I58 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

advantage of insufficient information, have taken General Gordon's operations in the vicinity of Khartum to be required for the defence of the place, and they can well understand that such action may be necessary even for defensive purposes.

" But with respect to his request for Turkish troops with a view to offensive operations, General Gordon cannot too clearly understand that these operations cannot receive the sanction of her majesty's government, and that they are beyond the scope of his mission."

This, then, was the attitude of the government, " labouring under the disadvantage of insufficient information." It had become evident that they contemplated the probable necessity of having to send some kind of aid, and were waiting for further intelligence.

On the 10th of May the messengers who had been sent in succession to Gordon by the governor of Dongola returned. They reported the investment of Khartum; the attacks made upon the rebels by the steamers on the White Nile; that the rebels had constructed wooden shelters to protect themselves from the projectiles fired from the boats; and that when the government forces pursued them into these shelters they fled into the country beyond gunshot. This state of things made it impossible to get into Khartum, though each copy of the message had been given to a special messenger with orders to do everything in his power to cret into Khartum and brincr back an answer.

On the 1 7th of May the government sent instructions that their previous message should be repeated to General Gordon, with the addition that: — "as the original .plan for the evacuation of the Soudan had been dropped, and as aggressive operations could not be undertaken with the countenance of her majesty's government, he was enjoined to consider and either to report upon, or, if feasible, to adopt, at the first proper moment, measures for his own removal and for that of the Egyptians at Khartum who had suffered for him or who had served him faithfully, including their wives and children, by whatever route he may consider best, having especial regard to his own safety and that of the other British subjects."