1 56 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



deliverance of Egypt from the many burdens put upon 

 it. The principal pavilion is in the middle of a lovely 

 garden, with two avenues of trees leading up to it, 

 one from the plain of Alexandria, in the direction of 

 the Gate of Kosetta, and the other from the Mah- 

 moudie Canal. Up till the other day it was occupied 

 by the princess who recently bore a son to Said 

 Pasha, who bears the name of Toussoum. The recep- 

 tion-rooms and dining-room are on the ground floor, 

 while on the first floor there is a very bright drawing- 

 room, with four rich divans running round it, and 

 with four large windows looking on to the two 

 avenues. Leading out of it is the bedroom, with a 

 very elaborate bed, the hangings of which are of 

 handsome yellow silk embroidered with red flowers 

 and gold fringe. Inside these there are double curtains 

 of figured tulle. Communicating with the bedroom 

 are two dressing-rooms, the first of which has rosewood 

 and marble furniture, while in the second, which is 

 equally elegant, the washing utensils are in silver, 

 the soft towels being all embroidered in gold. 



" I had scarcely completed the inspection of my 

 apartments when several intimate friends of the 

 Viceroy came to call upon me. I got them to tell 

 about Said Pasha's habits since he came to the throne, 

 what were his tastes and his tendencies, who were the 

 people he had about him, who seemed for the time to 

 be in favour or disfavour * in short, all that is de- 

 sirable to know beforehand when you are the guest of 



