what I had lately read, how the
Greeks massacred their own patriots because the Turks had shown them
mercy--a display of temper which I hope will enlighten Western
Christendom as to what the Muslims have to expect, if they (the Western
Christians) help the Eastern Christians to get the upper hand. Yussuf
was asking about a lady the other day who has turned Catholic. 'Poor
thing,' said he, 'the priests have drawn out her brains through her ears,
no doubt: but never fear, her heart is good and her charity is great, and
God will not deal hardly with those who serve Him with their hearts,
though it is sad she should bow down before images. But look at thy
slave Mabrook, can he understand one hundredth part of the thoughts of
thy mind? Never-the-less he loves thee, and obeys thee with pleasure and
alacrity; and wilt thou punish him because he knows not all thy ways?
And shall God, who is so much higher above us as thou art above thy
slave, be less just than thou?' I pinned him at once, and insisted on
knowing the orthodox belief; but he quoted the Koran and the decisions of
the Ulema to show that he stretched no point as far as Jews and
Christians are concerned, and even that idolaters are not to be condemned
by man. Yussuf wants me to write a short account of the faith from his
dictation. Would anyone publish it? It annoys him terribly to hear the
Muslims constantly accused of intolerance, and he is right--it is not
true. They show their conviction that their faith is the best in the
world with the same sort of naivete that I have seen in very innocent and
ignorant English women; in fact, display a sort of religious conceit; but
it is not often bitter or _haineux_, however much they are in earnest.

I am going to write to Palgrave and ask him to let me send another boy or
the money for Mabrook, who can't endure the notion of leaving me.
Achmet, who was always hankering after the fleshpots of Alexandria, got
some people belonging to the boats to promise to take him, and came home
and picked a quarrel and departed. Poor little chap; the Sheykh el-Beled
'put a spoke in his wheel' by informing him he would be wanted for the
Pasha's works and must stay in his own place. Since he went Mabrook has
come out wonderfully and does his own work and Achmet's with the greatest
satisfaction. He tells me he likes it best so; he likes to be quiet. He
just suits me and I him, it is humiliating to find how much more I am to
the ta