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“He will desert your Highness in the last ditch. Let me tell your Highness the truth, in return for saving my life. Your only salvation lies in giving up to the creditors of Egypt your own wealth, and also Sadik’s, which is twice your own.”

“Sadik will not give it up.”

“Is not Ismail the Khedive master in Egypt?”

“Sit down and smoke,” said Ismail eagerly, handing Dicky a cigarette.

………………….

When Dicky left the Khedive at midnight, he thought he saw a better day dawning for Egypt. He felt also that he had done the land a good turn in trying to break the shameless contract between Ismail and Sadik the Mouffetish; and he had the Khedive’s promise that it should be broken, given as Ismail pinned on his breast the Order of the Mejidieh.

He was not, however, prepared to hear of the arrest of the Mouffetish before another sunset, and then of his hugger-mugger death, of which the world talks to this day; though the manner of it is only known to a few, and to them it is an ugly memory.

GLOSSARY

Aiwa, effendi—-Yea, noble sir. Allah—-God. Allah-haly ‘m alla-haly—-A singsong of river-workers. Allah Kerim—-God is bountiful. Allshu Akbar—-God is most Great. A’l’meh—-Female professional singers Antichi—-Antiquities.

Backsheesh—-Tip, douceur, bribe. Balass—-Earthen vessel for carrying water. Basha—-Pasha. Bersim—-Grass. Bimbashi—-Major. Bishareen—-A native tribe. Bismillah—-In the name of God. Bowab—-A doorkeeper.

Corvee—-Forced labour.

Dahabeah—-A Nile houseboat with large lateen sails.

Darabukkeh—-A drum made of a skin stretched over an earthenware funnel. Doash—-(Literally) Treading. A ceremony performed on the return of the Holy Carpet from Mecca.

Dourha—-Maize.

Effendina—-Highness. El aadah—-The ordinary. El Azhar—-The Arab University at Cairo. Fantasia—-Celebration with music, dancing, and processions. Farshoot—-The name of a native tribe. Fatihah—-The opening chapter of the Koran, recited at weddings, etc.

Feddan—-The most common measure of land–a little less than an acre. Also dried hay. Fellah (plu. fellaheen)—-The Egyptian peasant. Felucca—-A small boat, propelled by oars or sails. Fessikh—-Salted fish. Ghaffirs—-Humble village officials.

Ghawdzee—-The tribe of public dancing-girls. A female of this tribe is called “Ghazeeyeh,” and a man “Ghazee,” but the plural Ghawazee is generally understood as applying to the female.

Ghimah—-The Mahommedan Sunday.

Gippy—-Colloquial name for an Egyptian soldier.

Goolah—-Porous water-jar of Nile mud.

Hakim—-Doctor.

Hanouti—-Funeral attendants. Hari-kari—-An Oriental form of suicide. Hashish—-Leaves of hemp. Inshallah—-God willing. Jibbeh—-Long coat or smock, worn by dervishes. Kavass—-An orderly. Kemengeh—-A cocoanut fiddle. Khamsin—-A hot wind of Egypt and the Soudan.

Khedive—-The title granted in 1867 by the Sultan of Turkey to the ruler of Egypt. Khiassa—-Small boat. Khowagah—-Gentleman. Koran—-The Scriptures of the Mahommedans. Kourbash—-A stick, a whip.

La ilaha illa-llah—-There is no God but God. Mafish—-Nothing. Magnoon—-Fool. Malaish—-No matter. Mamour—-A magistrate. Mankalah—-A game. Mastaba—-A bench. Mejidieh—-A Turkish Order. Mirkaz—-District. Moghassils—-Washers of the dead. Moufetish—-High steward. Mudir—-A Governor of a Mudirieh or province. Muezzin—-The sheikh of the mosque who calls to prayer. Mushrabieh—-Lattice window.

Naboot—-Quarter staff. Narghileh—-The Oriental tobacco-pipe. Nehar-ak koom said—-Greeting to you. Omdah—-The head of a village.

Ooster—-One of the best sort.

Ramadan—-The Mahommedan season of fasting. Reis—-Pilot.

Saadat el basha—-Excellency.

Sais—-Groom.

Sakkia—-Persian water-wheel.

Salaam—-A salutation of the East; an obeisance, performed by bowing very low and placing the right palm on the forehead and on the breast.

Sarraf—-An accountant.

Shadoof—-Bucket and pole used by natives for lifting water.

Sha’er—-A reciter. (The singular of Sho’ara, properly signifying a poet.)

Sheikh-el-beled—-Head of a village.

Shintiyan—-Very wide trousers, worn by the women of the middle and higher orders.

Sitt—-“The Lady.”

Tarboosh—-Fez or native turban. Tarah—-A veil for the head.

Ulema—-Learned men.

Waled—-A boy. Wekeel—-A deputy. Welee—-A favourite of Heaven; colloquially a saint.

Yashmak—-A veil for the lower part of the face. Yelek—-A long vest or smock, worn over the shirt and shintiyan.

Zeriba—-A palisade