8 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

explorer who had left Khartum in the previous July on the same steamer, had quitted the vessel in opposition to the authorities, and had tried to reach Lupton Bey in the Bahr Gazelle by a short

cut, but had been attacked and killed by the Dingas. Lupton

Bey was completely cut off. The enemy was approaching toward Khartum from more than one direction. In a few days it was

deemed very improbable that the retreat of the inhabitants could be effected. A deadlock seemed to be imminent if it had

not already occurred. Colonel D. Stewart, who had been so

excellently employed in the personal inquiry and report with respect to the provinces of the Soudan in 1883, of which we have already noticed the importance, had come to England after the completion of the commission with which he had been intrusted, and the report which was at that time compiled in the

intelligence branch of the quartermaster-general's department of the war office and afterwards published, contained much of the valuable information that he was able to impart to the govern- ment.

As the inquiries which Colonel Stewart had undertaken were completed there was no further occasion for him to remain in the Soudan, especially after affairs at Khartum had been placed in the hands of officers appointed by the khedive.

The repeated declarations of the British government that it would undertake no responsibilities in the Soudan were maintained, and the ministry was anxious not to take any step that would seem to encourage the Egyptians to rely on their interposition

for the purpose of aiding in the suppression of the Mahdi's rebellion, or the protection of the provinces beyond the actual Egyptian territory; but they were now urged on both sides to

overpass the boundary-line which they had marked as the limit of their policy. The Egyptian government was apparently waiting

either helplessly or intentionally without affording any adequate assistance to Khartum, and it was only after the emphatic advice of the English cabinet that the order to retreat was sent to Colonel

Coetlogon, too late for him then to be able to obey the instructions without immediate and effectual aid, which was not forthcoming.