46 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

Things were going from bad to worse around Khartum, and the impression gaining ground that there would be no interposition to save the Soudan to Egypt, it was rumoured that Menelek of Shoa, assisted by the Gallas, would probably seize Harrar, and that the Somalis might turn the Egyptians out of Berbera and Zeila. An engagement had taken place between the rebels and the garrison of Gazeerah on the Atbara, in which the latter succeeded in beating off their assailants, but destroyed the fortified encampment at Gazeerah and made their way to Berber. On the 30th of December, 1883, Mr. Power telegraphed to Sir E. Baring from Khartum, saying: — " The European and loyal population are beginning to think that they have been either forgotten or abandoned by the government at Cairo. The state of affairs here is very desperate; wre know that twenty-three days ago the Mahdi was assembling a great army to attack us, and to an Arab, Obeid is only an eleven days' march from here. Some do the distance in nine days. What numbers he will bring I cannot say, but we have here, including gunners and sentries, in all but 3000 to hold 4 miles of earthworks, on which are a few old bronze guns and one Krupp field-piece; this number of men would not properly man the walls, and it leaves us without any reserve or relief to move to a threatened place in case of attack. It also forbids us having any guard in the city, which, in case of attack, will be at the mercy of an undisguisedly rebel population. At present we are not strong enough to seize the well-known ringleaders or agents of the Mahdi. This is well known to the government, yet over forty days have elapsed since it heard the news of our situation here, and there are as yet no signs of a relieving column arriving. We have not yet even heard if they have arrived at Assiout, eio-ht hours from Cairo. On the 27th of last month (November) the khedive telegraphed most distinctly that Zobeir Pasha and his Bedouins had left Cairo two days before. He said that Baker was leaving Suez, yet I find that the papers of the 4th instant state that neither one nor the other have left Cairo, and that Zobeir was, before leaving, to raise, arm, and, I suppose, train 1000