unt's
pleasantness. Also a very young Bombay Merchant--a Muslim who uttered
not one syllable to any one but to me. His talk was just like that of a
well-bred and intelligent young Englishman. I am glad to say that his
views of the state of India were very encouraging--he seemed convinced
that the natives were gradually working their way up to more influence,
and said 'We shall have to thank you for a better form of government by
far than any native one ever would have been'--he added, 'We Muslims have
this advantage over the Hindus--that our religion is no barrier at all,
socially or politically--between us and you--as theirs is. I mean it
ought not to be when both faiths are cleared of superstition and
fanaticism.' He spoke very highly of Sir Bartle Frere but said 'I wish
it were possible for more English _gentlemen_ to come out to India.' He
had been two years in England on mercantile business and was going back
to his brother Ala-ed-deen much pleased with the English in England. It
is one of the most comforting _Erscheinungen_ I have seen coming from
India--if that sort of good sense is pretty common among the very young
men they certainly will work their way up.

I should like to see Bayley's article though I am quite sick of my
book--it is very ungracious of me, but I can't help it.

November 2, 1865: Mrs. Austin

_To Mrs. Austin_.

ALEXANDRIA,
_November_ 2, 1865.

DEAREST MUTTER,

The boat like all other things goes but slowly--however the weather here
is unusually dry and fine.

I have just been to see my poor friend Sittee Zubeydeh, widow of
Hassaneyn Effendi who died in England--and I am filled with admiration at
her good sense and courage. She has determined to carry on her husband's
business of letting boats herself, and to educate her children to the
best of her power in habits of independence. I hope she will be
successful, and receive the respect such rare conduct in a Turkish woman
deserves from the English. I was much gratified to hear from her how
kindly she had been treated in Glasgow. She said that nothing that could
be done for her was left undone. She arrived this morning and I went to
see her directly and was really astonished at all she said about her
plans for herself and her children. Poor thing! it is a sad blow--for
she and