DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12249#0341
effects of their position on the fellaheen. 305
CHAP. XI.
the present tenants of the tombs and their
rulers.
Though far from devoid of the natural desire of acqui-
sition, and secretly practising it to some slight extent,
as we have seen, the fellaheen, with the hare necessaries
of existence, spend their lives in general, if fitful, con-
tentment, or, perhaps it might he more correct to say,
in unintelligent indifference. Subject to blows, insults,
robbery, at the hand of every man in authority, they
are depressed for the moment like the beaten hound;
but let the pressure pass away, and, still like the poor
heast, they are speedily again light-hearted and merry.
Theirs is not now the callousness of the helpless, it is
the degradation of soul produced by the lengthened
pressure of serfdom. But they are not altogether in-
sensible to their position, still less so to their wrongs;
and in their evening conclaves, the shrewder among
them will at times illustrate the sad topic in the
favourite Oriental fashion, by some such parable as
the following, which was very popular at Goorneh.
It happened once that a Sultan captured a lion,
which it pleased him to keep for his royal pleasure.
An officer was appointed especially to have in charge
x
CHAP. XI.
the present tenants of the tombs and their
rulers.
Though far from devoid of the natural desire of acqui-
sition, and secretly practising it to some slight extent,
as we have seen, the fellaheen, with the hare necessaries
of existence, spend their lives in general, if fitful, con-
tentment, or, perhaps it might he more correct to say,
in unintelligent indifference. Subject to blows, insults,
robbery, at the hand of every man in authority, they
are depressed for the moment like the beaten hound;
but let the pressure pass away, and, still like the poor
heast, they are speedily again light-hearted and merry.
Theirs is not now the callousness of the helpless, it is
the degradation of soul produced by the lengthened
pressure of serfdom. But they are not altogether in-
sensible to their position, still less so to their wrongs;
and in their evening conclaves, the shrewder among
them will at times illustrate the sad topic in the
favourite Oriental fashion, by some such parable as
the following, which was very popular at Goorneh.
It happened once that a Sultan captured a lion,
which it pleased him to keep for his royal pleasure.
An officer was appointed especially to have in charge
x