The British Campaign in the Soudan. 157 It was at this juncture that the new governor-general, Abd-el-Kader-Pasha, arrived at Khartoum. He was an accomplished officer who had received several years’ training in the Imperial Military School of Vienna. He was a Turk by birth and a man of splendid, soldier-like presence. He had held a high command of Egyptian -troops during the Turco-Russian war in 1877-78, and on several occasions had given proof of military skill and much personal bravery. One of his first measures was to abolish the government monopoly on all articles of trade except ivory, and to endeavor to allay dissatisfaction and revive trade by lowering tariffs and promising a regular steamer service on both Niles. But these reforms came too late, for nearly the entire Soudan was already in arms.

Abd-el-Kader lost no time in organizing means of defence. No troops could be drawn from Lower Egypt where Arabi’s rebellion was at its height. Abd-el-Kader had but a few companies of Soudanese regulars. He enlisted several thousand Chiaggias and Dongolawees and formed them into regiments fairly armed and equipped. He strengthened his position at Khartoum by erecting a substantial line of earthworks defended by artillery. His force was also augmented by many irregulars drawn from the Bedouin tribes still faithful to the Khedive.

If any illusions had existed as to the formidable character of the Mahdi’s rebellion, they should have been dispelled by the events now taking place. It had been generally believed up to this time that the Mahdi’s victories were due to accidental causes, and that if he should meet with a serious disaster, his followers would forsake him