The constructed railways and canals and tried to improved the irrigation facilities by building up dams and reservoirs like the Assuam dam, which was complete in 1898.
After the assumption of exclusive responsibility, the British tried to reorganize the administration of Egypt. The constructed railways and canals and tried to improved the irrigation facilities by building up dams and reservoirs like the Assuam dam, which was complete in 1898.
Flood regulation measures were also undertaken in the interest of the peasants. Large tracts of sterile land was brought under cultivation. This progress was reflected in the improvement of public finance despite very low rate of taxation.
Efforts were also made to improve the health of the people, although the progress in this regard remained quite unsatisfactory due to the ignorance of the people to observe even the basic hygiene rule. Public education was introduced and reforms were, introduced in the judicial administration of Egypt. Efforts were made to check corruption and bribery and establish an efficient police force.
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While these reforms were being carried out in Egypt, in Sudan, a province to the South of Egypt, inhabited by semi-civilized nomadic population, anarchy prevailed.
The British had stationed some garrisons at some isolated spots in the province to maintain order. But in 1883 the followers of Mahdi, a prophet, took up arms against the British General Hicks Pasha, who was heading the Egyptian troops and killed him.
As the Egyptian forces were not strong enough to withstand the Mahdi attack it was decided to withdraw them. For the purpose of evacuation of these forces General Gordon was sent to Sudan. However, in the course of evacuation Gordon was also slain at Khartoum. This was indeed a severe blow to the prestige of the Britain. But as Britain had serious commitments elsewhere, it pocketed the insult for the time being.
Though Sudan had been nominally abandoned in the beginning of 1885 the Egyptian sovereignty over the province was not relinquished. After completely reorganizing the Egyptian army, the Britishers decided to reconquer the turbulent province of Sudan. In 1896. an expedition under General Kitchner advanced towards Khartoum. By this time Mahdi had died and the English General succeeded in defeating the Mahdis at the battle of Omdurman and captured Khartoum.
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Fashoda Incident. Some time alter the conquest of Sudan by the English, a French expedition under Major Marchand occupied Fashoda (a place 300 miles south of Khartoum), on the upper Nile in 1899 and hoisted the French Flag.
When Kitchner learnt about it he moved south ward and handed over a written protest to the French Major, For the time being it appeared that a war may break out between the two over Fashoda. However, the situation was saved because Marchand agreed to withdraw.