lim in remembrance of Abu Khom.

I shall leave Luxor in five or six days--and write now to stop all
letters in Cairo.

I don't know what to do with my sick; they come from forty miles off, and
sometimes twenty or thirty people sleep outside the house. I dined with
the Maohn last night--'pot luck'--and was much pleased. The dear old
lady was so vexed not to have a better dinner for me that she sent me a
splendid tray of _baklaweh_ this morning to make up for it.

June 22, 1866: Maurice Duff Gordon

_To Maurice Duff Gordon_.

CAIRO,
_June_ 22, 1866.

MAURICE MY DARLING,

I send you a Roman coin which a man gave me as a fee for medical
attendance. I hope you will like it for your watch-chain. I made our
Coptic goldsmith bore a hole in it. Why don't you write to me, you young
rascal? I am now living in my boat, and I often wish for you here to
donkey ride about with me. I can't write you a proper letter now as Omar
is waiting to take this up to Mr. Palgrave with the drawings for your
father. Omar desires his best salaam to you and to Rainie, and is very
much disappointed that you are not coming out in the winter to go up to
Luxor. We had a hurricane coming down the Nile, and a boat behind us
sank. We only lost an anchor, and had to wait and have it fished up by
the fishermen of a neighbouring village. In places the water was so
shallow that the men had to push the boat over by main force, and all
went into the river. The captain and I shouted out, _Islam el Islam_,
equivalent to, 'Heave away, boys.' There are splendid illuminations
about to take place here, because the Pasha has got leave to make his
youngest boy his successor, and people are ordered to rejoice, which they
do with much grumbling--it will cost something enormous.

July 10, 1866: Mrs. Austin

_To Mrs. Austin_.

OFF BOULAK, CAIRO,
_July_ 10, 1866.

DEAREST MUTTER,

I am much better again. My cold went off without a violent illness and I
was only weak and nervous. I am very comfortable here, anchored off
Boulak, with my Reis and one sailor who cleans and washes my clothes
which Omar irons, as at Luxor, as he found the washerwomen here