Still later another element was added to the population in the
introduction by the Turkish masters of Egypt of a number of Bosnians.
These Bosnians (Kalaji as they called themselves) settled in the country
and intermarried with the Arabs and Nubians, their descendants still
holding lands between Assuan and Derr. Hence it is that the Nubians of
this district, fairest of all the race, still claim Arab and Osmanli
(Bosnian) descent.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1911.
Some of the women who followed our friends to the boat, though in
complexion as black as the rest, had light blue eyes and frizzy red
hair, the effect of which was indescribably frightful. Both here and at
Ibrim there are many of these “fair” families, who claim to be descended
from Bosnian fathers stationed in Nubia at the time of the conquest of
Sultan Selim in A.D. 1517. They are immensely proud of their alien
blood, and think themselves quite beautiful.
“Back Through Nubia” Amelia Ann Blandford Edwards, 1891
With this view he fitted out an expedition against Upper Egypt and Ethiopia, which penetrated into Dar-Mahass, leaving on his return garrisons at Asouan, E'Dayr, Ibrtiem, the isle of Sai, and other places, to secure possession of the country. The greater part of them consisted of Bosnian soldiers; and some of their descendants are still found at Asouan and E' Dayr. At E' Dayr, the capital of Nubia, the kachcfs, who governed the country until the expeditions of Mohammed Ali into Sennar, were descended and derived their rank from the Turkish chiefs of Sultan Selim and I have known individuals at Asouan who still retain the tradition as well as the distinguishing characteristics of their origin.
Sir John Gardner Wilkinson - "Modern Egypt and Thebes" 1843
"The people of
Ibrim are often at war with the governors of Nubia, and
although comparatively few in number, are a match for the latter; being
all well provided with fire arms. They are ‘white’, compared with the
Nubians, and still retain the features of their ancestors, the
Bosnian
soldiers who were sent to garrison
Ibrim by the great
Sultan Selim. They
all dress in coarse linen gowns, and most of them wear something like a
turban: “We are
Turks,” they say, “and not
Noubas.” As they are not
under absolute subjection to their
Aga, and independant of every other
power, quarrels are very frequent among them. The Djowabere having nearly subdued the Gharbye, the latter sent an
embassy to Constantinople, in the reign of the great Sultan Selym, to
seek aid against their enemies, and they succeeded in procuring from the
Sultan a body of
several hundred Bosnian soldiers, under a commander
named
Hassan Coosy. By their means the Djowabere and people of Dóngola
were driven out of Nubia, into the latter country. The descendants of such of the
Bosnian soldiers as intermarried with the
Gharbye and Djowabere tribes still occupy the territories assigned to
their ancestors at
Assouan,
Ibrim, and
Say; and they continue to enjoy
immunity from taxes and contributions of every kind. They call
themselves
Kaladshy, or the people of the castles, but are distinguished
by the Nubians by the appellation of Osmanli (Turks). They have long
forgotten their native language; but their features still denote a
northern origin, and their skin is of a light brown colour, while that
of the Nubians is almost black. They are independent of the governors of
Nubia, who are extremely jealous of them, and are often at open war
with them. They are governed by their own
Agas, who still boast of the
Firmauns that render them accountable only to the Sultan. The Bosnian soldiers built the three castles, or rather repaired the
existing fabrics, at
Assouan,
Ibrim, and
Say.
“Travels in Nubia” John Lewis Burckhardt
Kaladshy - Kalaji - Kaladži -Kashefs - Bošnjaci Nubije
