GORDON AND THE MAHDI. 59 "But are thepeople at Khartoum afraid." "Excellency, there is plenty to be afraid of." "Tell me, now, is theMahdi as strong aspeople say?" and all through he exhibited inhis voice and manner the most cheerful and buoyant confidence. " The Mahdi, Excellency,is much stronger than you have any idea of." "Ah, ah!Ishall manage him." "Ipray God to assistyou." "How is LuptonBey." "Well inhealth."

matter, but everyone for himself may take a man into his service henceforth. No one will interfere with him, and he can do as he pleases in the matter, without interference on the part of anybody; and wehaveaccordingly given this order. Mycompassionfor you. (Signed) "Gordon Pasha."* Further proclamations by General Gordon announced the independence of the Soudan, remitted taxation to the extent of one half, promulgated an amnesty, and namedtheMahdiSultan of Kordofan.

Gordon left Berber on February13,and five days later arrived at Khartoum. His arrival led to a wonderful demonstration of welcome by the people, thousands of themcrowding to kiss hishandsandfeet,aud callinghim the "Sultan of the Soudan." His first brief speech, received with the utmost enthusiasm, was as follows :— "Icome without soldiers, but with God on my side, to redressthe evilsof the Soudan. Iwill not fight withany weapons but justice. There shall be no more Bashi-Bazouks." The verynews that he was cominghad been sufficient to changethe entireattitude of thepopulace to such an extent that from the moment of its circulation, there had been no longer any fears of a disturbance in the town.

"And Slaten Bey at Darfour1" "Iknow nothing of him, as communication with Darfouris cut off." "What isthe strengthof the movementin Kordofan1" "Iassure your Excellency thatLupton is in a perilous position,and he has noammunition."

"And about Dr. Junker, when you go to Cairo give my compliments to the Russian consul, and tell him he need not have the least fear for his countryman, as the Gazelle territory willbe safe." Thiswas saidin the most joyous strain. "Are youcomingback 1" he added. "Ihope so, but not now. Would youlike me to come soon1" The beginning of Gordon's administration was one series of acceptablesurprises to thepeople of Khartoum. He lost no time in summoning the officials before him, thus preparing the people for some salutary changes. He next helda levee at theMudirieh, the entire population,even thepoorestArab,beingadmitted. On hisway thence to the palace,about a thousandpersons pressed forward kissing his hands and feet, and calling him "Father," and " Saviour of the Soudan." "The furious women," wrote Mr. Power, "wishing to lift his feet to kiss them, threw him over twice." General Gordon and Colonel Stewart at once opened offices in the palace, giving to every one with a grievance admittance and a carefulhearing. The Governmentbooks, recordingfrom time immemorialthe outstanding debts of the overtaxed people, were publicly burnt in front of the palace, the kourbashes and implements for administering the bastinadobeingalsoplacedon theblazingpile. Theevidence of debts and the emblems of oppression thus perished together. In the afternoon General Gordon created a Council of local notables, composed entirely of Arabs. He theninspected the hospital and arsenal, andin company with Colonel Stewart, Coetlogon Pasha, and Mr. Power, the British Consul,visited theprison, and found "If not very soon, youwon't find me. Ishall notbe heremore thanfive months. Now,"saidhe,pressingmy hand,"do you want anythingt" "Nothing, Excellency." Herepeatedthequestionseveral timeswith the kindest emphasis, andthen presented meto Colonel Stewartand Ibrahim Pasha, who rode behind him, wearing grey tourist suits. General Gordon thereupon hastily bade me adieu, and then the party, numbering about ten persons,startedoff againat the tremendous pace equalling thatat whichIsaw them approach some fifteen or twenty minutes before. Each member of the party carried a small water-sack, some provisions, and a sleeping carpet. It was within a few hours of Gordon's meeting with Bohndorff in the Nubian desert thatBaker Pasha's army was routed near Trinkitat,and before Gordon reached Berber, the gallant Tewfik Bey and the unfortunate Sinkat garrisonhad salliedforth to certaindeath.

On February9 Gordonreached Berber, where he was welcomed with enthusiasmanddelight as the father and saviour of the people. He telegraphed to Cairo his opinion that the countrythrough which he had passed was quieting down, and that he had everyhope that in the end he would be successful in his mission. The people wereindeedflockinginfromallsides to meethim, and he held semi-regal receptions of sheikhs aud other rulers of the tribes on both sides of the Nile. Before leavingBerber he confirmed HusseinBey Khalifa in the governorship,but replaced many other Egyptian officials byleadinglocalmen. Hetelegraphed toKhartoumdepriving the unpopular Hussein Pasha of his positionof Vice-Governor-General, and appointing in his place Colonel de Coetlogon,whomhe further created apasha. He also sent on the following proclamation, which wasplacarded about the town on the day precedinghis arrival.

* As this proclamation respecting slavery by General Gordon gave rise to a good deal of comment at the time, weappend the answer he made to the enquiries addressed to him onthe subject:— "Iask you what your answer would havebeen to the people of the Soudan, wh«n they askedme whether her Majesty's Government was to holdby the treaty, that the slaves canbe liberated in1889. Ianswered that the treaty would not hold good, so far as Iwas concerned, and that I should not interfere with slave-holding. Iwould also ask you, if taking your view of the dangers of aretirement to Cairo into account, and the peril to Khartoum, &c,Iwas not justified in telling the peoplewhat was self-evident to them— namely, that the separation of the Soudan from Egypt abrogatedall the treaties made between Cairo and foreign Governments. Iwould add thatIhave ever considered the liberation of the slaves, without compensation,or without some gradual registration system, as robbery; andIamsupportedin this viewby the action of Parliament in 1833, when itgranted £20,000,000 to liberate the West Indian slaves. Further, Isay you will Bever carryout the treaty of 1877 in Egypt, by which the slaves are to be liberated in 1889. HadIsaid thatIwould allow slave-hunting, you mighthave complained. WhatIstated was inre slave-holding. As. for slave-hunting, rest assured thatIhavenot forgotten it;and, God willing,Iwill take such measures as will preventit. Iwonder if you are aware of the fact that whenIwas Governor-General hereInever interfered with slave-holding;and that, in fact, till 1889, noone could do so even under the old regime. All my work was against slave-hunting."

"To allthk Inhabitants.— Your tranquillity isthe object of our hope. And asIknow that youare sorrowful on account of the slavery which existed among you, aud the stringent orders onthe part of the Government forthe abolition of it, and the punishmentof those who deal in them(the slaves),and the assurancesgiven bythe Government for its abolition, seizing upon and punishing those concernedin the trade;and punishment of those who trade in slaves, according to Imperial decrees, and the firmans forwarded to you— all this is known to you. But henceforward nobody will interfere with you in the