8 THE DOWNFALL OF THE DERVISHES

learnt from an authority of the highest standing

that in a list of official appointments made from day to day there is a marked decrease in the number of French names, and of course a cor- responding increase in English ones. It is

certain, too, that the vast majority of educated

Egyptians are coming to realise clearly the

injury which is inflicted on their country by the obstinacy and perversity of the French, whose

policy is one of sheer obstruction to any measure of progress suggested by the British

advisers of the Khedive, however reasonable

its conditions and beneficial its results. The present scheme of new irrigation works at

Philae, which will bring thousands of fresh

acres under cultivation and increase the

revenue enormously, has, needless to say, received the most violent opposition from the

French. How long are we going to tolerate

this absurd political farce? When will a

British. Government have the courage to inform the world that we officially recognise what is already a fazt accomplz, and intend to remain in sole and permanent possession of a country for which we have done so much ?

Several amusing stories are told in Cairo of