Colonel Gordon in Central Africa, 1874-79, with ... map ... From original letters and documents. Edited by G. Birkbeck Hill

Front matter

COLONEL GORDON IN CENTRAL AFRICA. A COLONEL GORDON IN CENTRAL AFRICA 1874-1879, With a Portrait ; and Map of tlie Country prepared under Colonel Gordon's supervision. FROM ORIGINAL LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. EDITED BY GEORGE BIRKBECK HILL, D.C.L. AUTHOR OF "THE LIFE OF SIR ROWLAND HILL, K.C.B." "DR. JOHNSON: HIS FRIENDS AND HIS CRITICS,'' ETC. " Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not." LONDON: THOS. DE LA RUE & CO. 1881 ( The right of Translation and Reproduction is reserved. ) TKINTED BY THOMAS DE LA RUE AND CO., BUNH1LL ROW, LONDON. TO MISS GORDON Cfiis lirrortr OF HER BROTHER'S BENEFICENT RULE OVER THE WILD TRIBES OF CENTRAL AFRICA IS DEDICATED WITH EVERY FEELING OF RESPECT BY HER FAITHFUL SERVANT, THE EDITOR.

Preface

. A few words are needful to set forth the some what unusual circumstances in which this book appears. With the consent of Colonel Gordon, there were placed last summer in my hands, not only the public documents that have refer ence to his administration in Central Africa, but also the correspondence that, during his long absence from England, he maintained with more than one member of his family. With these materials I was allowed to deal as I thought best. For the form that the book should take, and for everything that should appear in it, I and I alone was to be answerable. I had not the honour of Colonel Gordon's acquaintance, and I was told from the first that he would neither see me nor correspond with me till the book was finished and before the world. Neither, too, would he read my manuscript, or the proofs of my work X

PREFACE.

. as they passed through the press. I have there fore neither seen nor corresponded with the man whose Memoir I have sketched, and whose Letters I am editing. When, however, I have been puzzled by any fact in the account that he gives of his travels, or in the history of the countries which he has ruled, he has kindly cleared up my difficulties through the interven tion of his brother, Sir Henry Gordon. Colonel Gordon is, then, only so far answerable for this work in that he gave his consent, acting on the advice of others, that his papers should be placed in my hands for me to make the best use of them that I could. The book is mine, and I must answer for it, just as much as if he were dead and I his literary executor. Sir Henry Gordon has, however, been kind enough to bear some share of the burden.

He has read the proof sheets, and has here and there suggested a slight change, which I have gladly made. I found no difficulty in deciding on the form that the work should take. Colonel Gordon, I soon saw, must be left to tell his own story. The worst use to which I could put his letters would be to make out of them a continuous narrative told in my own words. My art would mostly lie in selecting the proper passages for extract, and in piecing them together. I have

PREFACE.

. XI not hesitated, I may add, to make here and there a change in the arrangement of the subjects, and now and then a verbal alteration. The letters are between three and four hundred in number ; they are closely written, and they very often run to great lengths : there are some, indeed, that sill twenty and even thirty pages of note-paper. They are his Journal, as more than once he reminded his correspondent. He was lonely — often for weeks together he had no one with whom he could converse— and so he poured forth his thoughts on paper. I need scarcely say that they were never meant to see light. Of all that he wrote I am not publishing more than, perhaps, a tenth part. One word as to the strong religious utterances that will be met with in these pages. When we see a man undergoing year after year all that Colonel Gordon has undergone ; when we see him in journeyings often, in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the wilderness, in weariness and painful ness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst ; when we see him, besides those things that are without, bearing that which came upon him daily, the care of a great government ; when we see him, moreover, bearing all these great sufferings and this vast burden steadfastly and

PREFACE.

. patiently, we put to ourselves the question that was of old put to Milton in his blindness : — " What supports me, dost thou ask ? " In these letters the answer is given. We may not, perhaps, hold with the writer — his thoughts may not be our thoughts. The answer, nevertheless, cannot but be of the highest interest to every thoughtful man. We see one who " by manifold struggles feels his feet on the Everlasting Rock,"* and who lets us see how he has made sure his footing. G. B. HILL. The Poplars, Burghfield, April 6th, 1881. * Reminiscences, by Thomas Carlyle, Vol. 1., p. 5. CONTENTS. MEMOIR OF COLONEL GORDON'S PREVIOUS CAREER. Crimean War, xix. — Roumania and Armenia, xx. — Expedition to China, xxi. — Taiping Rebellion, xxiv. — Thames Defences. Commission of the Danube, xxx. — ■ Egypt, xxxi.

SKETCH OF AFFAIRS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. Egypt and The Soudan, xxxv. — The Slave-traders, xxxvi. — Sebehr Rahama, xxxviii. — Conquest of Darfour, xxxix. — Revolt of the Slave-traders, xl. — The Provinces of the Equator, xii.

Chapter I

— 1874. Cairo, 1 — Going in State, 2 — Nubar Pacha, 3 — The Rottenness of Egypt, 4 — Khartoum, 5 — A stinging Decree, 6 — The Grassy Barrier, 7 — Abou Saoud, 8 — A very limp Personnel, 9 — Animal Life, 10 — Native Villages, II — A Dinka Chief, 12 — Captain " I-told-him-to-do-it,," 13 — The Austrian Mission, 14 — "My Provinces," 15 — A lying Governor-General, 16 — No Safety, No Sowing. 17 — A Governor and Slave-dealer, 18 — "We would rather have the Cow," 19 — " A Lamb taken from a Flock," 20 — Nassar the Slave-trader, 21 — A Chief among the Slaves, 22 — Nassar in Prison, 23 — A wasted Land, 24 — Emigration, 25 — The Groans of half the World, 26 — "A Sister of Yours," 27 — " Floating down with the Tide," 28 — " A depraved little Wretch," 29 — The Formation of Swamps, 30 — Rat-catching, 31 — A deserted River, 32 — Death of Mr. Anson, 33 — The Saubat Water, 34 — The Grassy Barrier, 35 — The Papyrus, 36 — A Cargo of Slaves, 37 — A Plague of Ants, 38 — Raouf Bey, 39 — A Contract to Dine, 40 — The State of the Staff, 41 — The Motto of the Province, 42 — Abou Saoud in Disgrace, 43 — A petty Revolt, 44 — Dismissal of Abou Saoud, 45 — Run-away Porters, 46 — Silence is golden, 47 — Damp Ammunition, 48 — The Use of Money, 49 — Task Work, 50 — Abou Saoud once more, 51 — A Convoy of Slaves, 52 — Rival Courtiers, 53— Return of Colonel Long, 54 — Discovery of a Lake, 55 — " Christians like our Christ !

" 56 — "Robes and furred Gowns hide all," 57 — Wheelbarrows for Africa, 58 — The Inscription on the Medal, 59 — The new Station, 60 — Self-support, 61. CHAPTER H.— 1875. "Imshi Khartoum," 62 — A wounded Elephant, 63 — Arab soldiers die off, 64 — The Route by Mombaz Bay, 65 — A strange Bedfellow, 66 — The Screw Steamer, 67 — Lieutenant Watson, 68 — Lieutenant Chippendall, 69 — A hostile Sheikh, 70 — Attack on a Seriba, 71 — Capture of Cattle, CONTENTS.

XIV 72— Hippopotamus Meat, 73— Transport of the Steamer, 74— Nile Nuggars, 75 — Raid on a friendly Chief, 76 — The Vileness of the Troops, 77— Egyptian Officials, 78— The Sheikh Bedden, 79— Two Codes, 80 — Modem Missionaries, 81 — Martyrdom unsung, 82 — Hip popotamuses in Force, 83 — "Those terrible Examinations," 84 — " Inaction is terrible," 85— The Natives trustful, 86— Ant-lions, 87 — Firing Salutes, 88— Soldiers' Wives, 89— The Roads safe, 90— Kingly Sufferings. 91 — A Governor's daily Life, 92 — "His Excellency," 93— The Rapids, 94 — Praying the Nuggars up, 95— The Magicians, 96— The Nuggars wrecked, 97 — Natives never combine, 98 — "All Men are the same," 99 — The Fleshpots of Egypt, IOO — A Court of Divorce, 101 — "Cursing Israel," 102 — Suicide of a Captain, 103 — An Attack of the Natives, 104 — Bows and Arrows, 105 — News of Mr. Stanley, 106 — Daring of the Natives, 107 — Defeat of the Troops, 108 — A Retreat, 109 — A sunken Nuggar, no — Death of Mr. Linant, III — No Disci pline, 112 — The Chinese War, 113 — A War of Independence, 114 — King Mtesa, 115 — Pinchbeck Honours, 116 — "Victory is of the Lord," 117 — Independent of Khartoum, 118 — The Tax-Gatherers, 119 — "Curse me this People," 120 — Balaam and Balak, 121 — Steamer on the Rocks, 122 — Magic Charms, 123 — Sentries asleep, 124 — A Patriot, 125 — " Everything is rotten," 126 — The worthless Arabs, 127 — "A feeble Folk," 128 — A Line of secure Posts, 129 — The rainy Seasons, 130 — "It is all over," 131 — The Fola Falls, 132 — Death of the Interpreter, 133 — Health, 134 — A privileged Class, 135 — Slaughter of Elephants, 136 — An Attack of Ague, 137 — Pictures of Misery, 138 — Soldiers and Robbers, 139 — Benefits of Discipline, 140 — Burning the Grass, 141 — A Cry for more Troops, 142 — A Sea of Grass, 143 — ■ "Not my best Troops," 144 — Complaints from the Khedive, 145 — ■ Expedition to the Juba, 146 — "My Servant's Death," 147 — Not paid for Explorations, 148.

Chapter III

— 1S76. A Wilderness, 149 — A Jungle-road, 150 — Expedition to the Juba, 151 — "Now, Soul, take thy Rest," 152 — The magic Stool, 153 — Gaps in the Survey, 154 — The Government keeps no Faith, 155 — What the World says, 156 — An Explorer's Merits, 157 — The Fola Falls, 158— Mtesa's Letter, 159 — Arrival of Camels, 160 — Plundering the Natives, 161 — The Egyptian Character, 162 — Effects of Oppression, 163 — Machinery in the Desert, 164 — No Subordinates, 165 — A mournful Land, 166 — Iron Ore, 167 — Unexplored Country, 168 — Gessi's Voyage, 169 — Companions a Worry, 170 — The Varnish of Civilisation, 171 — Meteoric Stone Hatchets, 172 — Rending the Veil, 173 — Pulling down a Life's Work, 174 — "I have a Mission here," 175 — Duffli to Magungo, 176 — Elephants feeding, 177 — Mtesa's Capital, 178 — A dead mournful Spot, 179 — Utterly prostrated, 180 — The Soldiers are Prisoners, 1S1 — Thoughts of Home, 182 — The Uganda Mission, 183 — The Future World, 184 — Mtesa studies Revelations, 185 — Mtesa's Faith breaks down, 186 — A King of two Religions, 187 — "The Glories of our Blood and State," 188 — The Viziers beg for Shirts, 189 — " Irrepressible Vermin," 190 — Few Landing Places, 191 — A lying Officer, 192 — A missing Station, 193 — Attack on Kaba Rega, 194 — Safety-valve against Tyranny, 195 — On Lake Albert Nyanza, 196 — Homewards bound, 197 — Tyranny of Egypt, 198 — Ismail Pasha Sadyk, 199 — The Shoals of Honour, 200 — Back in England, 201 — Banks of the Nile, 202. CONTENTS. XV

Chapter IV. — 1877

Governor-General of the Soudan, 203— Egypt and Abyssinia, 204— Walad el Michael, 205— Battle of Gura, 206— The Abyssinian Envoy, 207— The King's Letters, 208 — Mission to Abyssinia, 209 — Return to Cairo, 210 — Interview with the Khedive, 211 — A Field-Marshal, 212— A living Sacrifice, 213— "Thought following Thought," 214— A grand Procession, 215— The Fort at Keren, 216— A Load of Work, 217— Abyssinian Priests, 218— A Port for Abyssinia, 219— Excommunication, 220 — Giving Audience, 221 — A holy Man, 222 — "Leaving Wrecks behind," 223 — Ancient Armour, 224 — Domestic Slavery, 225 — The Slave-trade, 226 — Registration of Slaves, 227 — Compensation of Owners, 228 — Abolition of Slavery, 229 — The Petition-box, 230 — The Whip dethroned, 231 — Revolt in Darfour, 232— "I drift along," 233 — " My Face set as a Flint," 234 — "Like the Driving of Jehu," 235— Misgovernment of Darfour, 236 — Bedouin Tribes, 237 — Slave Caravans, 238 — The Bashi-Bazouks, 239 — "You ought to pardon me," 240 — Cisterns in Fig-trees, 241 — Haroun, 242 — The Cave of Adullam, 243 — Three Years without Pay, 244 — Revolt of the Tribes, 245 — In great Danger, 246 — Relief of Dara, 247 — Ancient Armour, 248 — Restoration of a Mosque, 249 — Murmurings for Water, 250 — Sebehr's armed Slaves, 251 — Robbing the Post, 252 — Captured Slaves, 253 — Grass-feeding, 254 — Buying Slaves for Soldiers, 255 — • Darfour is a Cockpit, 256 — How to free the Slaves ? 257 — The Secretary's Advice, 258 — The Leopard Tribe, 259 — Cowardice of the Troops, 260 — The Watering-places, 261 — How to deal with Murderers, 262 — Flying down to the Water, 263 — Swearing on the Koran, 264 — A Crier to Prayer, 265 — Organised Murder, 266 — No Chain of Responsibility, 267 — Bribery, 268 — An intercepted Letter, 269 — A Stormy Night, 270 — A Gallop to Dara, 271 — The Slave-dealers' Camp, 272 — Sebehr's Son, 273 — The Secession begins, 274 — Sebehr's Son yields, 275 — No Trust in the Troops, 276 — An undutiful Son, 277 — A second Ishmael, 278 — Slave-traders' Rights, 279 — Slaves for Soldiers, 280 — "The Terror of Central Africa," 281 — Modern Christianity, 282 — Sebehr's Son in his Home, 283 — Shaka, 284 — A Caravan of Slaves, 285 — Cooking Utensils, 286 — No Sundays, 287 — The Price of a Boy, 288 — Slave-markets, 289 — The A B C of Egyptian Life, 290 — King Johannis's Letter, 291 — Hanging a Murderer, 292 — Giving Audience, 293 — Illuminations, 294 — Camels, 295 — Pursued by Petitioners, 296 — "We are miserable," 297 — A tyrannical Governor, 298 — "Most quiet Watchmen," 299 — The Man of God, 300 — Walad el Michael's Camp, 301 — In the Lion's Den, 302 — Black-mail, 303— King Johannis's Demands, 304 — Bedouin Arabs, 305.

Chapter V

— 1878. Summoned to Cairo, 306 — "I have cut down my Pay," 307 — The Palace at Cairo, 308 — The end of the Farce, 309— Raouf Pasha, 310 — No Hope in Khedives, 311 — Berberah, 312 — Harrar, 313 — Revolt of Sebehr's Son, 314— The Soudanese Railway, 315— Deficit in the Soudan, 317 — Little Hippopotamuses, 318 — Caravans of Slaves, 319 — "Alone in my huge House," 320 — The Soudanese Budget, 321 — The Railway Contract, 322 — Repairing Clocks, 323 — "No Fearing or Doubting," 324 — The Yoke of Bondage, 325 — An old Story, 326 — Climate of Khartoum, 328 — Starting for Katarif, 329. CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

— 1879. JANUARY TO JULY.

Walad el Michael, 330 — The Abyssinian Envoy, 331 — The Abouna, 332 — The Khedive's Instructions, 333 — A Greek Impostor, 334 — Slave-soldiers, 335 — Sebehr Pasha, 336 — Court Favourites, 337 — Nubar Pasha, 338 — The Slave-dealers' Rebellion, 339 — Revolts in Kordofan and Darfour, 340 — Journeying in the Desert, 341 — Trade once more ruined, 342 — How to crush the Slave-trade, 343 — Sabahi the Rebel, 344 — The Slavery Laws, 345 — Suffering of the Slaves, 346 — Livelong Dying, 347 — The Den of Iniquity, 348 — The Rule of Egypt, 349 — Arrears of Pay, 350 — Abolition of Slavery, 351 — The Khedive, 352 — Newspaper Praise, 353 — Execution of Sebehr's Secretary, 354 — The Sultanry of Darfour, 355 — Flight of the Slave-dealers, 356 — Slave-dealers' Camping-places, 357 — Seized for Strays, 358 — Scrambling for Slaves, 359 — The Homes of the Slaves, 360 — Attack of the Fors, 361 — "Eminent Services," 362 — A Government-made Desert, 363 — Escape of the Brigand Chiefs, 364 — Over-righteous Slave-dealers, 365 — A Track marked by Skulls, 366 — Guarding the Wells, 367 — "Wretches uncapable of Pity," 368 — A Bill of Mortality, 369 — Arrival of Gessi, 370 — Gessi's Campaign, 371 — The Tree near Shaka, 372 — Gessi's Character, 373 — Detained by the Floods, 374 — Measures of Reform, 375 — Passage of the Dyoor, 376 — Dem Idris, 377 — Suleiman's Attacks, 378 — Suleiman's Camp stormed, 379 — "Deliverance to the Captives," 380 — Dem Suleiman, 381 — Pursuit of Suleiman, 382 — The Camp in the Forest, 383 — Rabi and Sultan Idris, 384 — Gessi's Ambush, 385 — The Village of Gara, 386 — Death of Suleiman, 387— Sebehr Pasha at Court, 388 — " Scotched, not killed," 389 — Gessi's Return, 390 — A famine-stricken Crew, 391 — Slavery in Egypt, 392 — Registration of Slaves, 393 — A mixed Commission, 394.

Chapter VII

— 1879. JULY TO DECEMBER. The new Khedive, 395 — Li Hung Chang, 396 — Mission to King Johannis, 397 — Return to Cairo, 398 — Interview with the Khedive, 399 — Evil-speakers threatened, 400 — Arrest of Walad el Michael, 401 — The Khedive's Instructions, 402 — Aloula's Shed, 403 — Smoking in Abyssinia, 404 — "You are English," 405 — Ambas, 406 — Newspapers for the King, 407 — Chanting the Psalms, 408 — "The little Khedive," 409 — Arrival at Johannis's Court, 410 — Interview with the King, 411 — The King's Demands, 412 — The Royal Baths, 413 — Attempts at Bribery, 414— The King's Letter, 415— On the Road to Khartoum, 416 — Arrested, 417 — The Way back, 418 — Safe at Massawa, 419 — The King's Letters, 420 — His Character, 421-6 — Return Home, 427 — Secretary to the Viceroy of India, 428 — Engagement in China, 429 — Conclusion, 430.

Appendix

A. Memorandum on the Council of Ministers at Cairo, 431-4.

APPENDIX.

B. Foreigners in the Service of Oriental States, 435-40. Table of Distances, 441. Observations Determining the Altitudes, &.C., 442. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Portrait of Colonel Gordon (Frontispiece) Facsimile of King Mtesa's Letter Facingpage 160 Portrait of Berzati Bey ,. 400 Sketch-map of the Soudan _> 45^ b MEMOIR OF COLONEL GORDON'S PREVIOUS CAREER. Charles George Gordon, the fourth son of the late Lieutenant - General Henry William Gordon, of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, was born at Woolwich on January 28, 1833.* His mother was the daughter of the late Samuel Enderby, Esq., of Blackheath. When he was not yet fifteen years old he entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. In 1852 he received his commission as Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. When the war broke out with Russia he volunteered for service in the East, and in the last month of 1854 he joined the army before Sebastopol.

While on duty in the trenches he was wounded in the forehead by a stone thrown up by a shot. Sir Harry Jones specially mentioned him with some other sub alterns of the Royal Engineers as officers who had done gallant service, " but who, from the constitution of the corps, wherein promotion goes by seniority, are never promoted out of * Two of his elder brothers are Sir Henry W. Gordon, K.C.B., and Major-General S. Enderby Gordon, C.B., Royal Artillery. b XX MEMOIR. the corps." From the French Government he received the Order of the Legion of Honour. On the fall of Sebastopol he joined the force that laid siege to Kinburn, and he was present at the capture of that fortress in October, 1855. Returning to the Crimea he was engaged first in the survey of the Russian entrenchments, and next in the destruction of the docks of Sebas topol.

This latter service was one of no ordinary difficulty. On the declaration of peace Lieutenant Gordon accompanied Major Stanton* to Galatz, where he was engaged, as Assistant-Commissioner, in laying down the new frontiers of Russia, Turkey, and Roumania. In June, 1857, on the completion of that duty, he accompanied Major Simmonst to Armenia. There, in the same capacity, he was engaged in determining the Asiatic frontiers of Russia and Turkey. At the end of the year he returned to England. In the following spring (1858) he went back to Armenia on the same duty, but holding the appointment of Commissioner. Returning to England in December of that year, he was quartered at Chatham, and was employed as Field-work Instructor and Adjutant. In 1860, holding now the rank of Captain, he joined the army before Pekin, and was present at the sur render of that town.

For his services he received his brevet promotion to the rank of Major. * Now Lieutenant-General Stanton, C.B. t Now General Sir Lintorn Simmons, G.C.B. MEMOIR. XXI In December, 1861, accompanied by Lieutenant Cardew of the 67th Regiment, he made a tour on horseback to the Outer Wall of China at Kalgan. A Chinese lad, of the age of fourteen, who knew a little English, acted as their servant and inter preter, while their baggage was carried in two carts. In the course of their journey they passed through districts which had never before been visited by Europeans. Against the northern side of the city of Sinen-hoa they found that the sand had drifted with the wind, till it had formed a sloping bank so high that it reached to the top of the walls, though they were nearly twenty feet high. Nature had followed in the steps of the generals of old, and had cast up a bank against the town.

At Kalgan the Great Wall was, with its parapet, about twenty-two feet high and sixteen feet broad. Both of its faces were built of bricks — each of which was three times the size of one of our bricks. The space between was filled in with rubble. " It is wonderful," writes Colonel Gordon, " to see the long line of wall stretching over the hills as far as the eye can reach." From Kalgan they travelled westwards to Taitong, where the wall was not so high. There they saw huge caravans of camels, laden with " brick tea," going towards Russia. Here they were forced to have the axle-trees of their carts widened, for they had come into a part of the country where the wheels were always set wider apart than in the province whence they came. Their carts, therefore, no MEMOIR. longer fitted the deep ruts which had been worn in the roads.

The chief object of their journey had been to ascertain whether there was in the Inner Wall any pass besides the Tchatiaou, which, on that side of the country, led from the Russian territory to Pekin. They pushed along southwards, in vain trying for a long time to find a way eastward over the mountains. It was not till they reached Taiyuen that they struck into the road that led to Pekin or Tientsin. In this town, for the first time on their journey, they got into any kind of trouble. When their bill was brought them for their night's lodging, they found that the charge was enormous. Seeing that a dispute would arise, they sent on their carts, and waited at the inn till they felt sure that they had got well on their way. They then, like the three Quakers with whom Charles Lamb travelled to Exeter,* offered what they thought a reasonable sum.

It was refused. They tried to mount their horses, but the people of the inn stopped them. Major Gordon took out his revolver, for show more than for use, for he allowed them to take it from him. He thereupon said, " Let us go to the Mandarin." To this they agreed, and at the same time they gave him back his revolver. They all walked towards the Mandarin's house — the two Englishmen alongside their horses. On the way Major Gordon said to his companion " Are you ready to mount ? " " Yes," he answered * See "Imperfect Sympathies," in Essays by Elia, MEMOIR. XXIII So they mounted quietly, and went on with the people. When they reached the Mandarin's, they turned their horses, and scampered after their carts as fast as they could. The people yelled and rushed after them, but it was too late. Some way beyond Taiyuen they came upon the pass over the mountains which led down into the country drained by the Peiho.

The descent was a terrible one. All along the cold had been intense — so much so, that raw eggs were frozen hard as if they had been boiled. To add to their troubles, when they were on in front their carts were attacked by robbers ; but the Chinese lad — an ugly imp — kept them off with his gun. When they drew near Paoting fu they sent on with the lad the two carts and their tired horses, which had now carried them for three weeks without the break of a single day, and they hired a fresh cart, in which they thought to ride to Tientsin. But with the boy gone they had no interpreter, and in their impatience, "their new driver"— to quote our traveller's own words — "got rather crossly dealt with." They stopped near Paoting fu for the night. Early next morning, as they were washing, they heard the gates of the inn open, and the rumble of cart-wheels.

They guessed what was happen ing. " Half-stripped as I was, I rushed out, and saw our cart bolting away. I ran for a mile after it, but had to come back and hire another, with which we got to Tientsin — more than fourteen days over our leave." MEMOIR. Early in 1862, Major Gordon left for Shanghai, under the orders of Sir Charles Staveley, who had been appointed to the command of the English forces in China. At the very time that England and France had been at war with China, that Empire was suffering from a vast and most cruel rebellion. The hordes of the Taipings had laid waste whole provinces in the south, and were now advancing northwards, destroying the towns and turning everywhere the fruitful land into a wilderness. They even threatened one of the ports in which the European nations had established their factories.

While the English tmd French were gathering their forces for their m»ch on Pekin, two Governor-Generals of the Empire prayed for their aid against the rebels, who, having sacked two great and fair cities — Soochow and Hangchow* — were now threatening Shanghai. Not only for the sake of defending the European traders, but also, "on grounds of policy and humanity, to prevent, if possible, the scenes of bloodshed and pillage being enacted here which took place at Hangchow," t this assistance was granted. Thus was seen the strange sight of the English and French armies marching on the capital of the Empire, and at the same time join ing with the Imperial forces in the defence of a * "Above," says a Chinese proverb, "is Paradise, but beneath are Soo and Hang." — Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon's Chinese Campaign, and the Tai-ping Rebellion, by Andrew Wilson.

Blackwood & Sons. t Mr. Bruce in his despatch to Lord John Russell of May 30, 1860, quoted by Mr. Wilson, p. 61. MEMOIR. XXV town which the rebels of the Empire were attack ing. The attack was beaten off, and on August 22, 1860, the enemy was in full retreat. Shortly before this some of the wealthy Chinese merchants of Shanghai had undertaken to provide the necessary funds, if the Governor ofthe province would enlist a force of foreigners to defend their city against the Taipings. Some troops accord ingly had been raised, and placed under the com mand of an American of the name of Ward. From this band grew the force which later on bore the swelling title of the "ever-victorious army." The! allies did their best to keep as clear as possftle of the Civil War. The seat of their factories they would defend, but if that were not troubled they were content to watch the fray.

However, In January, 1862, the rebels threatened a second I attack on Shanghai. One of their leaders, whp bore the title of the Faithful King, put forth a proclamation, in which he said, " Shanghai is a little place. We have nothing to fear from it ; we must take it to complete our dominions." Thereupon the English and French commanders resolved to clear the country from the Taipings for thirty miles round that town. They were supported in this by an Imperial army, and by Ward's force, which now mustered nearly 1,000 natives, under the command of Europeans. There was a good deal of heavy fighting, the English Admiral was wounded, and the French Admiral was shot dead. In all these actions MEMOIR. Major Gordon bore his part. In the autumn of this year Ward fell in an attack on a town, and was succeeded by a worthless adventurer named Burgevine.