. This chapter presents official documents (mainly correspondence) concerning his 27-year service as a translator at different ranks at several government offices in Egypt. Extending from 1887 to 1914, these documents illuminate several aspects of the practice of official translation in government service during this period. As a government position, translation was obviously a highly structured and regulated profession, with translators selected through officially administered tests and given ranks based on experience and ability.
