The first incident is recounted by Henry Salt, the British Consul-General in the 1820s, and concerns an officer, a certain Kurd Ali, who, after being taken prisoner by his soldiers because of a delay in the distribution of their pay, talked them into ending their mutiny and giving themselves up since “it could be of no service but only involve them in rebellion and certain ruin.” After he had freed himself he “seized two of the ringleaders, cut off their heads and put some thirty of the rest in prison.” The officer under his command subsequently released them from prison telling them that those who chose “to serve the Pasha and rest in obedience” might stay and return to their duties; as for those who did not want to stay they would be free to leave the camp. “On this a part of the thirty prepared to leave the camp, when an order was given to fire upon them and they were for the most part slaughtered.”

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 665