me one in Cairo. My dress will do very well in
native hands.

I am at last getting really better again, I hope. We have had a cold
winter, but not trying. There has not been much wind, and the weather
has been very steady and clear. I wish I had Palgrave's book. Hajjee
Ali was to bring up my box, but it had not arrived when he sailed. I
will send down the old saddle whenever I can find a safe opportunity and
have received the other.

Many thanks for all the various detachments of newspapers, which were a
great solace. I wish you would give me your photo--large size--to hang
up with Rainie and Maurice here and in the boat. Like the small one you
gave me at Soden, you said you had some copies big.

My doctoring business has become quite formidable. I should like to sell
my practice to any 'rising young surgeon.' It brings in a very fair
income of vegetables, eggs, turkeys pigeons, etc.

How is the Shereef of Mecca's horse? I ambition to ride that holy
animal.

February 22, 1866: Sir Alexander Duff Gordon

_To Sir Alexander Duff Gordon_.

LUXOR,
_February_ 22, 1866.

DEAREST ALICK,

The weather here is just beginning to get warm, and I of course to get
better. There has been a good deal of nervous headache here this
Ramadan. I had to attend the Kadee, and several more. My Turkish
neighbour at Karnac has got a _shaitan_ (devil), _i.e._ epileptic fits,
and I was sent for to exorcise him, which I am endeavouring to do with
nitrate of silver, etc.; but I fear imagination will kill him, so I
advise him to go to Cairo, and leave the devil-haunted house. I have
this minute killed the first snake of this year--a sign of summer.

I was so pleased to see two Mr. Watsons--your opposite neighbours--who
said they saw you every morning go down the street--_ojala_! that I did
so too! I liked Mr. and Mrs. Webb of Newstead Abbey very much; nice,
hearty, pleasant, truly English people.

There have not been above twenty or thirty boats up this year--mostly
Americans. There are some here now, very nice people, with four little
children, who create quite an excitement in the place, and are
'mashallahed' no end. Their little fair faces do look very pretty here,
and excite immense admiration.

Seyd has just come in to take my letter to the steamer which is now going