LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH HARDY NEESIMA

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INTERVIEW WITH ARABI PASHA. 253 remarking: "We cannot tell what will become of Egypt. God only knows. He will take care of it." He asked how large a military force we had in Japan, also how many men-of-war. To our replies he said, "Very good." He advised us to maintain a good army and navy. He inquired about our educational system, and was much pleased to hear of our progress in that respect. Whenever our answers pleased him he said, "very good." I asked about the religion of the Arabs. He replied "Every Arab is a Mahometan." He was pleased when I informed him that I had a copy of the Koran. I have not read it yet, but will do so. He said the Mahometan religion was spreading quite fast in India, and also in China. He asked what re­ligion I embraced, and my reply surprised him. He spoke through an interpreter, but occasionally he burst forth in broken English. His voice is tiger­like, but he has wonderfully pleasant features when he smiles. He is tall and rather fat; his face is full and his eyes comparatively small; his skin .and hair are dark, a~d he wore a long white garment. He received profound obedience from his attendants, and seemed to be one loved and respected. When we bid him adieu he thanked us for calling upon him and gave us his autograph. Then we drove through groves of palm trees, and the streets and market of the town. The native streets are dirty and dusty, and everywhere were bad odors; the shops are small, scantily supplied, and very inferior to those of Singapore and to the Chinese shops of Hongkong. Most of the houses are of mud, with but one story. The cottages without the city, surrounded by green yards and tall palm-trees, are very picturesque. We saw several nicely built

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