188 The British Campaign in the Soudan.

religious sympathies all favorable to the Mahdi’s cause. The same wonderful fascination over barbarians that had enabled him to conquer the Tae-Ping rebellion in China was exhibited here in Khartoum.

It was not long, however, before he. became satisfied of the impossibility of rescuing the garrisons, or even holding Khartoum more than a few months without aid, and he made repeated and urgent requests to his government to send him British, or Indian, or Turkish troops, or, as a last resort, to send Zobehr-Pasha, he being the only man, in Gordon’s judgment, possessing sufficient influence and force of character to organize a government and prevent utter anarchy after his own retirement. Perhaps Zobehr did possess the ability, but he was a double-dyed traitor, and at that very time was in secret communication with the Mahdi.* If he had been sent to Khartoum he would undoubtedly have betrayed Gordon to his death in revenge for his son Suliman’s execution. For once the Ministry acted wisely in declining to send him. But why did they still refuse to send troops when it became evident that without military support Gordon’s mission must fail and he must become the victim of his own heroism? The following extracts show in what light Gordon viewed the action of his government : ‘““LONDON, May 5, 1884.—Parliamentary documents give a dispatch to Sir Evelyn Baring from General Gordon, dated Khartoum, April 16th, in which he says: ‘ As faras I understand the situation you say there is no intention of sending relief here or to Berber. You refuse me Zobehr-Pasha. I consider myself free to.

act according to circumstances. I shall hold on here as long as I can, If I can suppress the rebellion I shall do so, otherwise I shall retire to the equator and leave you the indelible disgrace of abandoning the garrisons of Sennaar, Kassala,.

* This fact having been discovered after the fall of Khartoum, he was imprisoned at Gibraltar and afterwards banished to the Island of Cyprus and deprived of his honors and emoluments.