I send you a Roman coin which a man gave me as a fee for medical
attendance. I hope you will like it for your watch-chain. I made our
Coptic goldsmith bore a hole in it. Why don't you write to me, you young
rascal? I am now living in my boat, and I often wish for you here to
donkey ride about with me. I can't write you a proper letter now as Omar
is waiting to take this up to Mr. Palgrave with the drawings for your
father. Omar desires his best salaam to you and to Rainie, and is very
much disappointed that you are not coming out in the winter to go up to
Luxor. We had a hurricane coming down the Nile, and a boat behind us
sank. We only lost an anchor, and had to wait and have it fished up by
the fishermen of a neighbouring village. In places the water was so
shallow that the men had to push the boat over by main force, and all
went into the river. The captain and I shouted out, _Islam el Islam_,
equivalent to, 'Heave away, boys.' There are splendid illuminations
about to take place here, because the Pasha has got leave to make his
youngest boy his successor, and people are ordered to rejoice, which they
do with much grumbling--it will cost something enormous.