You will be amused and pleased to hear how Sheykh Yussuf was utterly puzzled and bewildered by the civilities he received from the travellers this year, till an American told Mustapha I had written a book which had made him (the American) wish well to the poor people of this country, and desire to behave more kindly to them than would have been the case before.

To-morrow is the smaller Bairam, and I shall have all the Hareem here to visit me.

Two such nice Englishmen called the other day and told me they lived in Hertford Street opposite Lady D. G.’s and saw Alexander go in and out, and met Maurice in the gardens.  It gave me a terrible twinge of Heimweh, but I thought it so kind and pretty and herzlich of them to come and tell me how Alexander and Maurice looked as they went along the street.

February 22, 1866:  Mrs. Ross

To Mrs. Ross. February 22, 1866.

Dearest Janet,

I received your letter of the 4th inst. yesterday.  I am much distressed not to hear a better account of you.  Why don’t you go to Cairo for a time?  Your experience of your German confirms me (if I needed it) in my resolution to have no more Europeans unless I should find one ‘seasoned.’  The nuisance is too great.  I shall borrow a neighbour’s slave for my stay here and take some one in Cairo.  My dress will do very well in native hands.

I am at last getting really better again, I hope.  We have had a cold winter, but not trying.  There has not been much wind, and the weather has been very steady and clear.  I wish I had Palgrave’s book.  Hajjee Ali was to bring up my box, but it had not arrived when he sailed.  I will send down the old saddle whenever I can find a safe opportunity and have received the other.

Many thanks for all the various detachments of newspapers, which were a great solace.  I wish you would give me your photo—­large size—­to hang up with Rainie and Maurice here and in the boat.  Like the small one you gave me at Soden, you said you had some copies big.

My doctoring business has become quite formidable.  I should like to sell my practice to any ‘rising young surgeon.’  It brings in a very fair income of vegetables, eggs, turkeys pigeons, etc.

How is the Shereef of Mecca’s horse?  I ambition to ride that holy animal.

February 22, 1866:  Sir Alexander Duff Gordon

To Sir Alexander Duff Gordon.  LUXOR, February 22, 1866.

Dearest Alick,

The weather here is just beginning to get warm, and I of course to get better.  There has been a good deal of nervous headache here this Ramadan.  I had to attend the Kadee, and several more.  My Turkish neighbour at Karnac has got a shaitan (devil), i.e. epileptic fits, and I was sent for to exorcise him, which I am endeavouring to do with nitrate of silver, etc.; but I fear imagination will kill him, so I advise him to go to Cairo, and leave the devil-haunted house.  I have this minute killed the first snake of this year—­a sign of summer.