166 Suliman''s Revolt.

orders on finding that his claims were not attended to. The extent of the insurrection was much larger than generally supposed ; the chief slave dealers had in their plans apportioned out the provinces of the Sudan among themselves, and even gave out that they would not stop short of Cairo. They were backed up by numerous Arab tribes, and were powerful enough to tax the whole strength of Egypt. It was from the Arabs that most of the slave hunters were drawn, and they looked with scorn and hatred on the Egyptian rule.

Colonel Gordon wrote :—" There is no doubt that if the Governments of France and England do not pay more attention to the Sudan—if they do not establish at Khartum a branch of the mixed tribunals, and see that justice is done, the disruption of the Sudan from Cairo is only a question of time. This disruption, moreover, will not end the troubles, for the Sudanese, through their allies in Lower Egypt—the black soldiers, I mean—will carry on their efforts in Cairo itself. Now, these black soldiers are the only troops in the Egyptian service worth anything."

July, 1878, In July, 1878, Gordon hearing that the son of Zubehr organised 1 (Suliman j had seized the province of Bahr el Ghazal, at by Gessi. once sent up an expedition commanded by Gessi.

Gessi started up the river, and on his way met with many slave nuggers, and even Government steamers, plying the slave trade under the eyes and with the connivance of the Egyptian Yakils. He first went to (Rabat) Shambeh to collect reinforcements, and then struck off in the direction of Rumbek on the River Rohl. His march was greatly impeded by the floods, and it was not till the first week in September that he reached the above-named place. Here he heard of the open revolt of Suliman, who had surprised and massacred the troops at Dem Idris, and was laying the country waste in all directions. The Arabs now began to join Suliman in large numbers, and his army soon numbered about 6,000 men. Gessi in the meantime had but 300 regulars, 2 guns, and 700 irregular troops ; his communication with Khartum was almost closed by the sudd in the river, which, moreover, together with the rains, caused the whole surrounding country to be flooded and made marching impossible. He accordingly fortified himself at Rumbek till November.