2 6S EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

with wire entanglements and live shells as mines, which did great execution. We put lucifer matches to ignite them.

" The soldiers are only half a month in arrears. We issue paper money, and also all the cloth in magazines. All the captives with Mahdi are well; the nuns, to avoid an Arab marriage, are ostensibly married to Greeks. Slatin is with Mahdi, and has all his property, and is well treated ; but I hear to-day he is in chains. A mysterious Frenchman is with Mahdi, who came from Dongola.

" Kitchener says he has sent letters, and got none in reply. I have sent out during last month at least ten. Steamer with this leaves to-morrow for Metammeh.

" Do not let any Egyptian soldiers come up here; take command of steamers direct, and turn out Egyptian fellaheen.

"If capture of steamer with Stewart is corroborated, tell French consul-general that Mahdi has the cipher he gave Herbin.

" Hassan Effendi, telegraph clerk, was with Stewart. You should send a party to the place to investigate affairs, and take the steamer."

On the 30th of December a messenger, who had been sent to Khartum on the 29th of October, returned, and brought into Korti a piece of paper the size of a postage stamp, on which was written " Khartum all right." It was signed C. G. Gordon, and dated December 14, 1884; and the messenger said he was told to deliver a verbal message, the most important portion of which was, " The enemy cannot take us except by starving us out. Our troops suffer from want of provisions : the food we still have is little — some grain and biscuit. We want you to come quickly. Do not scatter your troops, the enemy is numerous; bring plenty of troops if you can. You should come by way of Metammeh or Berber; only by these two roads. Do not leave Berber in your rear. Keep the enemy in your front; and when you take Berber send me word, and come back by the east bank. Do this without letting rumours of your approach spread abroad."

Surely there was reason for despatch! No time was lost; on the 7th of January Colonel Stanley Clarke started for Gakdul in command of the light camel regiment