thing from our Queen, but if things became bad, it would
be better for them to go off into Syria. I urged great caution upon
them, and I need not repeat that to you, as the lives of thousands may be
endangered. It might be interesting to be known in high places and in
profound secret, as one of the indications of what is coming here.

If the saddle comes, as I hope, I may very likely go up to Assouan, and
leave the boat and servants, and go into the desert for a few days to see
the place of the Bishareen. They won't take anyone else: but you may be
quite easy about me 'in the face' of a Sheykh-el-Arab. Handsome Sheykh
Hassan, whom you saw at Cairo, will go with me. But if my saddle does
not appear, I fear I should be too tired with riding a camel.

The little district of Koos, including Luxor, has been mulcted of camels,
food for them and drivers, to the amount of 6,000 purses--last
week--18,000 pounds, _fact_. I cast up the account, and it tallied with
what I got from a sub _employe_, nor is the discontent any longer
whispered. Everyone talks aloud--and well they may.

February 7, 1886: Mrs. Austin

_To Mrs. Austin_.

_Tuesday_, 7 _Ramadan_.

DEAREST MUTTER,

I have just received your letter of Christmas-day, and am glad to answer
it with a really amended report of myself. I had a very slight return a
week ago, but for the last five or six days the daily flushing and fever
has also ceased. I sent for one of the Arab doctors of the Azizeeyeh
steamer to see Omar, and myself also, and he was very attentive, and took
a note of medicines to send me from Cairo by a _confrere_: and when I
offered a fee he said, 'God forbid--it is only our duty to do anything in
the world for you.' Likewise a very nice Dr. Ingram saw some of my worst
cases for me, and gave me good advice and help; but I want better
books--Kesteven is very useful, as far as it goes, but I want something
more _ausfuhrlich_ and scientific. Ramadan is a great trouble to me,
though Sheykh Yussuf tells the people not to fast, if I forbid it: but
many are ill from having begun it, and one fine old man of about
fifty-five died of apoplexy on the fourth night. My Christian patient is
obstinate, and fasts, in spite of me, and will, I think, seal his fate;
he was so much better after the blistering and Dr. Ingram's mixture. I
wish you could have seen a lad of eighteen