Sir Evelyn Baring, there being present Nubar Pasha, the Prime Minister, the British Agent, and Sir Evelyn Wood, the Sirdar of the Egyptian Army.

I questioned them as to the reasons that had led to the confiscation of my property and the death of my son, but found them convinced that I had written to Suliman advising him to rebel. I therefore said, "If this letter can be produced and it can be proved to have been written by me, then I will deliver myself into your hands that my blood may atone for that of my son : otherwise I claim compensation for my property and the murder of my son." Naturally, however, this letter could not be produced, for it only existed in the corrupt imagination of a treacherous enemy (i) : so the meeting was dissolved with nothing done."

In 1883 the Egyptian Government appointed me to collect a troop of blacks in Cairo, in order that I might go to Suakinand subjugate Osman Digna(2): so I formed the company and left for Suez, sending messengers to Osman Digna. 1 was then informed that I was to act under the orders of Baker Pasha, but I said, "I will either go as my own master or not at all". But the Government would not agree to my (i) Cromer I, 458. "This letter could not be produced at the time, but I saw a copy of it subsequently. If genuine, it afforded sufticient proof of Zubeir Pasha's complicity in his son's rebellion", see also Egypt No. 12 of 18S4, p. 38-41.

(2) On reading this General Gordon wrote from Brussells, on Feb. 2nd, "Zubeir will manage to get taken prisoner and thus head the revolt."