THE REOCCUPATION OF NORTHERN AFRICA 397 
at least, the Khartoum-Suakin line to insure the protec- 
tion of Upper Egypt, while Cherif Pasha was opposed to any 
withdrawal. Finally, after considerable pressure had been 
brought to bear, Tewfik acceded to the British demand and 
Cherif Pasha resigned in favor of Nubar Pasha on January 
7, 1884. The Egyptian authorities and Cairo leaders were 
greatly excited; and every one was filled with uncertainty 
and apprehension. And, although the British plan was 
adopted, it was understood that the Egyptian garrisons 
would be brought out and that Great Britain would recom- 
mend a man to assist in their rescue. Accordingly, on Jan- 
uary 18, General Gordon was nominated. His appoint- 
ment was approved by the Khedive and he reached Cairo 
on January 24. 
General Gordon was instructed by Earl Granville to re- 
port upon the general situation in the Sudan, the best mode 
of effecting the evacuation, and the probable effect upon 
the slave trade of the withdrawal of the Egyptian forces. 
By the Khedive and Baring he was especially charged to 
use every possible means to insure the safe retreat of the 
Egyptian people and garrisons in the Sudan, including the 
civil population of Khartoum. There was evidently con- 
siderable uncertainty concerning the exact details of his 
mission. Was he to extricate the garrisons at once, or was 
he merely to report conditions and act later upon the re- 
ceipt of other instruction? There is no doubt that Gordon 
was in entire sympathy with the British policy of giving up 
the Sudan when he left for Khartoum. “I will carry out 
the evacuation as far as possible according to their [Her 
Majesty’s Government] wish,” he wrote Granville in a mem- 
orandum written on shipboard and received in London on 
February 1, “to the best of my ability, and with avoid- 
ance as far as possible of _ll fichting. I would, however, 
hope that H. M. Government will give me their support