Thank heavens we are rid of him and his followers, for a season at all events, and I dare say that as soon as Parliament is prorogued we shall see a little more clearly what the Government policy is likely to be, though I am afraid that until the general election turns out favourably for them, and gives them a firm hold of power, they will not be able to do very much for fear of a reversal of their policy.
Our relations with the Soudan seem also likely to take a better turn. The death of the Mahdi, which I now believe in, will, if true, remove the chief element of disturbance, and it will take some time before his successor will be sufficiently established in power to do much mischief. Osman Digna remains a possible source of trouble; he is an able and an unscrupulous man, but I think that his followers are beginning to have enough of him, and show an evident disinclination to come into contact again with English troops.
We are waiting for the arrival of Sir D. Wolff, '^ and are impatient to learn what the immediate object of his mission is; his going first to Constantinople looks like a possible alliance with the Sultan, and may be an attempt to induce him to take over the military government of the Soudan. Such an idea has been much discussed at times, and I know that Lord Northbrook was favourable to such a scheme as far as Suakin was concerned. I don't like the idea altogether; it certainly would be a solution of immediate difficulties, but unless the administration of the country was left in English hands, and the duties of the Turks limited to garrisoning the country, we should witness a repetition of the oppression and corruption which caused the Arab tribes to rise and shake oif the Egyptian government.
I am doubtful as to whether we shall see the Barings back again. I have no particular reason for saying that they won't return beyond my belief that he has been so disgusted with the behaviour of the late Government throughout as regards Egypt, that he does not care to have anything more to do with the country, especially as he will now have to carry out the views of a Conservative Government.... — ^ Yours very sincerely, Fredk. Stephenson.
To his Sister
Cairo, September 20, 1885.
My dear Minny, —... I am off the day after to-morrow for a tour of inspection to the Upper Nile, and shall be absent for about a month, unless anything unforeseen should occur to shorten or prolong my visit. There are several ports to visit, the farthest being about 850 miles off, so that I cannot do all that I want in much less time, more especially as I hope to add a little pleasure to the duty, by visiting on my way one or two places of interest, such as Luxor, Thebes, Philae, etc.; it would be a great disappointment to return home without having seen those places, and this is
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probably the last chance I shall have, for I expect very shortly to get promoted to full General, as I am now the senior Lieutenant-General, and, moreover, the
Government are very anxious to reduce the force here,
so that I don't suppose my stay can be prolonged many