46» ANNUAL REGISTER, 1S14. 



LAST YEARS OF DJEZZAR. 



(From Dr. Clarke's Travels.) 



In our last visit to old Djezzar, 

 we found his health visibly on the 

 decline ; but there was nothing he 

 seemed more anxious to conceal 

 from the knowledge of his sub- 

 jects. The well-known fable of 

 the dying lion was constantly pre- 

 sent to his imagination ; and no 

 one better understood its moral ap- 

 plication. Like the generality of 

 ancient fables, it is, in fact, strik- 

 ingly applicable to the policy and 

 manners of Eastern nations. Al- 

 though the repose and stillness of 

 his charem were better suited to 

 the preservation of his life than the 

 public dutiesof his palace, he knew 

 too well the consequences of a ru- 

 mour purporting his inability to 

 transact the affairs of his govern- 

 ment, and therefore more readily 

 granted audience to persons re- 

 questing admission to his presence ; 

 continuing his usual practice of 

 cutting watch-papers, but being 

 less ostentatious of his bodily 

 vigour, and the exhibition of his 

 Herculean strength. We found 

 him, as before, with his feet bare, 

 and a bottle of water by his side, 

 but a more than ordinary covering 

 of turbans appeared about his head 

 and neck. Having thanked him 

 for the many obligations he had 

 conferred upon us, he inquired 

 concerning our late journey, and 

 seemed to possess great knowleHge 

 of the country, as well as some de- 

 gree of information respecting its 

 ancieat history. Adverting to the 

 dispute which took place between 

 the author and one of the escort 



in the plain of Esdraelon, (of which 

 he had been informed) he cau- 

 tioned us against the imprudence 

 of striking an Arab, unless with 

 power to put him instantly to 

 death ; adding, " if you had been 

 any where but in Djezzar's do- 

 minions, and under his protection, 

 you would not have lived to tell 

 the story. I know the inhabitants 

 of this country better than any 

 man, and have long found that they 

 are not to be governed by halves. 

 I have been deemed severe ; but I 

 trust you have found my name re- 

 spected, and even beloved, not- 

 withstanding my severity." This 

 last observation was strictly true ; 

 for, in spite of all his cruelty, such 

 was the veneration in which they 

 held the name of Djezzar in many 

 parts of the Holy Land, that many 

 of the Arabs would have sacriBced 

 their lives for him. As we were 

 about to take leave, he acknowledg- 

 ed, for the first time, that he did 

 not feel himself well, and com- 

 plained of want of sleep ; asking 

 us if we perceived any change in 

 his health. His interpreter told 

 us that he had never before known 

 an instance of a similar confession ; 

 and augured, from this circum- 

 stance, that he would not long sur- 

 vive ; which proved true, although 

 his death did not immediately fol- 

 low. His last moments were cha- 

 racteristic of his former life. The 

 person whom he fixed upon for his 

 successor, was among the number 

 of his prisoners. Having sent for 

 this man, he made known his in- 

 tentions to him ; telling him at 

 the same time, that he would never 

 er'joy peaceful dominion while cer- 

 tain of the princes of the country 

 existed. These men were thpn 



