DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0051
32 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
declaration of a professed soothsayer, who induced him to
pretend that he was called by fate to the government of
Egypt. Having seduced a few followers, with promises of
pay and rations, he assumed the title of Pasha of Egypt:
but his designs had been discovered, and measures taken by
the Kay a Bey to crush them as soon as put in execution.
After a short resistance, he was taken in his harem and
strangled : the poor soothsayer was rewarded by being tied
up in a sack and thrown into the Nile. No other execution
took place; every thing remained quiet, and proved the
firmness with which the government was established, this
being the first and only attempt made by any dependant
towards a revolution.
The war of the Wahabbees, though begun with such
brilliant success, did not continue favourable to the arms of
the Pasha : new hordes advanced against him ; every victory
diminished his array, which was recruited with great diffi-
cult}'. The inhabitants of the desert, inured to long and
speedy marches, capable of supporting every fatigue in their
burning sands, satisfied with the coarsest and scantiest food,
were formidable enemies to the Turkish soldiers; who, accus-
tomed to the plenty of Cairo, required constant supplies of
necessaries from Egypt, which the shores of the Red Sea
could by no means afford them. The convoys were often
cut off by the activity of the Wahabbees, who, ever on the
declaration of a professed soothsayer, who induced him to
pretend that he was called by fate to the government of
Egypt. Having seduced a few followers, with promises of
pay and rations, he assumed the title of Pasha of Egypt:
but his designs had been discovered, and measures taken by
the Kay a Bey to crush them as soon as put in execution.
After a short resistance, he was taken in his harem and
strangled : the poor soothsayer was rewarded by being tied
up in a sack and thrown into the Nile. No other execution
took place; every thing remained quiet, and proved the
firmness with which the government was established, this
being the first and only attempt made by any dependant
towards a revolution.
The war of the Wahabbees, though begun with such
brilliant success, did not continue favourable to the arms of
the Pasha : new hordes advanced against him ; every victory
diminished his array, which was recruited with great diffi-
cult}'. The inhabitants of the desert, inured to long and
speedy marches, capable of supporting every fatigue in their
burning sands, satisfied with the coarsest and scantiest food,
were formidable enemies to the Turkish soldiers; who, accus-
tomed to the plenty of Cairo, required constant supplies of
necessaries from Egypt, which the shores of the Red Sea
could by no means afford them. The convoys were often
cut off by the activity of the Wahabbees, who, ever on the