524 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE. C Egyptians dislike the rule of Christians and foreigners. Even if they were firmly convinced that the retention of British control was demanded by the vital interests of Egypt, they would remain neutral in the event of our control being attacked. Egypt has changed masters time after time ; and the change has invariably been acquiesced in by her native-born population.

I can see no reason why it should be otherwise with regard to British rule. If, from any unforeseen cause, England were compelled to withdraw from Egypt, and our place there were filled — as it infallibly would be filled — by some other European Power, Egypt would accept the rule of our successors as passively as she has accepted the British occupation. I believe that under such an eventuality, the fellaheen, in days to come, would talk regretfully of the good time when the " Inglez" held sway at Cairo, and when there was peace and order and prosperity throughout the land ; but I doubt their regret ever passing from the domain of sentiment to that of action. Without our presence, the reforms we have introduced would wither away, just as the crops on the banks of the Nile die as soon as the water fails to reach the soil ; and, beyond the material works we have created, such as the railways, the canals, the dams and reservoirs of Assouan and Assiout, I doubt there being much left to perpetuate the memory of our rule.

Every year, however, that passes renders our withdrawal from Egypt more and more improbable.

I cannot myself see that we have made much progress