Meanwhile, the dissension between the Governor-General and the Egyptian Pasha increased in violence, until anything like co-operation became impossible, the policy of the latter being clearly pacific with a show of force. He wished to avoid a collision as long as possible, hoping still to conciliate Cretan public opinion, while Ismael was determined to do everything in his power to bring about hostilities. The Egyptian therefore threw himself for support on the consular body, from whom he received that degree of support which their instructions and personal sympathies rendered possible, as, with the exception of M. Derché, all the members of the corps were anxious to prevent bloodshed. The committee sent to the Italian and Russian consuls and myself urgent entreaties that we would persuade the Egyptians to withdraw from Vrysis, a position which provoked attack by the Cretans, as, if maintained by the troops, it prevented all strategical movements by the insurrectionary forces. This request we all urged on the attention of Schahin, and he energetically demanded from the Governor-General permission to withdraw the menaced battalions. The effective reply of the Governor was to withdraw all the Turkish supports, and leave Schahin to his own resources, compelling him to devote two of his four battalions remaining to keeping open the communications of Vrysis with the sea-shore. While this family quarrel paralyzed the government at Canéa, the Mussulmans in Selinos, a fortress on the south side of the island, were shut in by strong guards of Christians posted on the hills round about, and were even more impatient than at Canéa because more inconvenienced, and finally made a sortie on one of the adjoining Christian villages. They were fruitlessly warned back, and, persisting, were fired upon, and several killed and wounded. Ismael immediately called a council of war, and made a requisition on Schahin for a battalion of Egyptians to go with another of Turks to the relief of the Seliniotes. Schahin sent for me at once to advise him on the matter. I recommended him strongly not to obey the requisition, as the breach of the peace having taken place between the indigenes of the two religions justified him in assuming that hostilities did not exist, and, according to his instructions, that he was under no circumstances to be drawn into an offensive movement. He therefore returned answer that, his battalions at Vrysis being menaced, and this affair being only a collision between Cretans of the two religions, he was not justified in withdrawing any of his remaining troops from a position where they might be needed to secure the safety of those already compromised, and declined to obey the requisition. The expedition was therefore abandoned, though the steamers were lying in the roadstead with steam up ready to transport the troops. At the same time, news arrived from Vrysis that the Cretans had concentrated at the passes, and forbade