Rumours have been in circulation all the week that the
Mandi is advancing on Khartoum, but they are wholly unverified. The only European correspondent there, however, the one who telegraphs to the Times, reports that steamers close to the town have been fired at, and it is probable that the disaffected friends of the Mandi are closing in on the city. The garrison has been reinforced by 1,300 Egyptian soldiers from Fashoda ; but there is no evidence that they will fight, and the outlook is very gloomy. If Khartoum falls, the agitation in Egypt will increase, and it is already great enough to paralyse the Egyptian Government, which declares that without foreign assistance it cannot cope with the Mandi. The rumours of the Khedive's intention to abdicate increase in frequency, and the European officials complain that they can get nothing done. The truth seems to be that the Pashas, Tewfik included, want to reconquer the Soudan, and are sulky because they see no way to do it. If left alone, they would suspend dividends, and use the money to buy the Arab chiefs ; and this being forbidden, they are powerless. They have, according to the Standard's correspondent, discovered that Zebehr Pasha, the slave-dealer whom they had appointed Governor-General, has sent away his wife ; and suspecting treachery, they have arrested him, only to release him again. That is all in the regular way of an Asiatic Government, when it finds its Head incompetent, and cannot choose another.
