1 62 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

We have already seen what was Gordon's position at that time and afterwards. A native witness who was there, afterwards said: — "Soldiers lined the trenches all day and night. There were four guns there, two pointing towards Bahr- Ahead, one facing from the iron gate near the cemetery, one facing the village of Burdi. Of the crowds of blacks you speak of living in the poor quarters of Khartum, Gordon made soldiers. All men were compelled to carry arms; regular soldiers got rations of dhoora, the others got government biscuit. We were always expecting, from dawn to sunset, from sunset to dawn, the arrival of the English. Whenever we heard news of them our hearts rejoiced. The Arabs have a fear of the English, dating back from the time of Arabi's defeat. They believe they carry with them a piece of wood which they can extend to any height, that up this they climb, and spy their enemies at any distance. All were at first loyal in Khartum, except a few of the head men — such as the chief baker and butcher; but Gordon, who well knew these men to be traitors, said, 'Suffer them to remain on at their work; we will show them what justice is when the English come.' As time wore on and provisions were become short by reason of the strictness of the siege — for the Arabs were closing around — ■ Gordon sent away all the old men and women who were unable to work out of Khartum ; they were afraid to go at first, but Gordon gave them an introduction to Mahomet Achmet, writing as follows : — ' Be kind to these, treat them well, I charge you.

Behold, I have kept and fed all these for four months; try how you will like doing so for one month.' Mahomet Achmet accepted them, and they are with him to this day.

"As it was at the time of the Tou el Kebeah (great flood); as it will be at El Achrah (last day) ; as it has often been when in cities of the earth enemies have been knocking at the gate without, they bought and sold; they married and were given in marriage. The festivities and feastings took place nightly. The Soudanese are a light-hearted people even when a cloud hangs over them. You would have thought nothing was going amiss.

It is true they believed the English were coming."