ARABI PASHA AND HIS HOUSEHOLD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6856, 17 February 1883, Page 3

ARABI PASHA AND HIS HOUSEHOLD.

(By Lady Gregory In th# London Timss.)

" Report me and my otutie aright to the unsatisfied." I wrote thoie last words of Baudot on a photograph of Arab! which * friend a»kod me for at Cairo. But that friend bed personal reason for supporting the rule of the English officials in Egypt, and had also doubt as the possibility of a eon* sMtutional government succeeding in a country which could not boast a House of Peer*. Other Englishmen hero said • o mo, since I have come home, " Arabi is a good man and his aims are honest. I know it, and you know it., but dare not say it. A lady may say what she hies, but a man is called unpatriotic who ventures to say a word that is good of the man England is determined to crush j it may injure us if wo speak as wo think." But 1, like Master Shadow, present no mark to tho enemy. I have spoken what 1 know to be tho truth all through tho war, and I wrote down these recollections of Arabi and his family, which I know must make him appear less of an ogre than ho was generally supposed to bo some time ago, though not intending them for immediate publication. But now nows has reached mo from Oairo that Arabi’a wife has had to find a refuge with a high-minded Princess, who Ims always boon known as one who loved Egypt, and that that Princess is consequently in danger of arrest; that Arabi's mother is hidden in a poor quarter of the town, afraid to face the vengeance of his enemies now in power; and it is hoping to interest Englishmen in this Family—simple, honest, hospitable, as 1 found them, and who are now poor, hunted, and in danger, that I publish it now. Tn appearance Arabi is a tall strongly* built man. His face is grave, almost stern, but his smile is very pleasant. His photographs reproduce the sternness, but not the smile, and are, 1 believe, partly responsible for the ready belief which tho absurd tales of his ferocity and bloodthirstiness have gained. He always wears the blue Egyptian uniform, the red tarboosh pushed back on his head, ana the sword, whose imaginary feats rival those of Excalibur, by his aide. " I make no more jokes," said M. de Blignikres, tho sharptongued controller, after Arabi had been made Minister of War, "Arabi comes to the Council with his big sword on, and I think ifbetter to bo silent." “ Arabi drew bis sword, threatened the Notables, and told Sultan Pasha be would Make his children fatherless and his wife a widow," was the story sent to England when the Chamber demanded the right of voting the budget. It was hardly necessary for the old and childless Sultan Pasha to deny this story altogether when brought to his ears. "Arabi flourished his ■word and broke several windows," cries the hysterical correspondent of an English newspaper later on. As a matter of fact, I believe him to be exceedingly gentle and humane. An English official, one of the fairest of his class, said to mo, " He has too much of tho gentleness of the fellah, and too little of the brute in him to succeed. If he would take lessons in brutality at IOOf a week be would have a much batter chance of getting on." He was for months the almost absolute ruler of Egypt, an£ even from his enemies comes no story of cruelty or oppression, exeept that of the torture of the Circassian officers; and having searolisd the Blue-book laid before Parliament for proof of this, I can only And a despatch from our Minister saying a European gentleman has told him that two natives had told him that they had heard cries proceeding from the prison whore the Circassians wore confined, from which is inferred that they were being tortured.

Ido not understand Arabic, the only language spoken by Arabi, so could not judge of his eloquence. It is said to be striking, an£ his words well chosen. His intimate knowledge of the Koran and all the literature of his religion, including our own Old Testament books, will account far this, just as a life-long study of the English Bible is said to lend force and vigour to the language of one of our own great orators. He speaks very earnestly, looking you straight in tbe face with honest eyes. I have an entire belief in his truthfulness j partly from his manner, partly because from everyone, Without excep don, who bad known him long or watched his career—oome of them members of tbe Vice-regal family—l heard on this point the same report—" He is incapable of speaking untruthpartly because it was many months ago—it was in November—that my husband first saw and spoke with him, and to every word be said then he baa adhered ever since. The abhorrence of Ismail which he then expressed has been proved to bo real, though long disbelieved, by the refusal to allow his emissaries to land at Alexandria in April, and the proposal to out his name out of the Civil List when he was found to be spending his money in intrigues in Egypt. And his sentiments towards the Sultan seems to be the seme now as when he said —" We honour hint as Caliph and suzerain { we belong to him i hie dominion is a great house, and Egypt is one of the rooms in that house; we acknowledge him as our lord, but we like to have our room to ourselves." " You may believe every word spoken by him," said a Frinoeis of the family of Mehemet Ali, " because he is a man who fears God." 1 believe that it is the implicit faith in bis honesty and truth which prevails that accounts for much of bis immense influence, which undoubtedly exists. At Luxor, in January, we noticed the eager interest taken by tbe people in hearing of him j and European gentlemen, living os overseers on estates still higher up, told us that his was the name continually on men’s lips. I have been told that when Sir Hirers Wilson first went to Egypt, and found the people groaning under the tyranny of Ismail, bis name took possession of the people in the same way, and whenever a man Buffered on injustice or a wrong, he soid, "The Wilson will be sura to set it right." .But later on the Control did not inspire enthusiasm, and Arabi became the centre of the people’s desire. Of his childhood I know nothing, except that hie old mother told me he was " always a good son.” The first noteworthy action of his 1 can hear of was in the days of Said Pacha. Said devoted himself to his army, its drill and diioiplino. At one time ha took it into hie head that keeping the fast «f Ramadan was injurious to the troops, and he issued an order that the fact was not to be obeervod. After a few days he was told that some of the soldiers were neglecting his orders. Indignant at their disobedience to himself he wont out, and, walking along the ranks, asked each man," Do you fast P*'— "Do youP" A few confessed with fear and trembling i many denied. At lost a young soldier stepped forward, and said very respectfully, "Oh Effendina, I have road the commandment of God given in tbe Koran that we must fast. If I neglect the commands of my God, bow shall I be faithful to those of an earthly ruler P" " What is your name?" " Ahmed Arabi." " Take him from my sight I" No one expected over to see him again, but next day he was not only sent back to the regiment, but with the increased rank of corporal. This is (he man of whom we read in the despatches of last winter that the motive power of all his actions is cowardice.

I next hear of him in (lie dimtrou* Abyieiaian war. Hl* duty wa» to arrange for (he transport of provisions and baggage—not much glory or fame to he gathered (here though no fault was found with hi* efficiency or discipline. But even then, X have been told by a European officer who went through the campaign, hia influence waa growing. Bach night, when the day'* work waa done, it waa round him that the soldier* gathered, and he preached, or epoke, or recited the Koran to them.

It was in February last year that the Egyptian authorities, having no ground of accusation against Arabi, but distrusting him as "a man with ideas," tried to put him ont of (bo way quietly, but failed. He had a short time before, in conjunction with two other colonels, Abdullah of the Black Begiment and All Fehmy, presented a petition asking for an inquiry into (he grievances of the army, which wae accepted. In February these three colonels received a summon* from the Khedive to oome to the Abdin Palace to receive order* for the arrangement of a pro-

cession which wu to bo formed next day on tbo occasion of fcho marriage of one of the princesses. Their suspicions were aroused, and before going to the palaoe they left a n«e«»age with their regiment* s—* It we are nut back at sunset, oome for oe.” A» eoon m bey arrived at the palaoe they w-rc »«iz.d, thrown into a room, their ewortie ufcen from them, and the doore looked. Whether their friende would ever hare seen them again ie a matter for speculation ; all Cairo to this day eaye, "No;” but at euneet the eoldiore arrived, demanding their officer*, and then it wee too late to do anything but throw the doori open aa quickly ai might be, and let the prieoner* out. Thoie who *»w the mleaie »ay that the two other colonel* teemed in a great hurry to be safe in their barrack* again, but Arabi Walked slowly out, calm and unmoved at u*ual. Xhoee who take the trouble may read thie etory, plainly told in the Blue-books published in June. Why ie it that one hears so often of Arabi’s mutiny, but never of the flnt act in tho piece which led to it P

I am not writing a history of Arabi, and need not go into the details of tho September demonstration, when the soldiers, who had learnt their way to tho palace to release the colonels, appeared there again with a demand for a constitution, which was promised them. In December the Khedive made him Under secretary of War, whether with tho idea of strengthening the Government, or that Arabi's popularity would be lessened by his acceptance of office, 1 cannot toll.

In tbo Government of Mahmoud Sarny, which came into office on Feb. 3, be became Minister of War. His popularity was then at its height in Cairo. Many European officials p tying tho necessary formal visits to the new Ministers met him for the first time, and ono and all came away with a more favourable impression of him than they bad before. Mon who a month earlier hod spoken of him as beneath contempt now boasted of a few civil words from him. At the American public dinner, at which he wss a guest, and made a short speech in Arabic, those who were present, unable to judge of bis eloquence, could talk of nothing but the charm of hie smile.

It was just at tin* time that the Sacred Carpet was brought back from Mecca, It is a time of great rejoicing among the people, and all Cairo went out to meet it. When Arabi appeared in the procession the enthusiasm of the people knew no bounds. They threw themselves upon him, kissed his hands, his koees, his feet, and tore his gloves into fragments to keep in memory of him. The soldiers tried in vain to beat them back, but ho stopped them, and, lifting his hand, said quietly, “ Go book, my children,” and in an instant was obeyed. The Khedive** wife was looking on from a window, ili-pleased. “ See,” she said, “ how this man is stealing the hearts of the people.” Her own husband bad passed, receiving but little notice, just before. I had already seen and spoken with Arabi, but it wae not until the end of Bebruary tbat I went, with Lady Anne Blunt, to sea his wife. They had moved some little time before to a new house, large and dilapidated looking, and which Arabi was represented aa having fitted up in a luxurious style; in fact, at that time the crime most frequently alleged against him was that he had bought carpets to the amount of £l2O. I must confess tbat there were some pieces of new and not beautiful European carpets in the chief rooms, but I must add tbat if Arabi paid £l2O for them he made a very bad bargain. I do not know how he has spent his official salary, but 1 have heard very lately, from one who has taken the trouble to investigate the truth of the stories of bis avarice, that he has the same small amount of money to his credit now that be had before he was either Pasha or Minister, and that the foundation of the story of his having become a large landed proprietor is his having become trustee for the orphan child of an old friend of his who had been kind to him.

Tho sole furniture of tbe reception-room of Arabi's wife consisted of email bard divanb covered with brown linen and a tiny table with a crochet antimacassar thrown over it. On the white-washed walls the only ornaments were photographs of him in black wooden frames, and one larger photograph of the Sacred Stone at Mecca. In the room •rhere Arabi himself sat and received were a similar hard divan, two or three chairs, a table, and an inkstand covered with stains. His wife was ready to receive os, having heard an hour or two earlier of our intended visit. She greeted us warmly, speaking in Arabic, which Lady Anne interpreted to me. She has a pleasant intelligent expression, but, having five children Lving out of fourteen that have been bom to her, looked rather overcome with the cares of maternity, her beauty dimmed since tho time when the tall, grave soldier she had seen passing under her window every day looked up at last and saw and loved her. She wore a long dress of green silk. "My husband hates this long train,” sho told ns afterwards; 11 he would like to take a knife and out it off, but I say I must have a fashionable dress to wear when I visit the Khodite’s wife and other ladies." I think there are English husbands who, in this grievance at least, will sympathise with Arabi.

An old woman with white hair, dressed in the common country fashion—a woollen petticoat and blue oottou jacket—came into the room and occupied herself with the children. Presently we found that she was Arabi's mother. She spoke with great energy and vivacity, welcoming us and talking of her son with much affection and pride. “I am only a fellah woman,” she said, “ but I am the mother of Ahmed Arabi.” She took me twice into another room to see an oleograph, of which she was very proud, representing him in staring colours. Alter a short time, a negro boy, the only visible attendant, brought in a tray, and we were invited to sit down and oat. The meal began with boiled chicken and broth, which were followed by forcemeat balls, rice, vegetables, sweet pastry, and other native dishes in abundance, though our hostess lamented the short notice she had been given of our visit. If she had known in time she would have had a cow killed. Two little girls, her daughters, waited on us, and brought water to wash our hands. She herself kept up an animated conversation, and gave us a vivid account of the imprisonment of the three colonels and their rescue. When they were in prison the others were frightened, but Arabi was not. He said, 11 It is not the will of Qod that we should perish." 11 When I heard what had happened, though I was almost too ill to leave the house, 1 hired a carriage and drove up towarde the palace to ask for news of them, but could hear nothing; and soon I had to come back, and that evening my baby was born. At the moment of nor birth came the nows that my husband had been released by the soldiers, so I called her ' Bushra' ” (good tidings). She was brought in for us to see—a tiny, thin, black-eyed creature, clinging to her grandmother. She is her father's favourite they said—she and Saida, the eldest girl, who was with him when he was quartered at Alexandria, and Haisan, a brijjht-eyod little imp of four year*. We had paid a long visit, and got away after many leave-takings and hopes for their well-being, as well as that of "El Bey.” *'lnshallab," his wife answered, rather sadly. "They say the Christian powers want to do something to my husband. I don't understand it all. We can't get on without the Christians, or they without us. Why can't we all live in peace together.”

In November 1 bad been taken to see Madame Sherit Pasha, a voluble lady, full of importance, and telling us between the puffs of her cigarette how she had had a visit from Arabi’s wife, and had spoken severely to her, and told h«r to go home and make her husband behave better and keep him from these bitim, and the poor woman had cried and promised to do her beet. Now, in February Madame Bherif had retired to obscurity, and Madame Arab! was wife of the Minister of War. Sherif himself I did not know, but those who knew him found him a pleasant companion, a plausible speaker, and • mlliard-player. Arabi, terribly £ jamest about some important question, calling at h« house and finding him engrossed in a “ billiards, would retire in sighted foreign consul saidi of him, Bherif is fall of good intentions, but he has never any

intention of carrying them out.” Tho moat able of oar English official* (aid of him, ” He ie honest in intention, hazy in hie idea*, indolent in action ; but, on partisanship (or hie Ministry aeeme to be ono of tho chief causae that hoe led os into war, let u* *ay the beet of him now.”

Toward* the end of March, before wo left Cairo, Arab! came to say good-bye to u*. A little worried and troubled by false accusations mode against him in English newspapers, he was still confident that some day bis character would be cleared. “ They must know some day that it ie the good of the people that we seek.” A little time before I. heir work was judged, that was ail he asked. Ibis has been denied him, and those who thought it well to " bring things to a crisis and hasten intervention ” by raising a quarrel between him and the Khedive have done their *ork, I spoke of my visit to hi* house, and ho said, " Our women have not been in tho habit of receiving the visits of the ladies of Europe, *0 if in any way they fail in the courtesy and attention duo to a guest, I hope you will understand if, was not from want of good-will, bat from want of knowledge.” I showed him a picture of my little boy \ he raised it to his lips and kissed it, hoping he would some day oome to Egypt to be tho friend of his children. Perhaps I hare not been a fair judge of his cause since them.

A day or two before we left I went again to see Lis wi f o. She looked a little sadder, a little more anxious, than when I had last seen her, but was on hospitable cares intent, and soon went oat of the room to see to the preparation of dinner. 1 hod an Italian lady with me as interpreter, who spoke French and Arabic very well. They had expected me this time, and mode more preparations, and when tho meal was ready and I sew dish after dish coming in, 1 was in despair until I found that one of the children, my little bright-eyed friend Haisan,was quite ready to sit by me, and be fed from my plate, and so I disposed of my share to bis great satisfaction, “ 1 like this better than having to wait downstairs till dinner is over,” be said; ’’.then they forget me, and eat up all the good things ” By the time dessert arrived he said be liked me, but hated other ladies, and would like to come and see me in England, but did not know bow he could manage it, as his papa wanted the carriage every day. L advised him to learn English, and his mother ■aid she would like to tend him to one of the Christian schools in Cairo. “ But bow can I send him whore he would hear his father spoken ill of?” She seemed troubled, poor woman, because the Khedive’s wife, who used to be good and kind to her, now says, “ How can we be friends when your husband is such a bad man?” The old mother sat in the corner attending to the children and counting over her beads. I said, “ Are yon not proud now your son is a Pasha ? " “ No,” she said, “we were happier in the old days when we had him with ns always and feared nothing. Now he gets up at daybreak, and has only time to say hie prayers before there are people waiting (or him with petitions, and he has to attend to them and then go to bis business, and often he is not back here until after midnight, and until he comes I cannot sleep, I cannot rest; I can do nothing but pray for him all the time. There are many who wish him evil, and they will try to destroy him. A few days ago he came home suffering great pain, and I was sure then he had been poisoned j but I got him a hot bath and remedies and ha grew better, and since then I keep even the water that he drinks locked up. But, say all 1 can, I cannot frighten him or make him take care of himself; he always says, * God will preserve me.’ ” “ God will preserve me !" “It U net the will of God that wo should perish.” Tho words of a man who believes God has given him work to do and will support him while he does it—not the words of a coward. But those, who wrote the published despatches say that cowardice is the mainspring of hie character, and surely they know better than his old mother!

“The Ehsdive is unjust to him,” she went on ; ‘ he will give him no help or support, and yet if anything goes wrong, or there is a disturbance ever so far away, Arabi is blamed for it.” She had a grievance against her son also. He had been already working hard towards the abolition of slavery, and I found that in this matter his foes were they of bis own household. “He ought not to do it,” the old woman said ; “ he does not see tho consequences as I do. All the slaves will leave as soon as they are freed, and European women will ta'ie their places, and they will sednee their masters, and their children will be stronger than ours, and we shall be driven out of the country.” Poor old soul! she must have had sore and anxious days since then. I often think of her, and of the poor wife, puzzled and troubled, “ Why should the Christian powers want to harm my husband ?”