th one akin to it. There is plenty of _real_ fun to be had
here, but that sort is only funny to cockneys. I want to read Baker's
book very much. I am much pleased with Abd el-Kader's book which Dozon
sent me, and want the original dreadfully for Sheykh Yussuf, to show him
that he and I are supported by such an authority as the great Ameer in
our notions about the real unity of the Faith. The book is a curious
mixture of good sense and credulity--quite 'Arab of the Arabs.' I will
write a paper on the popular beliefs of Egypt; it will be curious, I
think. By the way, I see in the papers and reviews speculations as to
some imaginary Mohammedan conspiracy, because of the very great number of
pilgrims last year from all parts to Mecca. _C'est chercher midi a
quatorze heures_. Last year the day of Abraham's sacrifice,--and
therefore _the_ day of the pilgrimage--(the sermon on Mount Arafat) fell
on a Friday, and when that happens there is always a rush, owing to the
popular notion that the _Hajj el-Gumma_ (pilgrimage of the Friday) is
seven times blessed, or even equivalent to making it seven times in
ordinary years. As any beggar in the street could tell a man this, it
may give you some notion of how absurdly people make theories out of
nothing for want of a little commonsense.

The _Moolid en-Nebbee_ (Festival of the Prophet) has just begun. I am to
have a place in the great Derweesh's tent to see the Doseh.

The Nile is rising fast; we shall kill the poor little Luxor black lamb
on the day of the opening of the canal, and have a _fantasia_ at night;
only I grieve for my little white pussy, who sleeps every night on
Ablook's (the lamb's) woolly neck, and loves him dearly. Pussy ('Bish'
is Arabic for puss) was the gift of a Coptic boy at Luxor, and is
wondrous funny, and as much more active and lissom than a European cat as
an Arab is than an Englishman. She and Achmet and Ablook have fine games
of romps. Omar has set his heart on an English signet ring with an oval
stone to engrave his name on, here you know they sign papers with a
signet, not with a pen. It must be _solid_ to stand hard work.

Well, I must finish this endless letter. Here comes _such_ a bouquet
from the Pasha's garden (somebody's sister's son is servant to the chief
eunuch and brings it to me), a great round of scarlet, surrounded with
white and green and with tall reeds, on which are threaded single
tube-rose flowers, rising out of it so as