THE EVACUATION OF THE SOUDAN Sir Eveljm Baring becomes our Consul- General — His exceptional qualifications for post — On news of Hicks's defeat England insists on evacuation of the Soudan by Egypt — Ismail Pasha's views on evacuation — General indignation in Egypt — Cherif Pasha resigns * and is succeeded by Nubar Pasha, who consents to carry out policy of evacuation— Egyptian troops sent under Baker Pasha to rescue garrisons in Eastern Soudan — Defeat and rout of El Teb — Sinkat and Tokar captured by the Dervishes.

The choice of Sir Evelyn Baring to fill the post previously occupied by Sir Edward Malet was singularly happy. He was a man of the world, who, while still comparatively young, had occupied positions of high responsibility, had seen much of many countries, and had had considerable experience in dealing with Oriental races. I have never thought diplomacy, in our Western sense of the word, to be of much value in Eastern lands. If it comes to a question of finesse or intrigue, the Oriental can always outmanoeuvre the European, even if he is a Russian. The way to deal with Turks is laid down in a letter from Lord Palmerston to his brother. Sir Henry Bulwer, our then Ambassador at Constantinople, to the following effect : — ** Never argue with the Turk. Tell him what you want him to do, and that he has got to do it. In this