474 THE STORY OF THE KHEDIVATE.

can understand, no reason in International law why any European Power should not have regarded the Soudan as an unoccupied land, not comprised within the sphere of influence of either England or Egypt, and therefore liable to be occupied by any other Power, in accordance with the rules which are supposed to regulate the partition of the Dark Continent I cannot see that we should have had any cause of complaint if France or Germany had undertaken to occupy the Soudan in the interests of civilization and humanity. We had had for years in our own hands the opportunity of overthrowing the tyranny of the Khalifa, and time after time we had refused to avail ourselves of the chance offered us. Once more, however, the mistakes of other Powers in respect of Egypt saved us from the consequences of our own errors.

After the occupation of Massowah by the Italians, and the war with Abyssinia, in which this occupation resulted, a number of foreign adventurers, chiefly French, had drifted to Adis Adeba, the present capital of Abyssinia. Menelek was naturally very hostile to the Italians, who had gone so far as to declare a Protectorate over Abyssinia ; and throughout the kingdom of the Negus suspicions were entertained of the English, who had permitted the occupation of Massowah by the Italians, and were regarded as allies of Italy. The victory of Adowa had demonstrated the valour of the Abyssinian troops, and had proved also that for the first time in Abyssinian history the whole military forces of the country