Visits to the monasteries of the Levant / by Robert Curzon, Jun.

  • Curzon, Robert, 1810-1873.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Visits to the monasteries of the Levant / by Robert Curzon, Jun. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    some on the side-tables, and some stuck on brackets against the wall. One of the persons seated near the prime minister was a shrewd-looking man with one eye, of whom I was afterwards told the following anecdote. His name was Walmas ; he had been an Armenian merchant, and was an old acquaintance of Mohammed Ali and of Boghos, before they had either of them risen to their present importance. Soon after the massacre of the Mamelukes, Mohammed Ali desired Boghos to procure him a large sum of money by a certain day, which Boghos declared was impossible at so short a notice. The Pasha, angry at being thwarted, swore that if he had not the money by the day he had named, he would have Boghos drown- ed in the Nile. The affrighted minister made every effort to collect the requisite sum, but when the day arrived much was wanting to complete it. Boghos stood before the Pasha, who immediately exclaimed, “ Well! where is the money V’ “ Sir,” replied Boghos, “ I have not been able to get it all ! I have procured all this, but, though I strained every nerve, and took every measure in my power, it was impossible to obtain the remainder.” “ What,” exclaimed the Pasha, “ you dog, have you not obeyed my commands ? What is the use of a minister who cannot produce all the money wanted by his sove- reign, at however short a notice ? Here, put this unbe- liever in a sack, and fling him into the Nile.” This scene occurred in the citadel at Cairo ; and an officer and some men immediately put him into a sack, threw it across a donkey, and proceeded to the Nile. As they