The difficulty of establishing future order and government in the Soudan consists in the determination of our Government to abandon the country altogether — an impossible policy, which the force of circumstances must convince the country of before long.
The fittest man, in my opinion, to replace Gordon in Khartoum is the Mudir of Dongola, who has proved his ability, courage, and firmness of character. A Circassian by birth, he is a devoted Mussulman, and exercises great influence over his subjects in that capacity....
To his Sister
[fragment illegible in the scan of the first edition]
My dear Isabella, —... We are getting on here slowly and steadily with our Nile Expedition, but it will not be ready for the final move to Khartoum for another month. The distances to be got over are enormous and not easy to realise; the difficulties, too, on the way are considerable; both, however, are being got over as well as possible, thanks to the energy, skill,
and goodwill of those concerned. Once our troops [are] at Khartoum I don't think it likely that they will come away for some little time; the removal of the garrison and such of the inhabitants as may wish to come away will take some little time, and our people will, of course, have to remain until this has been done. Then it will be necessary for us to leave behind us some sort of Government; this will take some little time also. I had a very pleasant trip to the Nile the other day; we did not go more than 70 miles up the river, as the wind did not favour us. We moored every night to the bank, and started the following day when the wind sprang up; when there was no wind we went on shore, shooting snipe, pigeon, and sand grouse; our days ended with whist. It was a pleasant idle life, which was very enjoyable while it lasted. With one exception there are no antiquities on this part of the river beyond those in the immediate neighbourhood of Cairo; this one exception is a very remarkable one, a kind of Pyramid of earlier date than those of Gizeh, built of the usual massive stones, hewn and jointed with a perfection of workmanship which would baffle the stonemasons of the present day. The Pyramids of Gizeh existed, as you probably know, before the time of Abraham; this one is probably a few hundred years older still.
To his Brother
Cairo, January 11, 1885.
My dear William, —... The Nile Expedition is getting on famously, and Stewart's column may be expected in a day or two from now to be at Metemmeh, whence the distance from Khartoum is about 100 miles. At Metemmeh steamers will be lying which will enable communication to be at once opened up with Gordon. Stewart's column will, however, remain entrenched, I imagine, at this spot until joined towards the end of February by Earle's force, which {? is taking] the longer circuit of the Nile. When Earle reaches Abou Hamed,
1 885] THE FUTURE OF THE SOUDAN 331