Beschreibung:

GORDON, Charles George (Major-General, 1833-1885). Six autograph letters to his brother Enderby, three signed ('C.G. Gordon'), two incomplete, Gondokoro, Fatiko, Lardo, Kerri, Mrooli and K[ing] W[illiams] T[own], 4 December 1874 - 21 July 1892 , recounting in the earliest letter his progress in the Sudan and the activities of his companions and their situation, 'It is a detestable climate here (at Gondokoro) & I am obliged to stay here to see to the charge of the stores on to my new station', complaining of his recurrent fever, drawing a sketch map of the Nile between Lardo and Regaf, describing the shooting of an hippopotamus and approach of a herd of elephants, the attitude of the population and that of his companions, 'Watson and Chippindall avowed to me that on their departure from Suakim & all the way up, they thought over their position which they had not thought over before, & had they known of the state of oppression of the country they would never have come', reflecting on old age and death, the difficulties of travel up-river, and drawing another sketch-map of the area around Fashoda, finishing the letter on 15 December; on 9 January 1876 from Fatiko inquiring about the purchase of a cross-bow and umbrellas, and reflecting on the attitude of the Khedive, 'I cannot help feeling that he is a scamp, and would do anything to serve his ends'; from Lardo on 21 March 'I will relate what I think of the Zanzibar affair, and also of Cave's mission' [on Egyptian finances], the position of 'British Hindoo subjects', adding 'Cave was foolish ever to think of coming. The Khedive was just a little too sharp', describing the attitudes of the Khedive and Nubar Pasha, reflecting on his experience in China and listing his conditions for remaining in Equatorial Africa; the unsigned note from Kerri on 6 May quotes from Gessi on the wild-life of the Nile, giving recommendations on future exploration from Egypt and reading Baker's "Albert Nyanza"; on 27 August from Mrooli referring to it as 'this plague hole' (incomplete letter); and from South Africa relating his activites (second page incomplete), 27 pages, 8vo and 4to ; together with three autograph letters signed to Enderby's wife, Margaret, Bellevue Hotel Berne, Jerusalem and Jaffa, 23 March 1880 - 2 November 1883 , discussing his nephew Charles, his condolences on hearing of Enderby's death, 'you are aware how I look on death, and on its being life, and so do not grieve for him', describing his movements in the Holy Land and his philosophy, 10½ pages, 12mo and 8vo . Following his exploits in China, Gordon was appointed governor of the equatorial provinces of Egypt on Samuel Baker's retirement. He was to eradicate the slave trade, explore and integrate the Sudan under Egyptian suzerainty. Gordon arrived in Cairo in February 1874 and proceeded south arriving at Gondoroko on 16 April 1874, sending letters to his family, especially his sister Augusta, some of which were published in 1888. These letters to his brother, General Enderby Gordon, are largely without religious content, detailing incidents such as the shooting of the hippopotamus, dwelling on the conditions under which he and his companions lived, and his doubts about the Khedive. The long letter of 21 March 1876 on the Khedive's financial state is very critical. Gordon remained in the Sudan until 1879, after he revisited China, and eventually going to South Africa "to assist in terminating the war and in administering Basutoland". His return to the Sudan and his death at Khartoum is well recorded. (9)