VI CONTENTS.

Responsibility of the Egyptian Government

for the Hicks Disaster— A " Black Nun's " Story, 43

Dangerous Position of Khartum — Proposal

to send Zebehr Pasha to the Soudan —

Telegrams from Khartum to Sir E. Baring

and the Khedive — Earl Granville's Questions, ...... 44

Earl Granville's Despatch to Mr. Baring —

General Gordon's Memorandum on the

Position of Affairs — "Observations" by Colonel Stewart — General Gordon's Orders — Difficulties of his Mission, . 48

Gordon at Cairo — Views of the Egyptian

Government— Sir E. Baring's Instructions to Gordon — He meets Sir Evelyn Wood

at Port Said — Is appointed Governor-

general of the Soudan — The Khedive's Letter, and his Conversation with Baron de Malortie — Abd-el-Kader declines to

go to Khartum, ..... 55

Gordon sets out for Khartum — His desire

to be confronted with Zebehr Pasha —

Zebehr's Resentment against Gordon — The Scene at the British Agency — A

S wedish Traveller's Impressions of Gordon — Zebehr's Grievances — The disputed Letter, ....... 61

Gordon's change of Opinion respecting

Zebehr — Opinions of Lieut. - colonel Watson and Colonel Stewart — Idea of

sending Zebehr to the Soudan — The Hadendowas, . . . . .69

Gordon's Heroism — Condition of the Soudan

— A Sultan of Darfur appointed — Gordon arrives at Assouan — His Demand de-

spatched totheMahdi— Aspect of Assouan and Philae — The first and second Cata-

racts— Wady Haifa and Korosko, . . 73

March across the Desert — The Village of

Abu Hamed — Fate of an Egyptian

Regiment — Gordon's Message to Sir E. Baring — His proposed Plan of Govern-

ment— His strange Memorandum to Mr.

Clifford Lloyd — His intention to visit the

Mahdi — An official Flutter — Gordon's Proposal to the King of the Belgians, . 80

Gordon reaches Berber — His hopeful View

of Affairs — Zebehr's fitness to "smash the Mahdi" — Gordon's Proclamations,

Arrival of Gordon and Stewart at Khartum

— The Mahdi proclaimed Sultan of Kordofan — Hussein Pasha dismissed — — The Levee at the Mudirieh — Arrears of Taxation cancelled — Some needed Reforms adopted, ..... 97

Kassala besieged and in danger, . .100

Gordon's Difficulties at Khartum — His Plan

for the Appointment of Zebehr — Sir E.

Baring's apparent Approval of the Plan — Zebehr's Defence and Denials — Objec-

tions of the British Government — Gordon

and Stewart try to overcome these — Offi-

cial Snubbing — Gordon's Reply — Inter-

ference of the Anti-Slavery Society, . 101

Position of Affairs in Khartum in March —

Reports regarding the Mahdi— Opposi-

tion to the Government Policy — Mr.

Hake on Zebehr Pasha — Gordon's in-

creasing Difficulties — Position of the Gar-

risons— Gordon's Suggestions rejected by the Government — Reconnaissances by Colonel Stewart and Mr. Power, . .120

The Relief of Halfiyeh determined on —

A successful Sortie from Khartum — An Attack on the Rebels — Worthlessness of

the Egyptian Soldiers — Mr. Power's De-

scription of the disgraceful Flight — The two traitorous Pashas — A startling Nar-

rative— Gordon's Account of the Affair, . 132

Gordon's Correspondence with the Mahdi —

Left to his own resources, he prepares to

defend Khartum — A Mutiny among the Bashi-Bazouks — Fall of Berber — Tele-

graphic Station in the hands of the Rebels

— Gordon's Messages from Khartum — Communication stopped, . . . 144

Position of the British Government — Their

Instructions to Gordon — Unwillingness to

send Egyptian or English Troops, . . 153

Affairs in Khartum — Testimony of a native

Witness — Messages from Gordon — His

Telegrams to the Khedive — He proposes