248 
THE PASHA OF BAGDAD. 
stretch his hands so far, as to have any substantial control over 
his delegate; and when either Persia or the Arabs chuse to 
annoy the pashalick, its defence is usually left to the ways and 
means of the deputed governor. This latter circumstance, con¬ 
nected with the exorbitant revenue demanded by the Porte, 
renders the government an affair of great difficulty, and indeed 
danger, when the Pasha really holds himself entirely responsible 
to his unreasonable master. But in cases where the character 
of the man is bold, enterprising, and full of that conscious 
talent which can maintain a separated power, then the pashalick 
makes itself be considered an independent principality, and is 
treated with accordingly. Ahmed, the famous Pasha, was one 
of these ; and of whom was once uttered a noble saying, by the 
tyrant Nadir Shah. When an ambassador from the court of 
Constantinople to that of Persia, was expressing a feeling of self- 
gratulation on then having seen the two greatest men in the 
world ; “ his master, the grand signior, and the renowned sove¬ 
reign in whose presence he stood.” “ No,” replied the Shah, 
“ there is yet a greater, the Pasha of Bagdad, who sets us both 
at defiance!” 
Dowd (David) the present pasha, who holds the mace of de¬ 
puted dignity over this far-eastern boundary of the Ottoman 
power, like many of the Moslem princes, was originally a slave. 
He is a native of Tiflis, and was sold when very young, with 
several companions in captivity, to one of his predecessors in 
the rank he now holds. His scarcely formed Christian faith 
easily changed to the profession of Mahometanism; and as he 
grew towards manhood, he became one of the Georgian guards 
attendant on the person of the Pasha of Bagdad. This was a 
step to future trust and honours, to which his address and talents 
