120 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

As yet, however, the committee are unable to believe that her majesty's government will thus stultify that anti-slavery policy which has so long been the high distinction of England, or that they will thus discharge a trust which they have undertaken on behalf of the British people and of Europe."

Early in March the position of affairs in Khartum was, that two-thirds of the people there were terrorized by one-third, excited by the emissaries of the Mahdi, and yet Gordon's avowed business was to get Egyptian employes out of the town, a proceeding to which the two-thirds of the population strongly objected. The sick, widows, and orphans were daily sent away, but to send away the 1400 fellaheen soldiers would have been to leave the people no other course open than to send their submission to the Mahdi, so that, as Gordon said, " all the machinery of government would be caught." In effect the complete evacuation of the Soudan was impossible till the government asserted its authority. The employes, who formed the machinery of government, could not be removed, and, though it was possible at Khartum to hold out, and force back the revolt till the sick, and widows, and helpless people had been sent away, the position would not improve by time, and when all the money had been spent only a partial vacation of the Soudan would have been effected, and anarchy would have its swing.

On the 29th of February three officers, who had escaped a month before from Kordofan, where they had served in the time of Abd-el-Kader, reached Khartum. They reported that the Mahdi, Mohammed Ahmed, had 50,000 Bedouins and soldiers, and he could set in motion an army even of 150,000 men. His intention was, to send on his forces and surround Khartum and cut off all communications, but on hearing of Gordon's arrival he countermanded the advance, though he still held his troops in readiness. He had no idea of going himself to Khartum, but wished to send forward the Bedouins under chiefs chosen by him, and had placed his soldiers under the orders of Bedouin sheikhs whom he had selected. He had exiled the military officers, and given them over to the Bedouins for slaves, an act which was attributed to his fear of them.