PROOFS OF ZEBEIIRS COMPLICITY. 12 o Bahr al Ghazal, which clearly prove Zebehr's complicity. The letter was read during the proceedings of the Maylis (court of inquiry or court-martial), and is referred to in the official report, also before me, in the following terms: — ' A letter was also read from Zebehr Pasha to his son Souleyman, inciting him to rebel and to levy war against the government, and urging him to expel, by force of arms, Idris Ben Abtar, governor of Bahr al Ghazal; desiring him also to seek the means of combining with Awad Bey, for the sake of his assistance in seizing the country, seeing that he is one of its inhabitants, and is well acquainted with all its affairs, the language of the people, &c. The letter goes on to say that, whereas the agents who were left in charge (by Zebehr) of his zaribas had left their employment and had taken service under the government, he therefore desired his son Souleyman to receive (or take possession of) Shaka from Said ail Haseyn.' A letter was also read during the sitting from Ramli son of Souleyman, to Souleyman son of Zebehr, informing the latter that he had received iooo okka of gunpowder from Zebehr, asking for instructions, and stating that it was meanwhile buried underground.

The documents which are in my possession consist of a memoir of Zebehr, written in Arabic by General Gordon's command; of Zebehr's letters to his wife, his son, and to his accomplice Awad, all seized by General Gordon during his campaign against the slave-dealers; and of the report already referred to. These documents place beyond a doubt the fact that Zebehr, while a prisoner at Cairo, was busy in plotting for the revolt which took place in 1879, and which caused so much anxiety to General Gordon and his lieutenants."

The government had not then given their final explanations to Gordon of the reasons which prevented them from sanctioning the appointment of Zebehr; and therefore the question was still not altogether closed. The other question, of sending aid in some form, was more immediately agitated.

The expectation at Khartum was, that the road between Suakim and Berber would be opened up in accordance with the declaration