Part I. Travels into the Levant. 
CHAP. LXVII. 
Of the Arrival of the Bey of Girge at Caire. 
WEdnefday the fourth of September, Mehmet Bey^ who was then Bey of The arrival 
Girge^ arrived near to Caire^ and Lodged at Bez,eten beyond old Caire ^ of the Bey 
in Tents. This Bey had been a Slave to one Haley Bey^ who died very Ricbj 
in the year One thoufand fix hundred fifty five, when he was Bey of Girge^ 
which is fourteen or fifteen days Journey from Caire^ up the Nile. In his Life- 
time he had made four of his Slaves Beys, of whom this was one ; and after 
his death Bey of Girge. When Haley Bey died, he left behind him Fourfcore 
thoufand Camels, and about as many Aflcs ; and befides that, a vafl; Treafure 
of Coyned Money and Jewels, among which there was a Cup made of a Tur- 
keis, worth above an Hundred thoufand Crowns. This Man lived at a very 
high Rate,and there was not a day but he fpent a thoufand Crowns in hisHoufe 
at Caire^ though he were not there, bo£ much more when he was. His Suc- 
cefTor ( Mehmet Bey I fpeak of ) was fent for by two Jgas^ one after another, 
and commanded in name of theBafha, ( who had no kindnefs for him ) to come 
to Catre^ and account for what he was in Arrear to the Baflia, for tbst is a Bey- 
fhip depending on the BalTafliip of Caire. The defign of the Bafha was to draw 
him to Caire^ under this pretext, then to deprive him of his Beyfliip, and give 
it to another ; which was a fecret he had difcoveredto no Man living. The 
Bey who lufpefled the Bafha's defign, having at firft flighted his Commands, 
refolved at le gth to come i but feeing the Balha knew that he came with a 
great Retinue, he fent an Aga to command him back. This Jlga found him at 
three days Journey from Caire^ and acquainted him with his Orders, which 
the other flighted, and proceeded on his Journey till he came near to Caire. 
Thurfday the fifth of September ^ali the Beys and other Perfons of Quality,went out 
to vifit him, as alfo all the Militia of the Country. The Beys, and the Cadt- 
lefqmr, (who was no friend to this Bafha) had laid their Heads together to 
make theBafha Manfoul^ in cafe he gave bad Reception to this Bey, becaufe, 
befides that they were all his friends, they always ftick together againft the 
Baflia. He made his entry into Cairc^ on Saturday the feventh of September, 
and that I might have a full view of that entry, I went to Cara Meidan, which 
is a great Court or Square in the Baftia's Palace, at the end whereof the Stables 
are. This is a large and fpacious place, but longer than broad. The Baftia 
came down, and went into a Kiemk^^ which is about the middle of the 
length of this place, on the right hand as you enter it from the Romeille : The 
Baflia llaid for him here, becaufe the Bey would not go to his Appartment, fear- 
ing he might not be ftrong enough for him there. Thither came all the Men 
of the Beys, and all thz Spahis, Chiaoux, Muteferacas, and in a word, all the 
MiUtia, ready to fight: For feeing they knew not the Baflia's defign, and fa w 
on the other hand that the Bey was well accompanied, they doubted it might 
come to blows. Thefe Men of the Beys played for the matter of two Hours 
with the Dgerit^ or TLagaye, which was a great Diverfion to me j for there I 
faw them at near dift:ance with fafety and eafe, whereas when they fee a Chri- 
fl:ian abroad in the Fields, they many times dart their Dgerit at him. After 
that, they drew neatly up into very clofe Order : And at the fame time, by the 
Gate oppofite to that which goes into the Romeille, the Arabs of this Bey en- 
tred the place, armed with Pikes, and Shables four fingers broad, every one 
with his iron-Hook a finger broad, and as big as ones Hand, with a Wooden 
Handle, to take up their Pikes without alighting from Horfe-back as they run, 
after they have darted them at any Body ; as they who make ufe of Arrows, 
have fuch another Iron-lnltrument , wherewith they hook up their Arrows 
from the Ground j and both are very dextrous at it. Thefe iHooks theycar- 
H h 2 ried 
