h 4000 infantry and cavalry; but the
enterprise was only partially successful. On the following day the other
Mamelukes north of the metropolis actually penetrated into the suburbs;
but a few days later were defeated in a battle fought at Shubra, with
heavy loss on both sides. This reverse in a measure united the two great
Mameluke parties, though their chiefs remained at enmity. Al-Bardisi
passed to the south of Cairo, and the Mamelukes gradually retreated
towards Upper Egypt. Thither the pasha despatched three successive
expeditions (one of which was commanded by Mehemet Ali), and many
battles were fought, but without decisive result.

At this period another calamity befell Egypt; about 3000 Delis (Kurdish
troops) arrived in Cairo from Syria. These troops had been sent for by
Khorshid in order to strengthen himself against the Albanians; and the
events of this portion of the history afford sad proof of their ferocity
and brutal enormities, in which they far exceeded the ordinary Turkish
soldiers and even the Albanians. Their arrival immediately recalled
Mehemet Ali and his party from the war, and instead of aiding Khorshid
was the proximate cause of his overthrow.

Cairo was ripe for revolt; the pasha was hated for his tyranny and
extortion, and execrated for the deeds of his troops, especially those
of the Delis: the sheiks enjoined the people to close their shops, and
the soldiers clamoured for pay. At this juncture a firman arrived from
Constantinople conferring on Mehemet Ali the pashalic of Jedda; but the
occurrences of a few days raised him to that of Egypt.

Struggle between Khorshid and Mehemet Ali.

On the 12th of Safar 1220 (May 12th, 1805) the sheiks, with an immense
concourse of the inhabitants, assembled in the house of the kadi; and
the ulema, amid the prayers and cries of the people, wrote a full
statement of the heavy wrongs which they had endured under the
administration of the pasha. The ulema, in answer, were desired to go to
the citadel; but they were apprised of treachery; and on the following
day, having held another council at the house of the kadi, they
proceeded to Mehemet Ali and informed him that the people would no
longer submit to Khorshid. "Then whom will ye have?" said he. "We will
have _thee_," they replied, "to govern us according to the laws; for we
see in thy countenance that thou art possessed of justice and goodness."
Mehemet Ali seemed to hesitate, and then complied, and wa