90 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

should be allowed, at all events for the present, to go anywhere south of Khartum."

Then there went from London one of those stiff acknowledgments which are calculated to thrill the blood of the unwary. It ended : " I have to state that her majesty's government are of opinion that General Gordon should not at present go beyond Khartum."

Gordon had played leading cards, but there was no response. Two of the possible solutions of the difficulties that lay before him had been rejected, and it cannot be denied that, if not premature, they were somewhat speculative. He did not long keep official propriety in trepidation, however. On the iith of February Sir E. Baring was able to telegraph that, as regarded the message left at Cairo for Mr. Clifford Lloyd, General Gordon had stated that he had no intention of visiting the Mahdi; and on the following day that the general had sent a telegram to say that he would not go further south than Khartum without permission.

Gordon had, of course, reached Berber when he sent these telegrams. He had learned that the Bahr Gazelle and the Equatorial provinces were then in less danger than had been supposed. At Abu Hamed he had been encouraged by the number of persons coming in. Four hundred had come to him asking for appointments. There was great enthusiasm directly he made his appearance, and he began to think that the power of the Mahdi might soon be checked.

He thought that events at Suakim would have no adverse influence over the situation at Khartum. The business of conveying to Cairo the fugitives coming into Berber or Abu Hamed from various parts of the country was taken up with vigour.

" The people are coming in on all sides with enthusiasm. I hope soon the Soudan will be perfectly tranquil." This was the key-note of several telegrams at that time. " Stewart and I are all right; do not bother about us." He asked for camels to convey families from Abu Hamed to Korosko, and he wanted two steamers for embarking them at Berber or Khartum. A portion of Sir Evelyn Wood's Egyptian army was to go to Assouan — two battalions, one field-battery and one Gatling.