[Lithograph 1]
ARNAOUT AND OSMANLI SOLDIERS. ALEXANDRIA.
The ruling classes of Egypt in the early 19th century were the Albanians (left figure) and Ottomans (right figure). These “foreigners” who did not speak Arabic were the ones that supported the absolute Muḥammad ʻAlī government. An Albanian wears a ṭarbūsh (fez) and his hair hung down, and carries a dagger and pistol at his waist. An Ottoman slings a sword from his belt and smokes on his shbuq (pipe). Although Ottomans spoke Turkish they were not always Turks in origin, some were from the Balkans or Caucasia.
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