THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1879.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1664, 20 June 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1879.

A telegram published in another column states that the French Consul lias informed the Khedivo of Egypt that the French Government has decided to insist on his deposition in consequence of recent events. It is to be presumed that in this matter the French Government are acting with the concurrence of the other Great Powers, for, since the events of 1870, the French Republic has been careful not to take tho initiative in any actions connected with foreign complications, but has confined itself to husbanding its own rosourccs. But whether this notice of deposition has boon served by Franco alone or by the Great Powers conjointly, it is very evident that the affairs of the Khedive are in a desperate condition. Politically and financially, ho appears to be on his last legs. His extravagance has met with its roward. Ho ha 3 squandered a magnificent patrimony, and will have to bear the consequences. But on one part at least of his dominions the eye can rest with a considerable amount of pleasure, for a great revolution for the better is progressing there under tho directing hand of an English officer, a fellow-country-man of whom wo may well be proud. We allude to Colonel Gordon's great work along tho basin of tho upper waters of the Nile and in Equatorial Africa. Colonel Gordon has been invested by tho Khedivo with tho Satrapy or Proconsulate of an enormous territory stretching from tho first cataract, that is from the north of Nubia, southward to tho Equatorial Lakes, and from Darfur on tho east to the extreme Avestorly point of Africa, Capo Gruardafui. In its groatost length north and south, this territory measures botweon 1300 and 1400 milos, in its greatest breadth east and west, about 1500 miles. Abyssinia is, of course, not includod in the country nominally under tho rule of "Chinese Gordon." It will bo interesting to examine the causes which have led to Colonel Gordon's appointment, its object, and gonorally tho character, results and prospect of the occupation, for the complications in Egypt proper have so absorbed public attention that tho late history of tho now Egypt, must, as the ground to bo broken is comparatively now, bo of some interest. Twenty years ago our representative at tho Egyptian town of Khartoum (15 deg. N), situated in what is called in the maps Nubia, desirous of furthering trade, pushed ivoryhuntiug parties further into tho interior than such expeditions had hitherto gone. The parties entered the fertile alluvial district of Bahr Gazelle in latitute 9, but unfortunately did not confine their operations to traffic in ivory, but largely dealt in slaves, which were sent to tho markets of Cairo and Constantinople. Tho original European traders made immense fortunes by means of this inhuman barter, but at last tho scandal became so notorious that they retired from tho trade. Arab merchants were, however, soon found eagor to take their place, and they established stations for slave-dealing purposes, and paid a regular rent for them to the Egyptian Government. In 18G9 that Government at last awoke to the iniquity of tho whole proceeding, and, determining to bring theso traders more under control, sent up an armed force. But among tho resident agents was one named Seobohr Bahama, a man remarkable for his courage and experience. This individual gained the ear of tho Egyptian Govern-

inoiit, and obtained tho control of the expeditionary force. Ho made war, on behalf of Egypt, on the Sultan of Darf ur, slow him and his two sons in open battle, and annexed his territory. But tho old leaven had not left Seobehr Bahama, and, under cover of his appointment, he carried on tho slave trade with greater eagerness and success than ovor. However, ho finally came to a misunderstanding with tho Government, and Colonel Gordon was appointed to govern tho province. Last year Seobehr's son, Suleyman, finding that tho now Governor meant to put an ond to his trade, and was completely opposed to his father's influence, broke into rebellion. "With 11,000 men ho attacked Captain Gessi, Colonel Gordon's most trusted officor, who had under him but 3000 men. Suleyman was, however, completely defeated, and tho capture of all the stations, which havo hitherto served as so many slavo-trade centres, is now considered certain. Such is a brief resume of the events which have led up to Col. Gordon's establishment as Governor of this enormous territory. Once settled there, his great aim and object has been to destroy tho slave trade root and branch. For this ho has tho completo sanction of the Khedive, who has been forced into a humanitarian track by his respect for European opinion. Wo may here mention, incidentally, that Sir Samuel Bakor had previously been commissioned by the ruler of Egypt on a similar orrand with respect to a smaller extent of territory further north, but the effect of his valorous expeditions merely drove tho disease further into the interior, and their results do not in any way interfere with the history of Colonol Gordon's actions regarded in their entirety. Colonel Gordon, in order tho more effoctually to carry out tho great work which he had set before himself, sought from tho Khedive and obtained a, commission that would give him supreme power within his torritory. He levies his own revenue, raises his own army, administers his own justice, appoints and dismisses his own officials. That his victorious career is markod by deeds of violence is unavoidable. Tho slave traders havo hitherto held the land by violence, and by violence only can their rule be overthrown. But tho ultimate object of tho Colonel's expedition is the good of tho inhabitants, the destruction of tho slave trade, and tho establishment of somo sort of sottlod order. Ho has spent much of his time in travelling on camel back from place to place, organising that kind of rough rule which is suited to savage races, and his success shows an absolute genius for [this kind of work. Ho has established small selfsupporting military stations all along tho banks of the Nile, and the river is now safe to travellers from Cairo to Lake Victoria. Above all, he is beloved by the country poople whom he has saved from the inhuman rule of the slave traders, and he is endeavoring to restore the territory to somewhat of that prosperity which it possessed before the desolating blight of the slave trade touched its boundaries. In the latter half of 1878 he arrested forty-two slave caravans and liberated the slaves.

Unfortunately, however, Colonel Gordon's rule depends too much on his own personal qualifications. As long as he is at the head of affairs things may be expected to progress in the right direction; but, should sickness or death remove him from his post, anarchy might again fall on this region, for the Egyptian Govei'nment is, in its present state, so hopelessly effoto that no help could be expected from that quarter. Nothing but a strong personal rule can possibly supply tho vigour of administration necessary to curb tho lawlessness that has so long reigned in those parts. It is the general impression, however, in England that it would be unwise for the Egyptian Government to permanently annex the territory, and that it could not benefit by indefinite conquests in tho South. Tho happiest lot for tho Natives would be to return to the old simple condition that obtained beforo European greed invaded their country, for, wore Colonel Gordon once removed, another ruler might be appointed like Seebehrßahama, who, while nominally putting down tho slave trade, had at ono time as many as 10,000 female captives, bosides tho thousands ho had sent to the slave markets, and who had, moreover, chained lions crouching in his anto-chambor —verily a picturesque but disreputablo proconsul. Colonol Gordon has beyond his other services, cleared up one point most entirely. Ho has proved that the high road to Central Africa can never lie along the Nilo. The frequent rapids, tho vast marshes into which tho river widens occasionally, the choking weed which forms itself into large dams, all present insurmountable barriers to a regular traffic being establishon up the rivor. Tho real entrance to tho magnificent lake country lies from tho Indian Ocean. It is to bo trusted [that no complications in Egypt proper will cause tho great work at present being done by Colonel Gordon to bo overlooked aud neglected.