I am blockading all
roads to the slave districts, and I expect to make the slave-dealers
now in revolt give in, for they must be nearly out of stores. I have
indeed a very heavy task, for I have to do everything myself. Kind
regards to Mrs. Burton and yourself.
"Believe me,
"Yours sincerely,
"C. G. GORDON."
"P.S.--Personally I am very weary and tired of the inaction at Kartoum,
with its semi-state, a thing which bores me greatly."
The following year Burton's prescience proved true. The Soudan was
"not a lasting thing," so far as Gordon was concerned. Ismail Khedive
had abdicated, and Tewfik his son ruled in his stead; and Gordon,
dissatisfied with many things, finally threw up his post on account
of the Slave Convention. Though he placed his resignation in the
Khedive's hands, Tewfik begged him to undertake a mission to Abyssinia.
While he was on the journey he wrote the following to Burton:
"EN ROUTE TO MASSOWAH, RED SEA,
"August 31, 1879.
"MY DEAR BURTON,
"Thanks for several little notes from you, and one from Mrs. Burton, and
also for the papers you sent me. I have been on my travels, and had not
time to write. An Italian has egged on Johannis to be hostile, and so I
have to go to Massowah to settle the affair if I can.
Pages:
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308