Ch. x. the Turkish Dominions and Persia. 183 



quently no more than the branch of a tree cut 

 below a fork, and used without wheels. The 

 ground is tilled by asses and cows, rarely by 

 oxen, which would bespeak too much riches. In 

 the districts exposed to the Arabs, as in Palestine, 

 the countryman must sow with his musket in his 

 hand ; and scarcely does the corn turn yellow 

 before it is reaped, and concealed in subterraneous 

 caverns. As little as possible is employed for 

 seed-corn, because the peasants sow no more than 

 is barely necessary for their subsistence. Their 

 whole industry is limited to a supply of their im- 

 mediate wants ; and to procure a little bread, a 

 few onions, a blue shirt, and a bit of woollen, 

 much labour is not necessary. " The peasant 

 " lives therefore in distress ; but at least he does 

 " not enrich his tyrants, and the avarice of des- 

 " potism is its own punishment."* 



This picture, which is drawn by Volney, in 

 describing the state of the peasants in Syria, 

 seems to be confirmed by all other travellers in 

 these countries ; and, according to Eton, it repre- 

 sents very nearly the condition of the peasants 

 in the greatest part of the Turkish dominions. t 

 Universally, the offices of every denomination are 

 set up to public sale ; and in the intrigues of the 

 seraglio, by which the disposal of all places is re- 

 gulated, every thing is done by means of bribes. 

 The pachas, in consequence, who are sent into 

 the provinces, exert to the utmost their power of 



* Voy. de Volney, torn. ii. c. xxxvii. p. 379. 

 t Eton's Turkish Emp. c. viii. 2d edit. 1/99. 



