Bankrupts and Brokers 75
shapen, and he covered them with a loose fez, several
sizes too large. His hands were as bad, and he wore his
sleeves long over them. He dressed carelessly in a black
" stambouli,J> or curate's coat, baggy-kneed trousers
and enormous elastic-sided boots. But these uncouth-
nesses served only to accentuate the charm of his con-
versation and to conceal his uncanny cleverness in
personal intercourse. He had a fou succes with the beau
monde of Europe, and he was no less popular with his
own primitive peasantry in Egypt.
In examining the extravagance that ruined him, it is
very difficult to assess the amount that may fairly be
allocated to his deliberate policy of buying for Egypt
an international status and independence from Constanti-
nople. For, owing to British policy, Egypt was still in
international law an Ottoman province. The provision
securing the Egyptian succession to the eldest male
instead of to the eldest son, gave very obvious opportuni-
ties for Constantinopolitan intrigue, and was an obstacle
to continuity. But a reform of this provision would be
opposed not only by Constantinople and possibly by
London, but also by the Turkish ruling class in Egypt
and by the princes of the ruling House. Nevertheless,
in return for a doubling of the tribute to Turkey, a million
in cash and a jewelled gold dinner service for the Sultan,
and about a hundred thousand pounds more in bribes,
Ismail secured firmans (1866 and 1873), which not only
settled the succession on his eldest son, but recognised
fully and formally the administrative autonomy of Egypt.
As he also secured the removal of the restriction on
Egyptian naval and military armaments and the right to
make treaties, subject to those of the empire, as well as the
right to contract State loans, he did, in effect, secure for
Egypt sovereign status. He had, however, great dffi-