132 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

It was in a telegram of the 4th that General Wolseley had first referred to the Kabbabish having engaged to carry provisions to Gakdul, and had said, " Saleh has furnished 250 camels, Sowarab and Hawauri have supplied us with over 500 on hire. Fall of Khartum may alter their feelings for us." This was added to the message giving the reports from the camp at Gubat, and Lieutenant Stuart-Wortley's account of the expedition to Khartum, and the reports of the natives, one of which was that of Gordon being shut up in the church with some Greeks; but there was little if any doubt that the Mahdi had taken Khartum, that he had been joined by the Shagiyeh tribes, and that the east as well as the left bank of the Nile was therefore hostile to us. The Mahdi's force at Metammeh was estimated at between 2000 and 3000, of Avhom 250 were horsemen and 400 to 600 were armed with rifles.

It was stated, however, that the natives were in great fear of the English, that the Mahdi was hard pressed for supplies at Omdurman, and that unless he took the field in person he would have great difficulty in persuading his emirs to attack us.

General Wolseley telegraphed again on the following day to Sir R. Thompson: "I only await decision of government to give further orders;" and meantime a letter had been despatched from Earl Granville to Sir E. Baring: " I have to instruct you to inform the khedive that he may have full confidence in the support of her majesty's government, and you will also acquaint his highness that her majesty's government have given complete discretion to Lord Wolseley to take all such measures as he may deem necessary for the further conduct of his operations, and they have assured his lordship that he will receive any further assistance which he may desire, either by the despatch of troops to Suakim and Berber, or in any other manner he may indicate. Every effort will be made by her majesty's forces to rescue General Gordon in the event of his being still alive."

On the 9th of February Lord Wolseley telegraphed to Lord Hartington that Sir Charles Wilson had just reached the camp at Korti, and then gave some further particulars of the story