As a matter of fact, the Sudan valued independence only because it desired to war against all Christians and to carry on an unlimited slave trade.

It was "independent" under the Mahdi for a dozen years, and during those dozen years the bigotry, tyranny, and cruel religious intolerance were such as flourished in the seventh century, and in spite of systematic slave raids the population decreased by nearly two-thirds, and practically all the children died.

Peace came, well-being came, freedom from rape and murder and torture and highway robbery, and every brutal gratification of lust and greed came, only when the Sudan lost its independence and passed under English rule.

Yet this well-meaning little sonneteer sincerely felt that his verses were issued in the cause of humanity.

Looking back from the vantage point of a score of years, probably every one will agree that he was an absurd person.