The little boy whose father died is still with the Abab’deh, who will not let him travel to Cairo till the weather is warmer and they find a safe person to be kind to him.  Rachmeh says ’Please God, he will go with the Sitt, perhaps.’  Hassan has consoled him with sugar-cane and indulgence, and if I lose Mabrook, and the little boy takes to me, he may fall into my hands as Achmet has done.  I hear he is a good boy but a perfect savage; that however, I find makes no difference—­in fact, I think they learn faster than those who have ways of their own.  So I see Terence was a nigger!  I would tell Rachmeh so if I could make him understand who Terence was, and that he, Rachmeh, stood in need of any encouragement, but the worthy fellow never imagines that his skin is in any way inferior to mine.

February 3, 1867:  Sir Alexander Duff Gordon

To Sir Alexander Duff Gordon.  LUXOR, February 3, 1867.

Dearest Alick,

The boat goes down to-morrow and I have little to add to Mutter’s letter, only that I am better.

There is a man here from Girgeh, who says he is married to a Ginneeyeh (fairy) princess.  I have asked to be presented to her, but I suspect there will be some hitch about it.  It will be like Alexis’s Allez, Madame, vous etes trop incredule. {334} The unintelligible thing is the motive which prompts wonders and miracles here, seeing that the wonder workers do not get any money by it; and indeed, very often give, like the Indian saint I told you of who gave me four dollars.  His miracles were all gratis, which was the most miraculous thing of all in a saint.  I am promised that the Ginneeyeh shall come through the wall.  If she should do so I shall be compelled to believe in her, as there are no mechanical contrivances in Luxor.  All the Hareem here believe it, and the man’s human wife swears she waits on her like a slave, and backs her husband’s lie or delusion fully.  I have not seen the man, but I should not wonder if it were a delusion—­real bona fide visions and revelations are so common, and I think there is but little downright imposture.  Meanwhile familiarity breeds contempt.  Jinns, Afreets and Shaitans inspire far less respect than the stupidest ghost at home, and the devil (Iblees) is reduced to deplorable insignificance.  He is never mentioned in the pulpit, or in religious conversation, with the respect he enjoys in Christian countries.  I suppose we may console ourselves with the hope that he will pay off the Muslims for their neglect of him hereafter.