EGYPT. 1 65 



sades, between the years li50 and 1190, Egypt was governed by 

 Nouredin, whose son, the famous Saladin, proved so formidable to the 

 Christian adventurers, and retook from them Jerusalem. He instituted 

 the military corps of Mamalukes, who about the year 1242, advanced 

 one of their own officers to the throne, and ever after chose their 

 prince out of their own body. Egypt for some time flourished under 

 those illustrious usurpers, and made a noble stand against the pre- 

 vailing power of the Turks, till the time of Selim, who, about the year 

 1517, after giving the Mamalukes several bloody defeats, reduced 

 Egypt to its present state of subjection. 



While Selim was settling the government of Egypt, great numbers 

 of the ancient inhabitants withdrew into the deserts and plains, under 

 one Zinganeus, from whence they attacked the cities and villages of 

 the Nile, and plundered whatever fell in their way. Selim and his 

 officers, perceiving that it would be very difficult to extirpate those 

 marauders, left them at liberty to quit the country, which they did in 

 great numbers, and their posterity is known all over Europe and Asia 

 by the name of Gypsies. 



An attempt was made a few years since, to deprive the Ottoman 

 Porte of its authority over Egypt, by Aii Bey, whose father was a 

 priest of the Greek church. Ali having turned Mahommedan, and 

 being a man of abilities and address, rendered himself extremely 

 popular in Egypt. A false accusation having been made against him 

 to the grand-seignor, his head was ordered to be sent to Constanti- 

 nople : but, being apprised of the design, he seized and put to death 

 the messengers who brought this order, and soon found means to put 

 himself at the head of an army. Being also assisted by the dangerous 

 situation to which the Turkish empire was reduced, in consequence 

 of the war with Russia, he boidiy mounted the throne of the ancient 

 sultans of Egypt. But not content with the kingdom of Egypt, he 

 also laid claim to Syria, Palestine, and that part of Arabia' which had 

 belonged to the ancient sultans. He marched at the head of his troops 

 to support these pretensions, and actually subdued some of the 

 neighbouring provinces, both of Arabia and Syria. At the same time 

 that he was engaged in these great enterprises, he was not les? atten- 

 tive to the establishing of a regular form of government, and the 

 introducing of order into a country that had been long the seat of 

 anarchy and confusion. His views were equally extended to com- 

 merce ; for which purpose he gave great encouragement to the 

 Christian traders, and took off some shameful restraints and indigni- 

 ties t.o which they were subjected in that baibarous country. He 

 also wrote a letter to the republic of Venice, with the greatest assu- 

 rances of his friendship, and that their merchants should meet with 

 the utmost protection and safety. His great design was said to be, 

 to make himself master of the red Sea; to open the port of Suez to 

 all nations, but particularly to the Europeans ; and to make Egypt 

 once more the great centre of commerce. The conduct and views of 

 Ali Bey showed an extent of thought and ability that indicated nothing 

 of the barbarian, and bespoke a mind equal to the founding of an em- 

 pire. He assumed the titles and state of the ancient sultans of Egypt, 

 and was ably supported by Sheik Daher, and some other Arabian 

 princes, who warmly espoused his interests. He also succeeded in 

 almost all his enterprises against the neighbouring^ Asiatic governors 

 and pashas, whom he repeatedly defeated : but he was afterwards 

 deprived of the kingdom of Egypt, by the base and ungrateful conduct 



