EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 53 
jurlfdidion is principally direded to cafes of doubt and diffi- 
culty. There are befides Cadis, in all the diftrids, or parifies^ 
if fo it may be expreiTed, which, in this great city, amount to 
more than two hundred. There are Imams, or priefts of the 
four feds, each having the diredion of the adherents of that 
fed. The Shech-cl-Bikker'i is an office of great refped, having 
fpecial authority over the fhe-rifs. There are other exclufive 
jurifdidions, which need not be fpecified. 
The revenue of the Cadis arifes folely from a tenth of the 
value of the thing litigated. Juftice or injuftice is fpeedily 
adminiftered, but is often influenced by bribery. 
Every Bey fits in judgment on cafes of equity. Thefe per- 
fonages are very obfervant of their refpedive jurifdidions ; and 
no Bey will imprifon a man liberated by another. Though 
fometimes too impetuous, they neverthelefs difplay great acute - 
nefs and knowlege of charaders. This government at lead 
poffeffes every advantage of publicity, as every Bey is a magi- 
ftrate. 
But the juftice of the rulers is ever open to the omnipotent 
influence of gold. During my refidence at Kahira an inftance 
happened worthy of commemoration. Two Syrian Ghriftians, 
of the Maronite perfuafion, had been fucceffively farmers of 
the cuftoms, and had acquired great wealth : a quarrel arifmg 
between them, one made a refledion peculiarly grating on 
the other, who went to the Bey, and thus addrefl!ed him : 
" This city is not wide enough for me and fuch a one. You 
muft 
