tended to proceed direct to Sawákin. Once there he proposed to reopen the Sawákin-Berber road through Sheikh Músa of the Hadendoa, and Músa Akkad, a Súdán merchant of great ability, who had been implicated in the Arábi rebellion, and exiled. In this policy Stewart thoroughly concurred. On the 20th Gordon suggested that Zobeir should be sent to Cyprus, and asked Sir E. Baring to meet him at Suez. On the 22d, whilst "at sea," he explained in a memorandum the policy he proposed to pursue, and his objections to the employment of Zobeir. On this

and on subsequent occasions he paid Stewart the high compliment of asking him to record his independent views. Stewart cordially agreed with the memorandum, and also suggested that steps should be taken to prevent any interference by the Cairo Ministers with Gordon's mission. Both wrote in strong terms against the employment of Zobeir, believing that if sent to the Súdán he would consolidate a vast State and become a formidable power. Both distrusted the Khedive, and dreaded intrigues at Cairo more than the open hostility of the Súdánis. Stewart even thought that some of the Egyptian officials would not be sorry to hear that Gordon had been made away with; and he evidently watched over the safety of his chief, who wrote from Khartúm, "You have a wife to look over your shoulder and see there is no treachery: Stewart is as good for me here."

On the 24th Gordon and Stewart reached Port Said, and were met by Sir Evelyn Wood and Colonel Watson. Here they heard that Government wished Gordon to go to Cairo, and that Zobeir could not be sent to Cyprus. At Ismailiya they learned that Sheikh Musa of the Hadendoa was dead,

and that a large section of the tribe was in rebellion under Osman Digna. There was now no question of going to Sawákin, and on the 25th a council was held at the British Agency, Cairo, to decide upon the action that should be taken with regard to the Súdán. The evening of the same day Gordon met Zobeir at the house of Sherif Pasha, and afterwards wrote that when he saw him he felt a "mystic feeling" that he could trust him, and that he would willingly undertake the responsibility of taking him up to Khartúm.

On the 26th the council again met, and Gordon's instructions, which had been prepared at his own request, and with his fullest approval, were read over to him. Then followed a remarkable interview between Gordon and Zobeir, during which the latter displayed so much animus against Gordon that those who were present considered that it would not be desirable to allow Zobeir to go up to the Súdán. In the evening Gordon and Stewart left Cairo.

Gordon took with him two firmans appointing him GovernorGeneral of the Súdán, and two proclamations from the Khedive to the Súdánis. In one set the evacuation of the Súdán was specifically mentioned, in the other there was no allusion to it. At Gordon's request the British Government was not mentioned, and he and Stewart thus became in the eyes of the natives Englishmen in the service of the Khedive. As a consequence it was decided that they were to wear the tarbúsh, and a few days later Stewart was made a pasha. What Stewart's feelings were may well be imagined. He had the strongest objection to service under oriental Government, and less than a year previously he had

an

written from Khartúm that the name of a pasha and the sight of a tarbúsh filled him with disgust, and that he could not put on a fez without feeling a loss of selfrespect.

Stewart had left England with little more than the traditional toothbrush and soap of Sir C. Napier, and though friends made up some of the deficiencies, he started from Cairo with a light kit. He was fully aware of the dangers and difficulties of the enterprise. Before leaving Cairo he wrote to a relative: "I fully realise the dangers of this expedition, and what I feel most is the anxiety my mother will suffer. But, after all, one's life is but a short one here, and should I never return she will at any rate have the consolation of knowing that, as far as I could, I have done my duty." In another letter he writes: "I do not disguise the danger; but both Gordon and I feel that we are doing what is right, and helping to pull our country out of a serious difficulty."

Stewart's journal and letters contain a full record of all that occurred on the journey to Khartúm; but a few notes and extracts only can be given here.

Jan. 27th.-On reaching Asyút, no officials met them at the station, an unusual course, which led them to think that the Khedive had given orders that they should be slighted.

Jan. 29th.-Gordon determined to communicate with the Mahdi. At Esna they met M. Marquet, on his way from Khartúm to Cairo, who told them that he thought Gordon would be well received by the Khartúm population but secretly hated by the Egyptian pashas and Government officials.

Feb. 1st.-From Korosko Stewart wrote: "It may very likely be the Mahdi's plan not to assume

the offensive, but to allow matters to ripen, and wait till Khartúm is forced through hunger to submit. This was very much the plan he followed in the case of Obeid."

He considers that the firman announcing the evacuation should not be made known until the petty sultans had been replaced in their districts, but doubts whether Gordon would remain silent.

On the same day Gordon wired to a wavering sheikh, "Come and see me at Khartúm. If you want peace, I am for peace; but if you want war, I will fight you gladly."

Feb. 5th. In the Korosko desert they met the late Mudir of Berber, who had extorted 12,000 dollars from the people, and who looked terribly frightened on meeting Gordon.

Feb. 7th. They reached Abu Hamed, where Gordon was well received by the people, to whom he made a speech explaining his intentions.

Feb. 9th.-From Surek Gordon wrote to the Mahdi appointing him Sultan of Kordofan, and saying that as he was Governor of Khartúm there was no necessity for war between them. The same day he and Stewart discussed the course they should pursue if their retreat by the Nile valley were cut off. They decided to go up to the Equatorial Province, and thence find their way through M'tesa's kingdom to Zanzibar.

Feb. 10th.-They met Hussein Pasha Khalifa, who told Gordon that he thought the policy of writing to the Mahdi was good. He afterwards told Stewart that he did not approve of it, as the Mahdi was a common man who cared only for religion, and would, by being made Sultan, have better means of stirring up the country.

Feb. 12th.-Gordon took the leap in the dark which was unfortunately to be one of the chief causes

of the failure of his mission. Stewart writes: "I was called up at 5 A.M. by General Gordon, who, having pondered deeply all night, had come to the decision to open the Pandora box, and openly proclaim the divorce of the Súdán from Egypt, the formation of local militias, and the appointment of Súdán officials in every important post."

Gordon showed the secret firman to Hussein Pasha Khalifa and Muhammad Tahir, who was believed to be a bosom friend of the Mahdi; and with their assistance drew up a proclamation appointing a Provisional Government independent of Cairo, but subject to him as Governor-General and British Commissioner. The proclamation was fixed to the gates of Berber, and caused a good deal of excitement, but the people appeared to approve of it. On the same day a deputation of Notables asked Gordon whether the treaty he had published in 1877, by which all slaves would be freed in 1889, was in his present programme. Gordon, "knowing the utter futility of saying 'Yes,' replied 'No,' and published a proclamation to this effect. This interested and pleased the people more than anything else."

Feb. 13th.-Gordon showed the secret firman to Hussein Pasha, and the chief men of the province assembled in secret conclave. The document caused the most profound astonishment, and, apparently, delight. Gordon was, however, told that it was a mistake to have shown it, and that those who heard it would probably conclude that the concessions were only made with the view of getting the troops out of the country without danger, and leaving the people to stew in their own juice. Gordon thought that

he could not put a sharper spur into them to organise their own Government. Stewart considered the question a difficult one, but thought it was a mistake to show the firman, and that it would have been better to have followed the advice of Nubar Pasha, and delay action until the political situation had become clearer.

Stewart refers to Gordon's intense sympathy with the people, and his inclination to use every effort to mitigate the results of withdrawal. He considers the evacuation policy right, but is convinced that it will end either in anarchy or the substitution of one tyranny for another. As far as he can judge, the people are genuinely glad to see Gordon; but he distrusts expressions of popular feeling amongst people so prone to dissimulation.

Feb. 14th.-Stewart alludes to the difficulty they had, "owing to their poor knowledge of Arabic," in distinguishing between el-Obeid the man and el-Obeid the town. And here we may remark on one of the curious features of the mission. Stewart spoke Turkish with fair fluency, but he and Gordon had only a slight knowledge of Arabic, and neither could read it in MS. They had no European interpreter, and all letters and proclamations in Arabic were written by native clerks whose fidelity was not always assured.

Feb. 15th.-Referring to the joy caused by the cancelling of the Slave Liberation Treaty, Stewart remarks::

"It is necessary to consider the position of affairs. H.M.'s Government desire the evacuation of the country without bloodshed, and its retrocession to a native Government. This is the essential point of our mission. In view of this decision and the result politically that will ensue therefrom, it is quite evident that

H.M.'s Government will not have power to enforce the treaty unless the people are inclined to carry it out. This they are evidently not inclined to do. In a word, the newly constituted Súdán becomes a slave-holding State similar to Turkey, Morocco, &c."

we

"Feb. 18th. At 8.30 A.M. steamed up the river to Khartúm, stopping on the way at Om Durman to inspect the Bashi Bazúks and regulars. At 9.30 A.M. we reached Khartúm, and were received by all the officials, in gorgeous uniforms, standing in front of a massive background of natives. After the usual greetings from the select few, we landed, and, passing through an avenue of soldiers, proceeded to the Divan. Here we and the officials sat for a short time, and then proceeded to the courtyard to have the firman, appointing Gordon Pasha, read to the assembled multitude. A pulpit had been erected, at the entrance to the Divan, which one of the Ulema ascended, and, after the usual ceremony, proceeded to read the document. Gordon Pasha stood on the lower step, as it was strictly against etiquette for him to ascend any higher. After the reading Gordon addressed the multitude, saying: 'I am glad to see you. It is four years since I was here, and the Súdán is now miserable, and I am miserable, and I want your assistance to put it right. I have come here alone without troops, and we must ask Allah to look after the Súdán if no one else can. I have granted you half taxes, and I will not interfere with your holding slaves. Stewart Pasha is my Vakil, and he is not dressed in uniform, as he came away in such a hurry.' After the reading of the firman we returned to the Divan, and the people were admitted to see General Gordon. They flocked in in crowds, kissed his hands, and appeared genuinely pleased to see him.

"After a short interval we began work by clearing out the boxes containing old records, conveying them into the middle of the square, making an auto-da-fe of them, and crowning the edifice by stocks used in bastinadoing, and other instru

After this

ments of Government. and other business I went to the jail. Here I was mobbed by the 200 and odd prisoners, who were packed very like sardines. Meeting General Gordon there, he directed me to inquire into these cases. I released twenty of them, and then had to defer further inquiry as it was getting late. Among those dismissed were some young boys and a number of rebels. They were chained two and two. During the afternoon the General visited the family of Besatu Bey, his late secretary, who was killed with Hicks at Obeid. He then visited the hospital and arsenal, and on his return home formed a Committee of Defence consisting of twelve Notables. He also issued a proclamation saying that these Notables were his Council, that he would take their advice, and that, if any disadvantageous step were taken, the people must blame them and not me. He thereby shifted the responsibility for any error of judgment to their shoulders.

“Feb. 19th.—Began work in the prisons early in the morning. Released 58 prisoners. Many of them had been years in prison without any sentence; others had been sent up by pashas of Egypt without rhyme or reason amongst others a slave of Sherif Pasha, who had been exiled because he was drunk and insubordinate. Others were there whose sentence had long expired. I cannot express what pleasure it afforded me to set these poor people free. It was quite worth coming up here to do so.

"Orders were issued to mix all the battalions together, and send the white to Om Durman under Ibrahim Pasha Hyder. The blacks, or Súdánis, were to be placed under Ferragh Bey, an old Súdán officer who had served in Mexico. The Bashi Bazúks were placed under Said Pasha, one of Zobeir's generals, who had left Zobeir's son previous to his revolt. Gordon's idea is to get out the white element, then the whitey-brown or Bashi Bazúks, and to leave the pure black or Súdánis to manage their own affairs.

"Feb. 20th.—I was busy the whole day with petitions and other business. Saw Farigh-alla Bey in the morning. He is a Súdáni, and commands the

garrison; he was appointed by General Gordon. I told him to do his best to induce the black troops now in Egyptian regiments to remain in the Súdán with him. General Gordon commenced work by ordering all the troops in the garrison to be mixed up, and then the black to be separated from the white. The whites were sent to Om Durman. He ordered three gates to be opened in the ramparts, and proclaimed death to any soldier who looted the peasantry coming in. The octroi tax was abolished.

"Feb. 21st.-Gordon Pasha caused a long Arabic letter, full of extracts from the Korán, to be written to Sheikh Bessir, now heading the rebellion on the Blue Nile. The letter began by detailing the advantages Gordon was prepared to offer in the shape of reduced taxes, native employés, &c. It was then shown, by extracts from the Korán, what a sin it was for Mahommedans to slay each other. The letter ended by an invitation from Gordon to Bessir to come to Khartúm and see him. The writer of the letter was Ahmed ElAwám, an ex- employé of Arábi Pasha's, who speaks English and is an exile. During the rest of the morning I transacted business, visited the arsenal, and pressed forward the repairs of the steamers going to the Bahr Ghazelle. The list of the Egyp tian exiles was made out. Most of these men were described in the register as vagabonds and rioters; but it is generally supposed that they were sent here owing to personal reasons on the part of influential Egyptians and mudirs. One was pointed out to me as the son of a most respectable Egyptian. He is described as a robber, but both from his general appearance and respectable parentage I should consider the charge untrue.

"About 8 P.M. Farigh Bey appeared, and said to Gordon that he hoped the Egyptian troops would remain at least five days. Gordon sent him away, saying he was a woman, which greatly vexed Farigh Bey. It is probable that this officer had been bribed to tell us this by the Greek merchants, to whom the idea of evacuating the Súdán is most abhorrent.

"Feb. 22d.—I took a walk through

the bazár, and visited the Sheikh elBeled, the soles of whose feet had been beaten by Hussein Pasha Suri. He had received 500 blows with the kurbash, and although the beating had been inflicted six weeks ago, he was still unable to move. His son, a

lad of sixteen years of age, had also been beaten, and was lying in a bed beside his father. I spoke to the poor old man, sympathised with him, and abused Hussein Pasha. On my return to the serai I found Gordon having an interview with a number of Notables, including Ulemas. The Ulemas and others expressed an opinion that the Egyptian troops should remain here. Gordon, taking a globe of the earth, asked them who was the Lord of it. They replied 'God.' He then said that his trust was in God, Who would direct all for the best. The people left apparently

satisfied.

"A man came in from Obeid. He stated that before Gordon's arrival the Madhi had detailed two chiefs with a number of Arabs to march on Khartúm; but when news came that Gordon was coming the movement had been stopped, as the Arabs thought Gordon was bringing up English troops. The Arabs now say they will not march on Khartúm, but will remain on the defensive, as they fear the steamers on the river.

"Feb. 23d.-In the afternoon we walked about the town. All the people we spoke to assured us that they had no fear of the rebels marching on the town. During the day many of the wealthy inhabitants called on Gordon, and implored him not to send away the troops. They appeared to be in a great fright.

"Feb. 24th.-In the morning I had an interview with Sheikh Idris enNúr, an Arab merchant of Khartúm, and a partisan of the Mahdi. He stated that in his opinion the Mahdi could not now march on Khartúm, as the season was late.

"In the afternoon messengers came in from Saleh Bey at Fedassi (on the Blue Nile). They stated that the whole country was in insurrection; that Gordon's proclamations were not worth the paper they were written on; that the Shukriyeh, under Awd el-Kerim, were on the right bank of