His
throne and life had not been saved for
him by the British, as was the case with
his father. He was surrounded by intriguers
who were playing a game of their own,
and for some time he appeared almost disposed
to be as reactionary as his great-uncle
Abbas I. But in process of time he learnt
to understand the importance of British
counsels. He paid a second visit to England
in 1900, during which he frankly acknowledged
the great good the British had done in
Egypt, and declared himself ready to follow
their advice and to cooperate with the
British officials administering Egyptian
affairs. The establishment of a sound
system of native justice, the great remission
of taxation, the reconquest of the Sudan,
the inauguration of the substantial irrigation
works at Aswan, and the increase of cheap,
sound education, each received his approval
and all the assistance he could give.
He displayed more interest in agriculture
than in statecraft, and his farm of cattle
and horses at Koubah, near Cairo, would
have done credit to any agricultural show
in England; at Montaza, near Alexandria,
he created a similar establishment.
|
|
