296 THE TURKS IN AFRICA. 



artillery, and for ever lost his prestige as a prophet. 

 But we are taught by the science of history that these 

 military empires can never long endure. It is probable 

 that the Mahometan Soudan will in time become a 

 province of the Turks. Central Africa, as we have 

 shown, received its civilization not from Egypt, but 

 from the grand Morocco of the middle ages. Egypt 

 has always lived with its back to Africa, its eyes, and 

 often its hands, on Syria and Arabia. Abyssinia was not 

 subdued by the caliphs, because it was not coveted by 

 them ; and there was little communication between 

 Egypt and Soudan. Mehemet-Ali was the first to 

 re-establish the kingdom of the Pharaohs in Ethiopia, 

 and to organise negro regiments. Since his time the 

 Turkish power has been gradually spreading towards the 

 interior, and the expedition of Baker Pacha, whatever 

 may be its immediate result, is the harbinger of great 

 events to come. Should the Turks be driven out of 

 Europe, they woidd probably become the Emperors of 

 Africa, which in the interests of civilisation would be a 

 fortunate occurrence. The Turkish government is un- 

 doubtedly defective in comparison with the govern- 

 ments of Europe ; but it is perfection itself in com- 

 parison with the governments of Africa. If the Egyp- 

 tians had been allowed to conquer Abyssinia, there 

 would have been no need of an Abyssinian expedition ; 

 and nothing but Egyptian occupation will put an end 

 to the wars which are always being waged and always 

 have been waged in that country between bandit chiefs. 

 Those who are anxious that Abyssinian Christianity 

 should be preserved need surely not be alarmed : for 

 the Pope of Abyssinia is the Patriarch of Cairo, a 

 Turkish subject ; and the Aboona or archbishop has 

 always been an Egyptian. But the Turks no longer 

 have it in their power to commit actions which Euro- 



