The Cataract is very bad this year, owing to want of water in the Nile, and to the shameful conduct of the Maohn here.  The cataract men came to me, and prayed me to ‘give them my voice’ before the Mudir, which I will do.  Allah ed-deen Bey seems a decent man and will perhaps remove the rascal, whose robberies on travellers are notorious, and his oppression of the poor savages who pull the boats up odious.  Two boats have been severely damaged, and my friend the Reis of the Cataract (the one I threatened to shoot last year, and who has believed in me ever since) does not advise me to go up, though he would take me for nothing, he swears, if I wished.  So as the air is good here and Maurice is happy with his companions, I will stay here.

I meant to have discharged my men, but I have grown so fond of them (having so good a set), that I can’t bring myself to save 20 pounds by turning them adrift when we are all so happy and comfortable, and the poor fellows are just marrying new wives with their wages.  Good-bye dearest Alick, forgive a scrawl, for I am very weak all over, fingers and all.  Best love to my darling Rainie.  Three boats have little girls of five to eight on board, and I do envy them so.  I think Maurice had better go home to you, when we get to Cairo.  He ought to be doing something.

June 15, 1869:  Sir Alexander Duff Gordon

To Sir Alexander Duff Gordon.  BOULAK, June 15, 1869.

Dearest Alick,

Do not think of coming here.  Indeed it would be almost too painful to me to part from you again; and as it is, I can patiently wait for the end among people who are kind and loving enough to be comfortable, without too much feeling of the pain of parting.  The leaving Luxor was rather a distressing scene, as they did not think to see me again.

The kindness of all the people was really touching, from the Kadee who made ready my tomb among his own family, to the poorest fellaheen.  Omar sends you his most heartfelt thanks, and begs that the boat may remain registered at the Consulate in your name for his use and benefit.  The Prince has appointed him his own dragoman.  But he is sad enough, poor fellow, all his prosperity does not console him for the loss of ’the mother he found in the world.’  Mohammed at Luxor wept bitterly and said, ‘poor I, my poor children, poor all the people,’ and kissed my hand passionately, and the people at Esneh, asked leave to touch me ’for a blessing,’ and everyone sent delicate bread, and their best butter, and vegetables and lambs.  They are kinder than ever now that I can no longer be of any use to them.

If I live till September I will go up to Esneh, where the air is softest and I cough less.  I 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.