Carac on his left. Then he drank to the former, who Egyre was at that time ready to expire with thirst, and at the fame time offered him a cup of fnow-water. This was thankfully received; and the king immediately drank to the prince of Al Carac, who fat near him. But here Saladin interrupted him with fome warmth: "I will not (fays he) fuffer this curfed rogue to drink; as that, according to the laudable and generous cuftom of the Arabs, would fecure to him his life." Then, turning towards the prince, he reproached him with having undertaken the expedition while in alliance with himfelf, with having intercepted an Egyptian caravan in the time of profound peace, and maffacring the people of which it was compofed, &c. Notwithstanding all this, he told him, he would grant him his life, if he would embrace Mahometanifm. This condition, however, was refufed; and the fultan, with one froke of his fcimeter, cut off the prince's head. This greatly terrified the king of Jerufalem; but Saladin affured him he had nothing to fear, and that Arnold had brought on himself a violent death by his want of common honesty.

Egpyt. had formerly belonged to him, and being ready to attend the fultan on whatever expedition he pleafed. Af ter the conquest of Aleppo, Saladin took three other cities, and then marched against his old enemies the crufaders. Having fent out a party to reconnoitre the enemy, they fell in with a confiderable detachment of Christians; whom they eafily defeated, taking about 100 prifoners, with the lofs of only a single man on their fide. The fultan, animated by this firft inftance of fuccefs, drew up his forces in order of battle, and advanced against the crufaders, who had affembled their whole army at Sepphoris in Galilee. On viewing the fultan's troops, however, and perceiving them to be greatly fuperior in ftrength to what they had at first apprehended, they thought proper to decline an engagement, nor could Saladin with all his fkill force them to it. But though it was found impoffible to bring the crufaders to a decifive engage ment, Saladin found means to harafs them greatly, and deftroyed great numbers of their men. He carried off alfo many prifoners, difmantled three of their strongest cities, laid waste their territories, and concluded the campaign with taking another ftrong town.

92 Christians

feated.

For three years Saladin continued to gain ground totally do on the crufaders, yet without any decifive advantage; but in 1187, the fortune of war was remarkably unfavourable to them. The Chriftians now found themfelves obliged to venture a battle, by reafon of the cruel ravages committed in their territories by Saladin, and by reafon of the encroachments he daily made on them. Both armies therefore being refolved to exert their utmost efforts, a moft fierce and bloody battle enfued. Night prevented victory from declaring on either fide, and the fight was renewed with equal obftinacy next day. The victory was ftill left undecided; but the third day the fultan's men finding themselves furrounded by the enemy on all fides but one, and there also hemmed in by the river Jordan, fo that there was no room to fly, fought like men in defpair, and at last gained a most complete victory. Vaft numbers of the Chriftians perifhed on the field. A large body found means to retire in fafety to the top of a neighbouring hill covered with wood; but being furrounded by Saladin's troops, who fet fire to the wood, they were all obliged to furrender at difcretion. Some of them were butchered by their enemies as foon as they delivered themselves into their hands, and others thrown into irons. Among the latter were the king of Jerufalem himself, Arnold prince of Al Shawbec and Al Carac, the mafters of the Templars and Hofpitalers, with almost the whole body of the latter. So great was the confternation of the Chriftians on this occafion, that one of Saladin's men is faid to have taken 30 of them prifoners, and tied them together with the cord of his tent, to prevent them from making their efcape. The masters of the Templars and Hofpitalers, with the knights acting under them, were no fooner brought into Saladin's prefence, than he ordered them all to be cut in pieces. He called them Affaffins or Batanists; and had been wont to pay 50 dinars for the head of every Templar or Hofpitaler that was brought him. After the engagement, Saladin feated himfelf in a magnificent tent, placing the king of Jerufalem on his right hand, and Arnold prince of Al Shawbec and Al VOL. VI. Part I.

93

The crufaders being thus totally defeated and dif. His further perfed, Saladin next laid fiege to Tiberias, which caconquefts. pitulated in a fhort time. From thence he marched towards Acca or Ptolemais, which likewife furrendered after a fhort fiege. Here he found 4000 Mahometan prifoners in chains, whom he immediately released. As the inhabitants enjoyed at prefent a very extenfive trade, the place being full of merchants, he found there not only vaft fums of money, but likewife a great variety of wares exceedingly valuable, all which he feized and applied to his own ufe. About the fame time his brother Al Malec attacked and took a very flrong fortress in the neighbourhood; after which the fultan divided his army into three bodies, that he might with the greater facility over-run the territories of the Chriftians. Thus, in a very short time, he made himfelf master of Neapolis, Cæfarea, Sepphoris, and other cities in the neighbourhood of Ptolemais, where his foldiers found only women and children, the men having been all killed or taken prifoners. His next conqueft was Joppa, which was taken by storm after a vigorous refiftance. Every thing being then fettled, and a diftribution made of the spoils and captives, Saladin marched in perfon against Tebrien, a strong fortrefs in the neighbourhood of Sidon; which was taken by affault, after it had fuftained a fiege of fix days. No fooner was he mafter of this place, than he ordered the fortrefs to be razed, and the garrifon put to the fword. From Tebrien the victorious fultan proceeded to Sidon itself; which, being deferted by its prince, furrendered almoft on the firft fummons. Berytus was next invefted, and surrendered in seven days. ́Among the prifoners Saladin found in this place the prince of a territory called Hobeil, who by way of ranfom delivered up his dominions to him, and was of confequence releafed. About the fame time, a Chriftian fhip, in which was a nobleman of great courage and experience in war, arrived at the harbour of Ptolemais, not knowing that it was in the hands of Saladin. The governor might eafily have fecured the veffel; but neglecting the opportunity, fhe escaped to Tyre, where the above mentioned nobleman, together with the prince of Hobeil, contributed not a little 3 C

to

Egypt. to retrieve the affairs of the Chriftians, and enable them to make a stand for four years after..

Saladin in the mean time went on with his conquefts. Having made himself master of Afcalon after a fiege of 14 days, he next invefted Jerufalem. The garrison was numerous, and made an obftinate defence; but Saladin having at last made a breach in the walls by fapping, the befieged defired to capitulate. This was at firit refufed; upon which the Chriftian ambaffador made the following fpeech: "If that be the cafe, know, O fultan, that we who are extremely numerous, and have been reftrained from fighting like men in defpair only by the hopes of an honourable capitulation, will kill all our wives and children, commit all our wealth and valuable effects to the flames, maffacre 5000 prifoners now in our hands, leave not a fingle beat of burden or animal of any kind belonging to us alive, and level with the ground the rock you efteem facred, together with the temple Al Akfa. After this we will fally out upon you in a body; and doubt not but we fhall either cut to pieces a much greater number of you than we are, or force you to abandon the fiege." This defperate fpeech had fuch an effect upon Saladin, that he immediately called a council of war, at which all the general officers declared, that it would be mott proper to allow the Chriftians to depart unmolefted. The fultan therefore allowed them to n.arch out freely and fecurely with their wives, children, and effects; after which he received ten dinars from every man capable of paying that fum, five from every woman, and two from every young perfon under age. For the poor who were not able to pay any thing, the reft of the inhabitants raised the fum of 30,000 dinars.

Most of the inhabitants of Jerufalem were escorted by a detachment of Saladin's troops to Tyre; and foon after, he advanced with his army against that place. As the port was blocked up by a fquadron of five men of war, Saladin imagined that he fhould eafily become master of it. But in this he found himself mistaken. For, one morning by break of day, a Chriftian fleet fell upon his fquadron, and entirely defeated it; nor did a fingle veffel cfcape their purfuit. A confiderable number of the Mahometans threw themfelves into the fea during the engagement; molt of whom were droned, though fome few efcaped. About the fame time Saladin himself was vigorously repulfed by land; fo that, after calling a council of war, it was thought proper to raise the 'fiege.

In 1188, Saladin, though his conquefts were not fo rapid and confiderable as hitherto, continued ftill fuperior to his enemies. He reduced the city of Laodicea and fome others, together with many ftrong caftles; but met alfo with feveral repulfes. At laft he took the road to Antioch; and having reduced all the fortreffes that lay in his way, many of which had been deemed impregnable, Bohemond prince of Antioch was fo much intimidated, that he defired a truce for feven or eight months. This Saladin found himfelf obliged to comply with, on account of the prodigious fatigues his men had sustained, and because his auxiliaries now demanded leave to return home.

All these heavy loffes of the Chriftians, however, prove in fome refpects an advantage, as they were thus obliged to lay afide their animofities, which had originally proved the ruin of their affairs. Those who

had defended Jerufalem, and moft of the other for Egypt. treffes taken by Saladin, having retreated to Tyre, formed there a very numerous body. This proved the means of preferving that city, and also of re-eftablishing their affairs for the prefent. For, having received powerful fuccours from Europe, they were enabled in 1189 to take the field with 30,000 foot and 2000 horfe. Their first attempt was upon Alexandretta; from whence they diflodged a strong party of Mahometans, and made themselves mafters of the place with very little lofs. They next laid fiege to Ptolemais; of which Saladin had no fooner received intelligence, than he marched to the relief of the place. After feveral fkirmishes with various fuccefs, a general engagement enfued, in which Saladin was defeated with the lofs of 10,000 men. This enabled the Chriftians to carry on the fiege of Ptolemais with greater vigour; which place, however, they were not able to reduce for the fpace of two years.

This year the fultan was greatly alarmed by an account that the emperor of Germany was advancing to Conftantinople with an army of 260,000 men, in order to aflift the other crufaders. This prodigious armament, however, came to nothing. The multitude was fo reduced with ficknefs, famine, and fatigue, that fcarce 1000 of them reached the camp before Ptole mais. The fiege of that city was continued, though with bad fuccefs on the part of the Chriftians. They were repulfed in all their attacks, their engines were burnt with naphtha, and the befieged always received fupplies of provifions in fpite of the utmoft efforts of the befiegers; at the fame time that a dreadful famine and peftilence raged in the Christian camp, which fometimes carried of 200 people a-day.

Soon af

arrives in Alia.

96 In 1191, the Chriftians received powerful fuccours Richard I. from Europe. Philip II. of France, and Richard I. of England. of England (from his great courage furnamed Gaur de Lion), arrived before the camp at Ptolemais. The latter was efteemed the braveft and moft enterprizing of all the generals the crufaders had; and the spirits of his foldiers were greatly elated by the thoughts of ac-ting under fuch an experienced commander. ter his arrival, the English funk a Mahometan ship of vaft fize, having on board 650 foldiers, a great quantity of arms and provifions, going from Berytus to Ptole mais. Of the foldiers and failors who navigated this. veffel, only a fingle perfon escaped; who being taken prifoner by the English, was dispatched to the fultan with the news of the difafter. The befieged still defended themselves with the greatest refolution; and the king of England happening to fall fick, the operations of the befiegers were confiderably delayed. On. his recovery, however, the attacks were renewed with fuch fury, that the place was every moment in danger of being taken by assault. This induced them to fend. a letter to Saladin, informing him, that if they did. not receive fuccours the very next day, they would be obliged to fubmit. As this town was the fultan's principal magazine of arms, he was greatly affected with the account of their diftrefs, especially as he found it impoffible to relieve them. The inhabitants, therefore, found themselves under a neceffity of furrendering the place. One of the terms of the capitulation was, that the crufaders fhould receive a very confiderable fum of money from Saladin, in confe

quence

Roman pretorian bands, they turned their arms against Egypt. their masters, and in 1250 depofed and murdered the khalif, as has been already related.

Egypt. quence of their delivering up the Mahometan prifoners they had in their hands. This article Saladin refused to comply with; and in consequence of his refusal, Richard caufed 3000 of thofe unfortunate men to be flaughtered at once.

97

ladin.

300,000 men.

After the reduction of Ptolemais, the king of England, now made generaliflimo of the crufaders, took the road to Afcalon, in order to befiege that place; after which, he intended to make an attempt upon Jerufalem itself. Saladin propofed to intercept his paffage, and placed himself in the way with an army of On this occafion was fought one of Defeats Sa- the greatest battles of that age. Saladin was totally defeated, with the lofs of 40,000 men ; and Afcalon foon fell into the hands of the crufaders. Other fieges were afterwards carried on with fuccefs, and Richard even approached within fight of Jerufalem, when he found, that, by reason of the weakened state of his army, and the divifions which prevailed among the officers who commanded it, he should be under the neceffity of concluding a truce with the fultan. This was accordingly done in the year 1192; the term was, three years, three months, three weeks, three days, and three hours; foon after which the king of England fet out on his return to his own dominions.

98

become

In 1193 Saladin died, to the inexpreffible grief of all true Mahometans, who held him in the utmoft veneration. His dominions in Syria and Palestine were fhared out among his children and relations into many petty principalities. His fon Othman fucceeded to the crown of Egypt; but as none of his fucceffors poffeffed the enterprifing genius of Saladin, the hiftory from that time to the year 1250 affords nothing reMamlouks markable. At this time the reigning fultan Malek Al Salek was dethroned and flain by the Mamelucs or Mammatters of louks, as they are called, a kind of mercenary foldiers Egypt. who served under him. In confequence of this revolution, the Mamelucs became mafters of Egypt, and chofe a fultan from among themselves.-Thefe Mamlouks are thought to have been young Turks or Tartars, fold to private perfons by the merchants, from whom they were bought by the fultan, educated at his expence, and employed to defend the maritime places of the kingdom. The reason of this inftitution originally was, that the native Egyptians were become fo cowardly, treacherous, and effeminate, from a long courfe of flavery, that they were unfit for arms. The Mamlouks, on the contrary, made moft excellent foldiers; for having no friends but among their own corps, they turned all their Account of thoughts to their own profeffion. According to M. Volney, they came originally from Mount Caucafus, and are diftinguished by the flaxen colour of their hair. Here they were found by the crufaders, and were by them called Mamelues, or more correctly Mamlouks The expedition of the Tartars in 1227 proved indirectly the means of introducing them into Egypt. Thefe horrible conquerors, having flaughtered and maffacred till they were weary, brought along with them an immenfe number of flaves of both fexes, with whom they filled all the markets in Afia. The Turks, taking advantage of the opportunity, purchafed about 12,000 young men, whom they bred up in the profeffion of arms, in which they foon attained to great perfection; but becoming mutinous, like the

99

them.

The Mamlouks having got poffeffion of the govern ment, and neither understanding nor putting a value upon any thing befides the art of war, every species of learning decayed in Egypt, and a great degree of barbarifm was introduced. Neither was their empire of long duration notwithstanding all their martial abilities. The reafon of this was, that they were originally only a small part of the fultan of Egypt's ftanding forces. As a numerous ftanding army was neceffary in a country where the fundamental maxim of government was, that every native must be a flave, they were at first at a lofs how to act; being justly suspicious of all the relt of the army. At laft they refolved to buy Christian flaves, and educate them in the fame way that they themfelves had formerly been. These were commonly brought from Circaffia, where the people, though they profeffed Chriftianity, made no fcruple of feiling their children. When they were completed in their military education, these foldiers were difpofed of through all the fortreffes erected in the country to bridle the inhabitants; and because in their language fuch a fort was called Borge, the new militia obtained the name of Borgites. By this expedient the Mamlouks imagined they would be able to fecure themselves in the fovereignty. But in this they were mistaken. In procefs of time, the old Mamlouks grew proud, infolent, and lazy and the Borgites, taking advantage of this, Driven out role upon their mafters, deprived them of the govern-gites. by the Bor ment, and transferred it to themselves about the year' 1382.

100

101

Selim.

The Borgites, as well as the former, affumed the name of Mamlouks; and were famous for their valour and ferocity of conduct. They were almoft perpetually engaged in wars either foreign or domeftic; and their dominion lafted till the year 1517, when they were invaded by Selim the Turkish fultan. The Mamluks Egypt con defended themselves with incredible valour; notwith-quered by ftanding which, being overpowered by numbers, they were defeated in every engagement. The fame year, their capital, the city of Cairo, was taken, with a terrible flaughter of those who defended it. The fultan was forced to fly; and, having collected all his force, ventured a decifive battle. The molt romantic efforts of valour, however, were infufficient to cope with the innumerable multitude which compofed the Turkish army. Moft of his men were cut in pieces, and the unhappy prince himself was at laft obliged to take fhelter in a marth. He was dragged from his hiding place, where he had ftood up to the fhoulders in water, and foon af ter put to death. With him ended the glory, and almoft the existence, of the Mamlouks, who were now every where searched for and cut in pieces.

This was the laft great revolution in the Egyptian affairs; a revolution very little to the advantage of the natives, who may well doubt whether their ancient or modern conquerors have behaved with the greater degree of barbarity. Selim gave a fpecimen of his government, the very day after his being put in full poffeffion of it by the death of Tuman Bey the unfortu nate fultan above mentioned. Having ordered a theatre to be erected with a throne upon it on the banks of the 3 C 2 Nile,

Egypt. Nile, he caufed all the prifoners, upwards of 30,000 in number, to be beheaded in his presence, and their bodies thrown into the river.

102 His horrid cruelty.

103

ment in

Notwithstanding this horrid cruelty of Selim, he did not attempt the total extermination of the race of Mamlouks, though this would have been quite agreeable to the maxims of Turkish policy; but in the prefent cafe he feems to have recollected, that if he eftablifhed a pacha in Egypt with the fame powers with which he invested those of other parts, he would be under ftrong temptations to revolt by reafon of the New form diftance from the capital. He therefore proposed a of govern- new form of government, by which the power being troduced by diftributed among the different members of the state, Selim. fhould preferve an equilibrium, fo that the dependence of the whole fhould be upon himself. With this view, he chofe from among the Mamlouks who had efcaped the general massacre, a divan, or council of regency, confifting of the pacha and chiefs of the feven military corps. The former was to notify to this council the orders of the Porte, to fend the tribute to Conftantinople, and provide for the safety of government both external and internal; while, on the other hand, the members of the council had a right to reject the orders of the pacha, or even of depofing him, provided they could affign fufficient reafons. All civil and political ordinances muft alfo be ratified by them. Befides this, he formed the whole body into a republic; for which purpose he iffued an edict to the following purpole: Though, by the help of the Almighty, we have conquered the whole kingdom of Egypt with our invincible armies; nevertheless our benevolence is will ing to grant to the 24 fangiacs (A) of Egypt a republican government, with the following conditions.

104

His edict

for a republic.

"I. That our fovereignty shall be acknowledged by the republic; and in token of their obedience, our lieu tenant fhall be received as our representative: but to do nothing against our will or the republic; but, on the contrary, fhall co-operate with it for its welfare on all occafions. Or if he fhall attempt to infringe any of its privileges, the republic is at liberty to fufpend him from his authority, and to fend to our Sublime Porte a complaint against him, &c.

"II. In time of war, the republic fhall provide 12,000 troops at its own expence, to be commanded by a fangiac or fangiacs.

"III. The republic fhall raise annually and fend to our Sublime Porte the fum of 560,000 aflany (в), accompanied by a fangiac, who shall have a fatisfactory receipt, &c.

"IV. The fame fum to be raised for the use of Medina, aud Kiabe or Mecca.

"V. No more troops or janizaries fhall be kept by the republic in time of peace than 14,000; but in time of war they may be increased to oppose our and the republic's enemies.

"VI. The republic fhall fend annually to our granary, out of the produce of the country, one million

of cafiz (c) or measures of corn, viz. 600,000 of wheat Egypt. and 400,000 of barley.

"VII. The republic, fulfilling thefe articles, fhall have a free government over all the inhabitants of Egypt, independent of our lieutenant; but fhall execute the laws of the country with the advice of the mollah or high priest under our authority and that of our fucceffors.

"VIII. The republic fhall be in poffeffion of the mint as heretofore; but with this condition, that it shall be under the inspection of our lieutenant, that the coin may not be adulterated.

IX. That the republic fhall elect a fheik bellet out of the number of beys, to be confirmed by our lieutenant; and that the faid fheik bellet fhall be our reprefentative, and shall be efteemed by all our lieutenants, and all our officers both of high and low rank, as the head of the republic; and if our lieutenant is guilty of oppreffion, or exceeds the bounds of his authority, the faid fheik bellet shall represent the grievances of the republic to our Sublime Porte: but in cafe any foreign enemy or enemies disturb the peace of the republic, we and our fucceffors engage to protect it with our utmost power until peace is re-eftablished, without any coft or expence to the republic. "Given and figned by our clemency to the republic of Egypt."

105

106

louks and

Thus the power of the Mamlouks ftill continued in The Turka very confiderable degree, and by degrees increased ish power fo much as to threaten a total lofs of dominion to the now almoft entirely Turks. During the last 50 years, the Porte having loft. relaxed from its vigilance, fuch a revolution has taken place, that the Turkish power is now almost reduced to nothing. But in order to understand this, we must confider the way in which the race of Mamlouks is continued or multiplied in Egypt. This is not in the ordinary way, by marriage: on the contrary, M. Volney affures us, that " during 550 years in which there why the have been Mamlouks in Egypt, not one of them has children of left fubfifting iffue; all their children perish in the first the Mamor fecond defcent. Almoft the fame thing holds good Turks all with regard to the Turks; and it is obferved, that die in Ethey can only fecure the continuance of their families gypt. by marrying women who are natives, which the Mamlouks have always difdained. The means by which they are perpetuated and multiplied are the fame by which they were firft established, viz. by flaves brought from their original country. From the time of the Moguls this commerce has been continued on the banks of the Cuban and Phafis in the fame manner as it is carried on in Africa, by the wars among the hoftile tribes, and the mifery or avarice of the inhabitants, who fell their children to strangers. The flaves thus procured are firft brought to Conftantinople, and afterwards difperfed through the empire, where they are purchased by the wealthy. When the Turks fubdued Egypt (fays M. Volney), they fhould undoubtedly have prohibited this dangerous traffic; their omitting.

I

Egypt. ting which feems about to difpoffefs them of their conqueit, and which feveral political errors have long been preparing.

"For a confiderable time the Porte had neglected the affairs of this province; and in order to restrain the Pachas, had fuffered the divan to extend its power till the chiefs of the janizaries and azabs were left without control. The foldiers themfelves, become citizens by the marriages they had contracted, were no longer the creatures of Conftantinople; and a change introduced into their difcipline ftill more increafed thefe diforders. At first the feven military corps had one common treasury; and though the fociety was rich, individuals, not having any thing at their own difpofal, could effect nothing. The chiefs, finding their power diminished by this regulation, had intereft enough to get it abolished, and obtained permiffion to poffefs diftinct property, lands, and villages. And as thefe lands and villages depended on the Mamlouk governors, it was neceffary to conciliate them to prevent their oppreffions. From that moment the beys acquired an afcendancy over the foldiers, who till then had treated them with difdain; and this could not but continually increafe, fince their governments procured them confideable riches. Thefe they employed in creating themselves friends and creatures. They multiplied their laves; and after emancipating them, employed all ther intereft to promote them to various employ. ments, and advance them in the army. Thefe upftarts, retainingfor their patrons the fame fuperftitious veneration cormon in the Eaft, formed factions implicitly Authority devoted to their pleafure." Thus, about the year ufurped by 1746, Ibram, one of the kiayas (D) of the janizaries, rendered hitfelf in reality mafter of Egypt; having Kiaya. managed maters fo well, that of the 24 beys or fangiacs eight wee of his household. His influence too was augmentecby always leaving vacancies in order to enjoy the moments himfelf; while the officers and foldiers of his corps were attached to his intereft; and his pover was completed by gaining over Rodoan, the mott powerful of all the colonels, to his intereft. Thus the Peha became altogether unable to oppofe him, and the orders of the Sultan were lefs refpected than thofe d Ibrahim. On his death in 1757, his family, i. e. hisenfranchifed flaves, continued to rule in a defpotic anner. Waging war, however, among each other, bdoan and feveral other chiefs were killed; until, in 766, Ali Bey, who had been a principal actor in e difturbances, overcame his enemies, and for fome ime rendered himself abfolute mafter of Egypt.

107

Ibrahim

108 Hiftory of

Ali Bey.

Of this in there are various accounts. The following is that gen by M. Volney. He begins with obferving, that thorivate hiftory of the Mamlouks in general must be fubje to great uncertainty, by reafon of their being generallarried off from their parents at a time of life when they & remember but little or nothing of their parents; and he marks, that they are likewife unwilling to communicate e little they may happen to remember. It is moft commly fuppofed, however, that Ali Bey was born among Abazans, a people of Mount Cauเ

109

educated

cafus; from whom, next to the Circaffians, the flaves Egypt. moft valued by the Turks, and other nations who deal in that commodity, are to be obtained. Having been brought to a public fale at Cairo, Ali Bey was bought by two Jew brothers named Ifaac and Yousef, who made a prefent of him to Ibrahim Kiaya. At this He is time he is fuppofed to have been about 13 or 14 years bought and old, and was employed by his patron in offices fimilar by Ibrahim to thofe of the pages belonging to European princes. Kiaya. The ufual education was alfo given him; viz. that of learning to manage a horfe well; fire a carbine and piftol; throw the djerid, a kind of dart used in the diverfions of that country, and which shall be afterwards defcribed. He was alfo taught the exercise of the fabre, and a little reading and writing. In all the feats of activity juft mentioned, he discovered fuch impetuofity, that he obtained the furname of Djendali, or "madman ;" and, as he grew up, difcovered an ambition proportionable to the activity difplayed in his youth. About the age of 18 or 20, his patron gave him his freedom; the badge of which among the Turks is the letting the beard grow, for among that people it is thought proper only for women and flaves to want a beard. By his kind patron also he was promoted to the rank of kachef or governor of a district, and at laft elected one of the 24 beys. By the death of Ibrahim in 1757, he had an opportunity of fatisfying his ambition; and now engaged in every scheme for the promotion or difgrace of the chiefs, and had a principal fhare in the ruin of Rodoan Kiaya above. mentioned. Rodoan's place was quickly filled by another, who did not long enjoy it; and in 1762 Ali Bey, then ftyled Shaik-el-Beled, having got Abdelrahman, the poffeffor at that time, exiled, procured himfelf to be elected in his room. However, he foon fhared He is ba the fate of the reft, being condemned to retire to nithed, but Gaza. This place, being under the dominion of a returns, and Turkish pacha, was by no means agreeable; for which reafon Ali having turned off to another place, kept yoke. himself concealed for fome time, until in 1766 his friends at Cairo procured his recal. On this he appeared fuddenly in that city; and in one night killed four of the beys who were inimical to his defigns, banifhed the reft, and affumed the whole power to him-felf. Still, however, his ambition was not fatisfied; and he determined on nothing less than to throw off his dependence on the Porte altogether, and become fultan of Egypt. With this view he expelled the pacha, refused to pay the accustomed tribute, and in the year 1768 proceeded to coin money in his own name. The Porte being at that time on the eve of a dangerous war with Ruffia, had not leifure to attend to the proceedings of Ali Bey; fo that the latter had an opportunity of going forward with his enterprizes very vigorously. His first expedition was against an Ara- Overcomes bian prince named Hammam; against whom he fent an Arabiall his favourite Mohammed Bey, under pretence that prince. the former had concealed a treasure entrusted with him by Ibrahim Kiaya, and that he afforded protection to rebels. Having deftroyed this unfortunate prince, he next began to put in execution a plan propofed to him by:

throws off

the Turkish