The
soldiers, too, began to murmur again, and to loudly demand their
long-withheld pay.
The Albanians and Armenians, subject to Mohammed Ali, were held by
him in severe discipline. He did not allow his soldiers to make
thieves and robbers of themselves. He threatened with instant death
all who should be caught in the act. They, however, clamored all the
more loudly for pay.
Mohammed listened to them quietly, and seemed to be touched by their
complaints. "But," said he, sadly, "it does not rest with me to pay
you, neither can I do so. I am poor myself; I have nothing to live
on but my pay, and that is withheld from me also. I therefore have,
unfortunately, nothing to give my soldiers. Only the chiefs, Ismail
or Bardissi, can give you your pay."
His soldiers have understood him. They salute their sarechsme, go
away, and say nothing.
Mohammed well knows where the swarm of soldiers that had stood
before his house have now gone, led by their bim bashis.
They rush, their numbers increasing on the way, to the house where
Bardissi resides. With loud cries they demand to speak with Bardissi
himself.
He appears, and asks why they have come. The vestibule of the palace
is already crowded with soldiers, and new masses are continually
pouring into the court-yard. In reply to Bardissi's question, they
all cry loudly: "We have come for our pay! We want money! We are
hungry! We want our pay, our money!"
"Go back to your quarters, and remain there, quietly!" cries
Bardissi.
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