86 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

greatly diminished, still he thought that sufficient of it remained to exert a beneficial influence towards curbing the forces of disorder in the Soudan. Whether, or for how long, such an influence might last it was impossible to say. Probably in time, unless the Egyptian government took a more active part in removing mudirs at the request of the people, it would gradually wane and wear out; but, at anyrate, for some time to come it would probably be strong enough to act usefully as a moral support to the Soudanese government, and to diminish the extent of the change.

Nothing can be plainer than that Gordon with his usual rapid and inclusive calculation of possibilities, had been considering what alternatives might be adopted in furtherance of the two objects which he had set before himself: the deliverance of the Europeans and the Egyptian garrisons, and the foundation of a settled central government at Khartum. He seems at first to have had an intention to go in person to the Mahdi, to repeat his former successful method of dealing with the slave-hunting pashas and sultans by appearing suddenly before him as one who had come to command and who meant to be obeyed, or, at all events, as one who feared nothing that the rebels could conspire to do to him, and who was willing to negotiate with them as a concession, beingconscious of a reserve of force which could be brought to compel them if they refused to listen to reasonable proposals. Even bearing this explanation in mind, however, it is not easy to understand the message which he left behind him at Cairo to be given to Mr. Clifford Lloyd, who was engaged there in the direction ot financial affairs : " Tell Lloyd, no panics. It is possible that I may go to the Mahdi, and not be heard of for two months, for he might keep me as a hostage for Zebehr. You can tell Lloyd this when you get to Cairo, so that he can publish it at the right time, if necessary."

It must surely have occurred to Gordon that this message, if made known to Sir E. Baring and the government, would cause a serious flutter, and it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that he gave a touch of his rather caustic humour in leaving such a memorandum. It was the first hint he had given of taking his own way