The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-27
ARABI IN CEYLoN.
The Egyptian Rebel in ExiIe-The Prepare.
lions for the Party's Comfort.

Lohs Ior
Colombo Correspondence London Times.
a. special reporter from the Times of Cey-
lon had an interesting conversation with
Arab, from a report of which l take the
following:
81 intimated to Ahmed Arab that re-
GREETED being unable to hold converse with
him as he could not speak English and | in
CURED how he could pass his time now that
he was freed from all political cares, and
that he could read only Arabic works. He
pulled a small volume from his pocket and
showed it to me, saying it was his alphabet
book, by the aid of which he intended grad
ually to acquire a knowledge of the
know what the papers said about
him. He had been studying hard during
the voyage, and he intended to persevere
until he could read and talk English. He was
expecting Sir William Gregory to come and
see him in Ceylon soon, and he hoped to be
able to speak a little English to him, so
told him there was a statue of our late Gov
ernor opposite the public museum, which he
seemed pleased to hear. They were all much
impressed with the careful thoughtfulness of
the Ceylon authorities in making arrange
ments for their comfort on shore, but it did
not appear that they were decided as to their
permanent place OF abode whether in Co.
lombo, in the country adjacent, or on the
hills; for this was matter left entirely to their
own judgment. Ahmed Fehmy, the military
engineer, has a strong desire to take to
an agricultural life away from town, partly
since, as he is accustomed to agriculture, it
Will be congenial occupation, and as he
truly remarked, it is not good for man to be
idle; partly, also because, having large
family OF hive daughters and ever so many
sons. he would find it more economical to
take to farming in small way as a matter of
business. l was curious to learn what they
would do in the event of sickness in their
families. For themselves they said they
were quite prepared to be attended by any
European medical advisers. AS for their
women and chiIdren-well that was another
matter, they never took medicine; God
was good, and they would, when
ailing, get well by His mercy With
regard to the education of their children
they had no scruples whatever, but were
most anxious they should have all the adj
vantages OF English instruction, and, strange
to say, for their daughters as well as for
their sons When 1 told them there was
very good school for girls under the Bishops
auspices they expressed great pleasure and
said they would like to send their daughters
there as boarders. | was not prepared to
hear such a proposal from Mahomedan pa
rents, and reminded them that the tenets of
the Christian religion would form portion
of the daily instruction at the Bishops
school, The reply to this was very re-
markable. They were quite willing, they
said, that their daughters should be in
structed in Christianity, which was itself
good thing, and as their children were
we'll grounded in tbs Koran it was impossi-
BILE they could become Christians at heart,
for God was good and they fully relied on
the virtue and power of the Koran to keep
their children in the true faith-but edu-
Gated they must and should be. | could but
feel that there was something very touching
and beautiful in this thorough faith and COM
plete reliance on the power of the Mahome-
dan faith when once imbibed. The only in
timation conveyed to our government by the
Colonial office authorities in regard to the
exiles has been by one telegram, but they
understand from Morice Bey who
came in charge of the party, that
there is no intention of limiting their
residence to the capital, and that they will
have full liberty of action; it will also rest
with the local executive to say if the allow
ance made is sufficient to maintain them de-
Gently. Since their arrival they have been
waited upon by large numbers of Colombo
Mussulmans, but chiefly from motives of
curiosity. On Friday last the entire party
attended service of the Maradana Mosque, on
which occasion a great crowd was attracted
to the spot, some of our wealthy Moormen
having sent their carriages to convey the
Egyptians to the building. Only three of
the exiles have their wives with them"