a day and a-half in constant communication with Akheimar to give Gibran time, and I then moved to Akheimar. I there learnt that Shemaun had decamped. I found out that he had not many men with him, about 50.

I sent out trackers to follow trail, and they report he has gone through Bishareen country to Berber. I am, however, not sure he is not still with Bishareen.

I stayed two days at Akheimar, and have ordered the men to be changed. I then travelled east and visited the posts at Umreit and Abou Safa, and then northwards to Abrage. I went within two days of sea at Abrage; there was a large force of Gibrani's men additional to the post of 200, about 700 in all. So that he has more men than he is paid for; this is satisfactory, as both the other Sheikhs are below their strength. Minshetta makes it up by taking Gibrani's men, and Akimeh's case I will report to you later.

Please thank His Highness and Nubar Pasha for the very full powers conferred by the Firman I received while travelling, and assure them I will do my best to merit their confidence. I feel very hopeful the Bishareen Sheikhs will come in; they are now together, and have sent word they are with the Ababdich; this is in reply to my former letter. I have sent them a letter informing them of the Firman, and hope soon to have a meeting. Mahmoud Bey, son of Hussein Pasha Khalifa, has been communicating with Bishareen from Derawe. News from Bishareen that large force gone to Suakin has had very good effect. I heard, but cannot vouch for it, that the Emir Heddait, who I reported to you was marching on Dongola, is Sala Agha, who surrendered to the Mahdi some time back. Twenty men or more can be sent to Keneh. Please let me know when they will be required. I require a Sheikh for my escort.

Inclosure 2 in No. 20.

(Telegraphic.)

Major Rundle to General Sir E. Wood.

Korosko, June 29, 1884. I HAVE received information from our Bedouins that a Sheikh named Yusuf Abdel Karim is giving trouble near Luxor. Is this true? It is important that I should be kept informed of any movement in that quarter, as well as any steps taken by the Government, as a great number of our men come from that part. They are much disturbed by rumour. I have had a long conversation with Ahmed and Saleh, who both state positively that they abide by the news they have sent, and will stand or fall by it.

Their view is that an advance will be made on here and Assouan after Ramadan, and that you must look to Kosseir for coming trouble. In this view they have for some time now always been consistent, and events appear to bear out their view. Kitchener, I know, holds this view strongly, and in a former telegram pointed out what would be likely to occur.

No. 21.

My Lord,

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, July 8.)

Cairo, July 8, 1884. I HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that the Egyptian Commandant on the Abyssinian frontier reports that Admiral Hewett told him that Sanhit and Amadeb, with all the frontier, was to be given up to Abyssinia on the 1st September next; that the garrisons of those places, as well as those of Galabat, Girri, and Kassala, were to return to Massowah, accompanied by Abyssinian soldiers, and that orders to that effect would be issued from Cairo.

The Commandant asks what he is to do in case he is molested by the Abyssinians, and mentions further that it is said that the Egyptians will be told to give up their arms.

I have no information on the subject of the arrangement with Abyssinia beyond Sir W. Hewett's telegram of the 16th ultimo, in which Bogos alone is mentioned as about to be restored to King John on the 1st September, and stipulating that the latter will facilitate the withdrawal of the East Soudan garrisons through his territory.

The Egyptian Government wish to know what orders they should send; I have, however, asked them to wait till Mason Bey returns to Cairo before they instruct the Commandant.

Time, however, presses, as Admiral Hewett in his telegram says that the Abyssinian expedition to Kassala will probably start on the 14th instant.

The road from Kassala to Massowah is at present, I believe, open, as caravans have been passing though.

Mason Bey, I hope, may arrive by the next steamer, but as it is well that I should also be informed from Admiral Hewett's reports to London, I have the honour to ask, for my guidance, for any further details not contained in his telegram to the Admiralty respecting the Abyssinian Agreement which it may be useful should be known here, since it is imperative that orders should be sent soon from Cairo, as bloodshed may occur from misunderstanding.

any

I have, &c.

(Telegraphic)

No. 22.

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received July 8.)

Cairo, July 8, 1884, 6 P.M. KITCHENER telegraphs to-day Arab just arrived from Abu Hamad says 5,000 Robatat, under Hegel, with 3,000 rifles from Berber, are there; they mean to defend that post, not to cross desert; Khartoum still holding out; news of fall of Berber true; Hussein Khalifa confined to his house there; also true that force with soldiers from Berber is marching on Dongola. Cuzzi has been sent to Gordon with terms; Mahdi has sent Gordon Dervish dress, and promises to make him Emir if he will wear it; Mahdi at Jebel Gedir, on White Nile, dates letters from thence; has had trouble with Hamar tribe, but has beaten them; Saleh, of Kabbabish, at Kedjina, ten days west of Old Dongola, has not joined rebels. Osman Digna says he is quite prepared to kill any Englishman coming from Suakin, and does not want assistance from Berber garrison. Kitchener begins to think there is something in news about the Hamar and Mahdi, and that it would be most useful for Khartoum if Kabbabish could be induced to join them.

No. 23.

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, July 11.)

My Lord, Cairo, July 11, 1884. WITH reference to my telegram of the 8th instant, I have the honour to report that it has been decided that orders should be sent for the evacuation of Kassala, Sanhit, and Amadeb, and that Nubar Pasha will proceed to Alexandria to-night to communicate this decision to the Khedive.

Mason Bey, the Governor of Massowah, who has just arrived here, expresses doubts to Nubar Pasha as to whether the Abyssinians will carry out the plans made, as they much dread the fever of the plains.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

EDWIN H. EGERTON.

No. 24.

Earl Granville to Mr. Egerton.

Foreign Office, July 11, 1884.

Sir, IN a telegram of the 9th instant I informed you, in reply to your telegram of the 8th instant, of the terms of the Treaty which has been concluded between this country, Egypt, and Abyssinia.

Orders for the withdrawal, as soon as practicable, of the garrisons mentioned in

the Treaty should now be sent to the Egyptian authorities; and arrangements should at once be made for carrying into effect the remaining stipulations contained in it. You will shortly receive further instructions with regard to Galabat and other places in the Eastern Soudan.

I am, &c.

(Extract.)

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, July 11.)

Cairo, July 11, 1884. IN my immediately preceding despatch* I had the honour to inclose copy of a telegram which has been received from the Mudir of Dongola, proposing to enter into negotiations with the Kabbabish under Saleh, and to send him arms.

It has been decided, after discussion with the Egyptian Ministers, to ask His Highness the Khedive to send up an Aide-de-camp, accompanied by an English officer, to Dongola with a view to establishing communications with Saleh. If, on their way up, they should find that Dongola is already being evacuated, they will, of course, turn back at once.

No. 26.

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received July 12, 1 P.M.)

(Telegraphic.) Cairo, July 12, 1884, 11 A.M. MERCHANT arrived at Halfa, six days from Dongola, whose family was at Debbah during fight last Sunday week, reports enemy under El Hoda was not supported by other tribes, and suffered heavy loss from Mudir's forces on that occasion. He says he had seen men from Berber, which they said fell without resistance; the rebel Chief was carrying on the Government, assisted by the late Governor. Mr. Cuzzi was set free, and left for Khartoum at his own request. Gordon is making constant sallies, the extent of which are only limited by the shoal water.

No. 27.

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received by telegraph, July 12.)

My Lord, Cairo, July 12, 1884. MASON BEY, who has just returned from Abyssinia, came to see me to-day. Amongst other things, he informed me that when the Treaty was signed it was not believed that Galabat was still held by the Egyptians, and that, in his opinion, it was essential to send simultaneous orders for the evacuation of that garrison through Abyssinia, and of Girri, as well as Sanhit, Amadeb, and Kassala.

He had told the Egyptian General on the frontiers that when the Abyssinians arrived they were to follow them, and place themselves at the disposition of the King, who would forward them to Massowah.

As regards Kassala, he thought the Chief of the Beni Amer tribe should be informed in order to provide food, to be paid for by the Egyptian Government, for the relieving Abyssinian force.

The main difficulty Mason Bey anticipated in this matter was with some of the garrison of Kassala, a large party of which is composed of local Bashi-Bazouks, and of these not less than 1,000 will certainly not give up their arms, or be inclined to follow the Abyssinians with the rest of the garrison, and may most probably take to plundering.

I have, &c.

My Lord,

No. 28.

Mr. Clifford Lloyd to Earl Granville.—(Received July 12.)

86, Ebury Street, London, July 12, 1884. OBSERVING that Dr. Crookshank's action as Director-General of Prisons in Egypt has been called into question in the House of Commons, I desire to inform your Lordship that while the credit of all good organization and management in the newlycreated Prisons Department in that country is due to Dr. Crookshank, the responsibility of his action under the prison rules in force rests, up to the date of my departure, entirely with me.

In a country where extreme force has hitherto been the only means adopted for the suppression of disorder, it was considered essential, as in many other countries, to retain the power, in cases of mutiny, &c., of inflicting corporal punishment in a moderate form in prisons in which the means of inflicting other forms of punishment, such as reduction of diet, solitary confinement, hard labour, &c., did not exist.

Under the prison rules in force in Egypt, the maximum number of strokes applicable was reduced from 500 to 24, and the mode of application was regulated in conformity with the practice in European countries, while all necessary precautions. were taken to prevent any abuse of the rules.

I have, &c.

Lieutenant-General Sir F. Stephenson to the Marquis of Hartington.-(Communicated to the Foreign Office, July 13.)

(Telegraphic.)

Cairo, July 12, 1884, 2:40 P.M. WITH reference to previous communications, it is desirable that one of the battalions asked for should be sent here at once; also can Sussex be reinforced from its 2nd battalion at Malta by 170 men, to complete establishment?

No. 30.

The Marquis of Hartington to Lieutenant-General Sir F. Stephenson.-(Communicated to Foreign Office, July 13.)

(Telegraphic.) YOURS to-day.

War Office, July 12, 1884, 5 P.M.

Sussex

Please state reasons which, in your opinion, make immediate dispatch of another battalion necessary. Do you expect to have to send more troops up Nile? will be reinforced from Malta as soon as possible.

No. 31.

(Telegraphic.)

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received July 13.)

Cairo, July 13, 1884, noon. CHERMSIDE telegraphs arrival of ships at Agig most opportune to save life, as inhabitants were on the point of leaving. Question is raised as to abandonment. Chermside is in favour of holding it. The other salt station, Rowaya, is safe. The Mahdi's agents are expelled.

(Telegraphic.)

No. 32.

Mr. Egerton to Earl Grenville.-(Received July 13, 3:30 P.M.)

Cairo, July 13, 1884. GALABAT and Girri will be included in instructions sent for evacuation to Egyptian Commandant on the Abyssinian frontier.

No. 33.

My Lord,

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received July 14.)

Cairo, July 4, 1884.

WITH reference to my despatch of the 1st instant, I have the honour to inclose herewith a telegram dated yesterday from Major Kitchener, in which he says he hears the section of the Kabbabish under Saleh is still hostile to the Malidi, and proposes to go to Dongola to find out truth about the Kabbabish.

After talking over the matter with General Stephenson and myself, Sir E. Wood has telegraphed to Major Kitchener to the effect that there is no intention at present of sending him to Dongola; the fact being that he cannot well be spared from his present duties in the Atmoor Desert.

As to the story about the Mahdi's difficulties, there are so many of various natures current respecting him, that I did not think this one worth telegraphing to your Lordship.

I must confess that in the main the rumours respecting him point to his being in some difficulties with his neighbours.

I have, &c. (Signed)

EDWIN H. EGERTON.

(Telegraphic.)

Inclosure in No. 33.

Major Kitchener to General Sir E. Wood.

Assouan, July 3, 1884. MY view at first of Kabbabish was that it was too late, and that they had not sufficient force to go to Khartoum. I have since had conversations with well-informed merchants here, and the result is conflicting. I am informed that the section of the tribe under Sheikh Saleh is very powerful and still hostile to the Mahdi, that the other sections were wavering, but owing to action of the Hamer tribe are now likely to join Saleh.

I am informed that the Mahdi, after starting for Khartoum, had to hurry back owing to action of rival in Darfour; that on his return journey he was surrounded by Hamer tribe, and that he is now in their hands; that they had previously been with him, but had left; owing to not receiving pay.

I give you this with all reserve; it is very likely untrue. I strongly recommend that I be allowed to go to Dongola to verify state of country, and find out truth about Kabbabish. Everything is quite safe there during Ramadan.

No. 34.

My Lord,

Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received July 14.)

Cairo, July 5, 1884.

I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith a summarized translation of a despatch from the Consular Agent at Assouan, reporting that the panic among the population created by the massacre at Berber has now ceased, in consequence of the assurances given by the Commandant of the town, that efficient measures had been taken for the protection of the town and its inhabitants.

I have, &c. (Signed)

EDWIN H. EGERTON,