1894] An Audience with the Khedive 123 



obliged to go, as it was my duty to the Sultan, but from first to 

 last we did not speak a word of politics.' /. ' Then it is not true that 

 Your Highness asked for Turkish troops?' Abbas. 'The whole 

 thing is nonsense. It was agreed beforehand that I should say nothing 

 of these things, and nothing at all was said.' /. ' But Your Highness 

 was satisfied with the general reception?' Abbas. 'Most satisfied. 

 The Sultan showed me all possible kindness. But the question of 

 evacuation was not touched on, nor, indeed, any international politics. 

 I authorize you to repeat this on my part.' 



'' I told him that I had seen Sir William Harcourt, and what he had 

 said to me about the Khedive's having gone to Constantinople to raise 

 up the Sultan against us. He begged me to contradict this, as nothing 

 of the sort had taken place. I then asked about his intended visit to 

 England. He said he was thinking of it in June. I urged him to 

 decide on nothing in a hurry, as I should be sorry to see him go there 

 without being certain of being received with all the honour due to his 

 position. I feared the visit might be misinterpreted and made use of 

 against him in the Press. He promised to think it over well before 

 deciding. About Riaz he said he was on the best of terms with him, 

 that he was quite satisfied of the sincerity of his opposition to Lord 

 Cromer and that all was going on capitally. He was immensely pleased 

 at the conduct of the Legislative Council, but told me he had had great 

 difficulty in keeping up their courage. They were so timid. One mem- 

 ber, Gait Bey Mustafa, had come one day to the Council in a great 

 state of mind because he had been the day before to Kitchener to ask 

 that his son might be received into the military school, and Kitchener 

 had been very rude to him, asking him whether he was not one of those 

 who were wanting to cut down the army estimates, and had shown him 

 the door. This had frightened others, and they had all come to him, 

 and he had made them a little speech on their duty as independent 

 patriots, which had given them heart again. 



" He then told me the story of the Sheykh el Bekri. He and the Sheykh 

 had been great friends as boys, and he had had a high opinion of him, 

 but latterly the Sheykh had had his head turned by the desire to play 

 a great political part. He had gone about among the foreign consuls 

 repeating this thing and that. On one occasion Lord Cromer had 

 quoted something the Sheykh had told him which should not have been 

 told, and he had sent for him and asked explanations, and advised him 

 to keep quiet, but he would not be advised. Complaints had also been 

 made to him as to the Sheykh having withheld the payment of certain 

 sums passing through his hands, so that he had sent for the Azhar 

 Sheykhs and warned them to be cautious with Sheykh el Bekri, and 

 the Sheykhs had told Sheykh el Bekri what he had recommended. This 

 had made further mischief. Finally, on the publication in the ' Bos- 



