CONDITION OF KHARTUM. 7

and Khartum, a chain of fortified forts which would ensure the

safety of the Nile valley, while it might be worth while to secure

the aid of Abyssinia by offering her the coveted port of Massowa on the Red Sea.

This, however, was at the end of 1SS3, and by the time that

the Nubar Pasha ministry had been formed the revolt had spread

to both sides of the Blue Nile, telegraphic communication with Sennar had been cut off, and a week later Lupton Bey reported

that the natives in his province had rebelled, and the road between

Messera er Rek and Dem Suleiman was stopped. Berber itself had been attacked by 4000 Bishareen Arabs, who had been

repulsed by the Bashi-Bazouks of the garrison. Colonel Coetlogon's message had said that it might be possible to evacuate Khartum

if orders reached him at once, but that it would soon be impossible.

Not only were the garrison and the Arab and foreign Christian population of the town to be considered, but the evacuation of

the province would have to be effected, and the entire force south

of the proposed frontier exceeded 40,000.

It was reported that all the military and civil officials knew

that the town, without large supports, was untenable. Those of

the inhabitants who held large stores of merchandise naturally wished that the town might be held to the bitter end. The total of soldiers in the place was 6100 men, of whom 2000 were

Shaggeyas, known to be disaffected, and black troops who were not trustworthy. The whole garrison was demoralized on account of

the long arrears of pay due to them. The earthworks were about Sooo metres in extent.

The population, slaves, and servants would have to be saved

before the army marched. To effect this there were only two

small and old steamers which could go to Berber. It was evident that the evacuation would take months to accomplish, and the river was low.

On the 14th of January the steamer Ismailia arrived at Khartum from Equatorial Africa, and on board was Dr. Bohndorf,

a gentleman who had travelled for five years in the equatorial

provinces. He reported that Jean Maria Schuvcr, a Dutch