106 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

Lieutenant -colonel Stewart, who telegraphed his opinions independently at Gordon's request, declared his belief that the policy recommended would greatly facilitate their retirement from the country, and said that the Turco-Arabian view of the question was one demanding serious consideration. As to whether Zebehr Pasha was the man who should be nominated, he thought that they had hardly a sufficient knowledge of the country to be able to form an opinion; but it was probable that whoever was nominated would be accepted for a time.

Sir E. Baring, who seems to have exhibited a remarkable faculty for being converted point by point under the influence of Gordon, was by this time very much in favour of the whole proposal, though he made some particular reservations, some of which he seemed afterwards to have also relinquished. He sent to Earl Granville saying, with what seemed like a sigh of relief at the opportunity for delay : " As regards the choice of his successor, there is, as Colonel Stewart says in his telegram, no necessity to decide at once, but I believe Zebehr Pasha to be the only possible man. He undoubtedly possesses energy and ability, and has great local influence. As regards the slave-trade, I discussed the matter with General Gordon when he was in Cairo, and he fully agreed with me in thinking that Zebehr Pasha's presence or absence would not affect the question in one way or the other. I am also convinced from many things that have come to my notice that General Gordon is quite right in thinking that Zebehr Pasha's residence in Egypt has considerably modified his character. He now understands what European power is, and it is much better to have to deal with a man of this sort than with a man like the Mahdi.

I should be altogether opposed to having General Gordon and Zebehr Pasha at Khartum together. As soon as General Gordon has arranged for the withdrawal of the garrison and the rest of the Egyptian element, he could leave Khartum, and Zebehr Pasha might shortly afterwards start from Cairo. One of my chief reasons for allowing the interview between the two men to take place was that I wished to satisfy myself to some extent of the