ON THE ROAD TO KHARTOUM. 487 The advance, however, was recommenced on the 15th of September ; and within ten days our forces crossed the Nile and took possession of Dongola, which was surrendered without any serious fighting. The Anglo-Egyptian armies were welcomed as deliverers from the tyranny of the Khalifa ; but nobody acquainted with Egypt would attach much importance to the enthusiasm with which success is always greeted in Oriental countries. In pursuance of the tactics General Kitchener adopted throughout the campaign, a long halt was made at Dongola. During this halt something approaching to a civilized administration was re-established in the province which, previous to the evacuation, had been reckoned the richest of the Egyptian possessions in the Soudan. The moral effect of the rapid re-establishment of order, after the expulsion of the Dervishes, was of great advantage in the prosecution of the campaign. But the motives which caused the Sirdar to delay his progress were financial rather than political. The British Government clung tenaciously to the theory that, though the reconquest of the Soudan was undertaken at our instance, and for the protection of our Imperial interests in the Nile valley, the cost must, in the first instance, be provided by Egypt, not by England.

In consequence, the expenses of the campaign had to be supplied by the Egyptian Treasury ; and the highest credit is due to the Sirdar for the manner in which he contrived to cut down all expenditure, so as to enable the war to be