20 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



interval of ten hours' march by camel, or about five 

 hours' by dromedary, you will establish stations for 

 two dromedaries, the riders of which will hand on 

 the despatches from one to the other. You will get 

 ready sheds in which they can be kept, and you will 

 provide means for feeding the messengers as well as 

 their dromedaries. You will establish three stations 

 between Abu-Khama and Korosko the first at Abu- 

 Khama, the second at Marat, and the third atKorosko, 

 so as to facilitate the arrival of your despatches. You 

 will also provide ten dromedaries for the mudir's 

 service. 



" ' If in the event of any one of you being compelled 

 to assume the offensive, and of his enemies being so 

 numerous that he requires help from Cairo, send 

 me word at once, and I will send him the where- 

 withal to make their hearts faint within them, to 

 destroy and to disperse them ; and I will myself come 

 and punish those who have created disturbance and 

 done evil. 



" 'Be well assured that the necessary preparations 

 will always be ready at Cairo, and that I will make 

 an example of those whom I find to be guilty. Be 

 convinced also that if I learn that the inhabitants 

 have been oppressed by you or by the sheiks, not one 

 of you will be spared punishment. Lay this well 

 to heart and act accordingly, for such is my order 

 and will.' " 



