1-150-927 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'The Beast of Burden', 1884. John Bull is depicted trying to persuade the camel representing Egypt and laden with political issues, to move, whilst France offers to take over the task. At the beginning of 1884, news arrived that the Mahdi (a former government official in the Sudan, now styling himself as 'Messiah') was mustering an army to advance upon Khartoum. Political opinion on the appropriate course of action was divided, but the opposition Conservative Party called for France to be excluded from interference in the affairs of Egypt, even if that meant that British forces must occupy Egypt to maintain control. From Punch, or the London Charivari, January 19, 1884.