Such is death on the road in
Egypt. I tell it as Hassan's slave told it to me, and somehow we all
cried again at the poor little boy rising from his dead father's side to
say, 'Come now sell me to dress my father for the tomb.' These strange
black pilgrims always interest me. Many take four years to Mecca and
home, and have children born to them on the road, and learn a few words
of Arabic.

December 5, 1866: Mrs. Ross

_To Mrs. Ross_.

LUXOR,
_December_ 5, 1866.

DEAREST JANET,

I write in answer to yours by the steamer, to go down by the same. I
fancy I should be quite of your mind about Italy. I hate the return of
Europe to

'The good old rule and ancient plan,
That he should take who has the power,
And he should keep who can.'

Nor can I be bullied into looking on 'might' as 'right.' Many thanks for
the papers, I am anxious to hear about the Candia business. All my
neighbours are sick at heart. The black boy Palgrave left with me is a
very good lad, only he can't keep his clothes clean, never having been
subject to that annoyance before. He has begun to be affectionate ever
since I did not beat him for breaking my only looking-glass. I wish an
absurd respect for public opinion did not compel him to wear a blue shirt
and a tarboosh (his suit), I see it is misery to him. He is a very
gentle cannibal.

I have been very unwell indeed and still am extremely weak, but I hope I
am on the mend. A eunuch here who is a holy man tells me he saw my boat
coming up heavily laden in his sleep, which indicates a 'good let.' I
hope my reverend friend is right. If you sell any of your things when
you leave Egypt let me have some blankets for the boat; if she is let to
a friendly dragoman he will supply all deficiencies out of his own
canteen, but if to one 'who knows not Joseph' I fear many things will be
demanded by rightminded British travellers, which must be left to the
Reis's discretion to buy for them. I hope all the _fattahs_ said for the
success of the 'Urania's' voyage will produce a due effect. Here we rely
a good deal on the favour of Abu-l-Hajjaj in such matters. The _naivete_
with which people pray here for money is very amusing--though really I
don't know why one shouldn't ask for one's daily sixpence as well as
one's daily