nch Christian goes without saying, but he was no churl who
could not esteem and respect the faith of his fellow-men. But the case
is well summed up in Lord Kitchener's subsequent letter to the press.

The Sirdar wrote:--

"SIR,--I trust that it will not be thought that I am trespassing
too much upon the goodwill of the British public, or that I am
exceeding the duties of a soldier, if I call your attention to an
issue of very grave importance arising immediately out of the
recent campaign in the Soudan. That region now lies in the pathway
of our Empire, and a numerous population has become practically
dependent upon men of our race.

"A responsible task is henceforth laid upon us, and those who have
conquered are called upon to civilise. In fact, the work
interrupted since the death of Gordon must now be resumed.

"It is with this conviction that I venture to lay before you a
proposal which, if it met with the approval and support of the
British public and of the English-speaking race, would prove of
inestimable benefit to the Soudan and to Africa. The area of the
Soudan comprises a population of upwards of three million persons,
of whom it may be said that they are wholly uneducated. The
dangers arising from that fact are too obvious and have been too
painfully felt during many years past for me to dwell upon them.
In the course of time, no doubt, an education of some sort, and
administered by some hands, will be set on foot. But if Khartoum
could be made forthwith the centre of an education supported by
British funds and organised from Britain, there would be secured
to this country indisputably the first place in Africa as a
civilising power, and an effect would be created which would be
felt for good throughout the central regions of that continent. I
accordingly propose that at Khartoum there should be founded and
maintained with British money a college bearing the name of the
Gordon Memorial College, to be a pledge that the memory of Gordon
is still alive among us, and that his aspirations are at length to
be realised.

"Certain questions will naturally arise as to whom exactly we
should educate, and as to the nature of the education to be given.
Our system would need to be gradually built up. We should begin by
teaching the sons of the leading men, the heads of villages, and