238 AFillCAN WANDElilNGS.

be K;iiin:ik;in, and raised for him, as already said, at the expense of all his officers and officials, a complete regiment. All he requires for his OAvn housekeeping is one piastre's wortli of flesh a day, and his people get only bclila (boiled durra) and water for themselves. If they ask wages, he gives them the bastinado. He purchases from the poorer officers the horses they have taken as spoil, but never pays them ; and these are afraid to complain to the Pascha, lest they expose themselves to Hassan's intriguers, and the cabals which the higher officers carry on against their inferiors. The Pascha had sent the poor camol-drivers sixteen cows, but this vampire took on himself to reduce their share to three, keeping thirteen to himself. I held it my duty to tell the Pascha this, who merely said, " Malliich " ('Tis no matter), and soon after mentioned he had recommended him to Cairo, to be made Bey ! that he was already very old, and was failing, and that, ere long, the Divan might call him to account, or be his heir. While thus speaking he could not repress an ironical smile— such is Turkish policy. The market noAv showed well ; fine cows could be bought for forty or sixty piastres, five to eight cows Avere given for a horse from Habesch, and goats and sheep Avere to be had at three or four piastres a head. The Hallcnga made large profits, and those aaIio had before represented themselves as miserably poor, now flocked in Avith from eight to twelve pieces of cotton cloth on their shoulders for sale.

' The Schaigies, also, made a chasua on the Dabaina-Arabs, Avho dAVcll toAvards the south, betAveen the small rivers Settiet and Bassalahn, and Avill pay no tribute. The Schaigies, hoAvever, suffered considerable loss, from the noAv highly flooded Avaters, the lands there being very fruitful from this abundance of Avater. Although the Schaigies lost many men, and also horses, still they have brought in Avith them 700 coavs and 300 camels ; but all, from the constant rains, have returned ill. Such as have to supply themselA'es Avith neAv horses are much cast doAvn, as a ncAv horse often costs them all their pay for two years. Although it is usual to give a part of the spoils of such robbing expeditions to the troops engaged, still the Pascha on this occasion took the whole of the plunder to himself, but in the name of the Belik, leaving unansAvcred their petition for a share. By this, the Schaigies, Avho are ever placed in the most dangerous posts, are