SCHAIGIE MELEK KAMBALL. 179 anxiety to gain the great reward they expected, and whicli had been promised them, did all in their power to overtake the fugitive. The Pascha himself rode in four days from Berber to Abu Harrass, a distance that generally takes a courier six or seven days ; put 500 soldiers on dromedaries ; and having overtaken Hammet, who was employed feasting and drinking merissa with his followers, overpowered him and his small force. On this & relation of Ilammet broke through the infantry, and rushed, with cocked pistol, on the Pascha, who only saved himself by the speed of his horse ; and it is said, that Kamball, who had all along held faithfully to the Pascha, was then shot by the infantry, who were enraged at and jealous of the Schaigies. His death was generally lamented, as he was a distinguished soldier, an honest man, and general favourite, and from his generosity to the poor, ever in debt. The Pascha himself set high value on him, most likely from finding in him a particularly useful subject, who, with the smallest force, would calmly go to face each and any danger, however great, lie had, like another Theseus, undertaken and succeeded in the boldest enterprises if not in the camp, men knew some desperate expedition was out, and often he was not seen again for eight or ten days, and ever and again it was reported he was dead ; but he ere long re-appeared, his task, as usual, having been well and perfectly performed ; and it is much to be questioned if he was not at last slain out of private hate and envy of his great fame. After his deatli, the Pascha himself took charge of his infant son, had him educated, and allows him 500 piastres a month. He daily visits his benefactor, who is most friendly and amiable to him, as to all children. The Pascha granted a pardon to jNIelek Hammet and his followers, but still it is generally believed, that in spite of this, the former will, on tlie lirst favourable opportunity, in some way or otlier lose his life, as the Turk never forgets to avenge an injury. He has been ever since treated by the Pascha with reserve and slight ; is, indeed, now with the army, but ever in the camp, as if he were under surveillance, and never has any expedition been confided to him, either to collect tribute from the neighbouring country, or make small plundering excursions, in which one-half of the booty goes to the spoilers. The gloomy, o 3