EGYPT, AND SYRIA. 277 
will raife another, as enterprifing and unprincipled as himfelf, to 
the fame envied fuperiority. 
His power in the provinces is delegated to officers who pof- 
fefs an authority equally arbitrary. In thofe diftridls, which 
have always or for a long time formed an integral part of the 
empire, thefe officers are generally called Meleks. In fuch as 
have been lately conquered, or perhaps, more properly, have 
been annexed to the dominion of the Sultan, under certain fli- 
pulations, the chief is fuffered to retain the title of Sultan, yet is 
tributary to and receives his appointment from the Sultan of 
Fur. 
In this country, on the death of the monarch, the title de- 
fcends of right to the oldeft of his fons ; and in default of heirs 
male, as well as during the minority of thofe heirs, to his bro- 
ther. But under various pretences this received rule of fuccef- 
fion is frequently infringed. The fon is faid to be too young, 
or the late monarch to have obtained the government by unjuft 
means ; and, at length, the pretenfions of thofe who have any 
apparent claim to the regal authority are to be decided by war, 
and become the prize of the flrongeft. 
It was in this manner that the prefent Sultan gained pofTef- 
fion of the Imperial dignity. A preceding monarch, named Bo- 
ka}', had three fons, Mohammed^ furnamed Teraub^ el-ChaUfe^ 
and Abd-el-rachman. Teraub the eldeft (which cognomen was 
acquired by the habit of rolling in the dull when a child) firft 
obtained 
