2 INTRODUCTORY —a condition of harmony and peace has been evolved which promises well for the future of a confederation

which has already given evidences that it is proud

of its loyalty to the Empire of which it now forms no mean a portion.

At the time when gloom and uncertainty reigned

in South Africa, the intermediate regions were

peopled by hordes but incompletely brought under

the influence of civilization, while chaos and bar-

barism were supreme in the far north beyond the

Great Lakes.

The " Ta-Nehesu," the " Sudan," the " Country

of the Blacks," as it has been known from time im-

memorial, was, for not by any means the first time

in its history, in the throes of a desperate revolt

against advancing civilization, decimating and almost

destroying itself in the process.

When that civilization is in itself half barbaric, when religious sentiment comes to the aid of resent-

ment, and the crude, selfish instincts of primitive man are let loose, then are developed the moral

conditions essential as a foundation for reactionary

success.

All these conditions existed when the Mahdi

arose and headed the Arab revolt. The civilization

of the Egyptian Government was for the most part

veneer and covered the vilest abuses ; men's minds became receptive of extraordinary ideas and beliefs,

to a great extent adapted to their political aims, and the ferocity of unhampered savagedom supplied

the last factor.