G. GORDON."
Burton again refused, giving the same reasons as before, and reiterating
his opinion that the existing state of affairs in the Soudan could not
last. Gordon, seeing his decision was not to be shaken, acquiesced,
and did not ask him again. Moreover he was losing faith in the Soudan
himself. A few months later we have him writing as follows:
"KARTOUM, November 20, 1878.
"MY DEAR BURTON,
"Thanks for your letter of October 6, received to-day. I have not
forgotten the manuscript from Harar, nor the coins.
"I wish much I could get a European to go to Berberah, Zeyla, and Harar,
at 1,200 pounds, or 1,500 pounds, a really good man. They keep howling
for troops, and give me a deal of trouble. Our finances take up all my
time; I find it best to look after them myself, and so I am kept close
at work. We owe 300,000 pounds floating debt, but not to Europeans, and
our _present_ expenditure exceeds revenue by 97,000 pounds.
"Rossit, who took your place in Darfur, died the other day there, after
three and a half months' residence; he is a serious loss to me, for the
son of Zebahr with his slave-dealers is still in revolt. Cairo and
Nubia never take any notice of me, nor do they answer my questions.
"I have _scotched_ the slave-trade, and Wyld of Jeddah says that
scarcely any slaves pass over, and that the people of Jeddah are
disgusted. It is, however, only _scotched_.
Pages:
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307