Egypt -- History -- Mohammed Ali, 1805-1849 -- Fiction; Muhammad Ali Basha, Governor of Egypt, 1769-1849 -- Fiction
"And now, hearken to the dreadful conclusion. I will narrate to you
what has taken place in Egypt in this century. The Mamelukes
overthrew the rule of the Turkish grand-sultan, under the leadership
of the bloodthirsty Ali, the new bey who stood at the head of the
Mamelukes. He drove out the sultan's pacha, and announced through
him to Selim, 'that the Turkish rule was at an end, and that Egypt
was again free, he having driven out the Turks with the edge of the
sword.' And Egypt, the rebellious province, was for a time again
free; that is to say, enslaved by the Mameluke Bey Ali, who
attempted to extend his power further and further. He sought to form
alliances even with the enemies of Selim, even with those who did
not believe in the holy prophet. He even sought, with flattery and
entreaties, to prevail on the grandees of the republic of Venice to
furnish him with assistance against the aggressions of the Turks. He
drew his sword and drove our armies even unto Mecca in Arabia,
possessed himself of the holy city of Mecca, and even carried his
boldness so far that he caused himself to be proclaimed Grand-Sultan
of Arabia, and ruler of the two seas.
"Yet the eye of Allah beholds the unjust, and punishes the wicked;
and I will now give you the very latest intelligence I have received
from the holy city. May it fill your heart and soul with joyous
gratitude for the justice of Allah! Yes, Allah punishes the
insolent. And by the hand of his favorite, of Mohammed Abou-Dahab,
in whom the Grand-Sultan Ali confided, was he laid low. This slave
Mohammed murdered his master, and seated himself in his place. But
him, too, did Allah punish as a wrong-doer and criminal. Allah
punished the treason which Mohammed had practised on his master by
afflicting him with madness. Day and night he beheld before him
Ali's terrible bloody shade; in horrible dreams he saw the
countenance of his murdered master, and at last, amid fearful
torments, he slew himself.
"Do you suppose peace had now at last come? Do you suppose that
Egypt now submitted to her rightful ruler, the Grand-Sultan of
Stamboul? Ye men of Cavalla, hardly was Egypt released from the
tyrant Ali, when three other Mameluke beys advanced to seize the
vacant throne.
"Mourad, Ibrahim, and Ismail, competed for the prize. Each of them
aspired to be the ruler of Egypt--each of them aspired to be called
Scheik-el-Belad.
"Mourad and Ibrahim united themselves to rule together in brotherly
love. They united their forces against Ismail, and they prevailed
against him--he was overthrown and murdered, extinguished like a
light that has shone but a brief day.
"And now, hearken to the end, ye men of Cavalla. The Mameluke begs,
Mourad and Ibrahim, have entered the golden city of El-Kahera, and
have become great and mighty. They have conquered the grand-sultan,
have possessed themselves of all the lands, brought all the
Mamelukes into subjection, and have not rested until all Egypt has
been subjugated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account