Siwa : $b the oasis of Jupiter AmmonBelgrave, Charles Dalrymple, Sir
History
Siwa : $b the oasis of Jupiter Ammon
Belgrave, Charles Dalrymple, Sir
Siwah Oasis (Egypt)
There followed in quick succession a series of somewhat incompetent
Turkish mamurs who were in most cases quite powerless to keep under
this turbulent town and population. To add to their difficulties
the power of the Senussi sect was beginning to make itself firmly
felt, and this complicated still more the political situation in the
oasis. The Senussi brethren at Jerabub were regarded by the Siwans
as the ultimate arbitrators in any disputes which arose among the
people, thus ignoring the jurisdiction of the Turkish Government
officials. One mamur married, on the day of his arrival, a girl of
the eastern quarter, and oppressed the westerners to such a degree
that they obtained his recall from Egypt. He was sent back to Egypt,
and as he entered the Governor’s house in Alexandria one of his
men stepped forward and shot him. Another mamur infuriated the people
by wishing to demolish the tomb of Sidi Suliman, in order to build a
house on the site. He made all preparations for the work, but on the
night before the building began he died mysteriously, possibly from
poison. Another mamur imitated the Siwans in every way—eating,
dressing and speaking as one. He kept his position for fourteen
years, becoming very popular on account of the interest he took
in the well-being of the people. But few of the mamurs were liked;
they generally sided definitely with one faction or the other, which
resulted in intrigue against them by the opposite faction, who tried
to procure their dismissal.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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