nry Gordon, dated in October 1884:--

"Your favour of 3rd September has been duly received, for which I
thank you. I herewith enclose my photograph, and hope that you
will kindly send me yours.

"The letter that you wished me to send H.E. General Gordon was
sent on the 18th August last, registered. I hope that you will
excuse me in delaying to reply, for when your letter arrived I
was absent, and when I returned I was very sorry that they had
not forwarded the letter to me; otherwise I should have replied
at once.

"I had closed this letter with the photograph when I received
fresh news, to the effect that the messengers we sent to H.E.
Gordon Pasha were on their way back. I therefore kept back the
letter and photograph till they arrived, and I should see what
tidings they brought.... You have told me that Lord Northbrook
knows what has passed between us. I endeavoured and devised to
see His Excellency, but I did not succeed, as he was very busy. I
presented a petition to him that he should help to recover the
property of which I was robbed unjustly, and which H.E. your
brother ordered to be restored, and at the same time to right me
for the oppression I had suffered. I have had no answer up to
this present moment.

"Hoping that H.E. Gordon Pasha will return in safety, accept my
best regards, dear Sir, and present my compliments to your
sister.

"ZEBEHR.
"_28th Oct. 1884._"

To sum up on this important matter. There never was any doubt that the
authorities in the Delta took on themselves a grave responsibility
when they remained deaf to all Gordon's requests for the co-operation
of Zebehr. They would justify themselves by saying that they had a
tender regard for Gordon's own safety. At least this was the only
point on which they showed it, and they would not like to be deprived
of the small credit attached to it; but the evidence I have now
adduced renders even this plea of doubtful force. As to the value of
Zebehr's co-operation, if Gordon could have obtained it there cannot
be two opinions. Gordon did not exaggerate in the least degree when he
said that on the approach of Zebehr the star of the Mahdi would at
once begin to wane, or, in other words, that he looked to Zebehr's
ability and influence as the sure way to make his own mission a