k I _have_ learnt some 'Muslim humility' in that I
endured the harangue, and accepted a two-penny tract quite mildly and
politely and didn't argue at all. As his friend 'Satan' would have it,
the Fikees were reading the Koran in the hall at Omar's expense who gave
a Khatmeh that day, and Omar came in and politely offered him some sweet
prepared for the occasion. I have been really amazed at several
instances of English fanaticism this year. Why do people come to a
Mussulman country with such bitter hatred 'in their stomachs' as I have
seen three or four times. I feel quite hurt often at the way the people
here thank me for what the poor at home would turn up their noses at. I
think hardly a dragoman has been up the river since Rashedee died but has
come to thank me as warmly as if I had done himself some great
service--and many to give some little present. While the man was ill
numbers of the fellaheen brought eggs, pigeons, etc. etc. even a turkey,
and food is worth money now, not as it used to be. I am quite weary too
of hearing 'Of all the Frangee I never saw one like thee.' Was no one
ever at all humane before? For remember I give no money--only a little
physic and civility. How the British cottagers would 'thank ye for
nothing'--and how I wish my neighbours here could afford to do the same.

After much wrangling Mustapha has got back my boy Yussuf but the
Christian Sheykh-el-Hara has made his brother pay 2 pounds whereat
Mohammed looks very rueful. Two hundred men are gone out of our village
to the works and of course the poor Hareem have not bread to eat as the
men had to take all they had with them. I send you a very pretty story
like Tannhauser.

There was once a man who loved a woman that lived in the same quarter.
But she was true to her husband, and his love was hopeless, and he
suffered greatly. One day as he lay on his carpet sick with love, one
came to him and said, O, such-a-one, thy beloved has died even now, and
they are carrying her out to the tomb. So the lover arose and followed
the funeral, and hid himself near the tomb, and when all were gone he
broke it open, and uncovered the face of his beloved, and looked upon
her, and passion overcame him, and he took from the dead that which when
living she had ever denied him.

But he went back to the city and to his house in great grief and anguish
of mind, and his sin troubled him. So he went to a Kadee, very pious and
learned in the noble