468 • THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

interfere with the new order of things established under the British occupation. There has been of late years no overt antagonism between his Highness and the British officials, who nominally advise, but who in reality direct, the native Ministers and heads of departments.

His social relations with the English community are friendly, though hardly cordial. His private life, in as far as the private life of any Oriental household is ever known to the outside world, is irreproachable.

Following his father's example, he has only one legal wife, to whom he is supposed to be much attached.

He resides mainly at his palace of Koubeh, some few miles east of Cairo, and close by the Virgin's tree, so well known to tourists. He mixes much 'less in European society than either of his predecessors on the Vice-regal throne; but on all his rare public appearances he conducts himself with dignity. He is said to follow public affairs both at home and abroad with great interest, and to secure copious reports from his native officials. He is supposed to be a devout Mahometan, and to be more rigid in his observance of the laws of Islam than is common with educated followers of the Prophet. As a well-bred man of the world, he is always courteous to European visitors who have interviews with him either on matters of business or of ceremony, though he shows no desire to extend the circle of his foreign, and notably of his English, acquaintances. He is careful, though not parsimonious, in his personal expenditure ; he exercises a vigilant supervision over the members of the