You will find here usages different from those of Europe: you must accustom yourselves to them.
These people treat their women differently from us; but _in all countries he who violates is a monster; pillage enriches only a few; it dishonours us, destroys our resources, and makes those enemies whom it is our interest to have for friends_." To the people of Egypt, meanwhile, Napoleon addressed a proclamation in these words:--"They will tell you that I come to destroy your religion; believe them not: answer that I come to restore your rights, to punish the usurpers, and that I respect, more than the Mamelukes ever did, God, his Prophet, and the Koran.

Sheiks and Imans, assure the people that we also are true Mussulmans.

Is it not we that have ruined the Pope and the Knights of Malta?
Thrice happy they who shall be with us! Woe to them that take up arms for the Mamelukes! they shall perish!"[24] Buonaparte was a fatalist--so that one main article of the Mussulman creed pleased him well.

He admired Mahomet as one of those rare beings, who, by individual genius and daring, have produced mighty and permanent alterations in the world.

The General's assertion of his own belief in the inspiration of the Arab impostor, was often repeated in the sequel; and will ever be appreciated, as it was at the time by his own soldiery--whom indeed he had addressed but the day before in language sufficiently expressive of his real sentiments as to all forms of religion.