Courschid Pacha, incensed by this interference, complains to the sultan at Stamboul, and requests that the sarecbsme, Mohammed Ali, be relieved from duty at Cairo, and assigned to duty elsewhere. At the same time, in order to make himself independent of the Albanians, who are wholly under the influence of Mohammed Ali, he causes a body of troops to be brought to Cairo for himself, a body of Delis, wild, lawless troops, who carry terror and dismay wherever they go. These Delis are now seen in Egypt for the first time; the viceroy treats them tenderly, and Courschid, who has money for no one else, has money for his Delis; and when he has none, he delivers over to their mercy some village in the vicinity of Cairo, out of which they pay themselves by pillage.
At last a day came when the people, so long bowed down in the dust, arose like a lion, and refused to yield longer to such oppression.
"We will endure this no more; we will submit to this injustice and oppression no longer!"
The cadis and sheiks repair to the citadel to announce the determination of the people to the viceroy.
"The people refuse to submit further to this oppression. Neither they nor we will endure it."
They say this to his face, proudly, fearlessly. He replies fiercely: "I will hurl death into your midst if the people are not brought back to humility and obedience, for I am your master—I alone!"
"You are our master while we recognize you as such, and no longer," replied the cadi, turning and leaving the room, followed by the sheiks.
In the streets below he announces to the people: "Justice is not to be obtained of Courschid Pacha, and we will submit to him no more!"
"No, we can and will not submit," say the cadi and sheiks, who, accompanied by thousands of the people, have repaired to the palace of the sarechsme.
"We announce to you, Mohammed Ali, in the name of the whole people, we will recognize and obey Courschid Pacha no longer. This man's cruelty and injustice are no longer to be endured."