hat he is a mere puppet, put forward by Elias, Zebehr's
father-in-law, and the largest slave-owner in Obeid, and that he
had assumed a religious title to give colour to his defence of
the popular rights.

"There is one subject on which I cannot imagine any one can
differ about. That is the impolicy of announcing our intention to
evacuate Khartoum. Even if we were bound to do so we should have
said nothing about it. The moment it is known that we have given
up the game, every man will go over to the Mahdi. All men worship
the rising sun. The difficulties of evacuation will be enormously
increased, if, indeed, the withdrawal of our garrison is not
rendered impossible.

"The late Khedive, who is one of the ablest and worst-used men in
Europe, would not have made such a mistake, and under him the
condition of Egypt proper was much better than it is to-day. Now,
with regard to Egypt, the same principle should be observed that
must be acted upon in the Soudan. Let your foundations be broad
and firm, and based upon the contentment and welfare of the
people. Hitherto, both in the Soudan and in Egypt, instead of
constructing the social edifice like a pyramid, upon its base, we
have been rearing an obelisk which a single push may overturn.
Our safety in Egypt is to do something for the people. That is to
say, you must reduce their rent, rescue them from the usurers,
and retrench expenditure. Nine-tenths of the European _employes_
might probably be weeded out with advantage. The remaining
tenth--thoroughly efficient--should be retained; but, whatever
you do, do not break up Sir Evelyn Wood's army, which is destined
to do good work. Stiffen it as much as you please, but with
Englishmen, not with Circassians. Circassians are as much
foreigners in Egypt as Englishmen are, and certainly not more
popular. As for the European population, let them have charters
for the formation of municipal councils, for raising volunteer
corps, and for organising in their own defence. Anything more
shameful than the flight from Egypt in 1882 I never read. Let
them take an example from Shanghai, where the European settlement
provides for its own defence and its own government. I should
like to see a competent special Commissioner of the highest
standing--such a man, for