the name of an officer in the Oriental nations. In Egypt the sheik-bellet is the head of a city, and is appointed by the pasha. The business of this officer is to take care that no innovations be made which may be prejudicial to the Porte, and that they send no orders which may hurt the liberties of the people. But all his authority depends on his credit and interest, not his office: for the government of Egypt is of such a kind, that often the people of the least power by their posts have the greatest influence; and a cala of the janizaries or Arabs, and sometimes one of their meanest officers, an oda-bahia, finds means, by his parts and abilities, to govern all things.