28 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



It is very extraordinary, to find a race of men in power, 

 all agree to leave their fucceffion to Grangers, in preference 

 to their own children, for a number of ages ; and that no 

 one mould ever have attempted to make his fon fucceedhim, 

 either in dignity or eflate, in preference to a flave, whom 

 he has bought for money like a beafl. 



The Beys themfelvcs have feldom children, and thofe 

 they have, feldom live. I have heard it as a common obfer- 

 vation, that Cairo is very unwholefome for young children 

 in general ; the proflitution of the Beys from early youth 

 probably give their progeny a worfe chance than thofe of 

 others. 



The inflant that I arrived at Cairo was perhaps the only 

 one in which I ever could have been allowed, fingle and un- 

 protected as I was, to have made my intended journey, 



Ali Bey, lately known in Europe by various narratives 

 of the laft tranfaftions of his life, after having undergone 

 many changes of fortune, and been banifhed by his rivals 

 from his capital, at laft had enjoyed the fatisfadion of a re- 

 turn, and of making himfelf abfolute in Cairo. 



The Port had conflantly been adverfe to him, and he 

 cherifhed the ftrongeft refentment in his heart. He wifhed 

 nothing fo much as to contribute his part to rend the Ot- 

 toman empire to pieces. 



A favourable opportunity prefented itfelf in the Ruffian 

 war, and Ali Bey was prepared to go all lengths in fup- 

 port of that power. But never was there an expedition fo 



fuccefsful 



