384 
He was followed by a body of troops; but what 
troops! They were worthy of their chief. The greatest 
disorder and want of discipline prevailed among them. 
They even fired upon the passers by in the streets, and 
killed people at their pleasure. The Europeans and their 
houses, did not escape their violence. One of the con- 
suls established at Alexandria showed me many balls 
that he had collected, and which had been fired by these 
brigands through the windows. At the same time Ali 
Pacha, who was the most cruel man imaginable, did not 
let a day pass without immolating some victims, whom 
he ordered to be strangled, and to be thrown into the 
sea. He caused also some others to be assassinated se- 
cretly in the catacombs, to quench his thirst for blood. 
Such was the man whom the porte sent to try to bring 
Egypt under its laws! 
All the representations of the European consuls to the 
pacha, to prevail upon him to repress the excesses of 
his soldiers, were useless: they therefore took the reso- 
lution of embarking with their families on board a fri- 
gate which was in the port; and from thence they sent 
representations to their respective ambassadors at Con- 
stantinople. 
Ali Pacha fearing the consequences of this step of the 
consuls, begged them to enter into a negotiation with 
him, which they did, and acceded to a proposition made 
by him, that they should return ashore and inhabit their 
houses, after having been embarked fifteen days, and 
having made a solemn capitulation with the pacha. 
This affair being terminated, the pacha made the Ma- 
melukes and Arnauts consent to let him go to Cairo 
without troops. He set out accordingly; but he had 
