All kinds of unfavourable rumours are circulating about the Nile
Expedition, but only two of them appear to be true. The new climate, the exposure, and the Nile water have produced some sickness among the men ; and the delay in transporting the Expedition up the river has been unexpectedly great. The boats are forced through, but with an almost incredible expenditure of time and labour. It is believed, therefore, that a land march will be tried from Debbeh ; and the collection of transport and provisions will in that event cause a further delay, so that Lord Wolseley will scarcely see Khartoum
before February. He is on the spot himself, however ; his energy and resource have never yet been found wanting, and of the failure talked about there is no evidence. The most alarming feature in the situation, to our minds, is the evident ignorance that prevails as to the station and resources of the Mahdi, whose men, whether few or many, fight with determined courage, and who, if he _at- tacks, cannot be prevented from choosing his own time and place. It is not as if Lord Wolseley could avoid passing the dangerous spots, for he has to reach Khartoum. He has, how- ever, fortunately a vein of caution in him, and is not likely to believe that Soudanese will fly merely at the approach of white men.
