The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-07-22
Our Foreign Letter.
qulre H..
lRegular C0rrespondence.


The continued tension and the anxiety
caused by the absence OF all information as tc
the intentions of Europe are acting most pre-
judcially
High class Arabs, who wish for nothing
better than some movement that will bring
back prosperity, are losing all heart at the
continued inaction, and many, IN sheer despair
are joining the national party.
To-day being the SultaD's birthday, all the
ships in the harbor dressed, and the lnvlnci
BILE, and one ship of each ofthe other nationali
ties, fired solutes. In the Arab quarter many
thought that the bombardment of the town
had commenced and panic reigned for a
short time.
Wel.informed people are canvinced that a
feeling of irritation among the natives is in.
creasing, ana that another massacre may be
expected unless something is done soon.
On Saturday at midday Captain Reid, of
the Anchor Line steamer Armenia, kindly Of.
fered to convey me the whole length OF the
canal to Suez Only small English gunboat,
the Couuette, IS left at Port Said The inhabi.
tan,s there are somewhat nervous at the pos.
sibility of an attack by the natives on Euro,
peans. | found that large number OF the
natives had gone to Damietta, where they
were assembling, evidently for no good pur.
pose Their ultimate descent on Port Said Is
feared. The cutting OF the water-pipes be.
tween Ismailia and Port Said is also much
dreaded, as in that case there would be great
difficulty in obtaining water. Should English
troops land, the ships must be prepared to
condense every drop that may be required.
saw no troops on the banks Of the canal,
but observed thstthe native barges previously
referred to had been moved further up the
canal, nearer Port Said The Egyptian au
thorlties had apparently come to know that
they were watched. We passed Ell Inisr yes
terday at midday. The banks there are very
high and the channel narrow. Thence we
went through Ismailia Lake to Toussoum,
where also the channel is narrow, and the
banks high. The canal there might be easily
blocked. Gong thence past Serapeum l
found the banks forty feet high, with again
narrow channel. Next we entered the Bitter
Lake, passed Shalouf and Gaileaume, the
banks at both places being steep and the
channel narrow, and reached Suez to-day.
On the way between Port Said and lsmailIa
l observed repeatedly the water-pipes lying
exposed, so that anybody might have cut
them There were but few Bedouins about,
but the canal needs careful watching by Eng
lish gunboats. In addition TO those already
stationed here, gunboats should be sent to
Shalouf and Guilleaume, such vessels carry.
ing artifcers to repair quickly any damage
that might be done. No stone barges what.
ever-not even under the pretence Of repairing
the canal banks-should be allowed to enter
the passage, and strict watch should be kept
on all vessels approaching from the Suez end
OF the canal.
saw Arab Pasha yesterday and he declared
the intention to fight to the bitter end against
any troops coming here. The reported arrival
of Irish Fenans here is unfounded. They
could do nothing if they came, and would
certainly risk their own necks.
The French residents hold meeting at the
Consulate this evening. All the English re-
naming IN Alexandra or in the harbor have
been ordered TO send their names and adj
dresses TO the British Consulate today. A
general movement on board the ships Is i'm.
pending. All the English residents in Cairo
left today tor Alexandria; and nearly the
whole of the Egyptian army is now concen-
trated here All the English officials with
whom have conversed think gunboats should
be sent to the canal Immediately. There are
pleHty here for the work, but they cannot send
them without orders from home. All depends
on our action during the next few days
whether we lose the canal or not.