12 THE DOWNFALL OF THE DERVISHES

time, this lack of interest is certainly not prevalent to the same extent amongst the educated and enlightened sections of Egyptian

society. Whatever may be the divergency of opinion @ propos of various questions of

internal reform, or larger problems as to the

ultimate government of the country—what-

ever be the diverse opinions on topics such as

these amongst the educated natives—there is

a practically unanimous approval of two enter-

prises now in hand—the new Sarrage of the

Nile, and the recovery of the Sudan.

The social life of the upper classes in Egypt

is gradually yielding to European influences.

Much has been accomplished in this direction during the space of a_ single generation. Egyptian gentlemen, whose fathers wore the turban and loose native dress, now get their tweed suits and patent leather boots from English firms. The position of women too is

steadily improving as education advances, and home life, to the dismay of the “Old Egyp-

tian” party, is being slowly but steadily revolu-

tionised in the direction of greater freedom and independence for the ladies. Some time ago I received a most kind invitation from an