GORDON AND THE MAHDI. 61 and Massowahalone. Irepeat thatevacuationispossible but you willfeel effect in Egypt, and will be forced to enter into afar more serious affair in order to guard Egypt." Subsequently he wrote, "Icertainly think it worthconsideration,shouldEngland undertakean expedition for extrication of the garrisons, whether as a Parthiandart she should not proclaim emancipation of slaves, which withmany wouldgild the disagreeablepill of anexpedition to the Soudan."

Colonel Stewart, whohadbeen sent byGeneralGordon enaconciliatory mission to the tribes along the White Nile, returned to Khartoum about this time, having failed for the most part in his object. Stewart and his party,comprising110 Soudanese soldiers carrying white flags, leftKhartoum on boarda couple of steamers,provided with stout breastworks of biscuit sacks, and each received withthe greatestfriendliness untilabove Webel Auli, about forty miles distant from Khartoum. The steamers arrived there in the evening,and landed ten men withwhiteflags onthe Kordofanside. The villagers fled, but finally oneman came. Theproclamations were read to him,and Hassan Bey, who accompanied Colonel Stewart, swore onthe Koran that, if the peoplecame to the steamers,they would not be injured. Six came on board, and all declared for peace and promised to bring the sheikhs next morning. They then left with letters, containing promises of peace, for the sheikhs.

Next morning, on sending a boat ashore for the sheikhs, large numbers assembled, with banners, spears, and rifles, waving lances and beating drums, some on horseback being said to be the Baggara tribe. The steamers waitedfor some time, making signs of peace, but to no purpose. They then proceeded twenty miles further to the village of Sheikh Tuk Ibrahim, where nearly 1,500 armedmenweredrawnup,including a large bodyof cavalry, evidentlyprepared to oppose anylandcarrying a single gun. The steamers stopped at the different villages and Colonel Stewart interviewed the sheikhs, andexplained to them General Gordon'spolicy of restoring peace to the Soudan. Colonel Stewart was ARAB SHEIKHS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS.