mohammed ali and his house-第84部分

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CHAPTER　XII

AGAINST　THE　MAMELUKES。


While　the　Mameluke　beys；　Ismail　and　Bardissi；　were　victorious　at　Cairo；　L'Elfi　Bey　still　lay　with　his　followers　at　Nisibis。　There　he　ruled；　and　there　his　Mamelukes　robbed；　plundered；　and　tyrannized　over　the　inhabitants。

The　governor；　Courschid　Pacha；　was　again　firmly　established　in　Alexandria；　where　he　was　assembling　new　forces；　and　preparing　to　march　against　Cairo　and　the　Mamelukes；　and　also　against　Mohammed　Ali　and　his　Albanians　and　Armenians；　he　only　awaited　the　sultan's　decision。　He　had　sent　to　Stamboul　intelligence　of　all　that　had　occurredof　Cousrouf's　flight；　and　of　his　defeat　and　capture　at　Damietta。

〃Who　is　now　to　be　appointed　viceroy？〃　This　was　the　question　to　be　decided　at　Stamboul。

〃Do　you　command；　O　master；　that　our　troops　march　against　Cairo　to　drive　out　the　Mamelukes；　and　reinstate　Cousrouf　as　viceroy！　Command；　O　master；　and　your　servants　will　obey！〃

While　the　Turks　were　awaiting　an　answer　from　Stamboul；　affairs　in　Cairo　were　becoming　more　and　more　complicated；　and　law　and　order　no　longer　reigned　there。　The　Mamelukes　were　daily　becoming　more　violent　and　overbearing。　They　roamed　through　the　city　in　bands；　plundering　and　burning；　and　the　beys　could　no　longer　control　them。　Daily　the　sufferings　of　the　people　became　greater；　and　their　hatred　of　the　lawless　Mamelukes　more　intense。

Robbed　and　outraged　as　they　were；　they　were；　in　addition；　continually　being　called　on　to　pay　new　taxes　to　their　detested　rulers。

The　Mameluke　beys；　Bardissi　and　Ismail；　need　money；　need　it　more　than　ever。　But　where　are　they　to　get　it？　The　question　is　a　perplexing；　a　tormenting　one；　and　with　dismay　Bardissi　submits　it　to　his　faithful　friend　and　untiring　adviser；　the　sarechsme；　Mohammed　Ali。

And　it　was　Mohammed　who　continually　advised　the　imposition　of　new　taxes；　and　who　was　constantly　engaged　with　Bardissi　in　devising　new　means　of　raising　money；　and　the　imposition　of　each　new　burden　was　the　signal　for　a　new　cry　of　rage　from　the　oppressed　people。　The　soldiers；　too；　began　to　murmur　again；　and　to　loudly　demand　their　long…withheld　pay。

The　Albanians　and　Armenians；　subject　to　Mohammed　Ali；　were　held　by　him　in　severe　discipline。　He　did　not　allow　his　soldiers　to　make　thieves　and　robbers　of　themselves。　He　threatened　with　instant　death　all　who　should　be　caught　in　the　act。　They；　however；　clamored　all　the　more　loudly　for　pay。

Mohammed　listened　to　them　quietly；　and　seemed　to　be　touched　by　their　complaints。　〃But；〃　said　he；　sadly；　〃it　does　not　rest　with　me　to　pay　you；　neither　can　I　do　so。　I　am　poor　myself；　I　have　nothing　to　live　on　but　my　pay；　and　that　is　withheld　from　me　also。　I　therefore　have；　unfortunately；　nothing　to　give　my　soldiers。　Only　the　chiefs；　Ismail　or　Bardissi；　can　give　you　your　pay。〃

His　soldiers　have　understood　him。　They　salute　their　sarechsme；　go　away；　and　say　nothing。

Mohammed　well　knows　where　the　swarm　of　soldiers　that　had　stood　before　his　house　have　now　gone；　led　by　their　bim　bashis。

They　rush；　their　numbers　increasing　on　the　way；　to　the　house　where　Bardissi　resides。　With　loud　cries　they　demand　to　speak　with　Bardissi　himself。

He　appears；　and　asks　why　they　have　come。　The　vestibule　of　the　palace　is　already　crowded　with　soldiers；　and　new　masses　are　continually　pouring　into　the　court…yard。　In　reply　to　Bardissi's　question；　they　all　cry　loudly：　〃We　have　come　for　our　pay！　We　want　money！　We　are　hungry！　We　want　our　pay；　our　money！〃

〃Go　back　to　your　quarters；　and　remain　there；　quietly！〃　cries　Bardissi。　〃In　two　days　you　shall　have　your　pay。　Go！〃

〃We　will　wait　no　longer！〃　cries　a　bim　bashi；　and　they　all　cry　after　him：　〃We　want　our　money！　We　will　not　leave　here　until　we　are　paid！〃

They　press　farther　and　farther　into　the　house；　more　and　more　fiercely　demanding　their　pay。　Suddenly；　a　loud；　firm　voice　resounds　from　the　court…yard：　〃What　does　this　mean；　soldiers？　What　are　you　doing　here？　How　dare　you　force　your　way　into　the　palace　of　the　chief？〃

A　smile　lights　up　Bardissi's　countenance。　This　is　his　friend　Mohammed　Ali。　He　will　extricate　him　from　his　embarrassing　position。

Yes；　it　is　he；　the　sarechsme；　at　whose　approach　the　men　respectfully　fall　back　and　make　room。　He　enters　the　palace　and　hastens　to　Bardissi。

〃Oh；　forgive　me！　I　knew　not　that　my　soldiers　had　dared　to　come　here。　They　also　came　to　me　and　demanded　their　pay；　I　had　none　to　give　them；　yet　I　had　no　idea　they　would　go　so　far　as　to　annoy　you　personally。〃

Bardissi　makes　no　reply。　He　only　looks　at　his　friend；　and　grasps　his　hand　warmly。

〃I　thank　you；　Mohammed；　for　having　come。〃

〃It　is　my　duty；　Bardissi；〃　replies　he；　loud　enough　to　be　understood　by　all　his　soldiers。　〃Yes；　it　is　the　duty　of　the　sarechsme　to　be　identified　with　his　soldiers；　and　if；　impelled　by　their　want；　they　went　too　far；　I　beg　for　their　forgiveness；　but　I　also　beg　that　justice　be　done　them；　and　their　demands　are　just。　They　are　in　great　want；　for　I　have　forbidden　them　to　rob　and　plunder。　They　have　long　waited　patiently　for　their　pay。　But　I　beg　you　to　give　it　them　now；　Bardissi。〃

The　soldiers　who　had　heard　all；　cried　loudly：　〃Long　live　our　sarechsme！　Long　live　Bardissi；　our　chief！〃

〃Believe　me；　soldiers；　he　will　give　you　your　pay！Will　you　not；　Bardissi？〃

〃Yes；　sarechsme；　your　soldiers　shall　receive　their　pay。　I　give　you　my　word；　they　shall　be　paid　to…morrow。　Come　to　the　citadel；　to　my　defterdar　to…morrow　morning；　and　he　will　pay　you。〃

〃You　have　heard　it；　soldiers：　you　are　to　be　paid　to…morrow。　And　now　go！〃

But　no　one　moved；　they　stood　still；　grumbling　in　low　tones。

〃What；〃　cried　the　sarechsme；　with　sparkling　eyes；　〃you　dare　to　remain　when　I　have　told　you　to　go！　Do　you　distrust　the　promise　of　Osman　Bey　Bardissi；　and　of　your　general？　Go；　I　tell　you！　You　are　to　be　paid　to…morrow。　Therefore；　go　and　wait！〃

They　no　longer　dare　to　defy；　and　quietly　withdraw。

Bardissi　grasps　his　friend's　hand　again。　〃I　thank　you。　You　have　freed　me　from　much　embarrassment；　you　have　done　me　a　great　service。　But　I　beg　you　to　lend　me　your　kindly　assistance　still　further。　Tell　me　where　am　I　to　get　the　money　with　which　to　pay　the　soldiers　to…　morrow？〃

〃To…morrow？　Why　trouble　yourself　about　to…morrow？　I　will　endeavor　to　keep　the　soldiers　quiet　for　a　few　days；　and；　in　the　meanwhile；　we　will　devise　new　plans　for　raising　money。　I　know　of　one　means　that　I　have　often　thought　of。〃

〃Name　it；　my　friend！〃

〃It　is　dangerous。〃

〃Name　it；　nevertheless。　No　matter　about　the　danger；　provided　I　raise　money。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Mohammed；　deliberately；　〃it　seems　unjust　to　me　that　our　people　should　bear　the　burden　of　taxation　alone！　Why　should　not　a　tax　be　imposed　on　the　Franks　and　Levantines　also？〃

〃On　the　foreigner？〃　said　Bardissi；　with　a　start。　〃That　has　never　been　done；　that　I　am　aware　of。〃

〃Then　let　it　be　done　now　for　the　first　time。　They　have　been　allowed　to　accumulate　wealth　here；　without　bearing　any　of　the　burdens　of　government。〃

〃You　are　right：　it　should　be　done。　My　defterdar　shall　take　the　necessary　steps　at　once。　The　Levantines　and　Franks　shall　be　made　to　pay　this　very　day；　and　your　soldiers　shall　have　the　money。〃

Bardissi　hastily　departed　to　give　the　necessary　instructions。

Mohammed　Ali　returned　slowly　to　his　house；　a　complacent　smile　on　his　countenance。　〃Only　continue　in　your　present　course；　and　you　will　soon　fall　into　the　pit　I　have　dug　for　you　and　yours。　Proceed！　Your　new　tax　will　create　quite　a　sensation！〃

He　was　right。　The　new　tax　did　create　a　sensation。

Bardissi's　officials　flew　from　house　to　house；　levying　a　contribution　of　five　hundred　sequins　from　each　Frank　and　Levantine。

Their　demands　were　met　everywhere　with　violent　opposition；　and　caused　general　dismay。　All　the　consuls　repaired　to　the　citadel；　to　Bardissi；　to　protest；　in　the　names　of　their　respective　countries；　against　this　unexpected　outrage。　Bardissi　turned　a　deaf　ear　to　their　protests　and　entreaties。　He　thought　only　of　his　empty　coffers；　and　of　the　necessity　of　paying　the　soldiers　on　the　following　day。　Nothing　could　induce　him　to　retract　his　action。　The　collection　of　the　tax　was　enforced；　and　the　money　extorted　from　the　foreigners。　The　consuls；　however；　incensed　at　the　outrage；　and　resolved　not　to　submit　to　such　treatment；　left　Cairo　in　a　body；　followed　by　their　entire　households；　to　repair　to　Alexandria　to　take　up　their　residence　there。　But；　during　the　night　preceding　their　departure；　the　French　consul　had　a　long　private　conference　with　Mohammed　Ali。

What　passed　at　this　interview　no　one　knew。　At　daybreak　Mohammed　accompanied　the　consul　to　the　door　of　his　house；　and；　in　taking　leave　of　him；　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃Only　wait。　The　fruit　is　ripe　and　will　soon　fall。　Tell　Courschid　Pacha　I　am　working　for　him；　and　am　still　the　sultan's　faithful　servant。　Though　it　seem　otherwise；　I　am　still　working　for　him。　Be　assured；　I　shall　act　promptly　when　the　time　for　action　comes。〃

On　the　following　morning　the　defterdar　gave　the　troops　half　their　pay；　the　sum　raised　by　the　tax　imposed　on　the　foreigners　not　being　sufficient　to　liquidate　the　whole　amount。　The　soldiers；　however；　were　not　satisfied　with　receiving　half　their　pay；　and　went　away　grumbling。　This　gave　only　temporary　relief；　and　soon　the　whole　army　was　dissatisfied；　clamoring　for　pay　and　ripe　for　revolt。

New　taxes　had　to　be　imposed；　and　the　burden　fell　upon　the　hapless　people。　The　tax…gatherers　made　their　circuit　again；　and　mercilessly　collected　the　tax；　in　spite　of　the　opposition　and　lamentations　of　the　sorely…oppressed　people。　If　they　refused　to　pay；　the　amount　was　raised　by　selling　their　houses。　The　enraged；　despairing　people　no　longer　grumbled；　but　rushed　howling　and　crying　in　dense　masses　to　the　Mosque　El…Ayar；　declaring　that　they　would　rather　die　than　longer　endure　such　outrages。

The　monster…rebellion…raises　its　head　again；　and　the　uproar　of　revolt　rounds　through　all　Cairo。

The　cadis　and　sheiks　hasten　to　the　mosque　to　use　their　influence　in　tranquillizing　the　people；　but　in　vain。　The　only　response　to　their　representations　is；　〃We　cannot；　we　will　not　pay　more！〃

The　vast　hall　of　the　mosque　resounds　with　their　lamentations　and　cries　of　rage。　Suddenly　Mohammed　Ali；　followed　by　a　few　of　his　soldiers；　appears　on　the　threshold。　In　a　loud　voice　he　begs　the　people　to　disperse；　in　Bardissi's　nam