ZEBEHR PASHA. 45 signs of mutiny because Zebehr himself was not to command them, he having been recalled to Cairo, they were only overawed and compelled by the Egyptian troops, under the command of Majors Kitchener and Chermside. The Egyptian troops were commanded by English officers, otherwise the black recruits would doubtless have proceeded to open hostilities. On the 9th of December Sir E. Baring wrote to Lord Granville that it had been proposed to send Zebehr, and said: " Under ordinary circumstances his employment by the Egyptian government would have been open to considerable objection, and I should have thought it my duty to remonstrate against it. Under present circumstances, however, I have not thought it either necessary or desirable to interfere with the discretion of the Egyptian government in this matter. Whatever may be Zebehr Pasha's faults, he is said to be a man of great energy and resolution. The Egyptian government considers that his services may be very useful in commanding the friendly Bedouins who are to be sent to Suakim, and in conducting negotiations with the tribes on the Berber-Suakim route and elsewhere. I may mention that Baker Pasha is anxious to avail himself of Zebehr Pasha's services. Your lordship will, without doubt, bear in mind that up to the present time the whole responsibility for the conduct of the affairs in the Soudan has been left to the Egyptian government. It appeared to me that, under present circumstances, it would not have been just, whilst leaving all the responsibility to the Egyptian government, to have objected to that government using its own discretion on such a point as the employment of Zebehr Pasha. I make these remarks as the employment of Zebehr Pasha may not improbably attract attention in England."

There could be no question that public opinion in England would be excited by the proposal, and subsequently, when the proposition was made by the Egyptian government to send Zebehr to Khartum, the Anti-slavery Society appealed to Earl Granville against it, quoting the declarations of General Gordon with regard to the influence which Zebehr had exercised in maintaining the slave traffic.