One day when Buonaparte was surrounded by the grand Sheiks, some one told him that the Arabs of the tribe of Osnadis had entered with an armed band into a village, driven off the herds, and killed an unfortunate fellah, who endeavored to make some resistance. Full of indignation, he ordered 200 dromedaries and 300 horsemen to take the field in pursuit of the guilty party. The Sheiks, surprised at the animated tone in which this command was given, looked at each other, for to them the life of a poor fellah was of no consequence. One of them observed to him that he had better not embroil himself with the Arabs, a people always dangerous, who could retaliate more than the evil he could inflict on them. “Wherefore,” added the Sheik Elmodi, “all this stir? Because they have killed a fellah! Was he then thy cousin?” “More than that!” cried Napoleon with energy, “all whom I command are my children!” And his gesture, more weighty than his words, sufficiently indicated that he took under his protection the unfortunate who came to plead for vengeance. “_Taib!_” cried the astonished Sheik, “thou speakest like a prophet.”--1798. [Illustration: “ALL WHOM I COMMAND ARE MY CHILDREN.”] BUONAPARTE PARDONING THE REBELS AT CAIRO. Buonaparte had great difficulty in subduing the revolts at Cairo, and his work was only effected by an immense sacrifice of human life. He succeeded in forcing the rebels to take refuge in the mosque of Eleazar in the Isle of Ronda, whose approaches they secured with strong barricades. Here Napoleon summoned them to surrender; and by his order the divan, the principal sheiks and doctors of the law presented themselves at the barricades, to induce them if possible to comply with his summons. They were received by a fusilade, when, at a given signal, General Dommartin opened a battery upon the mosque. This battery was kept in constant and fearful play, and produced such consternation and terror among the rebels, that they cried loudly for permission to capitulate: “You refused mercy when I offered it,” replied the General, “the hour of vengeance has arrived; you commenced this tumult, it is for me to finish it.” Reduced to despair, they attempted a sortie, but were met by the French grenadiers. At length they threw down their arms and surrendered at discretion; imploring mercy, and uttering their cry of distress, _Amman!_ [Illustration: BUONAPARTE PARDONING THE REBELS AT CAIRO.] THE PLAGUE OF JAFFA. On the 6th of May, 1799, Buonaparte summoned the commandant of the garrison of Jaffa to surrender, who replied to the demand by very unceremoniously decapitating the messenger who carried the summons. The French commenced the attack on the city, and soon became masters of it; they put the garrison to the sword, and abandoned the city to pillage by the soldiers. This horrible scene lasted for six and thirty hours; and to the disgrace of the French be it said, they massacred their prisoners without mercy.