191 1 ] Ismail Pasha Abaza 359 



Asquith has thought better of it, and new makes this explanation. 

 War for this country is an economical impossibility, the Germans will 

 have their naval station at Agadir or wherever else they choose. 



" 2Qth July. — In the early morning we buried our box of gold in 

 the middle of a fir wood under a sycamore tree, the only one there. 



" Dillon has sent me the Hansard account of the debate on Thursday 

 on Egypt, in which he took part. Grey made in it some valuable ad- 

 missions, declaring that anything like a reactionary policy in Egypt 

 was unthinkable. It will make it very difficult for Kitchener to play 

 the tyrant. He will try to play the lapdog first. 



"30th July (Sunday). — Having been away for two nights, on our 

 return to-day to the Forest, we went to look whether our hiding-place 

 had been disturbed, and to our astonishment found a toad seated on 

 the box that contained the gold, a curious circumstance, like what 

 one reads of in the middle ages." [The box had been buried only a 

 few inches below the surface, and the toad had made his way down 

 to it. It will save future treasure hunters trouble to be told that the 

 box and its contents have long left the forest precincts and been re- 

 turned to Glyn.] 



" 1st Aug. — Our annual Arab Sale, a smaller attendance than at 

 any previous one. 



"yd Aug. — Newbuildings. Ismail Pasha Abaza came with Surur 

 Bey to consult me about what line should be taken at Cairo towards 

 Kitchener, whether to oppose him or make the best of him. I advised 

 opposing him. He gave me a long account of the Khedive's troubles, 

 being in his confidence. He explained that His Highness was as 

 much opposed as anybody to the Occupation, but had not means of 

 resisting. He had tried it many years ago, but had found himself 

 without support, and had been obliged to yield. At present he was 

 without a friend in Europe, and was on bad terms with the Government 

 at Constantinople, and if he brought things to a quarrel with the Cairo 

 Agency, he could not count on support anywhere. If he refused to 

 sign the decrees forced on him they would govern the country without 

 him; they would declare a Regency. I do not believe this, or that if 

 he chose his occasion of quarrel wisely they would dare any such vio- 

 lent measures against him, but it would be no good to quarrel about 

 trifles. I asked him about the Khedive's relations with Gorst. He 

 said that except at the beginning, when they had been really friends, 

 Gorst had obliged him to do this and that just the same as Lord 

 Cromer did, only politely instead of brutally. I recited to Abaza the 

 old fable of the Wind and the Sun, which was new to him and amused 

 him much. He declares the Khedive had been ready to grant a con- 

 stitution two years ago, but Gorst would not hear of it, the Khedive 

 had said as much to the Editor of the ' Temps.' I said that was not 



