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The Beys perfectly feel the power they poffefs, which they dreadfully abuse. The Pacha remains no longer than while he is fubfervient to their defigns; fhould he dare speak in defence of his master's interefts, or those of the Egyptians, he becomes a state criminal: the Divan affembles, and he is expelled. The following is the manner in which they receive, and eject, those representatives of the Grand Seignior.

When a new Pacha lands, at Alexandria, he gives notice of his arrival to the council of the republic, and the Sheik El Balad fends the Beys of most addrefs to compliment him, bring him presents, and profess great submiffion. While they attend on him they artfully found his inclinations, study his character, and endeavour to learn, from his own mouth, or that of his officers, what are the orders he brings. Should they find them inimical to their own purpofes, they expedite a courier to the Sheik El Balad, who affembles the Divan, and the Pacha is forbidden to

proceed farther. They then write to the Grand Signor that the new governor comes with hoftile intentions, and fuch as will excite rebellion among his faithful subjects, and requeft

request his recall, which is fure to be complied with. When the chiefs of the republic believe they have nothing to fear from the Pacha, they invite him to Grand Cairo; the deputies place him in a sumptuous galley, and escort him all the way. The attendant boats are all elegantly tilted, and several filled with musicians. He advances, flowly, at the head of the fleet, no veffel being fuffered to pass that of the Pacha. Those who are, unfortunately, making a voyage up the Nile, are obliged to follow in his suite. He ftops at Hellai (z), and the Sheik El Balad either comes himself to receive him, or deputes feveral Sangiaks. The heads of the republic again congratulate him on his landing; the Aga of the Janiffaries prefents him the keys of the castle, prays him to make it his refidence, and he is conducted, in pomp, through the city. I have feen, and can therefore describe, the entrance of a Pacha.

The various corps of infantry, with their noify mufick, march first, in two files, their colours waving; the cavalry follows. About five or fix thousand horsemen advance in good order, their cloathing made of very

(z) A fmall village, half a league below Boulac.

bright ftuffs, while their floating robes, enormous muftachoes, and long lances, of fhining fteel, give them a majeftic and warlike air. Then come the Beys, magnificently cloathed, and attended by their Mamluks, mounted on Arabian horfes, high mettled, and adorned with houfings, embroidered in gold and filver; the bridles of those of the chiefs are bedecked with fine pearls and precious ftones, and their faddles with glittering gold. The various retinues, for each Bey had his own, were exceedingly elegant; the beauty of the youth, the richness of their habits, and their excellent horfemanship, all together formed a very agreeable fight. The Pacha clofed the march, advancing gravely, preceded by two hundred horfemen, a band of mufic, and four led horfes, flowly guided by flaves on foot, covered with houfings, most richly embroidered in gold and pearl, that trailed on the ground. The Pacha, mounted on a beauteous barb, wore a cluster of large diamonds in his turban, which darted back the fun's rays. This proceffion gave me an idea of the oriental pomp and magnificence of the ancient monarchs of Afia, when they fhewed themselves in public. about eight, and lafted till noon.

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On the morrow, the Pacha affembled the Divan, and invited the Beys to be prefent: he fat on a raised feat with a barred window, like the Grand Seignor. His Kiaya, or Lieutenant, read the orders of the Porte, and the Sangiaks, profoundly bowing, promifed obedience in all things which should not infringe their rights. This ended, a collation was ferved; and, when the affembly rose, the Pacha prefented the Sheik El Balad with a rich furred robe, and a horfe magnificently harnaffed; alfo caftans to the other Beys. Such, Sir, is the inftallation of a Pacha.

His office is a kind of banishment: he cannot leave his palace without the permiffion of the Sheik El Balad, but is a state prifoner, who, in the midft of fplendor, cannot avoid feeling the weight of his chains. His revenue amounts to near a hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds fterling, and is raised from the duties paid at Suez, on the merchandize of the Red Sea. The ambition of the Beys prefents him with a fruitful fource of wealth; when, poffeffing political cunning, and a knowledge of his own means, he has the art to fow diffention among the

chiefs and form parties. Each will then endeavour to obtain his intereft, and wealth pours in upon him. The Sangiaks named by the Divan alfo purchase a confirmation of their dignity of the Pacha, and the inheritance of those who die without iffue increases his treasury. Thus may the Grand Seignor's representative maintain himself in office, and become immensely rich, provided he proceeds with the utmost circumfpection; for, the ground on which he ftands is fo flippery, the leaft wrong ftep occafions his fall; and unforeseen circumftances will often counteract his utmost policy. Should fome young audacious Sangiak, by his crimes or courage, vanquish the party favoured by the Pacha, and arrive at the dignity of Sheik El Balad, he affembles the council, and the governor is ignominiously expelled. His order to depart is entrusted to an officer, cloathed in black, who, carrying it in his bofom, advances into the audience-chamber, and taking up a corner of the carpet which covers the fofa, bows profoundly, and fays, Infel Pacha; Pacha come down; which having faid he departs. The Governor is immediately obliged to pack up and retire,

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