DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12249#0344
308 THE FELLAHEEN AND THEIR RULERS.
functionaries beneath, who can only wring the means
from one source. As for the Nazers and Kasheffs,
their periodical visits afford very palpable reason for
ascertaining the extent and nature of their capacity
for backsheesh. But the cormorant whose greed they
know best, and whom the fellaheen most peculiarly
hate, although in secret, is their own fellow, often
their own kinsman, the Shehh-bellecl. It is of course
impossible to tell whether all of this class, as of any
classy deserve unconditional reprobation, but whenever
it has happened to me to'know anything of them they
are universally detested and detestable. Nor is this
difficult to understand, for their extortions, although
they may not always be very great in amount, come
peculiarly home to the sufferers. Is government labour
to be allotted ? bribes to the Shekh may relieve those
who are able or willing to pay. Does the Kasheff come
for the taxes before they are ready? delay is perhaps
purchased by a present of three or four hundred
piastres to that official, and in raising this from his
people the Shekh will lay on another hundred for his
own use. Is a certain amount of provisions ordered
from the village for military stores, or any other
public purpose ? the Shekh in collecting it will take
care to have a considerable picking for himself.
Neither is this sliding scale of rulers the only leech
with which the fellaheen are familiar. The military
police, the asltar, of whose operations we shall presently
have a specimen, will, when in their neighbourhood,
come and live upon them at free quarters, afterwards
functionaries beneath, who can only wring the means
from one source. As for the Nazers and Kasheffs,
their periodical visits afford very palpable reason for
ascertaining the extent and nature of their capacity
for backsheesh. But the cormorant whose greed they
know best, and whom the fellaheen most peculiarly
hate, although in secret, is their own fellow, often
their own kinsman, the Shehh-bellecl. It is of course
impossible to tell whether all of this class, as of any
classy deserve unconditional reprobation, but whenever
it has happened to me to'know anything of them they
are universally detested and detestable. Nor is this
difficult to understand, for their extortions, although
they may not always be very great in amount, come
peculiarly home to the sufferers. Is government labour
to be allotted ? bribes to the Shekh may relieve those
who are able or willing to pay. Does the Kasheff come
for the taxes before they are ready? delay is perhaps
purchased by a present of three or four hundred
piastres to that official, and in raising this from his
people the Shekh will lay on another hundred for his
own use. Is a certain amount of provisions ordered
from the village for military stores, or any other
public purpose ? the Shekh in collecting it will take
care to have a considerable picking for himself.
Neither is this sliding scale of rulers the only leech
with which the fellaheen are familiar. The military
police, the asltar, of whose operations we shall presently
have a specimen, will, when in their neighbourhood,
come and live upon them at free quarters, afterwards