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The Ottoman Porte sent a Pacha to Djedda; but he 
passed his time at Mecca in eating at the expense of the 
Scherif, without performing any act of authority; so 
that his existence was almost unknown. 
The Grand Seignior sends also every year a Kadi 
to Mecca, Djedda, and Medina, to exercise judicial 
power; but they cannot interfere in any thing that con- 
cerns the administrative department, which is entirely 
in the hands of the Scherif, who rules as an independent 
Sultan, through the interposition of his governors, who 
take the title of Ouisir, or Vizier, though they were 
formerly his negro slaves. 
The Sultan Saaoud, whose authority was founded by 
force, made himself obeyed; but he had not made him- 
self master of the government. He exacted no contri- 
butions, and appeared even to respect the power of the 
Scherif, who, though enjoying all the attributes of in- 
dependence, being absolute master of the lives and 
wealth of his subjects, making war and peace at his 
pleasure, and keeping nearly 3,000 troops of different 
nations, could not, with all these advantages and means, 
which were not however sufficient to oppose the Weh- 
habites, prevent them from framing orders and laws, 
which they obliged him to observe, or from acting in 
every thing as they thought proper, though he might 
have kept his fortresses shut, and in such a state of 
defence, as always to have preserved an imposing 
attitude. 
It results, from these conflicts for power, that the 
poor inhabitants know not who is their true master. 
The authority being divided among so many chiefs, 
prevents the administration of justice, compromises the 
property and liberty of the subject, and consequently 
accelerates very greatly the ruin of public happiness. 
