The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-18
MEHEMET TEWFIK.
Kind Words for America and Harsh Lam
guage in Reference to Arab Pasha.


Alexandria letter in New York Tribune.
AS passed under the hangings of the high
doorway, | saw the Khedive sitting at the
further corner of the room near window that
looked into the court. He rose at once as |
entered, and made single step toward me. l
paused and made the Arab salutatlon, and then
advanced to meet him. He shook hands cor
daily and expressed pleasure at meeting me as
an American, ard at once asked me to take the
next seat beyond the corner; so that during the
conversation that followed he constantly sat fac
ing me.
AS every lady in America will be interested in
knowing the dress of the frst.gentleman in
Egypt, may be permitted to describe it. His
Hlghness who is somewhat short and stout IL
person. wore black frock coat, white vest, and
trousers of grayish hue, and uncommonly
neat morocco shoes. His linen was spotless and
his broad expanse of shirt front was ornamented
with three simple diamond shaped gold studs
His other jewelry was not conspicuous. His
dark luxuriant hair was carefully arranged, and
his full beard closely trimmed. Altogether with
his rich brown complexion, his dark expressive
eyes, and his features which, if not of the high
est type Of beauty, were not diSpleasng, he
seemed as we'll dressed and handsome a gentle
man as one could meet on a summers day. His
countenance changed frequently according
His gestures were simple and energetic--a move
ment of the thumb Of his right hand with the
forefingers closed and an occasional thrusting
out of the forefnger of the left Land toward the
which were often and not always in royal fash
ion, in dead earnest. He spoke English fuent1y
and, when not carried away by the rapid rush Of
his thoughts and feelings. with creditable cor
rectness. Occasionally, when most in earnest,
he slipped half off his chair to bring himself
little nearer to his auditor Now and then he
drew his legs (which are not of the longest) up
under the heavily upholstered chair. showing
tf at something of the Oriental habits were still
instructive with him.
He began the conversation without delay by a
reference to my nationality. America is great
nation" he said.
Not in antiquities, ventured to interpolate
He smiled and said: "But you have an an
tiquity of ours, an obellSk, which l am glad to
know your people admire and appreciate. But
you have another thing equally IS good public
works, great inventions, long railways. | do
not know that | shall ever go to America myself,
but shall send my children there when they
have finished their education. Two of them are
now in Switzerland. They will remain there
awhile, and will then continue their studies in
some other country of Europe, after which they
will visit you | shall never forget how your
people have sympathized with Egypt in her af
fictions. And the American officers who have
been with US will always be kindly remembered.
They were of great service to the Egyptian
army, and General Stone was a great favorite
with our officers, especially with the etat-major
(statf) He was a good man and an excellent
officer. Have you been long away from Amer
ica"
About ten months in China Formosa and
Tonquin."
'"fhen you saw something Of the war in the
East The Chinese, l believe, fought we'll; at
least they had numbers on their side, and made
the French great deal of trouble. But that is
all finished, hope, now, and it is very sad that
Admiral Courbet should die just as peace was
rendered certain
This is an old palace in which you are now
living!'
Yes, about seventy years old 1t was built
by my grandfather, Mehemet Ali. | like
to come here when am worn out with business.
There is always sea breeze, and l am very
quiet and retired here compared with Cairo"
you doubtless have great deal to occupy
your attention"
Il certainly have"
''And the khediye's bed is not always bed of
roses?"
mo- not bed of roses using the French
term 1t has especially not been so during the
past year Until a few days since | con-
stantly busy with one trouble or another grow
ing out of the situation in Egypt How do you
like Egypt"
Very much. But Icould only remain at Cairo
ten days. when | would have liked to remain
three or four months There is so much that is
interesting to see and study. Egyptis beauti-
full country"
'Yes thoughtfuly), the country is very inter
estlng, and 1t is so very fertile and rlch and we
were getting on so well when the rebellion came
Five years ago everything was so prosperous.
Our demands were paid and we had $500, 600 in
the treasury. Land could hardly be bought
then for 5000 an acre. Now the same land can
be bought for 940 or $50 There was then an
abundance of everything. 1t was the rebellion
of Arab that caused this change"
t.! had the fortune, few weeks since, to meet
Arab in Colombo"
The khedive's brow darkened. eyes! And
how does he speak EnglishW
Every imperfectly He knows but few
words of the language | was unprepared for
that, as had reason to believe that he spoke
both French and English"
And volt ha Nc ooS will all
you that he is very intelligent a gentleman,
genius; that he is making rapid progress in En-
glish and other branches of learning. The fact
is that he is very ignorant. He has no educa-
ton whatever. Everybody in Egypt is perfectly
well aware Of that. ] shall never forget one in
cident that occurred while he was Secretary of
War. 1t was at the time of the excitement
about the Italians taking Asab in the Red Sea-
It was at a meeting of the council where | pre-
sided. Arab said: Italy must not be allowed
to DO this We will prevent it by destroying
the Suez canal so that they cannot get
to the Red Sea- [ said: What do you
the Suez canal is a national highway, and you
would not be permitted to do it. Besides, if you
did, you would not prevent the Indians sending
their ships around by the Cape of Good Hope
and entering the Red sea from the south
What said Arab is there another way of get
ting to the Red sea than by way of the eanalP The
fact that his geography being very defective |
he had net the slightest idea Of the shape or
raisen DEERE Of the Red sea, though it is body |
SO intimately connected with Egypt that it may
almost be said to be Egyptian. But he was an
Egyptian, and some people thought him pa
triot. He was made a colonel the first Egyp-
tian who had ever held that important rank
He made the people think he was their friend
He told the fellaheen that he would take
off their taxes that he would drive the for
eigners away, and then take their land and
distribute it among them. Then the fellaheen
said, This is a good man, patriot We shall
be rich tomorrow Theoretically and with
vigorous ard expressive gestures. How could
this man drive the foreigners out of Egypt! They
had property in Egypt that they had bought and
paid for. There were among them French, En-
glish, Italians Greeks, Germans and Austrians
Was it to be supposed that the respective nations
would stand by and see their people robbed!
Certainly not Never was there more prepos-