Fin vs History White Slavery, Victorian ISIS and The Big Bunda Tree | Gordon of Khartoum (Part 2)
Jan 29, 2026
They trace General Gordon’s strange post-China life, focusing on his charity work with street boys and persistent rumors about his sexuality. The hosts cover Gordon’s anti-slavery actions in Sudan, his bizarre Mauritius coco de mer vision under the 'bunda' tree, and the rise of the Mahdi’s millenarian uprising. They end with Gordon’s defiant stand in Khartoum, the slow relief effort, and the violent aftermath.
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Gordon's Charity With Street Boys
- Fin Taylor describes General Gordon's extensive charity work with London street boys and mudlarks.
- They debate whether washing and housing boys crossed into inappropriate behaviour, linking it to later scandals like Jimmy Savile.
Suez Canal Drove British Intervention
- Britain and France loaned Egypt large sums to build and run the Suez Canal, creating leverage over Egyptian politics.
- Strategic control of the canal underpinned British involvement in Egypt and Sudan.
Anti‑Slavery Was Central To Gordon's Rule
- Gordon campaigned aggressively against the Sudan slave trade and reformed punishments and irregular forces.
- By 1880 he had largely broken the slave trade in his governed regions before resigning.