June 16, 1865:  Sir Alexander Duff Gordon

To Sir Alexander Duff Gordon.  CAIRO, June 16, 1865.

Dearest Alick,

I will go down to Alexandria in the boat and Omar will work at her.  She wants a great deal of repairing I find, and his superintendence will save much money—­besides he will do one man’s work as he is a much better carpenter than most here having learnt of the English workmen on the railroad—­but the Reis says the boat must come out of the water as her bottom is unsound.  She is a splendid sailer I hear and remarkably comfortable.  The beds in the kasneh would do for Jacob Omnium.  So when you ‘honour our house’ you will be happy.  The saloon is small, and the berths as usual.  Also she is a very handsome shape—­but she wants no end of repairs.  So Omar is consoled at being left because he will ’save our money’ a great deal by piecing sails, and cutting and contriving, and scraping and painting himself.  Only he is afraid for me.  However, Allah Kereem.

I have a very good Reis I think.  The usual tight little black fellow from near Assouan—­very neat and active and good tempered—­the same cross steersman that we had up to Bedreshayn—­but he knows his work well.  We had contrary gales the whole way.  My men worked all they possibly could, and pulled the rope all day and rowed all night, day after day—­but we were twenty-eight days getting down.

I can’t write any more.

October 28, 1865:  Mrs. Austin

To Mrs. Austin.  ALEXANDRIA, October 28, 1865.

I am truly grieved to hear of your wrist and to see your writing look cramped.  I arrived here on Thursday after a splendid passage and was very comfortable on board.  I found M. Olagnier waiting for me, and Omar, of course, and am installe at Ross’s till my boat gets done which I am told will be in six days.  She will be remarkably comfortable.  Omar had caused a sort of divan with a roof and back to be constructed just outside the cabin-door where I always sat every evening, which will be the most delightful little nest one can conceive.  I shall sit like a Pasha there.

My cough is still very harassing, but my chest less tight and painful, and I feel less utterly knocked down.  The weather is beautiful here just now—­warm and not nearly so damp as usual.

Lord Edward St. Maur was on board, he has much of his aunt’s pleasantness.  Also a very young Bombay Merchant—­a Muslim who uttered not one syllable to any one but to me.  His talk was just like that of a well-bred and intelligent young Englishman.  I am glad to say that his views of the state of India were very encouraging—­he seemed convinced that the natives were gradually working their way up to more influence, and said ’We shall have to thank you for a better form of government