2 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

Gordon and Colonel Stewart. The latter, as we know, and as the

officers and men of the expedition knew before they reached

Korti, had been foully murdered, and Gordon was alone, in

imminent danger of falling a victim to the fanatic pretender whose

hordes were slowly closing on the city. Then it was understood by the men who marched across the Bayuda, the men who were

to make their way up the Nile to meet them, and those few who

were to remain at Korti till the general was prepared to advance

and command the entire force at the storming of Khartum, that

there was a death to avensfe and a life to save.

" The primary object of the expedition up the valley of the

Nile," said the instructions given to Lord Wolseley before he left

Cairo, " is to bring away General Gordon and Colonel Stewart

from Khartum. When that object. has been secured, no further

offensive operations of any kind are to be undertaken. Although

you are not precluded from advancing as far as Khartum should

you consider such a step essential to ensure the safe retreat of

General Gordon and Colonel Stewart, you should bear in mind

that her majesty's government is desirous to limit the sphere of

your military operations as much as possible. They rely on you,

therefore, not to advance further southwards than is absolutely

necessary in order to attain the primary object of the expedition.

. . . You are aware that the policy of her majesty's government

is that Egyptian rule in the Soudan should cease. It is desirable

that you should receive general instructions as to two points which

necessarily arise in connection with the method of carrying this

policy into execution. These are (i) the steps to be taken to

ensure the safe retreat of the Egyptian troops and civil employes;

(2) the policy to be adopted in respect to the future government

of the Soudan, and especially of Khartum. The negotiations with

the tribes for endeavouring to secure the safe retreat of the garrison

of Kassala may be treated from Suakim and Massowa, You need

not, therefore, take any steps in connection with this branch of the

subject. The position of the garrisons at Darfur, the Bahr-el-

Gazelle, and Equatorial provinces renders it impossible that you

should take any action which would facilitate their retreat without