Kim W. Brasington Richard - we've lost touch a bit, sorry, only I buggered off to Toronto. Didn't have chance to talk at any length at Cold Wars - I'll be putting on a couple of Colonial events at Historicon.Currently working on 'Victoriana' for Foundry - lots of strange doings in the C19th (would Gordon have been taken out of Khartoum in a steam flyer, or would he have refused to go?) My address is kibrasin@wyoming.com

I was wondering if you could help me out by steering me in a direction where I might find pictures or descriptions of the Mahdist steamers: Ismailia, al-Safia and the Bordein. I have pictures of the Bordein from KHARTOUM 1885, (but not as good as I would like) but I can't find any other pictorial references to the Ismailia and al-Safia. Also, I was wondering if you had some available pictures of Gordon's steamer: Abbas, that might have been published in the Heliograph. I have never seen your publication, and was wondering what the cost of some back issues would be, particularly any that have pictures of Nile Steamers/Gunboats.

I hope someone besides me can help Kim out with the illustration. As to the Back issue please contact Robert W. Burke Jr., 4726 Appaloosa Ct., Antioch, CA 94509 BURKER1@aol.com