THE RECONOUEST OF THE SOUDAN. 181 considered advisable to send Collinson'sbrigade of four Egyptian battalionsup from Omdurman to reinforceParsons. It arrived just in time to assist inrepelling a final attack— Ahmed Fadil's last effort.

The gunboat expeditions up to the two Niles wert of greater importance from the international point of view than the occupation of Gedaref, though from the military standpoint they were much less daring enterprises. It was quite possible that Abyssinian troops would to the south. But the Sirdar is authorised to send two flotillas, one up the White and the other up the Blue Nile. You are authorisedto settle the composition of these two forces with the Sirdar. -Sir Herbert Kitchener should in person command the White Nile flotilla as far as Fashoda, and may take with him a small body of British troops, should you concur with him in thinking such a course desirable. The officer in command of the Blue Nile flotilla is authorised to go as far as the foot of the INSIDE KHARTOUM AT LA Cataract, which is believed to commence about Rosaires. He is not lo land troops with a view to marching beyond the point on the rivernavigable for steamers. Should he, before reaching Rosaires, encounter any Abyssinian outposts he is to halt, report the circumstance, and wait for further instructions. In dealing with any French or Abyssinian authorities who may be encountered, nothing should be said or done which would imply a recognition on behalf of her Majesty's Government of a title to possession on behaft of France or Abyssinia of any portion of the Nile valley."

e instructions show how fully the British Government had provided for all possible conbe found in occupation of some point on t he-Blue Nile,andFrench and Abyssinians, or both, on the main stream. The reconnaissance of the two rivers had been decided upon before the Khartoum expedition began its advance. The orders to this effect were transmitted to Lord Cromer by Lord Salisbury, in a despatch dated from the Foreign Office on August 2nd, i8q8. ''Her Majesty's Government," wrote the British Foreign Secretary, ''do not con plate that after the occupation of Khai any further military operations on a large or involving any considerable expense, will be undertaken for the occupation of the provinces