Page:History of Egypt.pdf/3

( 3 ) their own body, Egypt, for ſome time, made a figure under thoſe illustrious uſurpers and made a noble ſtand againſt the prevailing power of the Turks till under Selim, after giving the Mamlouks ſeveral bloody defeats, eed Egypt to its preſent ſtate of ſubjection. While Selim was ſettling the government of Egypt, numbers of the ancient inhabitants withdrew into deſert and plains, under one Zinganeus, from whence they attacked the cities and villages of the Nile, and plundered whatever fell in their way  Selim and his  perceiving that it would be a matter of great difficulty to extirpate thoſe marauders, left them at liberty  the country, which they did in great numbers, and  is known all over Europe and Aſia, by the  of Gypſies

An attempt was made a few years ſince to deprive the Roman Porte of its authority over Egypt, by Ali Bey, whoſe father was a prieſt the Greek church. Ali having Mahometan, and bring a man of abilities and rendered himſelf extremely popular in Egypt. A accuſation having been made againſt him to the  Signior his head was ordered to be ſent to Constantinople, but being-ppriſed of the deſign, he ſeized and to death the meſſengers who brought this order, and found means to par himſelf at the head of an army. alſo aſſiſted by the dangerous ſituation to which the empire was reduced, in conſequence of the war Ruſſia he boldly mounted the throne of the ancient  of Egypt. But not content with the kingdom of Egypt, he alſo bid claim to Syria, Paleſtine, and that of Arabia, which had belonged to the ancient ſultans. while lie was engaged in theſe great enterprises, he not left attentive to the eſtabliſhing of a regular form goverment, and of introducing order into a country that had been long the ſeat of anarchy and confuſion. views were equally extended to commerce for with purpoſe he gave great encouragement to the Chriſtian traders, and took off ſome ſhameful reſtraints and, to which they were ſubjected in that barbarous country. He alſo wrote a letter to the republic of Venice, the greateſt aſſurances of his friendſhip, and that