EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 49 
imported from Georgia, CIrcaffia, and Mingrella. A few have 
been prifoners, taken from the Auftrians and Ruffians, who 
have exchanged their rehgion for an eftablifhraent. The Beys 
give general orders to their agents at Conftantinople, to purchafe 
a certain number every year, and many are brought to Egypt 
by private merchants on fpeculation. When the fupply proves 
infufficient, or many have been expended, black flaves from the 
interior of Africa are fubftituted, and if found docile, are armed 
and accoutred like the reft. 
Particular attention is paid to the education of thefe favoured 
flaves. They are inftru£ted in every exercife of agility or 
ftrength, and are in general diftinguifhed by the grace and 
beauty of their perfons. The gratitude of the difciples is equal 
to the favour of their mafters, whom they never quit in the 
hour of danger. If they have a difpofition for learning they are 
taught the ufe of letters ; and fome of them are excellent fcribes: 
but the greater part neither can read nor write, a ftrlking ex- 
ample of which deficiency is obfervable in Murad Bey himfelf. 
The inferior Mamluks conftantly appear in the military drefs, 
and are commonly armed with a pair of piftols, a fabre, and a 
It can never be believed, that where a power fo abfolute as that of the pro- 
prietor over his flave, is fupported by the fan£tions of law, that no abufes of it 
fliould exifl j but this fingle privilege greatly foftens its afperity. 
The child of a female flave, begotten by her mafler, is ipfo fadio free, and a 
flave may authorize a free perfon to purchafe his emancipation. 
H dagger. 
