.i2,^6 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



The Kiaschef, who had raised himself a little 

 from his cushion to hear what I had to say, now 

 took Lis seat again, and darted menacing glances 

 at the Reis. "You know not," said he to him, with 

 anger feigned, or at least purchased, what a Franc 

 is." He then pronounced a long and absurd en- 

 comium on the qualities and the power of the 

 Francs i which he knew nothing at all about. 

 The Reis wished to reply ; but the Kiasclief rose, 

 and bestowed on him a hearty box on the ear, 

 and then ordered him to receive several blows 

 with a cane. In an instant this mob, ignorant 

 and foolishly habituated to despotism, after hav- 

 ing regarded me as the greatest criminal, dis- 

 persed, crying up the justice of the Ktaschef, and 

 extolling the excellent qualities of the Francs, 



Corruption In men of exalted stations, which Is 

 an undeniable tcsiimony of the depravity of man- 

 ners, and a certain presage of the fall of empires, 

 and the dissolution of the bonds of society, ap- 

 peared among the despots of Egypt to be custo- 

 mary, and a system universally adopted. They 

 were unanimous in opinion, that with the assist- 

 ance of money every thing might be obtained *. 

 Too great sacrifices, even in this respect, were 

 not requisite to obtain the object desired. It is 

 only in those countries, where they are continually 



* Pretio tut urn iter et patens. 



speaking 



