162 AFRICAN WANDERINGS.

ficers, and even tlie captains (Juss-basclii) and first lieutenants (Milasim auel) are all Turks, and most difficult it is for any Arab to reach a first lieutenancy. In any other nation, or in a more civilised one, such disrespect and degradation would bring with it the worst consequences, but these Arabs seem to care very little about it, as I have convinced myself, by often talking with them about the matter. " What can we do ? The Turks would beat us to death if we made any fuss about it. TVIiy shouhl we attack them, we are too weak, and the Great Pascha (el Pascha el Kebir) wills it so." This is all I could ever get from them, and in most indifferently careless tones. From such feelings, and also because, from most remote times, the Egyptians or Arab races have lived under oppression and slavery, and thus become used to be ruled and not to rule themselves, the Turks may, perhaps, in spite of their ignorance, in spite of their seldom being capable of understanding or executing military movements, be necessary to the Egyptians as officers, and perchance without them the whole army would fall into utter confusion and lose all traces of discipline. Moreover, as all the Arabs, high and low, have submitted to their lot, a kind of equality and brotherhood has sprung up among them : they walk about, officers and privates, arm in arm, and enter one another's dwellings as if they were indeed brothers, as they style each other; and this self-equalising has had its effects on all military matters and arrangements. In this way, the Arab private has no respect for his lieutenant, he is his brother; the lieutenant has none for his captain, and so on : even though he were the bravest and most skilful officer. But for the Turkish officer, worthless as he may be in every way, the Arab feels terror, and obeys him without any hesitation, for he is no achu*, speaks another language, and belongs to the race of his rulers. Besides, the Arab officers do not themselves feel their own dignity, and are the less able to support their own authority, from being so disregarded and despised l>y the Turkish officers. Then, too, differences of lansuage separate them; the Arab officer feels himself neglected in the company of his Turkish comrades, and, therefore, seeks that of those who treat him with confidence and speak his language. Moreover, the • Achu — Lrother.