Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are
able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the
public for several reasons. That’s quite a pity while these books contains
useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor
accessible.
P. 463: “The highest rank in the Egyptian Navy is that of the Capitan Pasha, or Commander-in-Chief;—the next in command is a Vice-Admiral, and the only one in the service. The first rank below the Admiral is that of Kima Khan, which corresponds with our rank of Commodore; the next inferior officer to him is a Bym Bashé, being of a correspondent rank with the Captains of Flag Ships in our service; the next grade is that of Sahr Colass, or a junior Post Captain; and beneath him is a Sol Colass, or what we would call a Commander, these officers being generally intrusted with the command of corvettes. After these come a numerous class of lieutenants, who are here intituled Use Bashé, and finally, the Effendis, or Midshipmen. These different ranks are all distinguished from one another by an order which is worn on the left breast, and as there is no undress uniform, and every one is at liberty to wear what he pleases, it is the only distinction: This order is an anchor, and as the rank varies, so does the make and ornament of the anchor. A Use Bashé wears a silver anchor; a Sol Colass has a silver one with a gold stock; a Sahr Colass has one made entirely of gold; the anchor which adorns the Strutting Bym Bashé is of gold with a diamond in the centre of the stock: a Kima Khan has five diamonds upon a gold anchor, and the Admiral has one completely studded with diamonds. There is also a full dress regulation uniform, which the Pacha is
p. 464: liberal enough to give to his officers according to their ranks; and it is not the least amusing part of the service to sec the extraordinary figure a man cuts in this dress. The colour of the clothes, trowsers, and all, is flaming scarlet, like the uniform of our life-guards, and the dress is covered nearly all over with gold-lace. It is gaudy in the extreme, and has such a mountebank appearance, that it is difficult for an Englishman, at first sight of it, to avoid laughing. These dresses are enormously expensive, and are all paid for by the Pacha. An officer of as low a rank as a boatswain is entitled to one. Thus equipped, an officer of the Egyptian marine looks like the showman of a menagerie in London. Every officer on board, above the rank of a midshipman, goes by the name of Captain, and as promotion here, as well as in England, does not always reward merit, we frequently have midshipmen well advanced in life, and Captains without a hair on their chin. Still, justice is very often shown, and every midshipman is obliged to pass his examination for promotion, as in England, and is often instantly promoted. The Turks have a curious method of making officers, which would surprise our aristocratic friends, if they have not a thorough contempt for these people already: the Bey, or any Captain, perhaps, buys a slave, no matter of what country, makes him a Mussulman by the usual process, and he then serves as a domestic and pipe-bearer, standing behind his master when eating, and at other times keeping constantly at his heels with the pipe and tobacco. They look upon these slaves as part of their family, and would resent an affront offered to them with as much indignation as one offered to themselves. When on board ship they have them taught to read and write, and they pick up as they can some little navigation, and, in process of time, you find the fellow who, a short time before, was waiting at table and filling your pipe, squatted down by your side with the title of Captain. The Turks have no idea of anything in the shape of rank, excepting the military, and the ratings of all the officers are exactly the same as those in the army; so that when the Pacha wishes to mark his approbation of the conduct of any individual, lie gives him military rank, although, perhaps, he may be in some other department of service, and know nothing whatever of military affairs: thus the principal shipbuilder and the chief doctor are both Beys, although they have nothing to do with the army. Upon first mingling with the officers of the squadron, I was greatly amused by the variety of nations from which they have been selected. Here are European Turks, Asiatics, native Egyptians, Turks, Greeks, Nubians, and Abyssinians - of all climes and complexions, some being quite black, and others only genteelly tanned. It may appear strange how we can get on among 60 many different languages; but I can assure you there is no difficulty whatever, as, from long use and custom, they are quite familiar with speaking through the medium of a dragoman. The men being all Arabs, and the officers of various nations, it is quite a common occurrence to be compelled to use an interpreter, and, after some time, the inconvenience is no longer felt. They have also adopted a plan for giving the words of command which prevents much confusion, namely, by always making use of the Italian terms, and by constant practice, these terms have almost been adopted into the language.”
Source
“Sketches of a year’s service in the Egyptian Marine, in 1832 and 1833” in: The United Service Magazine of December 1833.
P. 463: “The highest rank in the Egyptian Navy is that of the Capitan Pasha, or Commander-in-Chief;—the next in command is a Vice-Admiral, and the only one in the service. The first rank below the Admiral is that of Kima Khan, which corresponds with our rank of Commodore; the next inferior officer to him is a Bym Bashé, being of a correspondent rank with the Captains of Flag Ships in our service; the next grade is that of Sahr Colass, or a junior Post Captain; and beneath him is a Sol Colass, or what we would call a Commander, these officers being generally intrusted with the command of corvettes. After these come a numerous class of lieutenants, who are here intituled Use Bashé, and finally, the Effendis, or Midshipmen. These different ranks are all distinguished from one another by an order which is worn on the left breast, and as there is no undress uniform, and every one is at liberty to wear what he pleases, it is the only distinction: This order is an anchor, and as the rank varies, so does the make and ornament of the anchor. A Use Bashé wears a silver anchor; a Sol Colass has a silver one with a gold stock; a Sahr Colass has one made entirely of gold; the anchor which adorns the Strutting Bym Bashé is of gold with a diamond in the centre of the stock: a Kima Khan has five diamonds upon a gold anchor, and the Admiral has one completely studded with diamonds. There is also a full dress regulation uniform, which the Pacha is
p. 464: liberal enough to give to his officers according to their ranks; and it is not the least amusing part of the service to sec the extraordinary figure a man cuts in this dress. The colour of the clothes, trowsers, and all, is flaming scarlet, like the uniform of our life-guards, and the dress is covered nearly all over with gold-lace. It is gaudy in the extreme, and has such a mountebank appearance, that it is difficult for an Englishman, at first sight of it, to avoid laughing. These dresses are enormously expensive, and are all paid for by the Pacha. An officer of as low a rank as a boatswain is entitled to one. Thus equipped, an officer of the Egyptian marine looks like the showman of a menagerie in London. Every officer on board, above the rank of a midshipman, goes by the name of Captain, and as promotion here, as well as in England, does not always reward merit, we frequently have midshipmen well advanced in life, and Captains without a hair on their chin. Still, justice is very often shown, and every midshipman is obliged to pass his examination for promotion, as in England, and is often instantly promoted. The Turks have a curious method of making officers, which would surprise our aristocratic friends, if they have not a thorough contempt for these people already: the Bey, or any Captain, perhaps, buys a slave, no matter of what country, makes him a Mussulman by the usual process, and he then serves as a domestic and pipe-bearer, standing behind his master when eating, and at other times keeping constantly at his heels with the pipe and tobacco. They look upon these slaves as part of their family, and would resent an affront offered to them with as much indignation as one offered to themselves. When on board ship they have them taught to read and write, and they pick up as they can some little navigation, and, in process of time, you find the fellow who, a short time before, was waiting at table and filling your pipe, squatted down by your side with the title of Captain. The Turks have no idea of anything in the shape of rank, excepting the military, and the ratings of all the officers are exactly the same as those in the army; so that when the Pacha wishes to mark his approbation of the conduct of any individual, lie gives him military rank, although, perhaps, he may be in some other department of service, and know nothing whatever of military affairs: thus the principal shipbuilder and the chief doctor are both Beys, although they have nothing to do with the army. Upon first mingling with the officers of the squadron, I was greatly amused by the variety of nations from which they have been selected. Here are European Turks, Asiatics, native Egyptians, Turks, Greeks, Nubians, and Abyssinians - of all climes and complexions, some being quite black, and others only genteelly tanned. It may appear strange how we can get on among 60 many different languages; but I can assure you there is no difficulty whatever, as, from long use and custom, they are quite familiar with speaking through the medium of a dragoman. The men being all Arabs, and the officers of various nations, it is quite a common occurrence to be compelled to use an interpreter, and, after some time, the inconvenience is no longer felt. They have also adopted a plan for giving the words of command which prevents much confusion, namely, by always making use of the Italian terms, and by constant practice, these terms have almost been adopted into the language.”
Source
“Sketches of a year’s service in the Egyptian Marine, in 1832 and 1833” in: The United Service Magazine of December 1833.
