SULEIMAN BETS REVOLT. 167 him' up, as the only man able to quell tlie rebellion he had himself instigated. If so he was not far wrong, for when Gordon Pasha wrote for reinforcements, Nubar Pasha replied by offering to send up Sebehr. He still lives in Cairo, in peace and comfort, and in the enjoyment of a pension of 100/. a month !

Before the outbreak of hostilities large quantities of guns and ammunition had been sent from Cairo to the rebels, the custom-house officials in the Soudan having been bribed by Sebehr Pasha to pass them. Suleiman Bey took Dem Idris by stratagem, overpowering the government troops ; and while it was in his possession the town was the scene of most horrible massacres, as he shot down all who would not immediately swear fidelity to him, and the women and girls were most atrociously treated. He marched as far as Djour Ghattas, carrying fire and sword through the country ; and finally collected an army commanded by fifty sandjaks, each of whom had from a hundred to a thousand men under him. The exact number of men under arms cannot now be known, but probably it was not far short of twenty thousand. Suleiman Bey set aside all law, and proclaimed an open revolt against the government.

Captain Gessi, as he then was, was sent by Gordon Pasha on an expedition to put down this rebellion. He had with him three hundred