size of a quill. I took it and showed it to the Bimbashee and
said--'Behold the _neboot_ wherewith we are all to be murdered by this
Sheykh of the Religion.' The Bimbashee's bristly moustache bristled
savagely, for he felt that the 'Arab dogs' and the Christian _khanzeereh_
(feminine pig) were laughing at it together.

Another steam boat load of prisoners from Gau has just gone up. A little
comfort is derived here from the news that, 'Praise be to God, Moussa
Pasha (Governor of the Soudan) is dead and gone to Hell.' It must take
no trifle to send him there judging by the quiet way in which Fadil Pasha
is mentioned.

You will think me a complete rebel--but I may say to you what most people
would think 'like my nonsense'--that one's pity becomes a perfect
passion, when one _sits among the people_--as I do, and sees it all;
least of all can I forgive those among Europeans and Christians who can
help to 'break these bruised reeds.' However, in Cairo and more still in
Alexandria, all is quite different. There, the same system which has
been so successfully copied in France prevails. The capital is petted at
the expense of the fellaheen. Prices are regulated in Cairo for meat and
bread as they are or were in Paris, and the 'dangerous classes' enjoy all
sorts of exemptions. Just like France! The Cairenes eat the bread and
the fellaheen eat the stick.

The people here used to dislike Mounier who arrived poor and grew rich
and powerful, but they all bless him now and say at El-Moutaneh a man
eats his own meat and not the courbash of the Moudir--and Mounier has
refused soldiers (as I refused them on my small account) and 'Please
God,' he will never repent it. Yussuf says 'What the Turkish Government
fears is not for _your_ safety, but lest we should learn to love you too
well,' and it is true. Here there is but one voice. 'Let the Franks
come, let us have the laws of the Christians.'

In Cairo the Franks have dispelled this _douce illusion_ and done the
Turk's work as if they were paid for it. But here come only travellers
who pay with money and not with stick--a degree of generosity not enough
to be adored.

I perceive that I am a bore--but you will forgive my indignant sympathy
with the kind people who treat me so well. Yussuf asked me to let the
English papers know about the Gau business. An Alim ed Deen ul-Islam
would fain call for help to the Times! Strange changes and signs of the
times--these--are t