COLONEL GORDON IN EGYPT. News From the Seat of War.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 16, 19 April 1884, Page 5

COLONEL GORDON IN EGYPT. News From the Seat of War.

News from Egypt has for the last ten days been principally of a dry, uninteresting kind not specially worth detailing at length. I append a few of the best "plums" from the pie. My next budget is sure to be far more exciting. General Gordon arrived at Khartoum on Monday. In accordance with his orders, Celonel de Coetlogon sent to the tribes conciliatory circulars, remitting half the taxation. The houses in Khartoum were previously posted with proclamations from Gordon Pasha proclaiming the Mahdi Sultan of Kordofan, remitting one-half the taxes, and permitting the trading in slaves to be carried on. These proclamations gave the greatest satisfaction, and Gordon Pasha received quite an ovation. Thousands of people crowded to kiss his hands and feet, and calling him the "Sultan of the Soudan." His speech was received with enthusiasm. He said ; "1 come without | soldiers, but with God on my side to redress the evils of the Soudan. I will not fight with any weapons but justice. There shall be no more Bashi Bazouks." It is now believed that Gordon will relieve the Bahr Gazelle garrisons without firing a shot. Since they heard that he was coming, the aspect of the people has so changed that there are no longer any fears of disturbances in Khartoum. They say that he is giving them even more than the Mahdi could give.

A POPULAR BONFIRE. Some remarkable scenes are reported to have taken place at Khartoum in connectioH with the arrival there of General Gordon. His proclamation had preceded him, and immediately on his arrival he summoned the officials, thus preparing the people for some salutary changes. He next held a levde at the Mudirieh— the entire population, even the poorest Arab, being admitted. On his way between the Mudirieh and the palace, about 1,000 persons pressed forward kissing his hands and feet, and calling him "Sultan," "Father," and "Saviour of Kordofan.' 1 General Gordon and Colonel Stewart at once opened offices in the palace, giving to everyone with a grievance admittance, and a careful hearing. The Government books, recording from time immemorial the outstanding debts of the overtaxed people, were publicly burnt in front of the palace. The kourbashes, whips, and implements for administering the bastinado from Government House were all placed on the blazing pile. The evidence of debts and the emblems of oppression perished together. In the afternoon General Gordon oreated a council of the local notables, all Arabs. Then he visited the hospital and arsenal.

A DEN OF MISERY. With Colonel Stewart, Coetlogon Pasha, and the English consul, he visited the prison, and found it to be a dreadful den of misery. Two hundred wretches loaded

with chains lay there. They were of all ages, boys and old men, some having never been tried, some having been proved innocent, but forgotten for over six months, some arrested on suspicion and detained there more than three years, many merely prisoners of war, and one a woman who had spent fifteen years in the prison for a crime committed when she was a girl. General Gordon at once commenced to demolish this bastile. All the prisoners will be briefly examined, and, if it be advisable, set at liberty. Before it was dark scores of wretches had had their chains struck off, and on Tuesday Colonel Stewart was continuing the work. On Monday night the town was in a blaze of illumination, the bazaar being hung with cloth and coloured lamps, and the private houses beautifully decorated. There was even a fine display of fireworks by the negro population, who indulged in great rejoicings till midnight. The people are devoted to General Gordon, whose design is to save the garrison and for ever leave the Soudan— as perforce it must be left— to the Soudanese.

THE ONLY COUKSE, The proclamation is hailed with delight as the only means of saving the lives of the garrison. The Mahdi is proclaimed ruler of Kordofan, it is true ; but he is already its virtual ruler, and the official recognition of the fact will prevent his advance upon Khartoum, The slave trade is not to be interfered with ; but the Government is already powerless to interfere with it, and the general is, therefore, only making a virtue of necessity. Half of the taxed are remitted because the people are totally unable to pay. General Gordon is evidently determined to carry out his orders to effect the evacuation of the Soudan without risking the lives of another 10,000 men. The Egyptians and Europeans have the utmost confidence in him and his measures, and forsee that he will spare the useless effusion of blood. General Gordon has appointed Afresh Bey Shilook, a negro who won the Legion of Honour under Bazaine in Mexico, commandant of the troops remaining at Khartoum. All the Soudanese are to stay, all the white troops are to go to Omdurman, on the other side of the White Nile, and to be sent down the river in detachments, with their families, and the Europeans who wish to go. The general's conciliatory measures will keep the road perfectly open, and also keep Khartoum quiet till it has been entirely given up. ________^___ -<— _ -