DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0053
34 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
ture, eight and a half, for the Spanish dollar. The dollars
thus exchanged were coined into base money of ten or twelve
piastres, which gave an immediate command of currency to
an immense amount.
The subsequent success of the Pasha had only enabled
him to keep the shores of the Red Sea free from the Wahab-
bees, against whom he had in vain attempted to wage an
offensive war. He was obliged to remain with his troops in
Arabia; and had absented himself so long from Cairo, that,
at the time of my preparing to leave the country, his friends
almost despaired of his return : this, however, has since taken
place.
Though the Pasha monopolised trade, yet he protected
traders : Christians were no longer at the mercy of Mussul-
men, nor could the Turkish soldier insult the " Giaour" Avith
impunity. His summary mode of punishment, on an occa-
sion I shall relate, had at once put a stop to the inclination
of the Turkish soldier to tyrannise over the Franks.
Two merchants were riding on mules towards Fostak (Old
Cairo) when they were met by a couple of armed Albanians',
on their way to a large barrack between Fostak and Cairo:
they stopped the Franks, obliged them to dismount, and
proceeded, without any ceremony, mounted on their mules.
Unfortunately for the soldiers, the Pasha overtook the mer-
chants, who were returning home in the heat of the day on
ture, eight and a half, for the Spanish dollar. The dollars
thus exchanged were coined into base money of ten or twelve
piastres, which gave an immediate command of currency to
an immense amount.
The subsequent success of the Pasha had only enabled
him to keep the shores of the Red Sea free from the Wahab-
bees, against whom he had in vain attempted to wage an
offensive war. He was obliged to remain with his troops in
Arabia; and had absented himself so long from Cairo, that,
at the time of my preparing to leave the country, his friends
almost despaired of his return : this, however, has since taken
place.
Though the Pasha monopolised trade, yet he protected
traders : Christians were no longer at the mercy of Mussul-
men, nor could the Turkish soldier insult the " Giaour" Avith
impunity. His summary mode of punishment, on an occa-
sion I shall relate, had at once put a stop to the inclination
of the Turkish soldier to tyrannise over the Franks.
Two merchants were riding on mules towards Fostak (Old
Cairo) when they were met by a couple of armed Albanians',
on their way to a large barrack between Fostak and Cairo:
they stopped the Franks, obliged them to dismount, and
proceeded, without any ceremony, mounted on their mules.
Unfortunately for the soldiers, the Pasha overtook the mer-
chants, who were returning home in the heat of the day on