GORDON AND THE MAHDI. 121 Here the passage was extremely difficult and dangerous,andnow andagainaboat wasbadlydamaged, and had to be hauled on shore for repairs. But as soon as the rapids were passed the open course of the river allowed of more speedy progress. The scenery lost its rockycharacter and the desert changed to a wide sandy plain stretching far away beyond the palm-trees which studded either shore, in broken lines for atime and thenin shady groves around the town of Dongola.

While the troops were thusproceedingup theNile, Lord Wolseley returned to the front. It had originally been intended to transfer the headquarters from Dongola to Ambukol in accordance with General Gordon's suggestion,butit was finally decided that the troops A DANOEB0US PART OP THE HANNEK CATARACT.

should assemble at Korti, a few miles farther up the river,and in a much healthierspot. Sir HerbertStewart with the Mounted Infantry7 and the Guards'Camel Corps arrived there onDecember 15, after an easy march along the left bank of the Nile, which was found to be rich inproduce and cattle. A couple of days previouslyLord WolseleyhimselfhadleftDongola after promising to send for theMudiras soon as matters wereready at the front. The Mudir modestlyreplied thathe wasat his lordship's orders. TheGeneralthenenquiredwhatsupplieswouldbe available along theriver routebeyondMerawi, to which the Mudir answeredthat there would be an abundance ofsheep, dhurra, wheat, andbarley at that seasonof the year. He also repeatedthe rumours as to the dispersion of the enemyupon the report of theBritish approach. " The rebeltroopsknow," he said,"thatthe English arecoming,aud from here to Khartoumyou willfind none, andhaveno fighting. Theyare all gone." Thereupon Lord Wolseley asked, "Why don't we get messengers backwards and forwards then ?" "Because of the country people,"replied the Mudir,"but it will be different whenthe soldiersmarch."

During the earlierpart of Decemberfresh reports had come to hand respecting the situation at Khartoum, several messengershaving managedto pass through the Mahdi's lines. Their statements were at variance with the Mudir's assurances, for they declared that the rebels were now gatheredin force roundaboutOmdurman, on the north-west side of Khartoum, and that they were making constant attacks, whichwereinvariablyrepulsed.

Oneof themessengersreportedthat the Mahdi had againsummoned Gordon tosurrender, whereupon the General returned theanswer,"Ifyou are thereal Mahdi, dry up the waters of the Nile, and come and take me." Other informants affirmedthat the garrison was greatlystraitened and in want of food, and that a number of old men and women, who preferred taking their chance among the kindred tribes in the surroundingvillages,had been allowed to leave the town. It has in fact been asserted that, owing to the scarcityofprovisions,Gordonsent these old people away without giving them the option of remaining; and we are told that when theyexpressedalarmas to the fate reserved for them in the rebelcamp the General provided them with an introduction to the Mahdi, worded as follows :— " Bekind tothese; BEPAIRING A WHALE BOAT NEAR THE HANNEK CATAEACT.

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