A Gezira Diary

A M IN the Indian context, Cornwallis perceived it as early as in 1793. It was alien land, hostile country; it you wanted to survive and prosper, better create a group of loyal followers who would abide by you. The Permanent Settlement stood the British in jolly good stead for a century and a half; it put a brake on history. Gezira is nearly a Sudanese equivalent of what Cornwallis worked out in India. It was alien land, hostile country; the Mahdis had run, defeated in battle; but now you needed the help of the Mahdis against the Egyptians. Buy them over. In any case, you needed a lush and assured supply of cotton for your textile mills up in Lancashire. Set the Mahdis to the task; buy them over.