EGYPT, AND SYRIAN 153 
fire, threw it on his flioulder, and rode off, to make way for 
others. In pafling the Bey, the powder, which was damp, 
having taken fire, the piece went off, and lodged the contents 
in the breaft of the Bey. He fell, and immediately expired. 
The flave fled, but it was not fuppofed any notice would be 
taken of what was merely accidental, however unfortunate. To 
fill up the number, Murzuk, fon of Ibrahim Bey, was promoted 
by his father's intereft. 
Even as far back as the period of my arrival in Egypt, the 
French nation complained loudly of the treatment it received 
from the Beys. Forty or fifty days fcarcely elapfed without 
fome new demand for money, which it was underftood was 
never likely to be repaid. Add to this, their commerce was 
daily decreafing, and no fixed tarif had they been able to efta- 
blifti with the farmer of the cuftoms, for the reception of their 
goods. '.yan..: 
When the war commenced, a conful was newly arrived at 
Alexandria, and he came to Kahira ; but it was to little pur- 
pofe that he fixed himfelf there for the protedion of trade, 
when the thoughts of the French government were engroffed 
by other objeds, and they could neither fupport nor fupply 
their fadories. 
Affairs continued nearly in the fame ftate till this time, Nov. 
1796, when the Conful, Magallon^ has obtained leave from his 
government to quit Kahira, and to refide entirely at Alexandria, 
X which 
