PREFACE

have no sound system of Government to substitute for the present

regime, if it were overthrown. All that their futile suggestions do

is to hamper the officials, thereby delaying progress ; to increase

the spirit of disaffection in the mob of ignorant peasants, who

expect to gain some benefit by any change of affairs ; to raise

absurd hopes in the minds of the young men, who know only by

tradition slavery, the hide-whip', and the corvee ; and to fan the

ever-smouldering flame of religious fanaticism in the minds of the

middle-aged men throughout the country. In the last-named

class are many who held appointments under the old government

of bribery, corruption, and " squeezing," and these regret the good

old times and sigh for their return. Such scheme with all their

might for the overthrow of Lord Cromer, and seize eagerly upon

any expression of opinion by Englishmen which can be made to

support their own views. Those who encourage the ignorant and

fanatical among the Egyptians and Sudani folk incur a very grave

responsibility, for although, fortunately, there is small chance of

their undoing or imperilling Lord Cromer's work, their words stir

up strife and damage the cause of law, order, and honesty in the

country. The unfitness of the Egyptian General Assembly to

rule is well illustrated by the fact that this party believes that the Chambers of Commerce in Europe fix the prices of the necessaries

of Hfe !

Religious fanaticism will always exist in the Sfidan, and it must

needs, from time to time, find expression in the appearance of

false Mahdis, who will have to be suppressed. Those who remember the palmy days of the slave trade, and still hanker

after its abominable profits, will naturally stir up trouble, and

induce the idle and discontented to rise against the restraints

of law and order. Such risings, however, must be provided

against, and the Governor-General must have under his com- mand, at various centres in the Sdddn, in addition to a

strong garrison at Khartum, troops sufficient to meet every

emergency, so that if necessary he may be able to strike hard and quickly in any portion of the vast country he rules. It is

impossible at present to administer the Sfidan without an

adequate military force stationed in the country, and he would

be indeed bold who would assert that the British soldiers at

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