Here, Kämil echoes claims about native Sudanese excess (either religious or sexual) that Muhammad al-Tunisï and Shaykh Rifaah Rafi al-Tahtawï had discussed two generations before. As a culture, Kämil continues, Egypt was uniquely imbued with the capacity to bridge this untamed religious energy and western European society. He asks, “Is there any other country in the world as suited by religious liberalism [al-muhidd] and absolute moderation to be the medium between civilized Europe and fanatical Africa if not Egypt?”

Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Coloni…, loc. 745