AND LOWER EGYPT. 273 



as my return was known, I was beset by a multi- 

 tude of invalids, or persons who supposed them- 

 selves to be so. 



This district was far from being in a state of 

 tranquillity. The fellahs of the surrounding coun- 

 try had risen in a body, and refused the imposts. 

 Some Arabs also, from whom tribute had been ex- 

 acted, joined themselves to the malecontents. The 

 several K'laschefs had united their forces to march 

 against the insurgents', and had just sustained a 

 complete defeat. A victory over authority, or ra- 

 ther over the most detestable despotism, had ren- 

 dered this country a scene of riot and confusion. 

 The fields were abandoned or laid waste ; the 

 husbandman forsook his plough to fly to arms ; 

 the flocks were carried off, or destroyed, and every 

 sort of provision became the prey of the enemy or 

 of robbers. The highways, lined with banditti, 

 were shut against communications and intelligence 

 of every kind. In a word, desolation raged over a 

 soil, the fertility of which struggled against the 

 ferociousness of the inhabitants. All these circum- 

 stances caused devastations, which of necessity 

 would be long in repairing, and far above the value 

 of the impositions which they were desirous to levy. 

 But amid the indignation which is excited by a 

 hateful tyranny, persons are not always able to re- 

 flect coolly upon the consequences. The people, 

 VOL. Ill, T however 



