ONE OF GORDON'S LAST MESSAGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 72, 26 February 1885, Page 2

ONE OF GORDON'S LAST MESSAGES.

A cablegram, dated Cairb, January Ist states: — "XJeneral Wolseley has received a small piece ofjiaper with General Gordon's genuine seal on the back, dated 14th December, saying: thstjKf&r--toum is all right. General Gordon's note is not an inch square. The paper was rolled up, about thVsjze of- a pin, and was sewn m a seam of one of the messenger's garments. General Gordon estimated the Mahdi's force at from 20,000 to 30,000 men. The messenger says that General Gordon sperids his night m a ceaseless watch, visiting the outposts to see that every sentry ;is on the alert. He has two palaces with a gun mounted, on each of them. He. has always examined the guns at daybreak, m order that he may assure himself that they are properly primed and ready for action. He then lies down and sleeps during the greater part of the. day. General Gordon, upon learning that Bedouin Arabs came to , the wells m the night, sent armed boats to guard -the wells and prevent access thereto, thereby causing great suffering among, the rebels, many of whom have died from small-pox and dysentery. The Mahdi therefore withdrew with his army-to Jabbara, two days march from Onderman. Several tribes subsequently deserted. The Mahdi then told the principal chiefs that he intended to March against the Mudir of Dongola. The chiefs professed readiness to follow, if the Mahdi' would charm oft the bullets by leading instead of following his troops. The next day the Mahdi told the chiefs he had seen m a dream that the Mmlir was a saint, against whom it was useless to fight.