[OS EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

with -many of the actors in the scene. Gordon, presumably, knew a very great deal more than he and the government together, and Stewart not much less than Gordon. It was a painful position for the representative in Cairo, on whose authority alone Gordon was ordered to proceed; for Zebehr Pasha was what in sporting parlance is called a very " dark horse." It was quite uncertain whether the ex-sultan and slaveholder would take the position if it were offered him; and should he consent to do so, more serious questions still would be: What is his motive? What bonds will hold him when he is established in power at Khartum ?

That is to say, it was exceedingly doubtful whether Zebehr would consent to go to Khartum on the nomination of General Gordon, or under any conditions of subordination, unless he first received trustworthy assurances that the value of the property of which he alleged he had been deprived would be restored to him to the extent of about ,£900,000. Moreover, he vehemently and categorically denied the charges brought against him, even that of having been a conspicuous slave-hunter. " I do not know how the idea has got abroad that I am a slave-dealer," he said. "Of course there was slavery in my country, and always has been, but I never sold a human being. My people serve me gladly for the love they bear me. Let anyone go into my country and ask if Zebehr ever unjustly oppressed or killed a man, woman, or child. God is my witness, and I swear to you most solemnly that the charge against me is false (the charge of inciting to rebellion). And is England afraid of a broken man like me? Can she not order me to put down slavery, and am I not forced to obey her commands ? Am I a fool, if England sent me up, to go against her behests? I am a soldier, and under authority. ... So confident am I of my people's love that I will go up alone among them, returning joyfully to my clear home, and I shall be received everywhere with the kisses of peace."

These declarations were made to a friend of Mr. Hake, the author of The Sto7j of Chinese Gordon, and to other persons; but they were only examples of supreme lying — an art in which the Arabs generally excel, but in which Zebehr appears to have been