Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

IOO TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
supplied with vegerabies, which consisted merely of a few gourds,
okres, and cucumbers; but we had plenty of excellent mutton and
poultry. Cur provisions were furnished by the Grand Vizier-, and,
in addition to the mikmendar, or provider, I have already noticed,
a bayractar, or standard-bearer, together with a party of janissaries,
commanded by a colonel, were attached to die mission, and encamp-
ed with it.
After having amused himself, as I have described, the Grand Vi-
zier impecced our men, who were drawn up in readiness to receive
him, and who went through the manual exercise to his entire satis-
faction, lu'om the information 1 could collect, it appeared, that
the Turkish forces in the encampment consisted of about fifteen
thousand fighting men. It was expected that the Mamelukes, se-
veral hundreds of whom were already attached to the Turkish ar-
my, would furnish a very considerable augmentation.
The principal officers of the Porte at the encampment were the
Grand Vizier, the Kiabey, or Vizier's lieutenant, who transacts
the affairs of the home department, the Tefterdar, or treasurer,
and the Reis Effendi, or secretary of state for foreign affairs. A
concise account of the Vizier, and of the Reis Effendi, the most
distinguished of these personages, will probably not be unacceptable
to the reader.
Youzouf Zia Pacha was, at the time of our arrival in Syria,
about sixty years
of
age. He was originally
a Georgian slave, and
became the Toutoun Bachi, or master of the pipes, of the Pacha
of Erzoum. This office, he held with great fidelity.
On the death of his master, Youzouf Zia Pacha succeeded to his
government, and conducted himself with so much prudence and
moderation, as to
gain the entire confidence and affection of his
subjects. Having in this station acquired great riches, he afterwards
obtained the rank of pacha of two tails, and, at the commencement
of the war between Turkey and France, was elevated
to the dignity of Grand Vizier. In the month of April, 1799,
he was ordered by the Grand Seignor to take on him the command
of the army, which was about to act against the French in Egypt;
and was at that time raised to the rank of a pacha of three tails.
In consequence of an accident at a djerid party, Youzouf Zia
Pacha has lost an eye. He is affable and courteous; and has, on
a variety of occasions, evinced his humanity, never inflicting a pur
nishment unless on the most urgent occasions.