DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0047
28 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
Egypt, with his treasure and family—a trait of humanity
rarely to be met with amongst Turks. The first step of. Ma-
hommed Ali was to free himself from all those chiefs who
might hereafter become his rivals, permitting them to quit
the country with their wealth unmolested. His threats or
persuasions soon left him without a competitor, and sur-
rounded only by his immediate dependants and relations.
His next step was to form an alliance with the Mamelouks,
to whom he entirely abandoned the upper part of Egypt, as
far as Girgeh.
Alexandria was not a part of the Pashalic, being governed
by a chief sent from Constantinople. It was an essential
object to the Pasha's commercial designs to obtain it. The
arrival of the English under General Fraser, and the sub-
sequent treaty, gave it to him. His attention was now
divided between war and commerce. The war in Spain and
Portugal brought him an immense revenue from the exporta-
tion of corn, and enabled him to carry on a war against the
Wahabbees. The trade in corn through Alexandria re-
mained entirely in the hands of the Pasha's agents; who
finding such considerable profits from it, imagined that all
other trade might be monopolised by their master, who would
thus command the purses of foreigners. Our successes in
Spain having lessened the demand for corn, his monopoly
had effect contrary to his hopes; and there was a general
Egypt, with his treasure and family—a trait of humanity
rarely to be met with amongst Turks. The first step of. Ma-
hommed Ali was to free himself from all those chiefs who
might hereafter become his rivals, permitting them to quit
the country with their wealth unmolested. His threats or
persuasions soon left him without a competitor, and sur-
rounded only by his immediate dependants and relations.
His next step was to form an alliance with the Mamelouks,
to whom he entirely abandoned the upper part of Egypt, as
far as Girgeh.
Alexandria was not a part of the Pashalic, being governed
by a chief sent from Constantinople. It was an essential
object to the Pasha's commercial designs to obtain it. The
arrival of the English under General Fraser, and the sub-
sequent treaty, gave it to him. His attention was now
divided between war and commerce. The war in Spain and
Portugal brought him an immense revenue from the exporta-
tion of corn, and enabled him to carry on a war against the
Wahabbees. The trade in corn through Alexandria re-
mained entirely in the hands of the Pasha's agents; who
finding such considerable profits from it, imagined that all
other trade might be monopolised by their master, who would
thus command the purses of foreigners. Our successes in
Spain having lessened the demand for corn, his monopoly
had effect contrary to his hopes; and there was a general