"Believe me,
"Yours sincerely,
"C. G. GORDON."
Burton's reply was very characteristic:
"MY DEAR GORDON,
"You and I are too much alike. I could not serve under you, nor you
under me. I do not look upon the Soudan as a lasting thing. I have
nothing to depend upon but my salary; and I have a wife, and you
have not."
Perhaps too Burton was a little annoyed at Gordon apparently taking it
for granted that he would jump at Darfur. Much as he loathed Trieste
and the life of forced inaction there, he felt this might be to exchange
the frying-pan for the fire. Pending Burton's answer, Gordon followed
up his first letter by two more:
"OOMCHANGA, DARFUR, June 27, 1877.
"MY DEAR BURTON,
"Thanks for your letter May 9, received to-day. I have answered. . . .
_Would you be bothered with him?_ I feel certain you would not. What
is the use of such men in these countries; they are, as Speke was to you,
infinitely more bother than use. Then why do you put him on me? I have
had enough trouble with them already.
"You will have my letter about Darfur. I must say your task will not
be pleasant; but you talk Arabic, which I do not; and you will have much
to interest you, for most of the old Darfur families are of Mohammed's
family.
"I dare say you wonder how I can get on without an interpreter and not
knowing Arabic.
Pages:
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299