96 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

" Know ye that I propose to convene a council composed of the kines and notables of the Soudan, and I have ordered that you be governed by natives of the Soudan, in order that you may not be deprived of your rights as heretofore. . . . The council in question will meet twice a week, and as often as emergency may require. You are pardoned."

The council for the government of Berber consisted of eleven members under the presidency of Hussein Pasha Khalifa, governorgeneral of Dongola and Berber, and it was announced that the governor of the Soudan should be of Soudanese origin, " for the greater tranquillity of the natives, so that you can have no cause of complaint from injustice as before." A similar proclamation was made for Khartum, where Awad el Kerim Pasha Abu Sin, Mudir of Khartum, was president of the council.

Another proclamation, issued to all the inhabitants a few days later, was intended as a warning.

" Since my arrival I have constantly assured you of good treatment and justice, and advised you to desist from rebellion which leads to war and bloodshed; but finding that this advice had no effect upon some people, I have been compelled to use severe measures, so much so that British troops are now on their way, and in a few clays will reach Khartum; then, whoever persists in bad conduct will be treated as he deserves. Therefore upright men should have no intercourse with rebels, or they will share the same fate. I am watching things closely, and you should not think I am ignorant of what goes on. The present rebellion will bring ruin on the country and much loss of life. The wise man is his own guardian." There is something of Orientalism, perhaps, in the references to the intentions of the sultan to have sent an expedition of strong Turkish troops, and also to the approach of British troops. Gordon had, perhaps, some notion that either of these contingencies might occur, for there had been some parleying at Constantinople about the intervention of the sultan. At anyrate the translation of his words into or out of Arabic may make a good deal of difference.

It should be added, too, that he was expecting to hear of the