1893] My Advice to Abbas 93 



loyal expressions towards him, and that I was sure he could count on 

 him to be faithful to them, that Mahmud Sami might be very useful 

 to him, and that I hoped he would allow them to return to Egypt. He 

 received this very favourably, and I went on to say that I had always 

 regretted that his father, Tewfik, had quarrelled with Arabi, and so 

 brought the English into the country — he did not dissent from this — 

 that as a matter of fact, Arabi's policy was precisely the same as his, 

 Abbas' own, namely, to get rid of foreign rule. He said he could not 

 give me a precise answer about the exiles until he had consulted others, 

 but that he would take their case into favourable consideration, and 

 when a proper opportunity occurred he hoped to be able to accede to 

 my request. I said I would not press it on him at the present moment 

 of his strained relations with Cromer. I then advised him strongly to 

 take his Legislative Council into his counsels, and act through it and 

 through the General Assembly, and I told him of Labouchere's view. 

 In all this he cordially agreed. A deputation then appeared in the 

 outer room, and I saw that it was time to go. I took my leave, prom- 

 ising him to state his case in any quarters where I might have influence, 

 and that he could always count on me for the best of my advice. He 

 walked to the door with me, making me promise to come and see him, 

 and his horses at Koubbah. As I was leaving him I said, ' One word 

 more. If Lord Cromer should leave Egypt, and there is any question 

 of appointing an Indian officer in succession to him, I advise Your 

 Highness strongly to object.' He said, ' Oh, certainly. I know them.' 

 And so with great cordiality we parted. 



" I am delighted with the young man. He is able, courageous, and 

 self-possessed. He reminds me of his grandfather, Ismail, as to wit, 

 mais en mieux. He ought to win his game against Cromer. 



" Mohammed Moelhi came in the afternoon. I told him all that has 

 passed at the palace and he said : ' Now you must go to Constantinople, 

 the Sultan will wish to see you.' So I shall do if all goes well. 



" 1st March. — I received a curious visit from one Abdullah El 

 Moughera, an Arab of the Moughera tribe of Aflaj, but born at Shagra, 

 in Nejd. He told me he had left Nejd as servant to Abdullah Ibn 

 Thenneyan Ibn Saoud, who went to Constantinople twelve years ago, 

 wanting to be established in Nejd by the Turkish Government. He had 

 been employed by the Sultan to try and raise troops among the Anazeh 

 and other tribes and had succeeded in getting Sotamm Ibn Shaalan and 

 other chiefs to go to Constantinople. But Sheykhs Ahmed Essaad and 

 Abul Huda had been jealous of him and he had left the Sultan's service 

 and had gone back to Syria. At Jerusalem he had offered his services 

 to the British Consul to raise an insurrection in Syria, and the Consul 

 had sent him on to Lord Cromer. He had seen Cromer and Boyle, 



