Arabs show no disposition to close our road to Shendy as yet, and I believe the country up to that place is with Kartoum (I cannot say the Government, for I do not know what the Government is).
One of the greatest sinners in the way of getting Egypt into financial difficulties (whence all this trouble) is ... who in the Crimea used to sell cheeses and other things at exorbitant prices.
Sir Samuel Baker will be disgusted to know that the crack vessel he got from Samuda, the Ismailia, the biggest of his lot, is the worst of the larger fighting steamers. She is a good yacht, but nothing more. All these steamers we owe to Sir Samuel Baker.
A Frenchman, Monsieur de Bizemont, brought up the steamers from Cairo, through all the cataracts. Monsieur le Blanc was with him. Mr. Higginbotham, C.E., took the steamers in sections across the Korosko desert.
September 29.—To-morrow is Bairam. I have made Ferratch Pasha take over the festivities. The Talataween, Mansowrah, and Saphia, (D.V.) leave for Shendy to-morrow night with 100 men on board of each. Cassim el Mousse goes with them. I send a slip to Lord Wolseley, to be forwarded with a spy. The two journals of events from 10th to 30th September, and map of Berber, will go with steamers, in hopes of their being able to find a more secure road of sending them to Debbeh or elsewhere.
I found we had 700 bags of Indian rice in store. I have issued it on account of pay to the troops, at two okes[91] per dollar. They will sell it at three okes per dollar. It wipes off my debt to them, and they will gain.
An escaped soldier came in, and says Mahdi has had three messengers from Metemma, saying British troops were coming up in shoals, and so he had a dream, in which he was ordered back to Kordofan.
I hope the officers and men of Her Majesty’s forces will be considerate to the Egyptian soldiers and sailors; they do not understand English, but as they have done some good service, I hope they will be kindly treated. They are a trying lot, as I well know, but if it were not for them, our soldiers would have to tramp many a weary sandy mile. It is one of my joys that I never have to see Great Britain again. I hope to get out of this affair, and either go to the Congo, viâ Equatorial Province, or by Brussels. At any rate I shall never have to undergo the worries I underwent during the week I was in England this year. I say this in order that those who may have to do with me may know how very determined a man’s will must be who does not wish (and indeed will not ever) go back to England again, and to whom continuance in Her Majesty’s Service, except for the honour of it, is a matter of indifference.
I am now going to be egotistic, but it will save a mint of trouble, and I may be pardoned, considering the circumstances. By being so I may save myself what I should much regret, a quarrel.