The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-07
Arab In Prison.
HOW TIE EGYPTIAN LEADER SPENDS Hi'
TINE IN CONFINEMENT.
\ -.

HOW TIE EGfflIAN LEADER SIbNpS i'c
TINE IL CONFINEMENT.
New York IIcrald.I
Our Cairo correspondent sends the fol-
lowing: "What is to be done with
Arabi:' is the question in every ones
mouth. Whether he is 10 he hanged or set
free is the basis upon which many betting
books are made up-eyen betting that he
will be hanged, , to | that he will be set
free. Whatever is done should be done at
once. CuriOusly enough it was the
Egyptian Ministers who first suggested
that Arab Should have the benefit Of III
English barrster for his defence. When
If became known, however. that Mr.. Will
ird Blunt had sent out barristcr and
solicitor for that purpose the Egyptian
Ministers changed their minds and took
the ground that in view OF the present
disturbed state OF public feeling it was in-
peratiye that Arabs fate should be decided
without delay, and objections which would
be involved by the presence OF English
barriStcrS, and which would be incompre-
hcnsibe to the great body OF the people,
In the mean time Arab is shut up with
his colleagues and satellites in large pub
lie building in the European quarter Of the
town. He is watched by Circassian guards,
who occupy the interior OF the house, while
a company OF Grenadicr Guards stand
sentry at every possible exit from the eX-
tcmpOrized prison. Arab saws that the
CircaSsians treat him cruelty and eat his
bread and onions and steal his tobacco. He
seems afraid OF their aSsaSsnating him. and
has asked several times that British soldiers
be placed in the room with him. This de-
mand has been refused, but an officer now
sees that the CircaSsians do not abuse Arab
in any way.
s@Arabi now presents a striking contrast
10 the tall, erect horseman, who on the 9th
Of September, 1851, rode, sword in hand,
up to the Khedivc, who stood at the foot OF
tie palace steps OF Abdin. Surrounded by
four batteries OF krupp guns and 1900
troops, the Khcdive was Il prisoner III his
palace. was an eyewitness Of the scene
that then took place. As Arab rode up
the Khediye, regaining for moment the
imperial demeanOr OF Mehcmet Ali, eX-
tended himself to Lis full height, and
drawing back his wcll-iormed head CON-
mandcd Arab "Put up that sword :"
Arab, taken completely by surprise.
ho,itated, and his sword-hand trcmbled
palpably. then felt convinced that Arab
lacked physical courage. The Khedive.
profting by the hesitation, made q CON-
manding gesture with his right hand.
Arab then swung up the hit OF his sabre
and replaced ii in its scabbard. The Khc-
dive then commanded. sect OFF that
horse!" This order Arab also oJcved.
1T was then that sir Auckland Ghen
Mr. Colyin bent toward the Khediye
and said, "Order him shot" Instead
OF this the Khedivc said to Arab.
"What do you WANT" Arab seemed
now to have completely recovered
his presence OF mind, and with six OF
his officers by his side, replied: 81 have
three demands TO make Of you, and if they
be not granted / have your successor
ready. first insist that the present Min
istry Qhe Riaz Ministry be dismissed;
second, the pay OF the army must be in.
creased, as proposed by the Military Com
mission; and third, an Egyptian Parlia-
ment must be established" The Khedive,
after q short and rapid discussion with the
Ministers, replied: 81 grant the first de-
mand; dismiss the Ministry. The other
two demands cannot decide upon without
first referring them to the sultan"
As soon as the decree dismiesine the
Rlaz Ministry was signed and handed to
Arab, the troops, with music at their head.
marched triumphanty from the Palace
Square, and thus began the drama which
ended in the cast-iron picnic OF a British
army and a " march past" OF lIighlanders.
BcloocheeS, Guardsmen, and Bengal cav
airy, in the same Palace Square lust one
year later. The Arab victorious and fri.
umphant was a large, very dark, power
fully-built man, with elastic step. command
Ing presence-a man who resembled Davi-
son, the famous German tragedian, and
who could make fortune il he had chosen
TO act Othello instead OF playing the role Of
military pretender, or, at best, of a tenth
rate Cromwell. Such was the Arab OF
few months ago. The Arab of to-day is
pale cafe an iGh, bloated and haggard fell
lab. His eyes have lost their briliancy and
extraordinary power Ills hair, instead Of
being rayen-black, is streaked with gray.
His. once black but now gray nous
tache is reinforced by stubbv.
streaked beard. He now stoOps, and walks
with shuflling, uncertain step. He
passes his time in praying and washing
two inseparable rituals OF Islam. He also
suffers from a severe attack Of dIarrhpa.
He has in his room large silver basin and
pitcher with long nose like a teapot.
lie constantly pours water, which is
scented, over his hands. The poor man.
although now treated with the greatest
kindness, is evidently suffering most
severely, both mentally and physically.
The sooner the trial begins the better for
everybody.