The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-03-09
Modern Egypt.

The following is an abstract, p,epar-
ed 10y one Of the pupils, of lecture re-
Gently delivered before the High
school by President Hamlin:
shall speak to vou today, not of
grand buildings and old monuments,
but OF the history OF Egypt for the past
century.
Eighty-two years ago, in both Con-
slantinople and Egypt, the real rulers
were soldiers. In Egypt the soldiers
OF that class were known as the Mann
elukes, in ConstantinOple rs Janiza-
r:es.
These orders arose inthe same way {;
the origin of the one was the or gin of
the other. The Mohsmmedans got
many ideas of military affairs ION the
Crusaders. They saw that the Crusa-
ders had orders of knights, such AS the
Knights of st. John and the knights
of Jerusalem, who had nothing to do
but to fight. They thought they would
do likewise; SO the orders of the Name
lukes and the Janzaries were estab-
lished.
They were composed chiefly OF
slaves. These slaves were taken when
boys of from fourteen to eighteen !;
these boys were chosen for their mus
cular power, and brought up with a
gymnastic training. They were made
10 march forced marches, sometimes
lightly armed and sometimes with
heavy burdens. They we're also diet
ed, and were their own cooks. They
were allowed almost no meat, but had
meat soup every day. AS the Orien-
tas can make about twenty good soups,
they did not easily get tired of that.
Then also you must remember that
that country is full of different vegeta-
bles and there was no lack of variety.
On this diet their food cost them about
ten cents day.
AT first there was only one company
of Mamelukes; but finally there were
ten companies, or about ten thousand.
When there was any great battle the
general would wait until near the end, !,
and then bring on the Mamelukes, and
they would decide the day every time.
Soon they came to feel their power,
and first they demanded larger booty,
and then some share in the govern
ment. When the Sultan sent a pasha
whom they fisliked they put him out
of the way, and so they became n
great terror. Soon they refused to pay
tribute 10 the SULTAN Meanwhile al
Constantinople the Jsnizaries had de-
posed two Sultans, and then came a
man capable of managing Janizaries
and Mamelukes both, Mahmoud. lie
was one who knew men. Looking
carefully around MIN he selected Mo-
hammed Ali, an Albanian, as the one
he wanted to conquer the Mamelukes.
The Albanians are not Turks, but de-
scendants of al old European race, and
have fair complexions. This Albanian
was crafty, designing man, but also n
man with great deal of ability. His
reign is the first of the three divisions
into which | wish to divide the history
OF modern Egypt.
The first thing that Mohammed Ali
did when he got 10 Egypt, was to give
the Mamelukes plenty To do. Ii is All
old proverb that "Satan finds some
mischief still for idle hands TO do"
And then, gradually and very carefully
50 rs TO arouse no suspicious, he intro
duced some of his fellow country men,
the Albahians. AT last he had about
three thousand Albanians with him +,
of course not all in one company, but
in handtuls throughout the force.
Then, one day, he invited them To a
great banquet; suddenly the Albanians
rose, and there was dreadful massa-
ere. The Mamelukes were desperate
ly brave, but surprised wittout arms,
without generals, in the midst of a
feast, what could they do2 Only one
or Two escaped. And so. in this cruel
AID dreadful way, fell the dreaded
Mameukes.
After this Mohammed Ali restored
canals and improved Egypt in some
other ways; bnt all this be did to ell