Though this ruler did employ certain native-born Egyptians like Mubärak and al-Tahtawï as part of his effort to redefine Egypt as a political entity, he relied strongly on a bureaucratic system in which "access to the centre of power was determined by origin, personal connections and relations with the dynasty" of his grandfather, Muhammad Alï. Egyptians only rarely joined the ranks of the ruling classes of Ottoman Egyptians, and when they did, they were "confined to jobs for which, according to Ismaïl, they showed special aptitude." Isma`ïl's discriminatory dreams would raise the issue of who should lead Egypt, while his expan- sionism into Africa would raise the issue of what form of the Egyptian empire should take. Ironically, both would provoke rebellions.

Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Coloni…, loc. 293