Gordon arrives at Khartum. 175 route having been recommended to hini as holding much water. The Mahdi, informed of their approach, collected some 40,000 men and encamped in the forest of Shekan.

Misled and betrayed by their guides, and suffering terribly from want of water, Hicks's force advanced into the forest on the 5th November, was set upon by the Annihilation enemy in overwhelming numbers and annihilated, some EX5edi5on 300 only escaping death. 5th Novem-The news of this disaster naturally raised the Mahdi's ber' 1883, influence to the highest pitch, and produced a corresponding depression on the Egyptian side. At Khartum, which had been virtually in a state of siege since July, there was a panic, but De Coetlogon (left by Hicks with the depot), Power, Herbin, and Hansal (British, French, and Austrian Consuls respectively), collected food and outlying garrisons, and strengthened the defences by the end of the year. Sennar was meanwhile again besieged. The effect of Hicks's disaster on the Home Government was that it was decided that the Sudan should be abandoned and the garrisons evacuated. General Gordon was 1884. chosen as the man to carry out this difficult task, and he, rivS accompanied by Colonel Stewart, arrived in Khartum on the 18th February, just a month after the proclamation in that town of the Government's intentions.

Gordon was enthusiastically received at Khartum, and proclaimed, in addition to the foregoing, that the suppression of the slave trade by Egyptian means was now abolished, and that the Sudan was now independent, with himself as Governor- General. A large exodus northward consequently took place.

Gordon quickly came to the conclusion that if the Sudan was evacuated, the only man capable of keeping it in order after the Egyptians had retired would be Zubehr Pasha. His request, however, was refused by the Government, so Gordon resolved to hold Khartum at all costs and crush the enemy if possible, that being in his opinion the only method of securing the evacuation of the garrisons with safety and honour.

Meanwhile the flood of Mahdism was spreading northwards, and after a fruitless attempt—owing to the rising of the Robatab tribe—on the part of Captain Kitchener and Lieutenant Bundle to communicate with and assist Hussein Pasha Khalifa, Governor of Berber, this town