would rather die among my own people in the Saeed
than here.

You must forgive this scrawl, dearest. Don't think please of sending
Maurice out again, he must begin to work now or he will never be good for
anything.

Can you thank the Prince of Wales for Omar, or shall I write? He was
most pleasant and kind, and the Princess too. She is the most perfectly
simple-mannered girl I ever saw. She does not even try to be civil like
other great people, but asks blunt questions, and looks at one so
heartily with her clear, honest eyes, that she must win all hearts. They
were more considerate than any people I have seen, and the Prince,
instead of being gracious, was, if I may say so, quite respectful in his
manner: he is very well bred and pleasant, and has the honest eyes that
makes one sure he has a kind heart.

My sailors were so proud at having the honour of rowing him _in our own
boat_, and of singing to him. I had a very good singer in the boat.
Please send some little present for my Reis: he is such a good man; he
will be pleased at some little thing from you. He is half Turk, and
seems like whole one. Maurice will have told you all about us. Good-bye
for the present, dearest Alick.

July 9, 1869: Sir Alexander Duff Gordon

_To Sir Alexander Duff Gordon_.

HELWAN,
OPPOSITE BEDRESHAYN,
_July_ 9, 1869.

DEAREST ALICK,

Don't make yourself unhappy, and don't send out a nurse. And above all
don't think of coming. I am nursed as well as possible. My two Reises,
Ramadan and Yussuf, are strong and tender and Omar is admirable as ever.
The worst is I am so strong.

I repeat I could not be better cared for anywhere than by my good and
loving crew. Tell Maurice how they all cried and how Abd el-Haleem
forswore drink and hasheesh. He is very good too. But my Reises are
incomparable. God bless you. I wish I had seen your dear face once
more--but not now. I would not have you here now on any account.

Footnotes:

{1} See my 'Three Generations of English Women.'

{4} See 'Three Generations of English Women.'

{48} A smoker or eater of _hasheeshs_ (hemp).

{55} Lady Mary and Lord Jesus.

{188} About 7.5 bushels.

{293} Now, I believe, abolished. The Sheykh of the Saadeeyeh
darwees