ARREST OF ZEBEHR PASHA. 243 There was no such general falling asunder of the rebellion as to enable us to take advantage of it at that season of the year even if our forces had been adequate. Among the more significant events that happened about that time vias the arrest of Zebehr Pasha. Whether Gordon was right in having suddenly turned to the opinion that Zebehr could be induced to render effectual aid in suppressing the revolt of the Mahdi and his followers is still a question for argument, but perhaps it was a more certain conclusion that whether Zebehr would have co-operated with Gordon at Khartiam or not, he became practically dangerous when he found that he was not to be employed. He might not have consented to go, but the refusal to permit him to do so was another slight which he was likely to take an opportunity to resent, and Lord Wolseley received information which induced him to advise that the ex-slave-hunting and slave-holding pasha should be arrested.

General Lennox, who was on a visit at Cairo, was suddenly sent back. The secret was well kept. The military police waited near Zebehr's house, at a cafd opposite, and at five o'clock in the afternoon of the 14th of March he was arrested as he was coming out. He appeared surprised, but offered no resistance, and was taken on board the Iris. His two sons, one adopted son, and one of his friends came down the same night from Cairo, also in charge of the police, and were taken on board the same steamer, which sailed next morning at eleven o'clock with sealed orders to Gibraltar.

This action was exclusively that of the English military authorities, and was taken on the recommendation of Lord Wolseley, with Sir Evelyn Earing's consent; and it was remarked at the time that it was at least singular that the English authorities, who refused to try Arabi, a prisoner of war, should arrest and deport Zebehr without formal inquiry.

Orders were given for the advance to be made from Suakim to Hasheen on the 20th of March, much to the delight of the camp. The men, who had been harassed by night attacks and alarms, were weary with daily toil and sick of remaining within the limited space which they occupied amidst a pestilent atmosphere and under extremely unhealthy conditions, but the prospect of an active engagement with the enemy revived them immediately. A reconnaissance of the village and the wells had been made on the previous day by a cavalry brigade, a battery brigade of the Royal Horse Artillery, and the Mounted Infantry supported by the Indian contingent.

As the cavalry advanced the enemy's scouts on the nearest hills fell back and joined the main body of the Arabs at Hasheen, where considerable numbers were seen to retreat up the valley, whence they disappeared among the mountains, leaving only small parties of men on camels, who