heard in the precincts of the Seraglio.  It is certain, too, that his first act, when delivered from the pressure of the Russian invasion, was to organize afresh the propagandism already begun, and to send out new missionaries to India and the Barbary States to preach the doctrine of his own Caliphal authority to the Moslems in partibus infidelium.  His language, too, to strangers from external Islam was from the first that of a spiritual rather than a temporal prince, and with the European Ambassadors he has used this position consistently and most effectually.

It is no mean proof of Abd el Hamid’s ability that he should have invented the Mussulman non possumus with which he has disconcerted our diplomacy.  In private life he is said to be regular at his prayers, though it is also said that he conforms to the custom of Turkish Sultans in avoiding legal marriage.  He is at the same time a liberal patron of dervishes, workers of miracles, and holy men.  These he is at pains to seek out and receive honourably.  In his administration he conforms, wherever he is himself the actor, strictly to the Sheriat, and on doubtful points consults always the mufti or Sheykh el Islam.  He has shown no inconsiderable firmness in resisting European demands when they contravened the canon law.[13]

For all these reasons it will be readily understood that Abd el Hamid has gained not only the support of his own Turkish Ulema, but the sympathy of a very considerable section of opinion outside his dominions.  From a traitor to the cause of religion the Ottoman Sultan has come to be looked upon, east and west, as once more its champion; and with the old-fashioned reactionary school Abd el Hamid is fast growing into a hero.  A year ago, when I was at Jeddah, this was not yet the case, but it would seem to be so now.  Then even the people of his own party spoke of him doubtfully, and he certainly excited no enthusiasm among them.  They did not understand him, and thought that he was playing a part.  He was said to be of Armenian parentage (on his mother’s side) and his sincerity as a Moslem was suspected.  It seemed impossible one born in Abd el Mejid’s Seraglio should be a serious man.  Besides, he had not yet shown his strength, and to be strong is to be a hero everywhere.

But within the last eight months, events have marched rapidly.  Abd el Hamid has played his cards successfully in Greece, in Albania, and with the Kurds.  He has not been afraid of England and has shown a bold front against infidel reforms.  He has had the courage under the eyes of Europe to arrest their protege, Midhat, and to try him for murder.  Lastly, the French have played into his hands in Tunis, and he has thus gained a footing of sympathy with the Mussulmans of North Africa, a population which has for centuries opposed his claims.  Twenty years ago it would have been absolutely impossible for an Ottoman Sultan to awaken any loyal feeling in any Arab breast.