The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-12
ARABI AND HIS ExILES.

With regard to the material welfare oi the exiles, am glad to have an excellent account to give. Although some of them suffered al first from the extreme damp ness of the climate, all ere nov a7clima- tized; and even Toulba Pasha. who six months ago was pronounced by the doc tors to be incurable with asthma. is en- toying perfect health. They are all too. think, contented in mind and grateful for the treatment they receive from the colonial authorities. which has been thronghou. most courteous 10 them :. and except for certain inequalities m the amount of their allowances, with which will not here trouble you. they would have nothing to complain of beyond the unavoidable bitterness which mingles with the bread of all eNles. The way oi life of the exiles IS simple. Each family occupies separate dwelling, and most of them have chosen to reside in re- mote suburb of Colombo. which has ceased 10 be fashionable. and where house rent IS proponionately low. They send their children 10 school, attend the or 10 their neighbors, and attempt. with
 
 little English. Their society they ind in the numerous Mahometan community of Colombo. which. unlike such commu- mites in many parts of India. are entirely mercantile, and possess not few men Of substance, whose commercial establish men,s the more practical of the eXiIes hope that some day their sons will enter, and thus be enabled to earn an independ- ent livelihood. The Mahome,an com munity regard their Egyptian guests with feelings ot the highest respect as martyrs 10 their religion. and espet ially Arabi. as its late most famous champion: and so strong IS this feeling regarding him among the lower classes in Colombo. that. on Fridays, whatever mosque Arabi may choose 10 attend is sure to be thronged with special crowd of wor- shippers. Besides this. however, there are certain English houses where the cx- lies are well received and on the whole, l think l may say they are as popular AS their ignorance of English will allow with the official community and the English residents.
 have naturally had conssan, eenvet- saton with the exiles on political mat ter. and more especially with Arabi. and have learned much from him and un- learned much as to the events of las, year. His view of the presen, situation in Egypt is worth quoting. The English government IS attempting. he says. an impossible task. They wish ,o make Tewfik popular. and they wish "a lntro- duce reforms. But Tewnk will only re- main popular as long as he IS supported by the English troops; and when these are withdrawn he will fall. Personally. Teshk is without friend Tn Egypt. The Egyptians hate hm for having be- trayed his country. and the Cireasslans despise him for having betrayed his re hgion. The better friend he IS 10 the English. the less chanse he has of con olia,ing his coln,rymen. In one way or other he wi.l disappear Then l, ~ill be for the powers iinaily ,o de de wha, Il Is they really intend for Egypt If they mean 10 annex II. one or the other of then will do so It the cost of new re- volt. If noi, ,hey must allow the Egyp- iians 10 choose ,he.r ruler and ,o work out their freedom for themselves The choice Of ruler should be made, Arabi thinks, by the notables. The fel- laheen are rot sufficiently instructed yet for a plebisci,e. But the sheikhs oi the village with the notables of the towns would form a reasonable elective body. They would choose whom they would. a Mahomeian, a man of mark. Arabi hope an Egyptian, but before investing hun with power they would bind him by some constitutional form which should prevent the recurrence or mere arbitrary rule which has ruined Egypt. Lord Durfcrin's $ charter. Arab considers. IS sufficient for that purpose. II is a make believe, too weak 10 restrain the abuse of power, and liable. through its weakness, to become
 tself m instrument m the hands of des- po,sin. Egypt, however. under ruler elected by the notables. would ind noia- bles capable of asserting and maintaining ther ngh;s. and a constitutional cham Der would form itself wi,hou, the need oi any more foreign assistance, The liberal party, t $ true. k now rushed and in hiding. bat II would start from the ground wiih 'he !eas; encouragement and ind life agaln Arab does no, q, all despair of his c6untrymen 5oa'd the presen, un- natural regime be -euls ei bv one sane toned by public approval. The approval of the people is the oasis of all stable government, and whoever the ncw ralei of Egypt is he must De made ,o snaer stand tha, Egypt is not glsen hia as q property. but as a trust ismzll i.asha thought all Egyp, was his prIvate garden. Tewfk pasha is being ,angh, ,o ,hink ;ha; there IS no law but what rests or hls decree. This must no, 5e in the future The prince must obey the la~ no, make i,
 Eou, lano have x,o,, h~>r -a,r.S >.s