88 ACRE. 
^^n^' *^^^ world, except what he thought proper to 
communicate. If any of them were ill, he 
brought a physician to a hole in the wall of the 
charem, through which the sick person was 
allowed to thrust her arm ; the Pasha himself 
holding the hand of the physician during the 
time her pulse was examined. If any of them 
died, the event was kept as secret as when he 
massacred them with his own hands. When 
he retired to his charem, he carried with him a 
number of watch-papers, which he had amused 
himself by cutting with scissars during the day, 
as toys to distribute among them. He was 
above sixty years old at the time of our arrival, 
but vain of the vigour he still retained at that 
advanced age. He frequently boasted of his 
extraordinary strength; and used to bare his 
arm, in order to exhibit his brawny muscles. 
Sometimes, in conversation with strangers, he 
would suddenly leap upright from his seat, to 
shew his activity. He has been improperly 
considered as Pasha of Acre. His real Pashalic 
was that of Seide, antiently called Sidon ; but, at 
the time of our arrival, he was also Lord of 
Damascus, of BerTjtus, Tyre, and Sidon; and, with 
the exception of a revolt among the Druses, 
might be considered master of all Syria. The 
seat of government was removed to Acre, owing 
to its port, which has been at all times the 
