1 
EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 225 
The Furlans had however been habituated to Merife before they 
had known their monarch, or the Iflam. The feverity of the 
order, therefore, and the numbers trefpaffing againft it, defeated 
the Sultan's purpofe. It was indeed put in execution, and a 
few miferable women fuffered unrelenting toniure, and innu- 
merable earthen jars were indignantly ftrewed piecemeal in the 
paths of the faithful ; but the opulent, as is ufual, efcaped with 
impunity, and fome were bold enough to fay, that the eyes 
even of the Sultan's women were ftill reddened with the vo- 
luptuous beverage, while priefts and magiftrates were bearing 
the fulminating edidt from one extremity of the empire to the 
other. It is certain that, fubfequent to this new law, the 
minds of the troops were much alienated from the monarch, 
and it is thought that no other caufe than this was to be fought. 
The monarch who admits of no licence will never reign in 
the hearts of the foldiery; and he muft give up the hope of 
their affedions, who is difpofed to become an impartial cenfor 
of the public morals. 
Innumerable reports had been propagated at different times, 
that the Jelabs would be allowed to depart. But none was well 
authenticated ; nay, as afterwards appeared, all were falfe. It 
is probable they were artfully circulated by order of the Sultan, 
with a view to cajole the foreign merchants, who, having now 
colleded the intended number of flaves, were at a heavy 
expenfe for their daily fuftenance, and- of courfe ill bore the 
unexplained delay, while his own merchandize was fold at a 
prodigious advance in Egypt. In elfeil, two fmall caravans 
found their way thither, betv/een the time of my arrival at 
G G Fur, 
