be respected.

I have got a levee of former reis's, sailors, etc. some sick--but most
come to talk.

The climate changes quite suddenly as one leaves the Delta, and here I
sit at eight in the evening with open doors and windows.

I am so glad to hear of the great success of my dear Father's book, and
to think of your courage in working at it still.

I suppose I shall be here a week longer as I have several jobs to do to
my boat, and I shall try to get towed up so as to send back the boat as
soon as possible in order to let her. Ali will give 80 pounds a month
for her if he gets a party of four to take up. I pay my Reis five
napoleons a month while travelling and three while lying still. He is a
good, active little fellow.

We were nearly smashed under the railway bridge by an iron barge--and
_Wallah_! how the Reis of the bridge did whack the Reis of the barge. I
thought it a sad loss of time, but Reis Ali and my Reis Mohammed seemed
to look on the stick as the most effective way of extricating my anchor
from the Pasha's rudder. My crew can't say 'Urania' so they sing 'go
along, oh darling bride' _Arooset er-ralee_, as the little Sitt's best
description, and 'Arooset er-ralee' will be the dahabieh's exoteric
name--as '_El Beshoosheeh_, is my popular name.

December 5, 1865: Mrs. Austin

_To Mrs. Austin_.

CAIRO,
_December_ 5, 1865.

DEAREST MUTTER,

_Alhamdulillah_--now I am at rest. I have got all the boat in order. My
captain, Reis Mohammed, is very satisfactory, and to-day we sail as soon
as Omar comes back with the meat, etc. from market.

I received Meadow's review; I wish he had not said so much about me in
it.

Mohammed Gazowee begs to give his best Salaam to Sheykh Stanley whom he
longs to see again. He says that all the people said he was not a
Christian, for he was not proud ever towards them as Christians are, but
a real Sheykh, and that the Bedaween still talk of Sheykh Stanley and of
his piety. The old half-witted jester of Luxor has found me out--he has
wandered down here to see his eldest son who is serving in the army. He
had brought a little boy with him, but is 'afraid for him' here, I don't
know why, and has begged me to take the child up to his mother. These
licensed _possenreisser_ are like our fools in old times--but le