mohammed ali and his house-第11部分

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career　of　ambition；　but　also　of　intrigue；　trickery；　and　treason；　opened　itself　before　him。　His　shrewdness　was　irresistible；　his　strong　arm　acomplished　all　things。

〃The　kachef　did　homage　to　his　first　master　only；　but；　if　the　latter　were　dead；　and　the　Mameluke　had　become　a　freeman；　hey　could　attain　to　the　throne　through　blood　and　murder。　All　the　vices；　with　their　interminable　train；　had　made　their　entrance　into　El…Kahera。　The　new　ruler　well　understood　how　to　acquire　riches；　power；　and　respect；　by　force；　and　from　a　kachef　he　made　himself　bey。　From　the　proceeds　of　his　booty　he　purchased　a　swarm　of　slaves；　who　were　compelled　to　follow　him。　He　was　only　a　military　power。　The　Mameluke　princes　measured　his　rank　and　influence　by　the　number　of　followers　in　his　train　when　he　passed　through　the　streets　of　Alexandria。　There　were　kachefs　who　owned　a　thousand　slaves；　and　beys　who　possessed　two　thousand。　By　this　you　can　judge　the　wealth　of　these　Mameluke　beys；　for　each　of　these　servants　cost　them　two　hundred　patras。　But　this　expense　was　the　smallest。　There　were；　besides；　the　women；　the　beautiful　Arabian　horses；　the　splendid　weapons；　the　Damascene　blades；　the　glittering　jewels；　the　costly　cashmere　shawls：　all　this　belonged　to　the　household　of　a　Mameluke　bey。　The　means　by　which　he　acquired　all　this　were　robbery；　trickery；　blood；　and　murder。　Whatever　was　bad　and　vicious；　corrupt　and　shameful；　this　the　Mameluke　practised　without　fear　or　hesitation。　His　virtue　was　that　intrepidity；　that　courage；　that　boldness；　that　recoils　from　nothing；　from　no　danger；　from　no　abyss；　that　yields　to　nothing；　and　to　which　nothing　is　sacred。　But　the　slaves　willingly　submitted　to　a　brave　master；　and　greeted　him　as　a　hero。

〃They　galloped　through　the　streets　on　their　proud　steeds；　despising　those　who　walked。　When　drawn　up　before　the　enemy　on　their　war…　horses；　they　bore　down　upon　them　boldly；　and　scattered　them　to　the　winds。　But　if　the　enemy　were　able　to　resist　the　force　of　their　first　fierce　attack；　they　turned　their　horses　and　galloped　away　in　wild　flight。

〃Such　was　the　state　of　things　when　two　hundred　years　ago　the　Ottomans　marched　with　large　armies　into　Egypt；　to　combat　and　vanquish　the　haughty　Mamelukes。

〃And　now　the　time　selected　by　Allah　to　punish　the　insolent　race　of　the　Mamelukes　and　their　rulers　who　were　seated　on　the　throne　of　Egypt　had　come。

〃The　nations　one　by　one　submitted　to　the　rule　of　these　sons　of　Mohammed。　After　protracted　struggles　they　had　established　a　united　empire　on　the　banks　of　the　Bosporus；　and　had　built　the　proud　city　of　Stamboul。　The　son　of　Mohammed　governed　as　an　illustrious　ruler；　until　at　last　the　Christian　dogs　came　and　conquered　the　magnificent　city；　and　took　up　their　abode　in　the　shining　palaces　built　by　the　last　emperors　of　the　house　of　the　Comnenes。　In　the　city　of　Constantinople；　as　they　have　named　our　beautiful　Stamboul；　they　resided。　A　glittering　throne　was　erected　there；　but　the　green　flag　of　the　prophet　no　longer　fluttered　from　the　minarets　of　the　mosque；　which　they　called　the　'Church　of　the　holy　Sophia。'

〃When　the　great　Selim　I。　heard　of　the　deeds　of　the　Mamelukes；　his　zeal　and　his　love　for　the　prophet　impelled　him　to　restore　his　holy　kingdom；　and　he　marched　with　a　mighty　army　into　Egypt；　to　punish　the　wicked　who　were　in　arms　against　the　prophet。　He　marched　through　Armenia；　Mesopotamia；　and　Syria；　into　Egypt。　Terror　and　lamentation　were　in　his　train；　before　him　nations　bowed　down　in　the　dust。　He　advanced　victoriously；　made　himself　master　of　Aleppo；　and　marched　on　to　storm　the　sacred　El…Kahera；　which　they　now　call　Cairo。　The　Mamelukes　defended　themselves　long　and　desperately；　until　they　at　last　succumbed　to　superior　numbers。

〃But　tranquillity　was　not　yet　restored　to　Egypt；　the　Mameluke　prince；　Tournan　Bey；　stole　into　the　city　at　midnight；　and　with　his　Mamelukes　murdered　the　entire　Turkish　garrison。　Filled　with　wrath　the　great　Selim　returned　and　laid　siege　to　the　city。　It　held　out　for　thirteen　days　and　nights；　but　after　fierce　struggles　was　at　last　compelled　to　yield。　Selim　punished　them　terribly；　they　were　all　made　prisoners；　and　Tournan　was　hanged　in　the　midst　of　the　city。　Selim　entered　the　city　as　its　conqueror　and　ruler。

〃You　will　suppose　that　Egypt　now　at　last　became　tranquil　and　that　the　Mamelukes　bowed　down　submissively　before　the　great　sultan；　before　the　green　flag　of　the　prophet　that　floated　in　triumph　from　the　citadel。　So　it　would　have　been；　had　not　those　Mamelukes　who　had　survived　the　fearful　slaughter　done　among　their　ranks；　brooded　on　vengeance。　But　I　tell　you；　so　long　as　there　shall　be　one　Mameluke　left　in　the　world；　so　long　will　he　do　battle　with　his　sword；　he　is　not　to　be　vanquished；　unless　indeed　he　be　trodden　under　foot　as　a　venomous　serpent；　and　destroyed　forever。

〃The　noble　Selim　had　magnanimously　omitted　to　do　this。　He　allowed　the　Mamelukes　to　take　the　oath　of　fidelity；　supposing　they　would　keep　it。　He　then　made　all　Egypt　a　province　of　the　Turkish　Empire；　and　returned　to　the　banks　of　the　Bosporus。　He　came　home；　a　victorious　hero；　covered　with　honor；　and　the　whole　empire　received　him　with　exultation；　and　peace　and　happiness　returned　with　him　to　Stamboul。　Over　in　Egypt；　however；　things　were　no　longer　looking　so　peaceful；　although　the　noble　Selim　had　been　so　generous　to　the　Mamelukes　that　he　had　not　only　given　them　their　lives；　but　also　accorded　them　a　portion　of　their　former　power。　He　had　desired　to　have　two　powers　in　the　government　that　should　watch　each　other；　and　therefore　the　great　and　wise　ruler　ordered　that　twenty…four　Mameluke　officials　should　be　appointed　to　share　the　government　with　his　own　Turkish　officials。　In　the　same　manner　as　the　sultan　appoints　a　pacha；　or　governor；　had　the　Mamelukes　also　appointed　a　chief。　This　chief　was　called　Sheik…el…Belad；　and　his　power　was　equal　to　that　of　the　pacha。　He　had　seven　adjutants；　the　odjaklis；　who　commanded　the　seven　corps　of　which　the　Mameluke　army　consisted。　And；　I　say　to　you；　the　Mamelukes　were　more　powerful　in　El…gahera　than　are　the　pachas　in　Turkish　cities。　Their　strifes　and　feuds　were　such；　that　those　were　among　the　unhappiest　of　Egypt's　days。

〃And　now；　hearken　to　the　dreadful　conclusion。　I　will　narrate　to　you　what　has　taken　place　in　Egypt　in　this　century。　The　Mamelukes　overthrew　the　rule　of　the　Turkish　grand…sultan；　under　the　leadership　of　the　bloodthirsty　Ali；　the　new　bey　who　stood　at　the　head　of　the　Mamelukes。　He　drove　out　the　sultan's　pacha；　and　announced　through　him　to　Selim；　'that　the　Turkish　rule　was　at　an　end；　and　that　Egypt　was　again　free；　he　having　driven　out　the　Turks　with　the　edge　of　the　sword。'　And　Egypt；　the　rebellious　province；　was　for　a　time　again　free；　that　is　to　say；　enslaved　by　the　Mameluke　Bey　Ali；　who　attempted　to　extend　his　power　further　and　further。　He　sought　to　form　alliances　even　with　the　enemies　of　Selim；　even　with　those　who　did　not　believe　in　the　holy　prophet。　He　even　sought；　with　flattery　and　entreaties；　to　prevail　on　the　grandees　of　the　republic　of　Venice　to　furnish　him　with　assistance　against　the　aggressions　of　the　Turks。　He　drew　his　sword　and　drove　our　armies　even　unto　Mecca　in　Arabia；　possessed　himself　of　the　holy　city　of　Mecca；　and　even　carried　his　boldness　so　far　that　he　caused　himself　to　be　proclaimed　Grand…Sultan　of　Arabia；　and　ruler　of　the　two　seas。

〃Yet　the　eye　of　Allah　beholds　the　unjust；　and　punishes　the　wicked；　and　I　will　now　give　you　the　very　latest　intelligence　I　have　received　from　the　holy　city。　May　it　fill　your　heart　and　soul　with　joyous　gratitude　for　the　justice　of　Allah！　Yes；　Allah　punishes　the　insolent。　And　by　the　hand　of　his　favorite；　of　Mohammed　Abou…Dahab；　in　whom　the　Grand…Sultan　Ali　confided；　was　he　laid　low。　This　slave　Mohammed　murdered　his　master；　and　seated　himself　in　his　place。　But　him；　too；　did　Allah　punish　as　a　wrong…doer　and　criminal。　Allah　punished　the　treason　which　Mohammed　had　practised　on　his　master　by　afflicting　him　with　madness。　Day　and　night　he　beheld　before　him　Ali's　terrible　bloody　shade；　in　horrible　dreams　he　saw　the　countenance　of　his　murdered　master；　and　at　last；　amid　fearful　torments；　he　slew　himself。

〃Do　you　suppose　peace　had　now　at　last　come？　Do　you　suppose　that　Egypt　now　submitted　to　her　rightful　ruler；　the　Grand…Sultan　of　Stamboul？　Ye　men　of　Cavalla；　hardly　was　Egypt　released　from　the　tyrant　Ali；　when　three　other　Mameluke　beys　advanced　to　seize　the　vacant　throne。

〃Mourad；　Ibrahim；　and　Ismail；　competed　for　the　prize。　Each　of　them　aspired　to　be　the　ruler　of　Egypteach　of　them　aspired　to　be　called　Scheik…el…Belad。

〃Mourad　and　Ibrahim　united　themselves　to　rule　together　in　brotherly　love。　They　united　their　forces　against　Ismail；　and　they　prevailed　against　himhe　was　overthrown　and　murdered；　extinguished　like　a　light　that　has　shone　but　a　brief　day。

〃And　now；　hearken　to　the　end；　ye　men　of　Cavalla。　The　Mameluke　begs；　Mourad　and　Ibrahim；　have　entered　the　golden　city　of　El…Kahera；　and　have　become　great　and　mighty。　They　have　conquered　the　grand…sultan；　have　possessed　themselves　of　all　the　lands；　brought　all　the　Mamelukes　into　subjection；　and　have　not　rested　until　all　Egypt　has　been　subjugated。

〃And　now　you　know；　men　of　Cavalla；　that　the　sons　of　the　slaves；　that　Mourad　and　Ibrahim；　rule　in　the　holy　city　El…Kahera；　and　in　all　Egypt。　Proudly　do　these　Mameluke　princes　hold　up　their　heads。　From　slaves　they　have　become　heroes；　and　from　heroes　they　have　become　princes。〃




CHAPTER　VII

DREAMS　OF　THE　FUTURE。

In　breathless　attention；　utterly　oblivious　of　all　else；　Mohammed　had　listened　to　the　words　of　the　scha…er；　and　long　after　he　had　concluded；　and　the　audience　begun　to　disperse；　he　still　sat；　his　eyes　widely　extended；　and　gazing　fixedly　at　the　cushion　on　which　the　sha…er　had　sat；　as　though　he　were　still　there；　relating　the　deeds　and　wonders　of　the　Mamelukes。　Suddenly　the　silence　that　surrounded　him　aroused　him　from　his　preoccupation。　He　arose　and　walked　slowly　out；　still　hearing　the　voice　that　related　such　wondrous　stories　of　distant　lands。　Thoughtfully　he　wandered　on　toward　the　rocky　pathway。　He　had　forgotten　all　else：　the　mother　on　whose　account　he　had　been　so　anxious；　the　boys　whom　he　was　in　the　habit　of　regarding　so　contemptuously　when　he　met　them；　and　whom　he　now　scarcely　sees　as　they　pass　by；　the　cave；　too；　his　paradise；　is　forgotten。　He　would　no　longer