ABSTRACT
It has already been said, not once but twice, that Lord Cromer looked upon Gordon as “ being above all things a soldier, and, moreover, a very bellicose soldier With that delightful frankness so characteristic of him and so unusual in diplomats, the author of Modern Egypt goes on to say that :—
“ His (Gordon’s) fighting instincts were too strong to admit of his working heartily in the interests of peace. ‘ The Arabs,’ he said, ‘ must have one good defeat to wipe out Hicks’s disasters and my defeats. I do not care to wait to see the Mahdi walk in on your heels into Khartoum. One cannot think of that.’ ” 1
One of the earlier indictments drawn up against Gordon by Baring was, nevertheless, that the former had contemplated making a friendly call upon the Mahdi in order to discuss the Sudan question with him. It appears that it was reported to the ConsulGeneral that, while on his way from Brindisi to Port Said, Gordon told a fellow-passenger that “ it is possible I may go to the Mahdi and not be heard of for two months, for he might keep me as a hostage for Zobeir ” . Such a foolhardy adventure would have gone a long way towards proving, not that the soldier was a fireeater, but that he placed, perhaps, undue reliance upon his powers of persuasion. He had left Cairo before Baring heard of this rumour. When it reached the ears of Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Agent, he at once telegraphed Gordon :—
“ I hope you will give me a positive assurance
that you will on no account put yourself voluntarily in the power of the Mahdi. The question is not a personal one.” In reply the Governor-General answered that “ he had no intention of visiting the Mahdi His brother affirms that no call upon the Mahdi had ever been contemplated.1
