SS TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
in fome cafes operates. Irak was to be protected under one 
condition of tribute, Egypt under another. The immediate 
fuccelTors of Mohammed appear to have been guided in many 
inftances by found poHcy, and to have tempered the rage of 
fanaticifm, by fome attention at leaft to the well-being even 
of their heretical fubjedts. The imports in Egypt, one of 
their earlieft territorial acquifitions, and the inhabitants of 
which had many of them embraced Iflamifm, were not diftin- 
guifhed by any remarkable feverity ; and if that country have 
fmce been impoverifhed and depopulated, it appears not to 
refult from the original inftitutions, fo much as from the 
abufes which happened at an early period of the Egyptian 
Chalifat, and which may contaminate the mildeft and moft 
reafonable eftablifhments. Thefe abufes, which have long been 
gradually increafmg, are now multiplied to a point, beyond 
which, confiftently with the being of the peafantry, they 
cannot well be extended. 
The principal local tribute is a tax on land of two patackes 
each foddcin^ all over the country ; which, whether the efFe£t of 
a compact between the Arabian vidor and the natives, or an 
impoft in force under the former government, was continued by 
Sultan Selim. Taking the cultivable lands in Egypt at two 
million one hundred thoufand acres, this fhould give the fum of 
twelve thoufand nine hundred purfes, or at the prefent exchange 
of 630,0001. fterling ; but at this time only two-thirds of thefe 
lands are adtually cultivated, which reduces the fum to 420,000!, 
On the other hand, however, the Beys are not contented with this 
legitimate revenue, but infift on receiving in many inftances 
five 
