Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVII, August 1852, Vol. V — John Shaqi
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVII, August 1852, Vol. VVarious
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, No. XXVII, August 1852, Vol. V
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
For many years extending through the latter part of the last
century, and the earlier portion of the present one, the narratives
of travelers visiting Acre are filled with accounts of the tyranny
and oppression exercised upon the people of the country by a certain
despot named Djezzar, the history of whose government illustrates
very forcibly the nature of the injuries to which the wretched
inhabitants of those countries are compelled to submit. Djezzar, in
his infancy was carried into Egypt a slave, and sold to Ali-Bey, a
celebrated ruler of that country. In the service of Ali-Bey he rose
to high civil stations, and at length, after passing through a
great number of vicissitudes and romantic adventures, in the course
of which he was transferred to the service of the Turkish
government, he was placed by the Turks in command of the Pachalik of
Acre, in 1775. Here he ruled with such despotic cruelty, that he
made himself an object of universal execration to all mankind,
excepting always those who had placed him in power; for they seemed
to be pleased rather than otherwise with his remorseless and
terrible energy. One of the first measures which he adopted when he
entered upon his government, was to confiscate all the houses of the
town of Acre, declaring them the property of the government, and
requiring the inhabitants to pay rent for them to him. The taxes
were exorbitantly increased, and every possible pretext was resorted
to to deprive the people of their property, and transfer it to the
government. Land which was left uncultivated for three years was
considered as abandoned by the owners, and thenceforth fell to him.
Whenever a vessel was stranded upon the coast, he seized upon every
thing that could be saved from the wreck, as his perquisite. His
favorite mode of punishing those who displeased him, was to mutilate
their persons by cutting off an ear, a nose, an arm, or a foot, or
by taking out an eye. Those who visited his palace, say that it was
common to see many persons in the ante-chambers and halls who were
disfigured thus, having incurred the cruel monster's displeasure
from time to time in the course of their service. These were his
"marked men," as he called them--"persons bearing signs of their
having been instructed to serve their master with fidelity." His
secretary, who was his principal banker and minister, was deprived
of both an ear and an eye, at the same time, for some offense, real
or imaginary, which he had committed, and yet still continued to
serve his savage master. Djezzar lived in a massive palace,
occupying a well-protected part of the city of Acre, with gardens in
the rear between the palace and the city wall. Within this palace
was his harem, the residence of his women. No person but himself was
ever admitted to the harem. He was accustomed to retire thither
every evening through three massive doors, one within the other,
which doors he always closed and barred with his own hands. No one
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