16 CAMEL RIDING.
On February 18, 1877, Colonel Gordon left Cairo for Suez, on his way to Massawa, where he arrived on the 26th of that month.
CAMEL RIDING.
**T expect to ride 5,000 miles this year, if I am spared. I am quite alone, and like it. JI am become what people call a great fatalist, viz., 1 trust God will pull me through every difficulty. The solitary grandeur of the desert makes one feel how vain is the effort of man. This carries me through my troubles, and enables me to look on death as a coming relief when it is His will. The heat is sometimes terrible. I am now accustomed to the camel. It isa wonderful creature with its silent, cushion-like tread. . . . . **T have a splendid camel—none like it; it flies along, and quite astonishes even the Arabs. I came flying into this station in marshal’s uniform, and be- fore the men had time to unpile their arms I had arrived, with only one man with me. I could not help it; the escort did not come in for an hour and a half afterwards. The Arab chief who came with me said it was the telegraph. The Gordons and the camels are of the same race—let them take an idea into their heads, and nothing will take it out. If my camel feels inclined to go in any particular direction, there he will go, pull as much as you like. The grand cordon was given to a man who guaranteed to give it to me as we approached the station; but alas! it did not come for an hour afterwards. It is fearful to see the Governor-General, arrayed in gold clothes, flying along like a madman, with only a guide, as if he was pursued. The Mudir had not time to gather himself together before the enemy was on him. Some of the guards were down at a well drinking; it was no use, before they got half way to their arms, the goal was won. Specks had been seen on the vast plain moving towards it (like Jehu’s advance), but the specs were few—only two or three—and were supposed to be the advance guard, and before the men of Fogia knew where they were, the station was taken. The artillerymen were the only ones ready !”
This marvelous power of endurance and swiftness in travelling often stood Gordon in good stead’ He came upon the people una wares, and before his enemies had time to organize any resistance he often rushed in and obtained their submission.
THE BURDEN IS ALMOST TOO GREAT,
‘‘T have an enormous province to look after ; but it is a great blessing to me to know that God has undertaken the administration of it, and it is His work, and not mine. If I fail itis His will; if I succeed itis His work. Certainly, He has given me the joy of not regarding the honours of this world, and to value my union with Him above all things. May I be humbled to the dust and fail, so that He may glorify Himself! The greatness of my position only depresses me, and I cannot help wishing that the time had come when He will lay me aside and use some other worm to do His work. You have reached your happy even-tide. I would that the heat of my life-day was over; but He will aid me, and not suffer me again to put down anchors in this world. . . . “Khartoum, May 18.—I think the people like me, and it is an immense comfort that, while in the old regime ten or fifteen people were flogged daily, now none get flogged. A huge crowd stand round the palatial gates all day, but only a few are privileged with an interview, for I keep a box with a slit in the lid for petitions at the door, and every one can put his petition in it. Hitherto the people could never approach the governor, unless they bribed the clerks. £600, £300, 10 ounces of gold, £100, and £80 have been given to my head clerk merely in the hope of getting a place.