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diff --git a/41035-8.txt b/41035-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ef1b7b3..0000000 --- a/41035-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,22759 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's Fire and Sword in the Sudan, by Rudolf C. Slatin - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Fire and Sword in the Sudan - A Personal Narrative of Fighting and Serving the Dervishes 1879-1895 - -Author: Rudolf C. Slatin - -Translator: F. R. Wingate - -Release Date: October 12, 2012 [EBook #41035] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIRE AND SWORD IN THE SUDAN *** - - - - -Produced by Moti Ben-Ari and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive.) - - - - - - - - - - FIRE AND SWORD - IN - THE SUDAN. - - - - -[Illustration: Lemerciergravure -Printed in Paris -Rudolph C. Slatin] - - - - - FIRE AND SWORD - IN - THE SUDAN - - _A PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF FIGHTING AND - SERVING THE DERVISHES._ - - 1879-1895. - - BY - RUDOLF C. SLATIN PASHA, C.B. - COLONEL IN THE EGYPTIAN ARMY (INTELLIGENCE DEPT.); - FORMERLY GOVERNOR AND COMMANDANT OF THE TROOPS IN DARFUR. - - _TRANSLATED BY_ - MAJOR F. R. WINGATE, C.B., D.S.O., R.A. - _Director of Military Intelligence, Egyptian Army_; - AUTHOR OF "MAHDISM AND THE EGYPTIAN SUDAN," "TEN YEARS' - CAPTIVITY IN THE MAHDI'S CAMP," ETC. - - ILLUSTRATED BY R. TALBOT KELLY, R.B.A. - - EDWARD ARNOLD. - LONDON: NEW YORK: - 37, BEDFORD STREET. 70, FIFTH AVENUE. - 1896. - - - - - _Copyright, 1896_, - BY EDWARD ARNOLD. - - University Press: - JOHN WILSON AND SON, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. - - - - - TO - Her Most Gracious Majesty - THE QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND - AND - EMPRESS OF INDIA - - WHO HAS EVER SHOWN DEEP SOLICITUDE FOR AND GRACIOUS - SYMPATHY WITH THE EUROPEAN PRISONERS - IN THE SUDAN - - _THIS RECORD OF HIS LIFE IN CAPTIVITY_ - - IS BY PERMISSION HUMBLY DEDICATED BY HER MAJESTY'S - MOST DEVOTED AND GRATEFUL - - RUDOLF C. SLATIN - - - - -PREFACE. - - -Prompted by the earnest entreaties of my friends rather than by any wish -of my own to relate my experiences, I have written these chapters. - -The few months which have elapsed since my escape have been so much -occupied in resuming my official duties, compiling reports, and -satisfying the kindly interest displayed by a large number of people in -my strange fate, that any attempt at quiet and steady literary work has -been almost impossible. - -During my captivity I was unable to make any notes or keep any diaries; -in writing, therefore, the following pages, I have been dependent -entirely on my memory, whilst the whirl of the busy European world and -the constant interruptions to which I have alluded, have given me little -time to collect my scattered thoughts. - -When, therefore, after having been debarred for so many years from -intercourse with outside affairs, and entirely out of practice in -writing down my ideas, I find myself urged to lose no time in -publishing an account of my adventures, I must beg my readers to excuse -the many defects they may notice. - -My experiences have no pretence to being of any literary or scientific -value, and the personal episodes I have described can lay claim to -little importance; I have merely attempted to give to those interested -in Sudan affairs a true and faithful account of my life whilst fighting -and serving the Mahdists. - - RUDOLF SLATIN. - LONDON, _October, 1895_. - - - - - INTRODUCTORY NOTE - BY - FATHER DON JOSEPH OHRWALDER, - - LATE PRIEST OF THE AUSTRIAN MISSION STATION AT DELEN, IN - KORDOFAN, AND FOR TEN YEARS A CAPTIVE IN - THE MAHDI'S CAMP. - - -The joy at meeting my dear friend and former comrade in captivity, -Slatin Pasha, in Cairo, after his miraculous escape, was indeed great; -and it is with extreme gratification that I comply with the wishes of -those friends who are interested in his experiences, to preface them -with a few remarks. - -To have been a fellow-sufferer with him for many years, during which the -closest friendship existed between us,--a friendship which, owing to the -circumstances of our captivity, was necessarily of a surreptitious -nature, but which, interrupted as it was, mutually helped to alleviate -our sad lot,--is I think a sufficiently good reason for my friends to -urge that I should comply with their wishes. - -Apart, however, from these purely personal motives, I need only refer to -the fact that the small scraps of information which from time to time -reached the outside world regarding Slatin Pasha, excited the deepest -sympathy for his sad fate; what wonder, then, that there should have -been a genuine outburst of rejoicing when he at length escaped from the -clutches of the tyrannical Khalifa, and emerged safely from the dark -Sudan? - -It is most natural that all those interested in the weal and woe of -Africa should await with deep interest all that Slatin Pasha can tell -them of affairs in the former Egyptian Sudan, which only a few short -years ago was considered the starting point for the civilisation of the -Dark Continent, and which now, fallen, alas! under the despotic rule of -a barbarous tyrant, forms the chief impediment to the civilising -influences so vigorously at work in all other parts of Africa. - -Slatin Pasha pleads with perfect justice that, deprived all these years -of intellectual intercourse, he cannot do justice to the subject; -nevertheless, I consider that it is his bounden duty to describe without -delay his strange experiences, and I do not doubt that--whatever -literary defects there may be in his work--the story of his life cannot -fail to be both of interest and of value in helping those concerned in -the future of this vast country to realise accurately its present -situation. - -It should be remembered that Slatin Pasha held high posts in the Sudan, -he has travelled throughout the length and breadth of the country and--a -perfect master of the language--he has had opportunities which few -others have had to accurately describe affairs such as they were in the -last days of the Egyptian Administration; whilst his experiences during -his cruel captivity place him in a perfectly unique position as the -highest authority on the rise, progress, and wane of that great -religious movement which wrenched the country from its conquerors, and -dragged it back into an almost indescribable condition of religious and -moral decadence. - -Thrown into contact with the principal leaders of the revolt, -unwillingly forced to appear and live as one of them, he has been in the -position of following in the closest manner every step taken by the -Mahdi and his successor, the Khalifa, in the administration of their -newly founded empire. - -Sad fate, it is true, threw me also into the swirl of this great -movement; but I was merely a captive missionary, whose very existence -was almost forgotten by the rulers of the country, whilst Slatin Pasha -was in the vortex itself of this mighty whirlpool which swamped one by -one the Egyptian garrisons, and spread far and wide over the entire -Sudan. - -If, therefore, there should be any discrepancies between the account -published some three years ago of my captivity and the present work, the -reader may safely accept Slatin Pasha's conclusions as more correct and -accurate than my own; the opinions I expressed of the Khalifa's motives -and intentions, and of the principal events which occurred, are rather -those of an outsider when compared to the intimate knowledge which -Slatin Pasha was enabled to acquire, by reason of his position in -continuous and close proximity to Abdullahi. - -In concluding, therefore, these remarks, I will add an earnest hope that -this book will arouse a deep and wide-spread interest in the fate of the -unhappy Sudan, and will help those concerned to come to a right and just -decision as to the steps which should be taken to restore to -civilisation this once happy and prosperous country. - -That the return of Slatin Pasha from, so to speak, a living grave should -bring about this restoration, is the fervent prayer of his old comrade -in captivity and devoted friend, - - DON JOSEPH OHRWALDER. - SUAKIN, _June, 1895_. - - - - -TRANSLATOR'S NOTE. - - -In preparing the edition in English of Slatin Pasha's experiences in the -Sudan, I have followed the system adopted in Father Ohrwalder's "Ten -Years' Captivity in the Mahdi's Camp." - - F. R. WINGATE. - LONDON, _October, 1895_. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. - - INTRODUCTORY. - - PAGE - My First Journey to the Sudan--Return to Austria--My Second - Journey--Corruption in the Sudan--Appointed Governor of - Dara--Gordon in Darfur--He suppresses the Slave-trade--Zubeir - Pasha and his Son Suleiman--The Gellabas, Jaalin, and - Danagla--Retrospect of the First Causes of the Revolt in Bahr el - Ghazal--Gessi's Campaigns--The Flight of Rabeh--Execution - of Suleiman Zubeir--Effect of the Campaign on the Local Arabs 1 - - - CHAPTER II. - - RESIDENCE IN DARFUR, AND EARLY HISTORY OF - THE PROVINCE. - - Arrival at Om Shanga--Matrimonial Difficulties--A Sudanese - Falstaff--Description of El Fasher--The Furs and the Tago--A Tale - of Love and Perfidy--Founding of the Tungur Dynasty--Conquest of - Darfur by Zubeir Pasha--The Rizighat Tribe--Quarrel between - Zubeir Pasha and the Governor-General--Both recalled to - Cairo--Gordon Governor-General of the Sudan--I take up my Duties - at Dara--Zogal Bey the Sub-Governor--I undertake a Campaign - against Sultan Harun--Niurnia, Harun's Stronghold in Jebel - Marra--I defeat the Sultan at Rahad en Nabak--Death of Harun--My - Meeting with Dr. Felkin and the Rev. Wilson--My Boy - Kapsun--Gordon's Letter from Abyssinia 30 - - - CHAPTER III. - - THE GOVERNMENT OF DARFUR. - - Government Administration in Dara--My Difficulties with the - Gellabas--Manners and Customs of the Arabs--Arrival at - Shakka--Madibbo Bey Sheikh of the Rizighat--My Visit to - Khartum--Arrival of Gessi in Khartum--I return West with Bishop - Comboin and Father Ohrwalder--Am appointed Governor-General of - Darfur--Hostilities between the Maharia and Bedeyat Arabs--I - proceed to the Bedeyat Country--Strange Manners and Customs of - the Bedeyat--Saleh Donkusa and Heglik Tree--The Ceremony of - Taking the Oath of Fidelity--Return to El Fasher--Troubles at - Shakka and Death of Emiliani--I leave for Dara 90 - - - CHAPTER IV. - - THE KHALIFA'S PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE RISE - OF THE MAHDI. - - Early Life of Mohammed Ahmed, the Mahdi--The Religious - Tarikas--Mohammed Ahmed quarrels with his Religious Superior--He - is refused Forgiveness, and joins a Rival Sheikh--He is joined - by Abdullahi et Taaishi--The Mahdi secretly tells Abdullahi of - his Divine Mission--The Failure to seize Mohammed Ahmed - on Abba Island--The Mahdi's Hejra to Jebel Gedir--He nominates - his Khalifas--The Defeat of Rashed Bey and Yusef Pasha - Shellali--Effect of the Mahdi's Victories in Kordofan--The - Mahdi's Intrigues with the Inhabitants of El Obeid--Futility of - the Steps taken by the Government to cope with the Revolt 122 - - - CHAPTER V. - - SPREAD OF THE REVOLT IN SOUTHERN DARFUR. - - I arrive at Dara--Despatch of an Officer to Shakka--Character of - Zogal Bey--Return to El Fasher--Causes of my Unpopularity - with the Officers--Disturbances at Om Shanga--The Southern - Tribes join the Revolt--I make Dara my Headquarters--The - Power of a Woman's Tongue--Immorality of the Maalia Tribe--Sheikh - Madibbo threatens Shakka--Cowardly Conduct of Mansur - Helmi--I proceed to his Assistance--I commence my Campaign - against the Southern Arab Tribes--The Night Attack on - Madibbo's Camp--Mansur Helmi's Cowardly Retreat from Shakka--He - deserts his own Men--Courageous Conduct of Ali Agha - Juma--I decide to retake Dara at all Costs--Difficulty of - enforcing my Orders 148 - - - CHAPTER VI. - - THE SIEGE AND FALL OF EL OBEID. - - Said Pasha, Governor-General of Kordofan, prepares to defend El - Obeid--The Mahdi attacks the Town, but is repulsed with Great - Loss--The Missionaries at Delen fall into the Mahdi's Hands--The - Siege and Fall of Bara--The Horrors of the Siege of El - Obeid--Said Pasha is forced to surrender--His Interview with the - Mahdi--The Search for Treasure--The Mahdi's Miracles--Effect - of the Fall of El Obeid on the General Situation 171 - - - CHAPTER VII. - - VAIN EFFORTS TO STEM THE TIDE OF MAHDISM - IN DARFUR. - - I advance on Shakka--The Battle of Om Waragat--Besieged in - the Zariba--My Retreat on Dara through the Enemy's Country--The - Illness and Death of Gottfried Rott--I despatch Secret Emissaries - to Kordofan--My Difficulties with the El Fasher Garrison--The - Revolt of the Mima Arabs--I learn of the Fall of El Obeid--The - Death of Sheikh Afifi--My Campaign against the Mima and - Khawabir Arabs--Discovery of a Plot amongst the Troops in Dara--My - Officers and Men ascribe our Defeats to the Fact that I am - a Christian--I decide to nominally adopt the Mohammedan Religion--I - decide to send Zogal Bey to El Obeid--My Campaign against the - Beni Helba--Beshari Bey seeks Death and finds it--Gravity of the - Situation in Darfur 181 - - - CHAPTER VIII. - - HICKS PASHA'S EXPEDITION. - - The Execution of Said Pasha and the Brave Defender of El - Obeid--Spread of Belief in the Mahdi's Divinity--Sheikh Sennusi is - offered, but refuses, the Position of Mahdi's Khalifa--The Mahdi - begins to organise his Government--The Spread of the Revolt in - the Gezira--Criticisms on the Attitude of the Egyptian - Government--The Despatch of Osman Digna to the Eastern - Sudan--Hicks Pasha's Expedition enters Kordofan--Incidents on - the March--Gallantry of Colonel Farquhar--The Diaries of Farquhar - and Vizetelly--The Desertion of Gustav Klootz--The - Mahdists harass the Expedition--The Final Attack on the - Doomed Square--Incidents after the Battle--Extracts from - O'Donovan's Diary--The Mahdi's Triumphal Entry into El Obeid 228 - - - CHAPTER IX. - - THE FALL OF DARFUR. - - Dara besieged by Madibbo--I make a Successful Counter-Attack--The - Overthrow of Darho--I decide to remain at Dara--The Defeat of - Kuku Agha--A Strange Expedient for concealing Letters--An - Armistice proposed and accepted between Myself and the - Besiegers--I resort to Stratagem to gain Time--Zogal writes from - El Obeid, and describes the Annihilation of the Relief - Expedition--I review the Situation and decide to - surrender--Interview with Zogal at Shieria--The Mahdists enter - Dara--Madibbo and his War-drums--Horrible Tortures inflicted on - the Inhabitants who had concealed Money--The Siege and Fall of El - Fasher--Letters from Egypt--The Dreadful Fate of Major - Hamada--The Fall of Bahr el Ghazal--I leave for El Obeid 244 - - - CHAPTER X. - - THE SIEGE AND FALL OF KHARTUM. - - Gordon returns to the Sudan--The Siege of Khartum--I join the - Mahdi at Rahad--Interviews and first Impressions of the - Mahdi--The Oath of Allegiance--Description of the Khalifa--The - Arrival of Hussein Pasha--Criticisms on Gordon's Mission--The - Abandonment of the Sudan proclaimed--Incidents in Various Parts - of the Sudan--The Arrival of Olivier Pain--His Mission, Illness, - and Death--Arrival outside Khartum--I write to Gordon--I am - arrested and thrown into Chains--Incidents during my - Imprisonment--The Surrender of Omdurman--The Delay of the British - Expedition--Khartum is attacked and taken--Gordon's Head is - brought to me--Account of the last Days of Khartum--Massacres and - Atrocities after the Fall--The Retreat of the British - Expedition--The Rigours of my Imprisonment increased--My Comrade - in Captivity, Frank Lupton--We are both released--I enter the - Khalifa's Body-guard--Illness and Death of the Mahdi--Khalifa - Abdullahi succeeds him--The Rules and Ordinances of the Mahdi 279 - - - CHAPTER XI. - - EARLY RULE OF KHALIFA ABDULLAHI. - - Success of Khaled's Stratagem to entrap Darho--Execution of - Darho--Sieges of Sennar and Kassala--Fall of Ahmed Wad - Suleiman--The Khalifa and the Black Troops--Execution of the - Mudir of Kassala--My Journey to Abu Haraz--My Plans of Escape - impracticable--The Khalifa presents me with a Wife--Mutiny of - Black Soldiers at El Obeid--Death of the Emir Mahmud--Abu Anga - seizes Khaled and throws him into Chains--Campaign in the Nuba - Mountains--Lupton in Difficulties--He works in the Khartum - Dockyard--Revolt of the Kababish--Difficulties begin with - Abyssinia--Death of Klootz--Organisation of the Beit el - Mal--The Khalifa's System of Jurisdiction 376 - - - CHAPTER XII. - - EVENTS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE SUDAN. - - Karamalla's Expedition to the Bahr el Ghazal--Madibbo's Quarrel - with Karamalla--Affairs in Darfur--Execution of Madibbo--Defeat - and Death of Sheikh Saleh el Kabbashi--Capture of Charles - Neufeld--My Interview with him--Arrival of Abu Anga's Army in - Omdurman--Destruction of the Gehéna Tribe--The Conspiracy of - "Saidna Isa"--Abu Anga's Campaign in Abyssinia--Sack of - Gondar--Terrible Fate of the Captives--Osman Adam's Campaign in - Darfur--Death of Sultan Yusef--Instances of the Khalifa's - Tyranny--Building of the Mahdi's Tomb--Letters from Home--Death - of my Mother--Death of Lupton--Nejumi ordered to invade Egypt 411 - - - CHAPTER XIII. - - THE ABYSSINIAN CAMPAIGN. - - Battle of Gallabat--Death of King John--The Revolt of Abu - Gemmaiza--Defeats of the Mahdists--Death of Abu - Gemmaiza--Preparations for the Invasion of Egypt--Execution of - Sixty-seven Batahin Arabs--More Letters from Home--My Family send - the Khalifa a Dressing-bag from Vienna--Immigration of the - Taaisha Tribe--They settle in the Nile Valley--Nejumi advances - into Egypt--Battle of Toski--Incidents during the Great - Famine--The Fall of Ibrahim Adlan--His Execution--The Khalifa - mistrusts me--I fall into Serious Danger--I become the Unwilling - Recipient of the Khalifa's Favours 439 - - - CHAPTER XIV. - - MAHDIST OCCUPATION OF THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES. - - The Mahdist Expedition to Equatoria--The Fate of the Remnant of - Emin's Garrison--The Campaign against the Shilluks--Tokar - re-captured--Death of Osman Wad Adam--Dissensions in Dongola--The - Fall of Khaled 468 - - - CHAPTER XV. - - DISSENSION AND DISCORD. - - The Revolt of the Ashraf--Flight of Father Ohrwalder and the Two - Sisters--The Khalifa revenges himself on the Ashraf--The Seizure - and Execution of the Mahdi's Uncles--Zeki Tummal's Return to - Omdurman laden with Booty--Khalifa Sherif arrested--"Where there - is no Fire there is no Smoke"--I change my Quarters--Sad News - from Austria--The Khalifa falls ill--The Story of the - Bird-messenger--The Fall of Zeki Tummal--The Battle of - Agordat--The Capture of Kassala--The Fate of Kadi Ahmed--The - Congo Free State in Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal--I refuse to - marry the Khalifa's Cousin 479 - - - CHAPTER XVI. - - MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. - - The Person and Characteristics of Khalifa Abdullahi--The - Fate of the Mahdist Chronicler--The Princesses of Darfur--The - Khalifa's Family Life--His Harem--The Organisation of his - Body-guard--Enforced Attendance at the Mosque--The Postal - System--Military Parades--Elevation of the Western Arabs and - Oppression of the River Tribes--The Military Situation and - Strength--Guns and Ammunition--Revenue and Expenditure--Courage 514 - - - CHAPTER XVII. - - MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS (_continued_). - - Administration of Justice--The Kadi el Islam--Religion - in the Sudan--The Khalifa's Sermons--Enforced Pilgrimage - to the Mahdi's Tomb--Limits of the Mahdist Empire--Natural - Produce--Caravan Roads--Ostrich Hunting--Trade and Commerce--The - Slave-trade--The Slave Market--Industries--Immorality--Unpopularity - of the Khalifa--His Ignorance and Cruelty--His Private - Apartments--Principal Buildings in Omdurman--Description of the - City--The Prison and its Horrors--Death of Zeki Tummal and Kadi - Ahmed 544 - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - PLANS FOR ESCAPE. - - European Captives in Omdurman--Artin, the Watchmaker--Friends in - Cairo--Efforts of my Family to help me--Difficulties of - Communication--Babakr Abu Sebiba's failure--Efforts of Baron - Heidler and the Egyptian Intelligence Department--Constant - Failures--Osheikh Karrar--Abderrahman matures his Plans--Hopes - and Fears--My Plan to gain Time--I quit my Hut never to return 576 - - - CHAPTER XIX. - - MY FLIGHT. - - I escape from the Town by Night--My Guides Zeki Belal and - Mohammed--A Scare--130 Miles in 24 Hours--Our Camels break - down--Hiding in the Gilif Mountains--Precautions against - Surprise--Arrival of Fresh Camels--Our Journey to the Nile--The - Crossing--Friendly Sheikhs--Narrow Escape from a Large Armed - Party of Mahdists--Difficulties with my Guides--Hamed Garhosh the - Amrabi--Out of Danger--Assuan at last--Congratulations and - Welcome--Arrival in Cairo--Meeting with Old Friends 591 - - - CHAPTER XX. - - CONCLUSION. - - Africa, Past and Present--The Sudan, Past and Present--Rise, - Progress, and Wane of Mahdism--How long will it last?--The - Khalifa's Present Position--European Encroachment--"Whites" in - the Bahr el Ghazal--Important Strategical Position of the - Province--Time and Tide wait for no Man--I recover my Long-lost - Sword--A Last Word 620 - - - INDEX 631 - - - - -LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. - - - PAGE - Slatin Pasha _Frontispiece_ - Gessi Pasha's Troops advancing to the Attack on} - "Dem Suleiman" } To face 18 - Zubeir Pasha " 48 - A Rizighat Warrior " 52 - Bedayat praying to the Sacred Tree " 114 - Surrender of the Bedayat to Slatin " 116 - Fight between the Rizighat and Egyptian Troops " 188 - A Dervish Emir " 238 - The Death of Hicks Pasha " 240 - Bringing Gordon's Head to Slatin " 340 - An Abyssinian Scout " 424 - A Slave Dhow on the Nile " 430 - The Mahdi's Tomb, Omdurman " 432 - The Execution of the "Batahin" " 446 - Famine-stricken " 454 - The Khalifa inciting his Troops to attack Kassala " 504 - The Khalifa and Kadis in Council " 528 - In the Slave Market, Omdurman " 558 - Coming from Market, Omdurman " 570 - Slatin Pasha's flying from Omdurman " 592 - Slatin in hiding in the hills " 598 - A Camel Corps Scout " 616 - Plan of Khartum and Omdurman. - Map showing Extent of Mahdist Influence in 1895. - - - - -FIRE AND SWORD IN THE SUDAN. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -INTRODUCTORY. - - My First Journey to the Sudan--Return to Austria--My Second - Journey--Corruption in the Sudan--Appointed Governor of - Dara--Gordon in Darfur--He suppresses the Slave-Trade--Zubeir - Pasha and his Son Suleiman--The Gellabas, Jaalin, and - Danagla--Retrospect of the First Causes of the Revolt in Bahr el - Ghazal--Gessi's Campaigns--The Flight of Rabeh--Execution of - Suleiman Zubeir--Effect of the Campaign on the Local Arabs. - - -In July, 1878, when serving as lieutenant in H. I. H. the Crown Prince -Rudolph's regiment, the 19th Foot, on the Bosnian frontier, I received a -letter from General Gordon, inviting me to come to the Sudan and take -service with the Egyptian Government, under his direction. - -I had previously, in 1874, undertaken a journey to the Sudan, travelling -by Assuan, Korosko, and Berber, and had reached Khartum in the month of -October of that year; thence I had visited the Nuba mountains, and had -remained a short time at Delen, where a station of the Austrian Roman -Catholic Mission had just been established. From here I explored the -Golfan Naïma and Kadero mountains, and would have made a longer stay in -these interesting districts, but the revolt of the Hawazma Arabs broke -out, and, being merely a traveller, I received a summons to return -forthwith to El Obeid, the chief town of Kordofan. The Arab revolt, -which had arisen over the collection of the excessively high taxes -imposed by the Government, was soon suppressed; but, under the -circumstances, I did not think it worth while returning to the Nuba -districts, and therefore decided to travel in Darfur. - -At that time the Governor-General of the Sudan, Ismail Pasha Ayub, was -staying at El Fasher, the capital of Darfur; and on reaching Kaga and -Katul, I found, to my great disappointment, that an order had just been -issued prohibiting strangers from entering the country, as it had been -only recently subjugated, and was considered unsafe for travellers. I -returned therefore, without further delay, to Khartum; where I made the -acquaintance of Emin Pasha (then Dr. Emin), who had arrived a few days -previously from Egypt in company with a certain Karl von Grimm. - -At that time General Gordon was Governor-General of the Equatorial -Provinces, and was residing at Lado; so to him we wrote asking for -instructions. Two months afterwards the reply came inviting us to visit -Lado; but in the meantime letters had reached me from my family in -Vienna urging me to return to Europe. I had been suffering considerably -from fever, and besides I was under the obligation of completing my -military service the following year. I therefore decided to comply with -the wishes of my family. - -Dr. Emin, however, accepted Gordon's invitation, and he started soon -afterwards for the south, while I left for the north. Before parting, I -begged Emin to recommend me to General Gordon, which he did; and this -introduction eventually resulted in my receiving the letter to which I -have already referred, three years later. - -Emin, it will be remembered, was, soon after his arrival at Lado, -granted the rank of Bey, and appointed Governor of Lado; and on Gordon's -departure he was nominated Governor-General of Equatoria, in which -position he remained until relieved by Mr. Stanley, in 1889. - -I returned to Egypt by the Bayuda Desert, Dongola, and Wadi Haifa, and -reached Austria towards the close of 1875. - -Gordon's letter, received in the midst of the Bosnian campaign, -delighted me; I longed to return to the Sudan in some official capacity; -but it was not till December, 1878, when the campaign was over and my -battalion had gone into quarters at Pressburg, that I received -permission, as an officer of the Reserve, to set out once more for -Africa. - -My brother Henry was still in Herzegovina; so, remaining only eight days -in Vienna, to bid the rest of my family farewell, I left for Trieste on -21st December, 1878, little dreaming that nearly seventeen years would -elapse, and that I should experience such strange and terrible -adventures, before I should see my home again. I was then twenty-two -years of age. - -On arrival in Cairo, I received a telegram from Giegler Pasha, from -Suez; he had just been appointed Inspector-General of Sudan Telegraphs, -and was on his way to Massawa, to inspect the line between that place -and Khartum; he invited me to travel with him as far as Suakin, and I -gladly availed myself of his kind offer. We parted at Suakin, he -proceeding by steamer to Massawa, while I made preparations to cross the -desert to Berber on camels. I received every assistance from Ala ed Din -Pasha, who was then Governor, and who subsequently, as Governor-General -of the Sudan, accompanied Hicks Pasha, and was killed with him when the -entire Egyptian force was annihilated at Shekan, in November, 1883. - -On reaching Berber, I found a dahabia awaiting me there by General -Gordon's orders, and, embarking immediately, I arrived at Khartum on -15th January, 1879. Here I was shown every kindness and consideration; -Gordon placed at my disposal a house situated not far from the palace, -and a certain Ali Effendi was directed to attend to all my wants. In the -course of our daily meetings, General Gordon used often to talk of the -Austrian officers whom he had met at Tultcha, when on the Danube -Commission, and for whom he entertained a genuine friendship. I remember -his saying to me that he thought it was such a mistake to have changed -our smart white jackets for the blue uniform we now wear. - -Early in February, Gordon appointed me Financial Inspector, and I was -instructed to travel about the country and examine into the complaints -of the Sudanese who objected to the payment of the taxes, which were not -considered unreasonably heavy. In compliance with these orders, I -proceeded _via_ Mesallamia to Sennar and Fazogl, whence I visited the -mountain districts of Kukeli, Regreg, and Kashankero, in the -neighbourhood of Beni Shangul; and then I submitted my report to General -Gordon. - -In this report I pointed out that, in my opinion, the distribution of -taxes was unjust, and resulted in the bulk of taxation falling on the -poorer landed proprietors, whilst those who were better off had no -difficulty in bribing the tax-gatherers, for a comparatively small sum, -to secure exemption. Thus enormous quantities of land and property -entirely escaped taxation, whilst the poorer classes were mercilessly -ground down, in order to make up the heavy deficit which was the result -of this most nefarious system. - -I further pointed out that much of the present discontent was due to the -oppressive and tyrannical methods of the tax-gatherers, who were for the -most part soldiers, Bashi-Bozuks, and Shaigias. These unscrupulous -officials thought only of how to enrich themselves as quickly as -possible at the expense of the unfortunate populations, over whom they -exercised a cruel and brutal authority. - -In the course of my journey, I frequently observed that the property of -the Sudan officials--for the most part Shaigias and Turks--was almost -invariably exempted from taxation; and, on inquiry, I was always told -that this privilege had been procured, owing to the special services -they had rendered the Government. When I remarked that they received pay -for their services, they appeared greatly offended and annoyed. However, -on my arresting some of the principal delinquents, they admitted that -their taxes were justly due. In Mesallamia, which is a large town -situated between the Blue and White Niles, and a considerable trade -centre, I found an immense collection of young women, the property of -the wealthiest and most respected merchants, who had procured them and -sold them for immoral purposes, at high prices. This was evidently a -most lucrative trade; but how were the establishments of these merchants -to be taxed, and what action was I to take? I confess that ideas and -experience on this point quite failed me; and feeling my utter inability -under these circumstances to effect any reform, and having at the same -time little or no financial experience, I felt it was useless to -continue, and therefore sent in my resignation. Meanwhile, Gordon had -gone off to Darfur, with the object of inquiring into the circumstances -connected with the campaign against Suleiman, the son of Zubeir Pasha; -but before leaving he had promoted Giegler to the rank of Pasha, -intrusting him with the position of acting Governor-General during his -absence. I therefore took the occasion to send him my report and -resignation by the same post, and soon afterwards received a telegram -from Gordon, approving my resignation of the position of Financial -Inspector. - -It was an immense relief to me to be free from this hateful task; I had -no qualms of conscience, for I felt my utter inability to cope with the -situation, such as I found it,--radically wrong, and corrupt through and -through. - -A few days later, I received a telegram from Gordon, appointing me Mudir -of Dara, comprising the southwestern districts of Darfur, and ordering -me to start at once, as I was required to conduct military operations -against Sultan Harun, the son of a former Sultan, and who was bent on -endeavouring to wrest back his country from its Egyptian conquerors. -Gordon further instructed me to meet him, on his return journey, -somewhere between El Obeid and Tura el Hadra, on the White Nile. Having -despatched my camels to this spot, where Gordon's steamer was waiting -for him, I embarked without further delay, and on landing at Tura el -Hadra, I proceeded west, and after two hours' ride reached the -telegraph station of Abu Garad, where I learnt that Gordon was only four -or five hours distant, and was on his way to the Nile. I therefore -started off again, and in a few hours found him halted under a large -tree. He was evidently very tired and exhausted after his long ride, and -was suffering from sores on his legs. I had fortunately brought some -brandy with me from the stock on board his own steamer, and he was soon -sufficiently revived to continue his journey. He asked me to come back -with him to Tura el Hadra, to discuss the Darfur situation with him, and -to give me the necessary instructions. He also introduced me to two -members of his suite, Hassan Pasha Helmi el Juwaizer, formerly -Governor-General of Kordofan and Darfur, and to Yusef Pasha esh -Shellali, who was the last to join Gessi in his campaign against -Suleiman Zubeir and the slave hunters. We were soon in the saddle; but -Gordon shot far ahead of us, and we found it impossible to keep up with -his rapid pace. We soon reached Tura el Hadra, where the baggage camels, -which had previously been sent on ahead, had already arrived. As the -steamers were anchored in mid-stream, we were rowed out in a boat. I -found myself sitting in the stern, next Yusef Pasha esh Shellali, and, -as a drinking-cup was near him and I was thirsty, I begged him to dip it -into the river, and give me a drink. Gordon, noticing this, turned to -me, smiling, and said, in French, "Are you not aware that Yusef Pasha, -in spite of his black face, is very much your senior in rank? You are -only the Mudir of Dara, and you should not have asked him to give you a -drink." I at once apologised in Arabic to Yusef Pasha, adding that I had -asked him for the water in a moment of forgetfulness; to which he -replied that he was only too pleased to oblige me or any one else to -whom he could be of service. - -On reaching the steamers, Gordon and I went on board the "Ismaïlia," -while Yusef Pasha and Hassan Pasha went on the "Bordein." Gordon -explained to me in the fullest detail the state of Darfur, saying that -he hoped most sincerely the campaign against Sultan Harun would be -brought to a successful close, for the country for years past had been -the scene of continuous fighting and bloodshed, and was sorely in need -of rest. He also told me that he believed Gessi's campaign against -Suleiman Zubeir would soon be over; before long, he must be finally -defeated or killed, for he had lost most of his Bazinger troops -(rifle-bearing Blacks), and it was impossible for him to sustain the -continual losses which Gessi had inflicted on him. It was past ten -o'clock when he bade me "Good-bye." He had previously ordered the fires -to be lighted, as he was starting that night for Khartum, and, as I -stepped over the side, he said, in French, "Good-bye, my dear Slatin, -and God bless you; I am sure you will do your best under any -circumstances. Perhaps I am going back to England, and if so, I hope we -may meet there." These were the last words I ever heard him utter; but -who could have imagined the fate that was in store for both of us? I -thanked him heartily for his great kindness and help, and on reaching -the river-bank, I stopped there for an hour, waiting for the steamer to -start. Then I heard the shrill whistle, and the anchor being weighed, -and in a few minutes Gordon was out of sight--gone for ever! - -On the following morning, mounted on the pony which Gordon had given me, -and which carried me continuously for upwards of four years, I started -off for Abu Garad, and, travelling thence by Abu Shoka and Khussi, -reached El Obeid, where I found Dr. Zurbuchen, the Sanitary Inspector. -He was about to start for Darfur, and we agreed to keep each other -company as far as Dara. We hired baggage camels through the assistance -of Ali Bey Sherif, the Governor of Kordofan; and just as we were about -to set out, he handed me a telegram which had been sent from Foga, -situated on the eastern frontier of Darfur; it was from Gessi, -announcing that Suleiman Zubeir had fallen at Gara on 15th July, 1879: -thus was Gordon's prediction verified that Suleiman must soon submit or -fall. - -It may not be out of place here to give a brief account of this -campaign; its principal features are probably well known, but it is -possible I may be able to throw fresh light on some details which, -though almost twenty years have now elapsed, still possess an interest, -inasmuch as it was this campaign which was the means of bringing to the -front a man whose strange exploits in the far west of Africa are now -exercising the various European Powers who are pressing in from the west -coast, towards the Lake Chad regions. I refer to Rabeh, or, as I find he -is now called, Rabeh Zubeir. - -After the conquest of Darfur, Zubeir, who had by this time been -appointed Pasha, was instructed by the then Governor of the Sudan, -Ismail Pasha, to reside in the Dara and Shakka districts. At this -particular period relations between Ismail and Zubeir were strained; the -latter had complained of the unnecessarily heavy taxation, and had -begged the Khedive's permission to be allowed to come to Cairo to -personally assure His Highness of his loyalty and devotion. Permission -had been granted, and he had left for Cairo. Soon afterwards Ismail -Pasha Ayub also left Darfur, and Hassan Pasha el Juwaizer succeeded him -as Governor; while Suleiman, the son of Zubeir, was nominated as his -father's representative, and was instructed to proceed to Shakka. -Gordon, it will be remembered, had also succeeded Ismail Ayub as -Governor-General, and had paid a visit of inspection to Darfur with the -object of quieting the country, and introducing, by his presence and -supervision, a more stable form of government. - -On 7th June, 1878, Gordon arrived at Foga, and from there sent -instructions to Suleiman Zubeir to meet him at Dara. Previous to this, -information had reached him that Suleiman was not satisfied with his -position, and was much disturbed by the news that his father was -detained in Cairo by order of the Government. - -It is said that Zubeir had sent letters to his son urging on him and his -followers that, under any circumstances, they should be independent of -the Egyptian Government; and as it was well known that Suleiman's object -was to maintain his father's authority in the country, his discontent -was a factor which it was not possible to ignore. - -From Foga, Gordon proceeded by Om Shanga to El Fasher, where he -inspected the district and gave instructions for a fort to be built; and -after a few days' stay there he came on to Dara, where Suleiman, with -upwards of four thousand well-armed Bazingers, had already arrived, and -was encamped in the open plain lying to the south of the fort. -Conflicting opinions prevailed in Suleiman's camp in regard to the order -that they were to move to Shakka. Most of his men had taken part in the -conquest of Darfur, and consequently imagined that they had a sort of -prescriptive right to the country, and they did not at all fancy handing -over these fertile districts to the Turkish and Egyptian officials; -moreover, Suleiman and his own immediate household were incensed against -what they considered the unjust detention of Zubeir Pasha in Cairo, and -it was evident they were doing all in their power to secure his return. -It must also be borne in mind that most of Zubeir's chiefs were of his -own tribe--the Jaalin--and had formerly been slave-hunters. By a -combination of bravery and good luck they had succeeded in taking -possession of immense tracts of land in the Bahr el Ghazal province, and -here they had exercised an almost independent and arbitrary authority; -nor was this a matter of surprise when the uncivilised condition of both -the country and its inhabitants is taken into consideration. They had -acquired their position by plundering and violence, and their authority -was maintained by the same methods. When, therefore, they learnt that -Gordon was coming, they discussed amongst themselves what line of action -they should take. Some of the more turbulent members were for at once -attacking Dara, which would have been a matter of no difficulty for -them; others advised seizing Gordon and his escort, and then exchanging -him for Zubeir: should he resist and be killed in consequence, then so -much the better. A few, however, counselled submission and compliance -with the orders of the Government. - -In the midst of all this discussion and difference of opinion, Gordon, -travelling by Keriut and Shieria, had halted at a spot about four hours' -march from Dara, and, having instructed his escort to follow him as -usual, he and his secretaries, Tohami and Busati Bey, started in advance -on camels. Hearing of his approach, Suleiman had given instructions to -his troops to deploy in three lines between the camp and the fort; and -while this operation was being carried out, Gordon, coming from the rear -of the troops, passed rapidly through the lines, riding at a smart trot, -and, saluting the troops right and left, reached the fort. - -The suddenness of Gordon's arrival left the leaders no time to make -their plans. They therefore ordered the general salute; but even before -the thunder of the guns was heard, Gordon had already sent orders to -Suleiman and his chiefs to appear instantly before him. The first to -comply with this peremptory summons was Nur Angara; he was quickly -followed by Said Hussein and Suleiman. The latter was not slow to -perceive that the favourable moment had passed, and, therefore, at the -head of a number of his leaders, presented himself before the ubiquitous -Governor-General. After the usual compliments, Gordon ordered cigarettes -and coffee to be handed round, and he then inquired after their affairs, -and promised that he would do all in his power to satisfy every one; he -then dismissed them, and told them to return to their men. But he -motioned Suleiman to remain; and when alone, told him that he had heard -there was some idea amongst his men of opposing the Government: he -therefore urged him not to listen to evil counsellors. He gave him -clearly to understand that it would be infinitely more to his advantage -to comply with the orders of Government than to attempt offensive -measures, which must eventually end in his ruin; and after some further -conversation, in which Gordon to some extent excused the enormity of -Suleiman's offence on account of his extreme youth, he forgave him, and -allowed him to return to his troops, with the injunction that he should -strictly obey all orders in the future. - -Meanwhile the escort which had been following behind from El Fasher -arrived at the fort, and Gordon, after a short rest, sent for one of -Suleiman's leaders, Said Hussein, with whom he discussed the situation. -The latter declared that his chief, in spite of pardon, was even then -ready to fight in order to secure his father's return and to get back -his own power and authority. Gordon now appointed Said Hussein Governor -of Shakka, and ordered him to start the following day with the troops he -required; but he asked him to say nothing about his nomination for a few -hours. - -No sooner had he left Gordon than Nur Angara was summoned; and on being -upbraided for the want of loyalty that evidently existed amongst the -men, he replied that Suleiman was surrounded by bad advisers, who were -driving him to his ruin, and that whenever he ventured to express a -contrary opinion, Suleiman took not the smallest heed of what he might -say. Gordon, convinced of his loyalty, appointed him Governor of Sirga -and Arebu, in western Darfur, and instructed him to start the following -day with Said Hussein and to take any men he liked with him. - -When it came to Suleiman's ears that his two chiefs had been made -governors by Gordon, he reproached them bitterly, and called to their -minds how they owed all they possessed to his father's generosity; to -this they replied that had it not been for their faithful services to -his father, he would never have become so celebrated and successful. -With these mutual recriminations the two new Governors quitted Suleiman, -and started at daybreak the following morning for their destination. - -When they had gone, Gordon again sent for Suleiman and his chiefs. He at -first refused to come; but on the earnest entreaties of the others, who -urged that further resistance to Gordon's orders was out of the -question, he yielded with a bad grace, and once more found himself face -to face with him. On this occasion Gordon treated him with the greatest -consideration, pointing out that he had come expressly to advise -Suleiman against the folly of thinking that he could attempt to thwart -the Government by trusting in the bravery and loyalty of his Bazingers; -he assured him that loyal service under Government would bring him into -a position which could not fail to satisfy his ambitions, and, that, -further he had no reason to be concerned about his father's detention in -Cairo, that he was treated with the greatest respect and honour there, -and that he had only to exercise a little patience. Finally Gordon -instructed him to proceed to Shakka with his men, and await his arrival -there. - -The following morning Suleiman received orders that on his arrival at -Shakka the new Governor had been instructed to make all provision for -the troops, and that therefore he should start without delay,--an order -which he at once carried into effect. Thus had Gordon, by his amazing -rapidity and quick grasp of the situation, arrived in two days at the -settlement of a question which literally bristled with dangers and -difficulties. Had Suleiman offered resistance at a time when Darfur was -in a disturbed state, Gordon's position and the maintenance of Egyptian -authority in these districts would have been precarious in the extreme. - -Gordon then returned to El Fasher and Kebkebia; already the disturbances -which had been so rife in the country showed signs of abatement, and by -his personal influence he succeeded in still further quieting the -districts and establishing a settled form of government. Leaving El -Fasher in September, 1877, he again visited Dara and Shakka, where he -found that Suleiman had quite accepted the situation and was prepared to -act loyally; he therefore appointed him Governor of the Bahr el Ghazal -province, which had been conquered by his father; he further gave him -the rank of Bey, with which Suleiman appeared much gratified, and -expressed great satisfaction at Gordon's confidence in him. A number of -slaves, with their masters, who, when Suleiman was in disgrace at Dara, -had deserted him, and had gone over to Said Hussein, now returned to -him; and thus, with a considerable acquisition to his strength, he left -for Dem Zubeir, the chief town of his new province, which had been -founded by his father. - -Arrived here, he issued circulars to all parts of the country to the -effect that he had been appointed Governor; and at the same time he sent -a summons to a certain Idris Bey Ebtar to present himself forthwith -before him. This Idris Bey Ebtar had, on Zubeir Pasha's departure for -Cairo, been appointed by him as his agent in the Bahr el Ghazal. He was -a native of Dongola, and in this fact lies, I think, the secret of the -subsequent deplorable events. - -The Bahr el Ghazal province is inhabited by an immense variety of negro -tribes, who were more or less independent of each other until the -Danagla and Jaalin Arabs, advancing from the Nile valley in their -slave-hunting expeditions, gradually settled in the country and took -possession of it. The Jaalin trace their descent back to Abbas, the -uncle of the Prophet. They are very proud of it, and look down with the -greatest contempt and scorn on the Danagla, whom they regard as -descended from the slave Dangal. According to tradition, this man, -although a slave, rose to be the ruler of Nubia, though he paid tribute -to Bahnesa, the Coptic Bishop of the entire district lying between the -present Sarras and Debba. This Dangal founded a town after his own name, -Dangala (Dongola), and gradually the inhabitants of the district were -known as Danagla. They are, for the most part, of Arab descent, but, -having mixed freely with the natives of the country, have somewhat lost -caste. Of course they too insist on their Arab descent, but the Jaalin -continually refer to their Dangal origin, and treat them with contempt -and derision. The relations between these two tribes must be fully -recognised in order to understand what follows. - -The friends of Idris Ebtar, who were for the most part Danagla, strongly -urged him to disobey Suleiman's summons; and, in consequence, a -situation arose which was entirely after the slave-hunter's own heart. -To play off one chief against another, and thereby serve his own -interest and derive personal benefit, is the Arab's delight; and in -this instance it was not long before Idris Ebtar's defiance of -Suleiman's authority developed into terror of being taken prisoner, and -he fled the country to Khartum. Arrived here, he reported that Suleiman -was now acting as if the country were entirely his own; that instead of -performing his duties as a governor, he had usurped the position of his -father, who was rather a king than a governor; that he had given the -best positions to his own Jaalin followers, to the exclusion of all the -other tribes, more especially the Danagla, who were being tyrannized -over and oppressed in every possible way,--indeed, according to Idris -Ebtar's story, Suleiman was about to declare himself an independent -ruler; and in support of his statement he produced quantities of -petitions, purporting to have been received from merchants, -slave-dealers, and others in the Bahr el Ghazal, all urging the -Government to dismiss Suleiman at once, and replace him by another -governor. Assisted by his numerous relatives, Idris Ebtar made such a -good case of it to the Khartum authorities that they offered him the -post of governor in succession to Suleiman, on condition that he would -supply a regular annual revenue of ivory and india-rubber, and that he -would also provide annually a contingent of Bazinger recruits, trained -to the use of fire-arms, for incorporation in the Egyptian army. - -In order to give full effect to his new appointment, he was given an -escort of two hundred regular troops under a certain Awad es Sid -Effendi, to whom instructions were given to comply absolutely with his -orders. - -Idris, leaving Khartum, proceeded by steamer up the White Nile, and -thence by the Bahr el Ghazal to Meshra er Rek, eventually reaching -Ganda, whence he wrote to Suleiman informing him that he had been -dismissed. The receipt of this document was naturally the signal for a -general commotion. Suleiman instantly summoned his relatives and friends -to his side, and informed them in the most resolute manner that he would -utterly refuse to comply with such an unfair order, pointing out with a -certain amount of justice that since his arrival in Bahr el Ghazal he -had had practically no dealings with the Government, and that it was -very unjust of them to act on mere suspicion, without giving him a -chance of defending himself. He urged, moreover, that Government was not -dealing fairly in discharging him from a position which was his by -right. But here Suleiman was to a certain extent incorrect in claiming -territory which, though conquered by his father, was now the actual -property of the Government. The meeting over, he wrote a letter in the -above sense to Idris Ebtar, protesting in the strongest terms against -his interference, accusing him of base ingratitude, and of acting in -defiance of every law of honour and justice in having recourse to such -means to gratify his personal ambitions. He further reminded him of the -assistance and support ever accorded to him by his absent father, -Zubeir, who, on being obliged to leave Darfur, had appointed him his -agent; and he finally upbraided him for having gone to Khartum as he did -and intrigued to be made governor, instead of coming and seeing him as -he had ordered, after Gordon had appointed him (Suleiman) governor; and -he wound up his letter by an emphatic refusal to pay the smallest -attention to Idris Bey's summons. - -In answer to this letter, Idris sent Suleiman an ultimatum, calling on -him to either submit instantly, or take the consequences of being -proceeded against as a rebel; to which Suleiman replied that he was -quite prepared to let the sword decide between them. - -It was now clear that war must inevitably result, and the merchants -began to be alarmed for their lives and property. The Jaalin, of course, -wished Suleiman to remain their chief, whilst the other tribes, -considerably in the minority, sided with Idris, who, on assuring himself -that a resort to arms was inevitable, despatched his brother, Osman -Ebtar, with two hundred regulars and a number of Bazingers under Awad es -Sid Effendi, to garrison Ganda, whilst he himself, with a small party of -Bazingers, proceeded to collect some followers, with a view to making a -sudden onslaught on Suleiman. The latter, however, incited by the -intense hatred of his tribe for their Danagla enemies, did not hesitate -to risk arbitration by the sword. Secretly collecting a number of his -followers at Dem Zubeir, he made a sudden attack on the zariba at Ganda; -and although Osman Ebtar and his men made a gallant stand, the zariba -was soon reduced to ashes, the houses and huts, in accordance with -Suleiman's orders, being completely destroyed, and the dead and wounded -thrown into the flames. After this bloody encounter, all attempts at -arriving at a peaceful settlement were out of the question; it was now -war to the knife between Suleiman and Idris, and the latter, learning of -the disaster at Ganda, lost no time in returning to Khartum and -reporting that Suleiman had revolted in the Bahr el Ghazal, and had -declared his independence, which was, in fact, the case. Indeed, no time -was lost by Suleiman in informing the principal Bahr el Ghazal -merchants, such as Genawi Abu Amuri, Zubeir Wad el Fahl, and others, -that he had resolved to take up arms against the Government, and he -begged them to co-operate with him. It was thus quite clear that -Suleiman did not doubt the Government would not give up a province like -Bahr el Ghazal without making a final effort to hold it. The Danagla -also, knowing that they had no mercy to expect from the Jaalin, set to -work to strengthen their own positions; but the principal merchants, -such as Ali Amuri and Zubeir Wad el Fahl, who were very anxious to do -nothing which would jeopardise their relations with the Government, -stood aloof. - -Meanwhile the news came that Romolo Gessi had reached Khartum, and had -been appointed commander of the expedition against Suleiman and the -slave-hunters. Accompanied by Yusef Pasha esh Shellali and forty -officers and men, he proceeded in the first instance to Fashoda, where -he secured the services of two companies of troops and further -reinforcements of regulars and irregulars from Lado and Makaraka. At -Gaba Shamba he found a considerable store of Remington rifles and -ammunition and a number of Bazingers, which raised his force to upwards -of two thousand five hundred rifles. - -It was now (July, 1878) the rainy season, and operations against -Suleiman were for the moment impossible. Gessi, therefore, proceeded to -Rumbek, and from thence sent a summons to Genawi and Wad el Fahl to join -him. With this order they at once complied, bringing with them a further -reinforcement of some two thousand five hundred men, while Gessi -received continual additions to his strength from the smaller merchants -and others, so that when the wet season was over he found himself at the -head of upwards of seven thousand men, besides two guns and a number of -rockets, with which he prepared to march to Ganda. Meanwhile, doubts -being entertained of Said Hussein's loyalty, Gordon despatched Mustafa -Bey Abu Kheiran to replace him; and on the arrival of the latter at -Shakka, Said Hussein was sent to Khartum under escort. His arrest was -the signal for all Zubeir Pasha's old chiefs, such as Osman Wad Tayalla, -Musa Wad el Haj, and others, to join Suleiman, who had in the meantime -been concentrating his troops, and had been joined by thousands of minor -slave-hunters, mostly Rizighat and Habbania Arabs, who were ever ready -to side with the winners, in the hope of plunder. Thus Suleiman's force -was numerically far superior to that of Gessi Pasha, who by this time -had reached Ganda. - -Arrived here, he at once proceeded to construct a zariba and entrench -himself. Yusef Pasha and the others who had no knowledge of -fortification, laughed at Gessi's precautions; but it was not long -before they were fully convinced of their efficacy. Suleiman advanced to -attack Ganda, on 25th December, 1878; and after a terrific onslaught, in -which both sides lost heavily, he was forced to retire. In spite of this -heavy defeat, Suleiman, in the course of the next three months, made -four other unsuccessful attacks on Ganda; and at length, in March, 1879, -Gessi, having procured ammunition and reinforcements, prepared to take -the offensive against Suleiman, who had by this time suffered heavily, -and had lost many of his best leaders. - -On 1st May an action was fought, which was, comparatively speaking, -insignificant in regard to losses, but resulted in Suleiman being forced -to beat a precipitate retreat from Dem Zubeir; the large stock of slaves -and booty falling into the hands of Gessi's Danagla followers, who, -apparently without his knowledge, shared the plunder amongst themselves. - -Suleiman's power was thoroughly broken, and he had now to decide between -unconditional surrender to Government, or flight into the interior of -Africa. The Danagla had become possessors of all his property, including -his enormous harem of some eight hundred women, besides those of his -various chiefs, whose respective households could not have numbered less -than one hundred women each,--indeed, every Bazinger, who was -practically a slave, was also the possessor of one or two wives; and now -all this immense amount of human loot had fallen into the hands of his -enemies. Moreover, his scattered forces, which were now roaming about -the country in search of work, made no secret of the quantities of gold -and silver treasure which Suleiman had amassed, and which were now, no -doubt, in the hands of Gessi's men. When it is remembered that -Suleiman's treasury included the masses of gold and silver jewellery -captured by his father at Dara, at Manawashi,--where Sultan Ibrahim had -ruled, and had fallen on the capture of Darfur,--at El Fasher, at -Kebkebia, etc., it can be readily understood what riches must have -fallen into the hands of the Government levies, and--perhaps unknown to -their commander, who was ignorant of the language--had been divided up -amongst them. - -Gessi now quartered the bulk of his troops in the entrenched camp -vacated by Suleiman, and with a comparatively small force proceeded to -follow him up in pursuit. In order to conceal his whereabouts, Suleiman -had scattered his men throughout the western districts; but Gessi came -across one of his armed bands, under Rabeh, and dispersed it without -much difficulty. Rabeh, however, escaped, and just at this period Gessi -received orders from Gordon to meet him in Darfur; he therefore -collected all his troops in Dem Suleiman, where they rested after their -fatiguing campaign, whilst he himself, accompanied by some of his -officers, amongst whom was Yusef Pasha esh Shellali, proceeded to Et -Toweisha, where the caravan routes from Om Shanga, El Obeid, and Dara -join, and here he met Gordon. - -[Illustration: Gessi Pasha's Troops advancing to the attack on "Dem -Suleiman."] - -In this his second visit to Darfur, Gordon had ascertained that the -Sudanese merchants of El Obeid had been selling arms and powder to the -rebel Suleiman, with whom they naturally sympathised for their own -selfish purposes; this contraband of war had been secretly despatched to -Bahr el Ghazal through the intermediary of the Gellabas (petty traders), -who obtained enormous prices from Suleiman: for instance, six to eight -slaves would be exchanged for a double-barrelled gun, and one or two -slaves was the price of a box of caps. The officials at El Obeid made -some attempt to check this trade, but the difficulties were great. The -districts between Kordofan and Bahr el Ghazal were inhabited principally -by nomad Arab tribes such as the Rizighat, Hawazma, Homr, and Messeiria; -it was, moreover, an easy matter for small parties of Gellabas to -traverse, without fear of detection, the almost uninhabited forests, -with which the country abounds; and even if an Egyptian official came -across them, he was, as a rule, quite amenable to a small bribe. - -Gordon was fully cognisant of all this, and therefore gave the order -that trade of every description was to be stopped between El Obeid and -Bahr el Ghazal. The merchants were, in consequence, ordered to quit all -districts lying to the south of the El Obeid, Et Toweisha, and Dara -caravan road, and to confine their trade entirely to the northern and -western countries, whilst active operations were going on in Bahr el -Ghazal. But, in spite of the strictness with which these orders were -enforced, the chances of gain were so enormous and so enticing that the -merchants grew almost insensible to the risk of discovery; and, in fact, -the Government had not at hand the means of checking the trade in an -adequate manner,--indeed, in spite of the Government restrictions, the -trade rather increased than decreased. Gordon, therefore, had to resort -to very drastic measures. He ordered the Sheikhs of the Arab tribes to -seize all Gellabas in their districts, and forcibly drive them to Dara, -Toweisha, Om Shanga, and El Obeid, and at the same time held them -responsible for any Gellabas found in their countries, after a certain -date. This order was welcomed by the greedy Arabs, who seized the -occasion to pillage, not only the wandering traders, but even those who -had been settled amongst them for years, and who had nothing to do with -this illicit commerce; they gathered the wheat and the tares together, -and cast out both indiscriminately, making considerable profit over the -transaction. Gordon's order was now the signal for a wholesale campaign -against the traders, who not only lost their goods, but almost every -stitch of clothing they possessed, and were driven like wild animals in -hundreds, almost naked, towards Dara, Toweisha, and Om Shanga. It was a -terrible punishment for their unlawful communication with the enemies of -the Government. - -Many of these traders had been residing amongst the Arabs for years. -They had got wives, children, concubines, and considerable quantities of -property, which in turn fell into the hands of the Arabs. The fates, -indeed, wreaked all their fury on these wretched slave-hunters, and the -retribution--merited as it undoubtedly was, on the principle of an eye -for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth--was painful enough to witness, and -had consequences which were more far-reaching; for it must be remembered -that the majority of these petty traders were Jaalin from the Nile -valley, and between them and their Arab oppressors there now arose the -most implacable hatred, which has continued up to the present time, and -which shows signs of increase rather than of diminution. - -In point of humanity, this attack on the Gellabas may be open to -question; but on closer investigation it will be apparent to all that -it was not possible to deal with an anomalous situation, such as then -existed, by political or philanthropic methods,--drastic and violent -measures could alone be effective. The Arab himself says, "Nar el ghaba -yelzamha el harika" (Against a prairie-fire, fire must be used); and the -proverb was peculiarly applicable in this case. - -Now, these traders being for the most part Jaalin, Shaigias and Danagla -had, of course, relations and friends in the Nile valley; and, indeed, -many of the latter were their intermediaries in the commercial and slave -transactions which took place. Gordon's orders, therefore, were scarcely -less unpopular amongst these Nile-dwellers, who could not understand why -such severe measures were necessary, merely to prevent Gessi from being -defeated in Bahr el Ghazal. - -But to return to Gessi's movements. Having met Gordon at Toweisha, and -explained the situation to him, he was instructed to proceed to Dara, -while Gordon returned to Khartum, and with him Yusef Pasha Shellali, who -during the entire campaign had served Gessi most loyally, but who had -been told, by some of the numerous intriguers, that his chief was -against him; he therefore begged Gordon to allow him to return with him -to Khartum,--a request which was at once granted, while his services -were further recognised by his promotion to the rank of Pasha. - -On his arrival at Dara, Gessi received information that Suleiman had -quitted Bahr el Ghazal, and, having collected his forces, was somewhere -in the southwest of Darfur. It was thought that he intended to unite -with Sultan ben Seif ed Din, a direct descendant of the old Darfur -kings, who was said to have collected a force with the object of -opposing the Government and driving out the foreigners. It is impossible -to say whether this was really Suleiman's intention; but there is no -doubt that Sultan Harun had never concluded an alliance with Suleiman, -who, being the son of the conqueror of Darfur, by whom the dynasty had -been destroyed, was hated by the Darfur people even more than were the -Egyptians; the latter, in comparison with Zubeir's lawless gangs of -Bazingers, had a slightly higher reputation, but both seemed to consider -the Darfurians their legitimate prey, and both were guilty of acts of -cruelty and oppression. - -At this time the principal Government official at Dara was Zogal Bey -(Mohammed Bey Khaled); and Gessi, having left almost all his troops in -Bahr el Ghazal, now begged him to place at his disposal two companies of -regular troops, under the command of Saghkolaghasi Mansur Effendi Helmi; -with these, and a certain Ismail Wad el Barnu,--an Egyptian born in -Darfur, and well known for his bravery, and knowledge of the -country,--Gessi set off for Kalaka, the headquarters of the Habbania -Arabs. Here he was joined by Arifi Wad Ahmed, head Sheikh of the -Habbania, and by Madibbo Bey, chief of the Rizighat, who was loyal to -Government, and could place several hundred horsemen in the field. - -Suleiman's star was now declining. Abandoned by most of his own -tribesmen, who had secretly made off through the forests to the Nile -valley; deserted by the greater part of his trusted Bazingers, whom -hunger, fatigue, and aimless wandering in pathless regions had -hopelessly scattered; his footsteps dogged by Gessi, who was kept -informed of his every movement,--he was, indeed, in sorry plight when -Ismail Wad Barnu, despatched by Gessi with a summons to surrender, -appeared before him at Gharra. - -Ismail was well known to Suleiman, and had been instructed by Gessi to -inform him that, should he submit, his life and the lives of his chiefs -would be spared, and his women and children should not be touched, on -condition that he handed over to him his Bazingers, with their arms, and -made a solemn vow of loyalty to the Egyptian Government. Ismail pointed -out to Suleiman that all hope of successful resistance was now at an -end, and, as a native of the country, he gave it as his private opinion -that Sultan Harun would never be induced to enter into alliance with -him. - -Suleiman now convened a meeting of his principal men to discuss the -terms of peace offered by Gessi. Most of them were heartily tired of -this constant fighting, in which they had been almost invariably -defeated, but there were some who doubted the sincerity of the -conditions proposed; Ismail, however, asserted in the strongest terms -that he would guarantee the sincerity of Gessi, who himself longed to -put an end to this useless bloodshed, and further stated that he had -been authorised by him to take a solemn oath in his name that the -conditions of surrender would be faithfully observed. - -Suleiman and all his chiefs, with the exception of Rabeh, agreed to -accept; but the latter pointed out, with a prescience, which subsequent -events justified, that Suleiman had been warned, before he took up arms, -of the danger he was incurring, and that once in the hands of his -captors he could not hope for mercy. As regards himself, Rabeh declared -that it would be pain and grief to him to separate from men who had been -his companions in joy and sorrow all these years, but he gave them -distinctly to understand that he would never place himself in the power -of Gessi, whose success had been due to the Danagla, and who, though an -European, was really in their hands. He begged his companions to -remember the bitter animosity which existed between the Jaalin and -Danagla, and recalled the merciless manner in which the former had -treated the latter when Osman Ebtar had been defeated at Ganda. He -therefore had two proposals to make, viz., to collect their entire force -and march west into the Banda countries, which had hitherto been -untouched by foreign intruders, and which could offer no resistance to -the thousands of well-armed Bazingers they still had at their command. -He then went on to say, that once the Black tribes had been subjugated, -they could enter into relations with the kingdoms of Wadai, Baghirmi, -and Bornu, and that it was most unlikely that Gessi and his men, who -were tired of fighting, would follow them into distant and unknown -regions, over which the Government had no control, and from which it was -not likely they could reap any benefit. - -Should this proposal not meet with their approbation, then he would -suggest that as they wished now to lead quiet lives with their -fellow-tribesmen in the Nile valley, they should send a special -deputation either to His Highness the Khedive or to Gordon Pasha, -begging for pardon and peace; but that they should never do so through -Gessi, whose only object was to secure their arms and Bazingers, and -who, at the capture of Dem Suleiman, had unhesitatingly taken everything -they possessed. If, therefore, they wished to save their lives and avoid -the intrigues of the Danagla, all they had to do was to leave the -Bazingers with their arms behind, and themselves proceed by Kalaka and -Shakka and through the uninhabited forests of Dar Hamar to Foga, the -western telegraph station on the Darfur frontier, whence they could wire -their submission and ask for pardon, which would undoubtedly be granted. -Or they might, added Rabeh, proceed from Shakka through Dar Homr, and, -skirting the northern Janghé country, reach El Obeid, where they could -make their submission through the intermediary of the Governor and their -relative, Elias Pasha Wad Um Bereir. He concluded his speech by saying -that should none of these proposals meet with approval, then he was -prepared, with the greatest reluctance, to quit his lifelong friends, -and, taking those who wished to join him, he would march west and take -his chance; but, he added most emphatically, he would never place -himself in the hands of Gessi and his Danagla. - -These proposals were made by Rabeh to Suleiman and the others in the -presence of Ismail Wad Barnu, who again urged that they should submit to -Gessi, arguing that as the latter had been originally entrusted with the -campaign, it would naturally be a point of honour with him to see to -Suleiman's safety and to write favourably to Government in regard to -him; but, on the other hand, added Ismail, should Suleiman attempt to -obtain pardon without Gessi's intermediary, then the latter would -naturally be very angry, and would probably be the means of injuring him -in the eyes of the Government. - -Musa Wad el Haj, one of Suleiman's best leaders, and who also had some -influence with Gessi, now addressed Rabeh as follows: "You have made -certain proposals in the hearing of Ismail Wad Barnu, who is Gessi's -messenger. Should we concur with your proposals, what do you consider we -should do with him?" To this question Rabeh answered, "Ismail is our -friend, and was trusted by Zubeir; far be it from me to wish him any -harm. Should we decide on flight, then, in self-preservation, we must -take him with us a certain distance and when we are out of reach of -pursuit, let him go." A long discussion now ensued, which resulted in a -division of opinions: Suleiman, Hassan Wad Degeil (Zubeir's uncle), Musa -Wad el Haj, Ibrahim Wad Hussein (the brother of Saleh Wad Hussein, the -former Governor of Shakka, who had been arrested and sent to Khartum), -Suleiman Wad Mohammed, Ahmed Wad Idris, Abdel Kader Wad el Imam, and -Babakr Wad Mansur, all of the Gemiab section of the Jaalin tribe; also -Arbab Mohammed Wad Diab of the Saadab section, agreed to accept Gessi's -conditions and submit. But Rabeh, Abu el Kasim (of the Magazib section), -Musa Wad el Jaali, Idris Wad es Sultan, and Mohammed Wad Fadlalla, of -the Gemiab section, and Abdel Bayin, a former slave of Zubeir Pasha, -decided not to submit under any circumstances, but to march west. -Ismail, being of course most anxious to inform Gessi of Suleiman's -submission, urged him to break up the meeting and to give him a written -document that the conditions were acceptable. Suleiman complied, and -with eight of his chiefs signed the compact and handed it to Ismail, who -at once returned to Gessi at Kalaka with presents of several male and -female slaves. - -No sooner had he gone than Rabeh again came to Suleiman, and in the most -earnest terms begged him to reconsider the matter; but Suleiman was -obdurate, and Rabeh, therefore, retired heart-broken, beat his war-drums -to collect his Bazingers and followers, sorrowfully bade his old -companions farewell, and marched off in a southwesterly direction, to -the sound of the ombeÿa, or elephant's tusk (the Sudan war-horn, which -can be heard at an immense distance). - -Several of Suleiman's men, seeing that Rabeh was determined not to -submit, joined him, preferring the uncertainty of a life of adventure in -the pathless forests to the risk of giving themselves up to the hated -Danagla. But the five chiefs who had been his main supporters took the -occasion to desert him at his first camping-station, intending to -conceal themselves by the help of the Arab chiefs whom they knew, and -eventually to make their way back to the Nile when all danger was over. - -On receipt of Suleiman's letter of submission, Gessi set out with all -speed for Gharra, accompanied by Ismail, who feared that Rabeh's -counsels might after all prevail and that they had no time to lose; they -took with them a considerable number of men, and were reinforced by -contingents supplied by the Rizighat and Habbania chiefs. Arrived near -Gharra, Gessi sent on Ismail to tell Suleiman that he had received the -signed conditions, with which he was satisfied, and that he had come to -personally accept his submission. In a short time Ismail returned, -reporting Rabeh's flight with a considerable number of Bazingers and -arms, and that Suleiman was quite prepared to surrender. Gessi therefore -advanced to Gharra with his troops and met Suleiman, whose men had piled -their arms. He verbally gave them the pardon for which they asked, and -then ordered the Bazingers to be distributed between Sheikh Arifi and -Madibbo Bey, while instructions were given to put the chiefs under a -guard until the Government officials appointed to take charge of them -should have been selected. - -These orders were executed with great promptitude, and in two hours, out -of the entire camp, only Suleiman and the chiefs, with their wives and -families, remained, and over these a small guard was placed. - -Now, as Rabeh had truly foretold, the intrigues of the Danagla against -Suleiman began. They told Gessi that Suleiman's servants had reported -that he already regretted having submitted, and that had he known that -he was to be received in such a way, he would rather have died fighting. -Gessi, although a man of an open and honourable disposition, was -somewhat susceptible to such insinuations; he trusted his own men, and -as they had risked their lives for him, he did not doubt their words. -But he neither knew nor realised that his men were bent on Suleiman's -destruction. The loot which they had taken in Dem Suleiman and in many -other engagements was enormous, besides male and female slaves, gold and -silver jewellery, and an immense amount of cash, all of which they had -distributed amongst themselves, unknown to Gessi. What they now feared -was that Suleiman, being admitted to Gessi's favour, would inform him of -what had occurred, and that he would enter a claim against the -Government. Moreover, it will be remembered how Idris Ebtar had by his -intrigues given the authorities the impression that the Bahr el Ghazal -revolt was entirely due to the Zubeir faction, while they showed -themselves in the light of faithful adherents and martyrs to the -Government cause. They dreaded lest Suleiman might be sent to Khartum, -whence he would probably obtain permission to visit his father in Cairo, -and they knew that Zubeir possessed sufficient influence to institute -claims against them for the seizure of his property, and would moreover -do his utmost to show that Suleiman was not responsible for the revolt. - -The Danagla, therefore, now resorted to the following base expedient: -they informed Gessi that Suleiman had sent messengers to recall Rabeh, -that he had given him instructions to make an attack on Gessi, who had -only an insignificant force, and to whom they had surrendered under the -impression that his force was much larger, but that Rabeh was -sufficiently strong to easily overcome him, and thus completely turn the -tables. - -Mansur Effendi Helmi also came forward and corroborated these tales, -adding that he was convinced Suleiman was just as hostile as before, and -that on the smallest chance being given him he would not hesitate to -revolt once more against the Government. - -Gessi was now fully convinced that their statements were true, and in -consequence of their urgent declamations against Suleiman he went back -on the promise he had made that their lives should be safe. In the -course of the day he had Suleiman and the nine chiefs brought into his -tent, and reproached them very severely for their traitorous conduct. To -proud and uncivilised men these reproaches were unbearable, and they -replied in an equally abrupt tone. Gessi, stung to anger, quitted the -tent and ordered the Danagla, who were lurking about, to shoot them. In -a moment the tent was pulled down over their heads, they were secured, -their hands were tied behind their backs, and they were driven to the -place of execution. With the most bitter imprecations on their lips -against the treacherous Danagla, they fell, shot through the back by the -rifles of a firing party of Mansur Helmi's regulars, on the 15th July, -1879. Thus did fate overtake Suleiman and his friends. Death had come -upon them treacherously, it is true; but they had abused the authority -with which they had been vested, by their cruelty and ambition they had -wrecked the provinces of Bahr el Ghazal and Darfur, and had reduced the -inhabitants to an unparalleled state of misery and wretchedness. - -Gessi lost no time in sending a telegram to the station at Foga -reporting Suleiman's death and the conclusion of the campaign to Gordon. -This news, as already related, reached me through Ali Bey Sherif the day -I left El Obeid for Darfur. - -Gessi now called on the Shaigias to hand over the Bazingers in their -charge; but they reported that owing to an insufficient guard they had -escaped; and as the story seemed credible, Gessi collected the remainder -of his men, with the intention of proceeding to Bahr el Ghazal, where he -wished to establish a settled form of government, in place of the -constant warfare which had decimated this fertile province. Just before -leaving, he received information that the five chiefs who had left -Rabeh, viz., Abdel Kasim, Musa Jaali, Idris Wad es Sultan, Mohammed -Fadlalla, and Abdel Bayin; were in hiding amongst the Arabs; he -therefore left orders for the Shaigia to search for them, and when -found, to bring them for punishment before the Governor of El Fasher. -Zogal Bey, the Governor of Shakka, was also ordered to do his utmost to -catch these men, with the result that they were discovered without much -difficulty, and brought, with shebas round their necks, to El Fasher, -where Messedaglia Bey, without further ado, had them instantly shot. -Thus, with the exception of Rabeh, the entire Zubeir gang was destroyed, -and the power of the slave-hunters crippled. - -The campaign had resulted in a considerable loss to Government of arms -and ammunition, and in a corresponding acquisition of strength to the -great southern Arab tribes, such as the Baggara, Taisha, Habbania, and -Rizighat, who both before and after the fall of Suleiman had captured -numbers of Bazingers and immense quantities of loot; the subsequent -effects of which were not long in showing themselves. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -RESIDENCE IN DARFUR, AND EARLY HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE. - - Arrival at Om Shanga--Matrimonial Difficulties--A Sudanese - Falstaff--Description of El Fasher--The Furs and the Tago--A - Tale of Love and Perfidy--Founding of the Tungur - Dynasty--Conquest of Darfur by Zubeir Pasha--The Rizighat - Tribe--Quarrel between Zubeir Pasha and the - Governor-General--Both recalled to Cairo--Gordon - Governor-General of the Sudan--I take up my Duties at - Dara--Zogal Bey the Sub-Governor--I undertake a Campaign against - Sultan Harun--Niurnia, Harun's Stronghold in Jebel Mara--I - defeat the Sultan at Rahad en Nabak--Death of Harun--My Meeting - with Dr. Felkin and the Rev. Wilson--My Boy Kapsun--Gordon's - Letter from Abyssinia. - - -I left El Obeid early in July, 1879, in company with Dr. Zurbuchen, the -Sanitary Inspector-General, whom I had met in Cairo; our route took us -through Foga, the telegraph terminus, and here I found a telegram from -Gordon, telling me that he was proceeding on a Mission to King John of -Abyssinia. - -We reached Om Shanga to find it crowded with Gellabas who had been -turned out of the southern districts, and were really in a pitiable -condition. Curiously enough, the news had spread far and wide that I was -Gordon's nephew (I suppose on account of my blue eyes and shaven chin), -and in consequence I was looked upon with some apprehension by these -people, who considered him as the cause of all the troubles which they -were now justly suffering. I was overwhelmed with petitions for support; -but I told them that as Om Shanga was not in my district, I could do -nothing for them,--and even if I could have spared them something from -my private purse, I had neither the desire nor inclination to do so. - -In one case, however, I confess to having broken the rule; but before -relating this little episode, I should explain that my action must not -be judged from the standpoint of purely Christian morality. In this case -I admit to being guilty of even greater moral laxity in regard to the -Moslem marriage law, than is enjoined in the Sharia, or religious law; -but when my readers have finished the story, I think they will perhaps -share the feelings which prompted me to act as I did. Several of the -merchants who had travelled from the Nile called upon me and begged me -to interest myself in the case of an unfortunate youth, a native of -Khartum and only nineteen years of age. They related that before -quitting Khartum he had been betrothed to his beautiful but very poor -young cousin; the parents had consented to the marriage, but he was to -first take a journey and try to make some money. On his arrival at Om -Shanga a very rich old woman took a violent fancy to him. Whether the -youth had been overcome by her riches, my informants did not say, but -the old woman would have her way and had married him; and now, finding -himself comparatively wealthy, he had no particular desire to give her -up. The sad news had reached Khartum, the poor girl was distracted, and -now I was asked to solve the difficulty. What was I to do? I called up -the youth, who was unusually good-looking, and, taking him aside, I -spoke to him with as serious a countenance as I could preserve; I -pointed out how very wrong it was of him, a foreigner, to have married a -strange old woman while his poor _fiancée_ was crying her eyes out at -home, and that even if his cousin's dowry was small, still, in honour -bound, he should keep his promise. He hesitated for a long time, but at -length decided to go before the Kadi (judge of the religious law) and -get a divorce. I had previously seen the Kadi, and had instructed him -that should the youth seek a divorce, it was his duty to break the news -as gently as he could to the old wife, as I was most anxious the -separation should be carried out with as little commotion as possible; -and, taking a guarantee from the young man's relatives that they would -be responsible that he should go direct to Khartum, I warned the -Government official of Om Shanga that the youth was to be banished at -two days' notice! I also told him that he might say what he liked about -me to the old woman, and that I was quite ready to bear the blame, -provided he could get her to give him some money for the journey. Little -did I imagine what a storm I had brought on my devoted head! It was -about four o'clock in the afternoon, and I was lying on my angareb -(native couch) in the little brick hut, when I heard the voice of an -angry woman demanding to see me instantly. I guessed at once who it was, -and, bracing my nerves for the fray, told the orderly to let her in. Dr. -Zurbuchen, who was in the room with me, and whose knowledge of Arabic -was very limited, was most desirous to leave me; but I was by no means -anxious to be left alone with an angry woman, and at length persuaded -him to stay. No sooner was the divorced wife admitted than she rushed up -angrily to Dr. Zurbuchen, whom she mistook for me, and shrieked in a -tone of frantic excitement, "I shall never agree to a divorce. He is my -husband, and I am his wife; he married me in accordance with the -religious law, and I refuse to let him divorce me." Dr. Zurbuchen, -thoroughly startled, muttered in broken Arabic that he had nothing to do -with the case, and meekly pointed to me as the hard-hearted Governor. I -could not help being amused at the extraordinary figure before me. She -was a great strong woman, with evidently a will of her own; and so -furious was she that she had quite disregarded all the rules which -usually apply when Eastern ladies address the opposite sex. Her long -white muslin veil had got twisted round and round her dress, exposing -her particoloured silk headdress, which had fallen on her shoulders; she -had a yellowish complexion, and her face was covered with wrinkles, -while her cheeks were marked by the three tribal slits, about half an -inch apart; in her nose she wore a piece of red coral, massive gold -earrings in her ears, and her greasy hair was twisted into innumerable -little ringlets, which were growing gray with advancing age. I thought I -had never seen a more appalling looking old creature; but my -contemplations were cut short by her screeching voice, which was now -directed on me with renewed fury, and I was confronted with the same -question she had addressed to the terrified doctor. Giving her time to -recover her breath, I replied, "I quite understand what you say, but you -must submit to the inevitable: your husband must leave; and as you are a -native, I cannot permit you to go with him. You appear undesirous of -having a divorce; but you must remember that, in accordance with the -Moslem law, it is for the man to give the woman her divorce papers, and -not the woman the man." - -"Had you not interfered," she shrieked, "he would never have left me. -Cursed be the day you came here!" - -"I beg of you, do not say that," I answered; "you are a woman of means, -and I should not think you would have any difficulty in securing another -and perhaps older husband." - -"I want no other," she literally screamed. - -"Silence!" I said somewhat sharply. "The relatives of your former -husband wish him to leave you; they complained that it was only your -money which bound him to you; and now, whatever you may say, he is to -leave to-morrow. Besides, do you not think it is outrageous that an old -woman like you should have married a young lad who might have been your -grandson?" These last words drove her into a state of perfect frenzy; -and, losing all control over herself, she threw up her hands, tore off -her veil, and what else might have happened I know not, but my kavass -(orderly), hearing the noise, rushed in and quietly but forcibly removed -her from the room, cautioning her that her conduct was disgraceful, and -that she had made a laughing-stock of herself. The following day her -husband left, and I do not doubt her grief was considerable; but some -years later I had the satisfaction of meeting the youth, married to his -early _fiancée_, and already the father of a family; he thanked me -profusely for having got him out of the clutches of the old woman and -brought him to his present happy state. It is needless to relate that I -slept soundly that night, convinced that I had done a good piece of -work, and that it had cost me nothing. - -Two days later we left Om Shanga, and halted for the night at Jebel el -Hella, where we were met by Hassan Bey Om Kadok, the Sheikh of the -northern Berti tribes, who had shown great loyalty and had been granted -by Gordon the rank of Bey. He was a middle-aged man, very stout, with -great broad shoulders and a round, smiling face; he might well have been -called the Sudan "Falstaff." Some years later, when the tables were -turned, and masters became servants, he and I found ourselves together -as orderlies in the Khalifa's body-guard, where his cheerful disposition -and genial nature brightened an existence which at times was almost -unbearable. His brother Ismail was exactly the opposite,--tall, thin, -and serious; and the two brothers never by any chance agreed, except on -one point, and that was their inveterate love of marissa (Sudan beer): -to have each a large jar (made of pottery, and known in Darfur as the -_Dulang asslia_ or _Um bilbil_) of this marissa, and to vie with one -another in emptying it first, was to them the greatest pleasure in life. - -They invited us to sup with them, and for our evening meal an entire -sheep, baked on charcoal, was served up, besides a quantity of roast -fowls and a dish of asida (the latter is somewhat like the Italian -polenta, and is eaten with all the courses); there were also several -jars of marissa. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, leaving the marissa to -our hosts, and substituting for it some of our own red wine. Hassan and -Ismail, however, freely regaled themselves with wine as well as marissa; -the effect on the former being to make him extremely talkative, while -the latter became more and more silent. Hassan related many little -incidents about Gordon, for whom he had the greatest admiration and -regard. He was much grieved to hear he was going to Abyssinia. -"Perhaps," said he, sadly, "he will go back to his own country, and -never return to the Sudan again." Curiously enough, he was partially -correct. He then left the room and returned almost at once, carrying a -magnificent saddle and sword. "Look," said he, "these are the last -presents General Gordon gave me when I accompanied him to El Fasher; he -was most kind and generous." Then Ismail showed us a rich gold -embroidered robe which Gordon had presented to him. "Pride," said -Hassan, "was unknown to Gordon. One day, on our way to El Fasher, one of -the attendants shot a bustard; and when we halted at noon, the cook at -once boiled some water and threw the bird into the pot, so as to take -off its feathers. Gordon, seeing this, went and sat himself down by the -cook and began helping him to pull out the feathers. I at once rushed up -and begged him to allow me to do this for him, but he answered, 'Why -should I be ashamed of doing work? I am quite able to wait on myself, -and certainly do not require a Bey to do my kitchen work for me.'" - -Hassan continued chatting till a late hour. He related his experiences -during Zubeir's conquest of Darfur, then of the subsequent revolts and -the present situation, frequently reverting to Gordon, whom he held in -great honour. "Once, travelling with Gordon," he remarked, "I fell ill, -and Gordon came to see me in my tent. In the course of our conversation -I told him that I was addicted to alcoholic drinks, and that I put down -my present indisposition to being obliged to do without them for the -last few days. This was really my indirect way of asking Gordon to give -me something; but I was mightily disappointed, and, instead, received a -very severe rebuke. 'You a Moslem,' said he, 'and forbidden by your -religion to drink wines and spirits! I am indeed surprised. You should -give up this habit altogether; every one should follow the precepts of -his religion.' I replied, 'Having been accustomed to them all my life, -if I now gave them up my health must suffer; but I will try and be more -moderate in future.' Gordon seemed satisfied, got up, shook hands with -me, and bade me good-bye. The following morning, before leaving, he -sent me three bottles of brandy, with injunctions that I should use them -in moderation." - -Meanwhile Hassan's lanky brother sat in complete silence, leaning on his -elbows and solemnly filling up and swallowing glass after glass of -marissa, with an almost clockwork regularity. When we had stopped -talking, he got up in a very deliberate manner, solemnly wiped his mouth -with his hand, and said in a melancholy tone, "Yes, brandy is very good; -it is not an alcoholic drink, it is medicine. Gordon is a great and -benevolent man; we shall never see him again." - -It was very late before our hosts left us, and, having ordered our -baggage camels to start before daybreak, we had a few hours' sleep. The -next morning at sunrise our riding camels were ready, and Dr. Zurbuchen -and I looked about for our hosts to wish them good-bye. At length we saw -Ismail hurrying towards us; his head was evidently suffering from the -effects of the previous night. "Masters," he shouted, "we have always -been told that in your country justice exists; I am sure that there -guests never wrong their hosts. Last night, when your baggage camels -started, your people carried off my best rug, which I had laid out for -you to lie down on yesterday." I made inquiries, and had no doubt that -one of my men must have made off with the precious rug; so, ordering one -of my kavasses to mount his camel and overtake the caravan, I patiently -awaited his return. In due time he came back with the stolen rug, and, -tied on behind him, one of my eight Black soldiers who belonged to our -escort. On being interrogated, the man said he had taken it by mistake; -but as I had no doubt of his guilt I had him flogged and sent back a -prisoner to the nearest military post at Om Shanga. I was much upset by -the occurrence, for I knew that these people were apt to conclude that -as the master is, so is the servant; and had I not acted with severity -on this occasion I should probably have had a frequent recurrence of -such thefts. - -With profuse apologies to our hosts, we set off for El Fasher, and, -passing through Brush, Abiat, and Ergud, reached there after five days' -march. - -For the last century El Fasher had been chosen as the capital of Darfur. -It is built on two sandy hills running north and south, and separated by -a valley some four hundred yards across, known as the Wadi Tendelti. The -fort is situated on the western hill, and consists of a square mud-brick -enclosure about three feet thick built on the slope, and surrounded with -a ditch fifteen feet deep; at the corners were four small towers, manned -with guns which fired from embrasures. - -This enclosure embraces the Government buildings, Governor's house, -officers' quarters, and men's barracks; but the quarters of the -irregular cavalry are outside. The wells are down in the valley, about -one hundred and fifty yards distant from the walls of the fort. - -At this time Messedaglia Bey, an Italian, was Governor of El Fasher; he -gave Dr. Zurbuchen and myself a cordial welcome, and allotted us -quarters in the Government buildings. We had both suffered somewhat from -fever during our wet march, and therefore decided to rest here for a few -days. - -Darfur was formerly one of the line of ancient Central African kingdoms, -stretching across the continent from west to east. Up to the early part -of the seventeenth century the kings of Darfur had dominion over the -country as far east as the Atbara; but the warlike Fungs, who at that -time were one of the most powerful tribes of the Sudan, gradually drove -the Darfurians back, and established their own authority up to the banks -of the White Nile. In 1770 they wrested the province of Kordofan from -the Darfur kings, but five years later it was retaken by the latter, and -remained under their control until conquered in 1822 by Mohammed Bey -Dafterdar, the brother-in-law of Ismail Pasha, who, it will be -remembered, was burnt alive at Shendi. History has already described the -heroic bravery of the Darfur troops led by Musallem, the Viceroy of -Kordofan, who, with almost all his men, utterly ignorant of the effect -of fire-arms, dashed up to the muzzles of the Turks' guns, and were -annihilated almost to a man. Kordofan thus remained under Egyptian rule -until, in 1883, it fell under the sway of the Mahdi. - -Meanwhile, after the loss of Kordofan the Darfurians retired further to -the west, and the kings now governed only a circumscribed area, of which -Jebel Marra was the centre. The roads through these almost inaccessible -mountains are few and very difficult, and in consequence the place is -one of great strength. Many of the peaks are between six and seven -thousand feet high, and separated from each other by deep and fertile -valleys gradually descending to the plains below. During the rains the -rivulets in these valleys become rushing torrents, and, flowing south -into the main valleys of Wadi Asum and Wadi Ibra, convert them into two -gigantic rivers, the latter emptying into the Bahr el Arab, which -eventually joins the Bahr el Ghazal, and forms the main western -tributary of the White Nile. The streams flowing north from Jebel Marra -have a less rapid descent, and are quickly absorbed in the sandy soil of -the desert. - -In the valleys of Jebel Marra, barley, Turkish wheat, and dukhn are -planted; but in the plains of Darfur only the latter can be grown, and -it is therefore the ordinary food of the inhabitants. In the southern -district it comes to maturity from ninety to a hundred days after being -planted, but in some of the northern districts it ripens even twenty -days earlier. - -The original tribes of the country were the Furs and the Tago, the -latter ruling for centuries over the entire district from their -inaccessible strongholds in Jebel Marra. Tradition relates that about -the fourteenth century, the Tungur Arabs, emigrating south from Tunis, -scattered throughout Bornu and Wadai, and eventually reached Darfur, the -first arrivals being two brothers, Ali and Ahmed, who, with their -flocks, settled on the western slopes of Jebel Marra. Ali, who was older -and better off than his brother, had recently married a beautiful young -girl of his own tribe, and she, in turn, being constantly thrown with -her brother-in-law, who was celebrated for his bravery, conceived a -great fancy for him. One day, when her husband was away, she confessed -her feelings to Ahmed, and implored him to help her out of her misery; -but Ahmed's sentiments of right and honour in regard to his brother's -wife could not be overcome by this appeal, though he promised that her -secret should never be divulged. The girl fell ill, and in her jealous -love determined that her brother-in-law should never marry another; she -therefore called her husband to her side and bade him swear, under a -solemn oath, that he would never disclose what she was about to tell -him, and then she whispered that his brother never ceased making love to -her. Ali, horror-stricken at the thought of the deception of Ahmed, whom -he dearly loved, and to whom he confided everything, was beside himself -with grief; but he could not bring himself to believe entirely in his -brother's perfidy, though the seeds of mistrust were sown. Meanwhile -Ahmed, knowing that his sister-in-law's jealousy was aroused, did all he -could by kindness and sympathy to pacify her and to treat her as if -nothing had happened; the result, of course, being that Ali's suspicion -grew into certainty, and he determined on revenge. He could not bear the -thought of killing him, but wanted to inflict on him some lasting -injury. Two days later, he determined to move camp, and, sending on all -his people with their flocks and herds, he remained behind with his -brother, and began talking to him about ordinary matters. From this they -got into a discussion on arms, and Ali, playfully drawing out his sword, -in an unguarded moment struck Ahmed a blow on his right leg, severing -the tendon Achilles; and then, making off as quickly as he could, he -left his unfortunate brother weltering in his blood, who, too proud to -cry out, calmly awaited death. This Ahmed el Makur (signifies one who is -wounded, applying more especially to the sort of wound he received) was -destined to become the founder of a new dynasty in Darfur, and this is -how it came about. - -Ali, whose love for his brother was not altogether extinguished, sent -two of his slaves, Zayed and Birged (the forefathers of the great -Zayedia and Birged tribes), with two camels, two she-camels, and a few -necessaries, in search of Ahmed, but at the same time he told them that -on no account were they to bring him back. He himself returned to the -west, and, as the story goes, separated soon afterwards from his wife, -as he could not bear the thought of his brother's supposed perfidy. The -slaves, finding Ahmed unconscious from loss of blood, revived him, and -at his request brought him to the nearest native settlement, where he -was well received, and King Kor (the last of the Tago dynasty) was -informed that a foreigner, who had been wounded in the leg by his -brother, was in their village. The king ordered Ahmed to be brought -before him, in order to hear from his own lips the account of this -strange event. Ahmed, however, refused to explain, and the matter -remained a mystery; but he was taken care of and permitted to stay in -the king's household. King Kor, like all his predecessors, was a -heathen; he had become ruler by violence, was utterly ignorant of the -outside world, and did not even know of the existence of any country -outside his own immediate dominions; beyond making occasional raids from -his mountain strongholds on the dwellers in the plains, he seldom left -his hills. This savage old king took a fancy to the stranger, made him -director of his household, and consulted him on all occasions. Gradually -Ahmed rose to power. By judicious management he brought the unruly Tago -chiefs into subjection, and portioned out the land amongst the poorer -inhabitants, thus putting a stop to the constant internal raiding, and -introducing a feeling of security and contentment hitherto quite -unknown. Ahmed during his long journey from Tunis had passed through -many distant kingdoms, and, being a man of sense, he was able to apply -his knowledge in introducing a number of reforms. One of those, still -quoted, is the wonderful change he effected in the king's household. It -had been the custom for centuries for any retainer to take his food at -the time it pleased him, quite regardless of the wants of others. It -therefore frequently happened that, "first come, first served," nothing -remained for the later arrivals, who, in their anger, would fall on -their comrades, and as often as not blood would be shed. Ahmed reformed -all this by establishing a fixed hour for meals, at which all must be -present, with the happy result that peace and tranquillity prevailed. - -In this and a hundred other ways did Ahmed show his capacity, and became -much beloved by the king, who, having no successors, gave him his -favourite daughter as a wife, and before his death nominated him as his -successor to the throne. - -Almost all the inhabitants had a great respect for Ahmed, and on Kor's -death they made him their king. The news spread far and wide, and on it -becoming known to the Tungurs in Bornu and Wadai, they flocked into the -country in such numbers as to partially displace the Tago; and now the -only small settlements left of the former rulers are near Dara, where -there is a Tago Sheikh, and also at Dar Sula, a long way to the west, -where there is a semi-independent ruler called "Sultan Abu Risha et -Tagawi," who is also known as "El Jamus el asfar," or the yellow -buffalo. - -Ahmed el Makur ruled happily for a long period, and a regular male -succession was established. His great grandson was the celebrated Sultan -"Dali," whose mother belonged to the Kera-Fur tribe, and thus -consanguinity was established between the Blacks and the Tungur dynasty. -Dali was a very enlightened ruler; he travelled a great deal, and -collected round him many men who could read and write; he divided the -country into provinces and districts, and wrote the celebrated -"Kitab-Dali," or penal code. The system of government inaugurated by -Dali was carefully followed by his successors, and continued in use up -to the middle of the present century. One of the most noted of the -Darfur rulers was Suleiman, who, being the son of an Arab mother, and -having himself married an Arab woman, took the title of Solong, which -is generally applied to those who consider themselves of Arab descent. -It was through him that the country was definitely moslemised; and his -descendants, up to 1875, proudly boast of their Arab descent, and -entirely ignore the Black element, which undoubtedly is there, and which -may be said to show itself in the bitter hatred which has always existed -between the ruling Darfur family and the nomad Arabs. - -In accordance with Dali's code, the descent should devolve on the eldest -son; but gradually the custom obtained of selecting one of the sons -(provided he was in the direct line) who happened to be the most popular -in the estimation of the court dignitaries, and especially in that of -the "Abu Sheikh," the name given to the principal eunuch of the royal -household. A rigorous exclusion was exercised over all sons who were -addicted to alcohol or marissa. - -Suleiman was succeeded by his son Musa, and the latter by his son Ahmed -Bakr, who did all in his power to introduce foreigners into the country, -as he hoped thereby to benefit his people. He was succeeded by his son -Mohammed Dura, who is said to have had over a hundred brothers, of whom -he caused fifty to be killed on coming to the throne; he is also -credited with having killed his eldest son, whom he suspected of having -pretensions to make himself king. - -On his death his son Omar Leila succeeded, and he also was as unpopular -as his father. He took command of the Darfur army which invaded Wadai, -and was killed, being succeeded by his uncle, Abu el Kasem, who, with -his brothers Mohammed Terab and Abderrahman, was amongst those who had -escaped the slaughter when Mohammed Dura came to the throne. Abu el -Kasem showed a great inclination to the Blacks, and incurred, in -consequence, the hostility of his relations, who urged him to take the -field against Wadai, and, having advanced, suddenly deserted him with -the army, leaving him the Blacks only. It is said by some that he was at -once killed in the battle which ensued, while others state that he -remained for some time in Wadai, and then returned to attack his -brother, Mohammed Terab, by whom he had been succeeded. The latter -proved himself a capable and energetic ruler, but towards the close of -his reign he conceived the idea of enlarging his dominions and restoring -the country to its early limits, which, it will be remembered, extended -as far as the Atbara. He therefore issued a decree declaring war against -the Fungs, and advanced with his brother Abderrahman and a mass of -warriors, both horsemen and spearmen, in an easterly direction. -Eventually they arrived at Omdurman, the present Dervish capital of the -Sudan, and, to their surprise, found their further progress stopped by -the Nile. The inhabitants had removed all the boats, so the construction -of a bridge was attempted; but to cross a rapid river six hundred yards -broad, was a task beyond the powers of the Darfur king, who remained -stationary for months at Omdurman, vainly making attempt after attempt -to overcome this impassable obstacle. At length the chiefs, despairing -of success, approached the king, and urged that the army should return -to Kordofan and Darfur; but the latter, furious at his failure, -threatened any one with death who should show any inclination to -retreat. The leaders, however, were not to be baffled; secretly -arranging with the king's favourite wife, Khadija, they convinced her -that she would be performing a public service by poisoning her husband's -food, which she did, nothing loath, and Abderrahman succeeded to the -throne. - -The stone walls erected by Sultan Mohammed Terab are to be seen to this -day at the south end of Omdurman. His body was embalmed, taken to Bara, -and conveyed thence to Tura, in Jebel Marra, some thirty-five miles west -of El Fasher, the burial-place of the old Darfur sultans. - -Abderrahman and the army returned to Darfur to find that Mohammed -Terab's son, Ishaak, who had been appointed regent, refused to -acknowledge his authority; with the result that a battle took place, in -which Ishaak was killed. - -Abderrahman's favourite wife was a certain Umbusa, of the Begu tribe. -This tribe had emigrated from Bahr el Ghazal many years before, had -settled in Darfur, and had been granted lands by the kings, on condition -that they should annually supply a beautiful girl for the royal harem. -The Begus are a purely African race, descended from the Monolké family, -and Umbusa, besides being a great beauty, was endowed with exceptionally -high qualities, which induced Abderrahman to raise her to the status of -a legal wife; and in his advanced age she bore him a son, who was named -Mohammed el Fadl. - -It was during Abderrahman's reign that the traveller Browne visited -Darfur, and it was this Sultan who in 1799 sent an address of -congratulation to Napoleon, then campaigning in Lower Egypt, and -received from him in return a present of two thousand Black slaves. -During his reign also the nominal capital of Kobbé was abandoned for El -Fasher, which henceforth became the royal residence. - -Abderrahman, before his death, placed his son in charge of the chief -eunuch, Abu Sheikh Kura, who had originally been a slave, but had risen -to a high position in the royal household; and at the age of thirteen, -the youth succeeded to the throne. It is related that when Abderrahman -died, Umbusa's father, Omar, was tending the flocks in Dar Begu, some -fifty miles southwest of El Fasher, when suddenly a messenger was seen -galloping a horse covered with foam, which fell dead before reaching -him: the messenger, rushing forward, cried, "I bring you the glad -tidings that the son of your noble daughter Umbusa was made Sultan of -Darfur five days ago." Without saying a word, Omar broke with his foot -the wall of the dabarek,[1] and caused the water to flow over the sand, -and then shouted, "No more shall the flocks of my family water at this -well, for the great and merciful God has chosen my grandson to be ruler -over Darfur;" and, saying this, he at once distributed his herds amongst -those present, and then without delay proceeded to his grandson at El -Fasher. - -Mohammed el Fadl's first step as Sultan was to declare his mother's -tribe as free for ever, the annual tribute of a girl was no longer to be -exacted, and buying and selling of Begus was made a crime punishable by -death. For some four years the young king, under the guidance of Kura, -ruled with energy and justice; but now intrigues crept in: it was -whispered by some that Kura aimed at supreme power, while others -asserted that the king was doing his utmost to deprive him of his -authority; mutual mistrust, resulting in an open quarrel, prevailed, and -in a fight which took place on the Rahad River, Kura was defeated, taken -prisoner, and instantly executed. - -After this, Mohammed el Fadl determined to coerce the proud Arab tribes -who hesitated to comply with his orders and who frequently attempted to -shake off the Darfurian yoke. His first step was to despatch the -official in charge of Dara to the Beni Helba Arabs, who had refused to -pay tribute; these were speedily coerced, and almost all their property -confiscated; he then turned to the Ereikat tribe,--one of the most -powerful in Darfur,--and these also were soon reduced to complete -submission; but to subjugate the great Rizighat tribe was a more -difficult matter. This was the most warlike and powerful tribe in the -country. Several centuries ago an Arab from the far west named Ruzeik -and his three sons, Mahmud, Maher, and Nueib, with their families, -flocks, and herds, emigrated to the southern districts of Darfur; here -in the vast forests they found abundance of food for themselves, and in -these dense and pathless regions they were safe from intrusion. As time -went on their numbers rapidly increased, and, being joined by numerous -smaller tribes, they became a power in the land, and the Sultans of -Darfur were unable to gain their entire submission. Moreover, the -districts they peopled were infested in winter by the Um Bogone (a kind -of insect somewhat resembling the tsetse fly), which killed off the -cattle. - -Mohammed Fadl now decided that the only way to deal with the Rizighat -was to completely surround them; by degrees their forests were encircled -by myriads of Darfurians, and gradually the human chain closed in on the -luckless tribesmen, who were slaughtered wholesale. At length some -captives, being brought before the Sultan, were asked where the main -body of the Rizighat was to be found. "Sire," they answered, "we have -all been separated and dispersed amongst your own army;" whereupon the -Sultan issued orders to his chiefs that all men of over thirty years of -age wearing beards were to be slain; and after this order had been -carried out, the survivors, who were all young men, and some thousands -in number, were brought before him. These he classified according to -their original families, and divided them into two sections: the first -section were allowed to take back their captured wives and children and -a proportion of their cattle, and were permitted to remain in their -country; also to each widow whose husband had been killed in battle a -milch-cow and an ox were given. - -The second division, which was composed principally of the descendants -of the families of Mohammed, Maher, and Nueib, were ordered to move into -the northern districts of Darfur, and to occupy the lands formerly owned -by the now almost exterminated Ereikat tribe. This section eventually -developed into the powerful tribes now known as the Mahamid, Maheria, -and Nueiba, who are, of course, the blood-relatives of the Rizighat, who -are, in their turn, a division of the Baggara, or cattle-owning Arabs of -the Western Sudan. - -Mohammed el Fadl died early in 1838, and was succeeded by his son, -Mohammed Hussein, who did his utmost to recover the popularity which his -father had lost; about the year 1856, however, he became blind, and -delegated most of his official work to his eldest sister, Iya Basi -Zemzem,--it being an ancient Darfur custom that the eldest sister of the -reigning Sultan should receive the title of Iya Basi, and exercise a -certain political influence. This worthy lady was both extravagant and -immoral; the conduct of her court was notorious, and absorbed most of -the state revenues. At this period the provinces of Bahr el Ghazal were -subject to Darfur, and the Black tribes paid tribute of slaves and ivory -to the Sultans. It often happened that the payment of this tribute was -delayed, and this at once offered a pretext for a raid, in which the -Darfurians invariably obtained large quantities of spoil. The ivory and -many of the slaves were sold to the Egyptian merchants who travelled -along the Arbaïn road between Assiut and Darfur, and for these, Turkish -and European wares were exchanged. This trade was most lucrative on both -sides, and gradually quantities of gold-brocaded stuffs, richly -caparisoned saddles, silk embroideries, and other articles of luxury -found their way into Darfur, besides quantities of jewellery as well as -arms and ammunition. - -And now we come to the period when the famous Zubeir Pasha enters on the -scenes. A member of the Gemiab section of the Jaalin tribe, he quitted -Khartum as a young man, and went south in search of a fortune. Already -several merchants and slave-traders were established in the White Nile -and Bahr el Ghazal districts, and the young Zubeir became the assistant -of the well-known Ali Abu Amuri, so often mentioned by Sir Samuel Baker. -Affairs prospered with him, and eventually he was able to set up an -independent establishment, or zariba, of his own,--his labours lay, so -to speak, in virgin soil; with well-armed bands of natives he gradually -succeeded in annexing territories and amassing quantities of ivory and -slaves, which he exchanged with the Nile merchants for arms and -ammunition. I do not think Zubeir Pasha was any worse or any better than -the hundreds of other merchants occupied in a traffic which at that time -was considered perfectly legitimate; but there is no doubt that he was a -man of iron will, and of an energy and intelligence far above the -average; and to these qualities may be attributed his ultimate success -as an ivory and slave dealer. It is not my intention to describe the -various steps by which he became practically ruler of the Bahr el -Ghazal; it will be sufficient for my present purpose to say that at the -time of which I write he had become one of the most powerful men in the -Sudan, and it was not long before the tottering kingdom of Darfur fell -bodily into his hands; and this is how it came about. - -Zubeir, gradually extending his conquests into the northern districts of -Bahr el Ghazal, began to encroach on those regions which were tributary -to the Sultan of Darfur, and, anxious to avoid a quarrel, he wrote to -Sultan Hussein to the effect that Blacks who had no masters, and were -heathens, were, in accordance with the law of the Prophet, the fair -spoil of the Moslems; to which Hussein replied that he, too, being a -descendant of the ancient line, claimed similar rights to deal with -Black slaves and horse-dealers. By this latter epithet he referred to -Zubeir, whom he classed amongst the other Jaalin known to the Darfurians -as vendors of Dongola horses. - -Zubeir, however, was not to be thwarted, and year by year his influence -increased, until he had complete possession of all the Bahr el Ghazal -districts which had paid tribute to Darfur. The effect of this on the -luxury-loving Darfurians was painfully evident. They saw their main -source of ivory and slave supplies cut off, and to meet the Government -expenditure increased taxation was enforced, which resulted in -widespread discontent. - -At this time there lived in Sultan Hussein's palace a certain Mohammed -Belali of the Belalia tribe, which is settled partly in Wadai and partly -in Bornu. This man was a fiki, or religious teacher, and claimed noble -descent, thereby ingratiating himself with Hussein, much to the -annoyance of Iya Basi and the Vizir Ahmed Shata, who resented his -interference, and eventually induced the Sultan to drive him out of the -country. - -[Illustration: Zubeir Pasha.] - -Breathing threats of vengeance, he proceeded to Khartum and informed the -Government of the immense riches and fertility of the province of Bahr -el Ghazal and the Hofret en Nahas district, which no longer belonged to -Darfur, and were now without a ruler. The astute Belali, whose sole -object was to injure Sultan Hussein for having driven him out of the -country, conceived this plot, which was destined to bring about a war -with Darfur. Thoroughly trusted by the ignorant Khartum authorities, he -was despatched, in company with Kutshuk Ali, who commanded some -bashi-bozuks and two hundred regulars, to take possession of those -supposed rulerless regions. As may be imagined, Zubeir looked with no -friendly eye on the intrigues of this upstart; but, with his far-seeing -astuteness, he watched and waited patiently for the further development -of his rival's plans. Meanwhile Kutshuk Ali died suddenly, and was -replaced by Haj Ali Abu Nurein; and, at the instigation of the latter, -Belali, emboldened by Zubeir's inaction, proceeded to seize some large -stores of grain which he had prepared for his Bazingers. Zubeir did not -hesitate to seize this chance, and, falling on him suddenly, drove him -and his men off with some loss. Belali now collected as many men as he -could, and made a determined attack on Zubeir's zariba, but was again -repulsed. Severely wounded himself, he fled to Ganda, where he was -pursued, captured by Zubeir's men, and taken back to the zariba, where -he died. - -Zubeir, however, was not slow to perceive that his action in this matter -might have serious consequences. He therefore did all in his power to -show that Belali was entirely to blame for what had occurred, and, by -making valuable presents to Belali's men as well as to those in -authority, he succeeded in having the matter reported to Khartum in its -most favourable aspect, with the result that he received a full pardon, -and was appointed Governor of Bahr el Ghazal. - -Soon afterwards he confidentially pointed out to the Governor-General -that great discontent prevailed in the neighbouring State of Darfur, and -that he had relations with some of the principal dignitaries who would -gladly see the country annexed to Egypt; and he also volunteered to -carry this out without further assistance from the Government. After -much deliberation his proposal was at length agreed to, and early in -1873 he made preparations to seize Shakka. - -Let us turn now for a moment to the Rizighat. For years following on the -terrible treatment they had received at the hands of the Darfur Sultan, -they remained quiet and submissive, but gradually, as the governing -power in Darfur grew weak, they recovered in proportion, and again -assumed a semi-independent position between Darfur and Bahr el Ghazal. -Attempts were made to collect taxes from them, but they almost -invariably drove off the tax-gatherers, and in one of these raids the -Vizir Adam Tarbush, one of the principal Darfur commanders, lost his -life,--curiously enough at the very spot where, some years later, I was -destined to suffer a heavy defeat at the hands of the Dervishes. - -On another occasion the Rizighat had fallen on a large caravan coming -from the Nile and Kordofan to Bahr el Ghazal, with which were a number -of Zubeir's relatives, almost all of whom were killed. Zubeir, rightly -considering that the Rizighat owed allegiance to the Sultan of Darfur, -called on the latter for compensation for the losses he had sustained; -but the Sultan either would not or could not give it, and Zubeir now -openly gave out that, being unable to obtain satisfaction, he had -determined to punish the Rizighat,--being well aware that this must lead -to the fulfilment of the project to annex Darfur. - -Meanwhile early in 1873 Sultan Hussein had died and had been succeeded -by his son, who was nicknamed by the Darfurians Ibrahim Kuiko. I may -here mention that some years later, when residing at El Fasher as -Governor, I made the acquaintance of the celebrated Fiki Mohammed el -Heliki, who, though a Fellata by race, had been born there, and was -infinitely the best authority on the former history of Darfur. It -greatly interested one to talk to this man, and I made a mass of notes -which, with many other interesting records, fell subsequently into the -hands of the Mahdists, and were burnt. I well remember Fiki Mohammed one -day telling me the following story: "Three years," he began, "before -the death of my master, Sultan Hussein,--may God give him peace,--I was -talking to him about the present and future of the country. Bowing down -his head and supporting it in his hand,--for the poor man had been blind -for the last thirteen years,--he said, 'I feel that my country and the -throne of my ancestors are about to be overthrown; God grant I may not -live to see that day! Already I seem to hear the trumpets of the Turks -and the distant sound of the ombeÿa blown by the Bahhara.[2] May God -have mercy on my son Ibrahim and on my unfortunate descendants!'" The -fiki then went on to tell me that in spite of his old age and blindness, -Sultan Hussein well knew the state of corruption of his country, and how -impossible it was for him to check it; he realised the growing desire of -the Egyptians to increase their conquests, and he instinctively knew -that Zubeir and his Bazingers would be their instruments. He was a wise -man, he said, and though God had deprived him of sight, He had sharpened -his intellect. - -Zubeir now lost no time in beginning operations. Quitting his fortified -post of Dem Zubeir with a considerable force, he advanced towards -Shakka, and on reaching the southern frontiers of Darfur he was joined -by some of the principal chiefs of the Rizighat, such as Madibbo, Egeil -Wad el Jangawi, and several of their men, who, being well acquainted -with the districts, acted as his spies and scouts, and considerably -facilitated his advance through their country, which was hostile. - -Attacked incessantly by the Arabs, and suffering greatly from sickness -and privations, Zubeir's force advanced steadily, and at length reached -Abu Sigan, which is the centre of the Shakka district. There he learnt -that Sultan Ibrahim had despatched a strong force against him, under his -Vizir (and father-in-law, Ahmed Shata, Ibrahim having married his -daughter, Um Giddein). The latter, since the accession of his -son-in-law, had grown discontented, and showed much reluctance in -taking command of the expedition against Zubeir. He had told his friends -he did not seek victory, but preferred to die honourably in the field -rather than continue to live under the new rule. Zubeir meanwhile -strengthened his position at Shakka, and made all preparations for the -impending attack. He now received from the Rizighat a truly -characteristic Arab message: "The army of the Sultan of Darfur is -advancing. You and they are our enemies. When you begin fighting, we -shall remain neutral. If you are defeated, we shall harass you on your -retreat, and shall kill you all. If you conquer, then shall we mount our -swift horses, follow up the Darfurians, and share with you the booty." -Zubeir was quite satisfied with this arrangement, and patiently awaited -events. In the early dawn his outposts saw in the far distance the great -Darfur army advancing, led by the warriors in coats of mail, wearing -chain helmets, and mounted on richly caparisoned horses, whose gold and -silver trappings glittered in the morning sun. In front of all, advanced -the Vizir Ahmed Shata, as if seeking death. Zubeir withdrew all his men -within the intrenchments, and when the Darfur host had approached -sufficiently near, he opened a deadly fire on them. The Vizir's horse -was instantly shot; but, mounting another, he continued to advance until -he fell, riddled with bullets; and with him many of his relations and -members of his household, including Melek Sad en Nur and Melek en Nahas -(the chief of the copper drums), whom the Sultan had placed as his -second in command. - -Deprived of their leaders, the troops retired, and Zubeir seized the -opportunity to make a counter attack on their flank, which broke up the -army, and caused it to disperse in all directions. Instantly, from -behind the trees, dashed clouds of Rizighat horsemen, who slaughtered -the flying Darfurians, capturing immense quantities of valuable loot, -and now they entirely threw in their lot with the conquerors, with the -certainty that they would reap considerable benefit. - -[Illustration: A Rizighat Warrior.] - -The few who succeeded in escaping the massacre fled to Dara, while -Zubeir sent messages to El Obeid and Khartum, announcing the victory, -and asking for the reinforcements of troops and guns which, in the event -of his success, the authorities had agreed to place at his disposal. In -due time these arrived, and he continued his advance towards Dara, his -flank being covered by the advance of the Governor-General from El Obeid -to Om Shanga, at the head of three thousand regulars and a number of -irregular horsemen. - -With the exception of one small skirmish, Zubeir entered Dara unopposed, -to find it completely deserted. Erecting a small fort on the sand-hill, -he awaited the attack of Sultan Ibrahim's sons; but the latter, at the -head of a considerable force, merely reconnoitred the position, and, -returning to their father at El Fasher, urged him to lead his troops -against Zubeir. Ibrahim now collected every available man; but large as -were his hosts, there were few amongst them ready to lay down their -lives for their ruler. At the head of his army, the Sultan advanced to -some houses which had belonged to the late Vizir, and which were almost -within range of the sand-hill, while Zubeir withdrew his troops into -Dara, where he had made all preparations for a siege, and had collected -a large store of grain. - -Wishing to make a close inspection of Zubeir's position, Ibrahim, with a -portion of his force, approached the town, and was met by a storm of -bullets which killed several of his men, and forced him to retire. The -remainder of his force, seeing what appeared to them to have been an -attack by the Sultan on Zubeir's position, which had failed, made some -mocking remarks within his hearing. Burning with anger, he ordered some -of his riflemen to advance and fire on his own troops, who were retiring -on the camp, with the result that several were killed and wounded, and -the remainder dispersed, while many of those within the camp took -advantage of the confusion to desert to their homes. - -Thus was Sultan Ibrahim the means of the destruction of his own army. -And this incident subsequently lost him his kingdom and his life. - -He now ordered what remained of his army to retire to Manawashi, making -his chiefs believe that by this movement Zubeir would be drawn out of -Dara, and he would be able to attack him in the open; but his men had -now lost all confidence in him, and his army was still further reduced -by numerous desertions. Zubeir, who had full information from his spies -of what was going on in the Sultan's camp, now followed him to -Manawashi, and formed up in battle array, awaiting attack. His arrival -was the signal for a general scuttle; men, women, and children fled in -all directions; and Ibrahim, knowing that all was lost, determined to -die an honourable death. Donning his coat of mail and helmet, and -accompanied by his sons, the Kadi, and a few servants, all mounted on -their magnificently trapped steeds, they sallied forth, and with drawn -swords dashed at the enemy. Cutting his way through the first line of -Bazingers, Ibrahim shouted, "Fein sidkum ez Zubeir?" (Where is your -master, Zubeir?), and then made for the spot where Zubeir, dressed like -his own men, was directing a gun against the assailants; but he had only -gone forward a few steps when he and his little party fell, riddled with -bullets. Thus perished the last of the long line of kings of Darfur, who -had ruled this vast country and its millions of inhabitants -uninterruptedly for centuries. - -Zubeir ordered the dead Sultan to be treated with the greatest respect. -The fikis of Manawashi were directed to wash the body in accordance with -the religious rites; and, wrapped in a costly shroud, it was buried with -all honour in the mosque of the town. - -He now lost no time in informing the Governor-General, then at Om -Shanga, of the victory; and the latter, anxious that the rich plunder of -the province should not fall into Zubeir's hands, hurried forward -without delay. - -Meanwhile, Zubeir, advancing rapidly, arrived at El Fasher in two days, -and took possession of the royal treasures, as well as quantities of -silver-embossed saddles, arms, jewellery, and thousands of female -slaves, whom he distributed amongst his men. - -A few days afterwards, Ismail Pasha, the Governor-General, arrived, but -he was too late; the greater quantity of treasure had already been -distributed, though Zubeir, by offering him costly presents, did all he -could to secure his friendship. There is no doubt, however, that this -episode was the commencement of the quarrel between the two men, which -eventually developed into mutual deadly hatred. - -The work of subduing the remainder of the country now began. Hasaballa, -the old uncle of Sultan Ibrahim, had taken refuge in Jebel Marra, and -Ismail Pasha ordered Zubeir to advance against him. It was not long -before he succeeded in obtaining the submission of both him and the late -Sultan's brother, Abderrahman Shattut, both of whom were subsequently -sent to Cairo,--and they died there; but their families are residing at -the present time in Upper Egypt, and are in receipt of a liberal pension -from the Government. Several of their adherents, however, still held out -in Jebel Marra, and, electing two younger brothers of Sultan Hussein, -viz., Bosh and Seif ed Din, as their leaders, they showed a -determination to resist. Bosh's first step was to send a certain -Gabralla, of the Fur tribe, as a spy to Zubeir's camp. This man enjoyed -the entire confidence of his chief, who had given him in marriage his -beautiful daughter, Um Selima, in spite of the opposition of the family. -Gabralla, on reaching Zubeir's camp, fell an easy prey to that astute -warrior. The promise of pardon and a high position under the Government -were quite sufficient inducements to him to betray his father-in-law and -give the fullest information as to his position and strength. He then -returned to Bosh, whom he advised to remain where he was, as Zubeir's -troops were suffering much from the cold and disease, and he had no -intention to attack. Zubeir was, however, following in Gabralla's -footsteps, and on a given signal, previously arranged between them, -Bosh's camp was suddenly surprised, and easily fell into his hands, -though Bosh and Seif ed Din succeeded in escaping to Kebkebia, where -they again collected a force. Zubeir, however, followed them up, and in -the pitched battle which ensued, both leaders were killed, and the last -remnant of the Darfur force finally dispersed, leaving the country -entirely in the hands of the Egyptian Government. - -Zubeir, now promoted to the rank of Pasha, returned to El Fasher, where -Ismail Pasha was occupied in regulating the administration of the -country and freely levying taxes; and it was not long before serious -differences between the two men arose. - -Zubeir, having conquered the country, was somewhat resentful that its -government had not been confided to him, while Ismail, anxious to free -himself from the incubus of Zubeir, ordered him to occupy Dara and -Shakka with his troops; but the latter, angry at the treatment he had -received, despatched a message from Dara, _via_ El Obeid, to H. H. the -Khedive, Ismail Pasha, begging to be allowed to come to Cairo. -Permission was immediately accorded to him and any others who wished to -proceed; and Zubeir, having appointed his son Suleiman as his agent, -started without delay, taking with him numbers of male and female slaves -and valuable presents. Travelling by Khartum and Korosko, he at length -reached Cairo, where he was cordially received, and lost no time in -laying before the Khedive his grounds of complaint against Ismail Pasha -Ayub. The latter was, in consequence, summoned to Egypt, and made -several charges against Zubeir, with the result that both were kept in -Cairo. - -Meanwhile, Hassan Pasha Helmi el Juwaizer had been appointed the -representative of the Government in Darfur, and it was not long before -the inhabitants began to settle down under the new system. They were -tired of the arbitrary rule of the Sultans, and longed for change; but -they soon discovered that if their kings had chastised them with whips, -their new rulers, in the shape of Zubeir's Bazingers and the crowds of -irregular Shaigias and dishonest Egyptian officials, who swarmed into -the country, chastised them with scorpions. - -It was not long before the most bitter discontent prevailed throughout -the country, and already there appeared signs of revolt. Electing Harun -er Reshid, the son of Seif ed Din, as their Sultan, they secretly -planned the massacre of several of the small outlying garrisons, and in -an incredibly short space of time the larger towns of Dara, El Fasher, -Kebkebia, and Kulkul were closely invested. At El Fasher, the fort was -twice almost successfully stormed, and on one occasion the Governor, -feeling that it must fall, had made all preparations to blow up the -powder magazine and destroy himself and his garrison; but fortunately -the troops, after a desperate encounter, succeeded in driving the enemy -out of the position. - -Meanwhile the Khartum authorities lost no time in sending a relieving -force under Abd er Razzak Pasha, which, reinforced at El Obeid, advanced -to Darfur by forced marches, and at a place called Brush, midway between -Om Shanga and El Fasher, they inflicted a heavy defeat on the rebels. -Pushing on rapidly, El Fasher was relieved a few days later, -reinforcements were sent to Kebkebia and Kulkul, and the country was -once more made subject to the Egyptian Government. - -On the recall of Ismail Pasha Ayub, Gordon was appointed -Governor-General of the Sudan, and, as I have already related, he -thought it expedient to visit Darfur without delay. In fact, when he -reached El Fasher, Kebkebia, and Kulkul, the revolt was only partially -suppressed; but, utterly fearless, he rode with only a small escort all -over the country, and frequently placed himself in positions of extreme -danger, from which his pluck and presence of mind alone saved him. From -El Fasher he visited Dara, and by his kindness and sympathy with the -people he succeeded in a large measure in quieting the districts; with a -mere handful of men and the assistance of a few Rizighat Arabs he -completely quelled the Mima and Khawabir Arabs, who were the most -restless and independent tribes in the country, and gradually through -his efforts peace was once more established throughout the land. - -Sultan Harun with a few followers had taken refuge in the wilds of Jebel -Marra, where they had been followed by Hassan Pasha Helmi, who twice -defeated them, at Murtal and Murtafal, and had pursued the survivors as -far as Niurnia. - -Gordon now turned his attention to the establishment of a Government -administration; his first step was to remit the greater part of the -taxes, which, owing to the war, could not possibly have been paid, and -he gave strict injunctions to the officials to deal leniently with the -people, warning them that any disregard of his orders in this respect -would be dealt with very severely. In order to equalise revenue and -expenditure as far as possible, he reduced the Darfur garrison -considerably, sending back to El Obeid and Khartum a large number of the -regular infantry and cavalry who had been despatched to quell the late -revolt. These economical measures, although undoubtedly very necessary -in the interests of the new province, had subsequently a most disastrous -effect. - -Official business obliged him to return to Khartum, leaving Hassan Pasha -Helmi as Governor; and the latter, four months before my arrival, was -relieved by Messedaglia Bey, who had been Governor of Dara for a few -months. - -Harun, meanwhile, had somewhat recovered himself, and established a -species of independent rule in Niurnia, which had been in early times -the capital of the Tago princes; from thence he would occasionally -descend to the plains and raid the villages which had submitted to -Government, returning laden with booty to his stronghold. - -Such was briefly the state of the province of Darfur when I arrived at -El Fasher. The garrison of this town consisted of two battalions of -regulars, two batteries of field artillery, and two hundred and fifty -irregular Shaigia horsemen, under Omar Wad Darho; at Dara there was one -battalion of regulars, one field battery, fifty irregular horsemen, and -two hundred irregular riflemen, or Bazingers; while in Kebkebia and -Kulkul there were six companies of regulars, four hundred Bazingers, and -twenty-five horsemen. - -After a few days' rest at El Fasher, Dr. Zurbuchen and I continued our -journey to Dara, and were accompanied a short distance along the road by -Messedaglia Bey, who told us that his wife was coming to Khartum, and -that he was asking for leave of absence to go and meet her there and -bring her to El Fasher. I suggested that it would be advisable to wait -till Sultan Harun had been dealt with before bringing his wife so far; -but Messedaglia replied there was not the least cause for fear, and that -there were now quite sufficient troops in the country to suppress any -local difficulties. I had heard, however, that Harun's influence was -considerable, and that there was some apprehension that the now reduced -Government forces might be hard pressed. Having only just come to the -country and having had no previous experience, it was of course -impossible for me to judge; I therefore accepted Messedaglia's views on -the situation, and, bidding him and Said Bey Guma, the commandant, -farewell, we hurried on towards Dara, our road taking us through Keriut, -Ras el Fil, and Shieria. - -Zurbuchen was a very much older-looking man than myself, with a long -black beard and spectacles, whilst I looked perhaps even younger than I -was. The hair on my upper lip had scarcely begun to sprout, and -altogether I had a most boyish face; consequently wherever we went he -was invariably taken for the Governor, and I for the doctor or -apothecary. As we approached the end of our journey, the doctor, who was -suffering from fever, had to ride slowly, and to save time for official -work, I rode on slightly ahead, and happened to reach the village of -Shieria (a day's march from Dara) a little before the appointed time. I -found the villagers busily preparing for our reception, the houses were -being swept out, straw mats laid down, and the Kadi and Sheikh had -spread out their carpets, on which the new Governor was to repose. -Making my camel kneel down, I got off, and to inquiries as to who I was, -I answered, "One of the new Governor's escort;" having previously warned -the rest of my escort to say nothing. The inquisitive villagers now -assailed me with innumerable questions. "What sort of man is the new -Governor?" said one. "Oh," I replied, "I think he will do his best, and -I believe he is inclined to be just and easy going." "But is he brave -and kind-hearted," said another. This was rather a puzzling question to -answer, so I replied guardedly, "He does not look as if he were afraid, -but I haven't yet heard much about his courage; he has a manly -appearance, and I believe he is kind-hearted; but of course it is -impossible for him to satisfy every one." "Ah!" said another, "if we -only had a governor like Gordon Pasha, then the country would indeed be -contented; he never ceased to distribute money and presents, and never -sent the poor and needy away without giving them something. I only once -heard him say some harsh words, and that was when Suleiman Zubeir was at -Dara, and when he turned to the Kadi, saying that there were several bad -characters amongst the Sudanese, and that it did not always do to treat -them leniently." "Yes," chimed in the Kadi, "I heard him say so myself; -but he referred only to the Gellabas and traders who came from the Nile, -and who were implicated with Zubeir and his son in every description of -unlawful trade by which they could benefit themselves." - -"Gordon was indeed a brave man," said the Sheikh of the village, who -introduced himself as Muslem Wad Kabbashi, "I was one of his chiefs in -the fight against the Mima and Khawabir Arabs: it was in the plain of -Fafa and a very hot day. The enemy had charged us and had forced back -the first line, and their spears were falling thick around us; one came -within a hair's breadth of Gordon, but he did not seem to mind it at -all, and the victory we won was entirely due to him and his reserve of -one hundred men. When the fight was at its worst, he found time to light -a cigarette. Never in my life did I see such a thing; and then the -following day, when he divided the spoil, no one was forgotten, and he -kept nothing for himself. He was very tender-hearted about women and -children, and never allowed them to be distributed, as is our custom in -war; but he fed and clothed them at his own expense, and had them sent -to their homes as soon as the war was over. One day," continued the -Sheikh, "without letting him know, we put some women aside; but if he -had found us out, we should have had a bad time of it." - -After a short pause, I inquired about affairs in Dara and about the -qualifications of the various officials; for I had already heard that -they were very unreliable, and I was now told that they looked on my -advent with no friendly eye. - -Meanwhile Dr. Zurbuchen and the rest of the caravan had arrived, and at -once the Sheikh, Kadi, and other village dignitaries lined up in a -semi-circle to receive him, while I, concealing myself as much as -possible, awaited with amusement to hear what Muslem Wad Kabbashi would -say; he began with warm welcome to the new Governor, praised his -qualifications, and eloquently described the joy of all his people at -his arrival. Poor Dr. Zurbuchen, whose comprehension of Arabic was very -slight, became more and more perplexed. "Indeed I am not the Governor," -he urged, "I am only the Sanitary Inspector. The Governor must have -arrived long ago; but as he had only a few people with him, perhaps he -has been mistaken for some one else." I now thought it time to step -forward, and laughingly thanked the villagers for their kind reception, -assuring them that I would do all in my power to satisfy their wants, -and that at the same time I looked to them to assist me in seeing my -orders carried out. Of course they made the most profuse apologies for -the mistake; but I assured them there was not the least necessity for -their doing so. I was anxious, I said, to be on the most intimate and -friendly terms with all of them, and I hoped they would allow the same -friendly relations to continue. From that day forth, Sheikh Muslem Wad -Kabbashi became one of my most faithful friends, and continued to be -so, in times of joy and sorrow, until I left the country. - -This little episode had given us all a hearty appetite, and we sat down -to an excellent meal of roast mutton; and that over, we were again in -the saddle, bivouacking for the night under a large tree about two -hours' march from Dara. At sunrise the next morning I sent on a -messenger to announce our approach, and on reaching the outskirts we -were given a great military reception, the garrison was drawn up in line -and a salute of seven guns fired, after which the troops filed off to -their barracks, and, accompanied by Major Hassan Helmi, the commandant, -Zogal Bey, the Sub-Governor, the Kadi, and some of the principal -merchants, we proceeded to the fort in which the Government buildings -are situated. The inspection lasted about half an hour, and I then went -to my own quarters, in which I had ordered rooms to be prepared for Dr. -Zurbuchen, who was to be my guest for a few days. - -Dara, which is the capital of Southern Darfur, is built in the midst of -a large plain of partly sand and partly clay soil, the fort itself being -on the top of a low sand-hill,--in fact, on the same spot in which -Zubeir Pasha had entrenched himself when invading the country. It was a -rectangular stone enclosure twelve feet high, about five hundred yards -long and three hundred yards broad, with flanking towers at each corner, -and surrounded by a broad ditch twelve feet deep. The troops were -quartered in huts built along the inside of the enclosure, and in the -centre were the Government buildings, consisting of the Governor's -house, divan, and the various offices and courts of justice, as well as -the arms, grain-store, and prison. Some distance east of the fort was -the old mosque built by Sultan Mohammed el Fadl, which the former -Governor had converted into a powder-magazine, but which Gordon had -restored to the town for its proper purpose. Close to the southern gate -were the houses of Zogal Bey, the Kadi, and the commandant, built mostly -of burnt brick and enclosed by walls. - -The town of Dara, consisting chiefly of straw and mud huts, lay a few -hundred yards to the east of the fort, while upwards of half a mile to -the west was situated the village of Goz en Naam, and beyond it again -the hamlet of Khummi. - -Inclusive of the garrison, the population of Dara numbered between seven -and eight thousand, most of whom belonged to the local tribes; but there -were also a considerable number of Nile merchants and traders. - -It being the month of Ramadan, which is the great fast, a meal of -roasted meat, bread, dates, and lemonade had been prepared for us; but -the officials sent a message to say they regretted they could not join -us. I confess to being only too glad of this respite, for we were -thoroughly tired. Our things unpacked, I now sat down to consider how to -make myself as comfortable as I could. - -At sunset, the gun boomed out the signal that one day more of Ramadan -had gone; and now the hungry and thirsty inhabitants, their daily fast -over, hurried to their evening meal. Zogal Bey, Hassan Effendi Rifki, -Kadi el Beshir, and the chief merchant, Mohammed Ali, now came to see -us, and asked us to dine with them; they were followed by a host of -servants bearing roast mutton, fowls, milk, and rice,--which is usually -eaten with hot melted butter and honey,--and dishes of asida (meat -spread over with a thin layer of very fine dukhn flour, over which sauce -is poured, and on the top of all is a thin layer of paste, sprinkled -with sugar); this completed the menu. In a few minutes the ground just -outside the house, which had been sprinkled with fine sand, was spread -with carpets and palm mats, and on these the dishes were laid. Zogal Bey -began distributing the viands amongst those who had come to welcome me, -including the servants, but keeping, of course, the best dishes for the -more select company. We now sat down, and the tearing and rending of the -roast sheep began with a vengeance; of course, knives and forks were out -of the question. Scarcely had we settled down to the feast, when a great -hubbub arose amongst the servants, who were evidently trying to prevent -two men from pushing their way into our circle. I begged Zogal Bey to -inquire what was the matter. Licking his greasy fingers, he got up, and -returned in a few minutes, carrying a document which proved to be a -letter from Ahmed Katong and Gabralla, the two chiefs of an irregular -corps which garrisoned the station of Bir Gowi, some three days' march -southwest of Dara: this was to say they had just received information -that Sultan Harun was going to attack them, and that as they had only a -small force, they proposed to evacuate their station, unless -reinforcements could be sent at once; but they said that if they left -the district, all the villages would be plundered. - -There was no time to be lost, so I ordered Hassan Effendi Rifki to -select two hundred regulars and twenty horsemen, to be ready to start -with me at once for Bir Gowi. Zogal and Hassan both urged that it was -unnecessary for me to go, as I wanted rest after the long journey; but I -said that as my principal object in coming to Darfur was to fight Sultan -Harun,--in accordance with Gordon Pasha's orders,--I intended to take -the earliest possible opportunity of doing so. Seeing that I was not to -be stopped, and secretly rejoicing that neither of them had been saddled -with the responsibility of taking command, they now hurried on with the -preparations. - -The pony which Gordon had given me was too tired to be taken, so I asked -if any one present could lend or sell me a good horse. Zogal happened to -have just bought a large white Syrian horse, and at once sent for it; he -was a strong, well-made animal, quite suitable for the fatigues of a -campaign, and as he had formerly been owned by an officer, was used to -the noise of firing. Seeing that I liked the look of the horse, Zogal -immediately begged my acceptance of it by way of diafa (hospitality); -but I went to some pains to explain to him that it was not customary in -my country to accept such presents, and that here in the Sudan, he being -my subordinate, I could not think of it. Unfortunately, I had previously -mentioned Gordon's gift of a pony to me, and of course Zogal brought -this up as a parallel case; but I replied that there was no objection to -accepting a present from a high official given entirely by way of -friendship. After considerable discussion, I at length succeeded in -making him accept one hundred and eighty dollars; but he did so under -great protest. - -By midnight all was ready, and, bidding Dr. Zurbuchen good-bye, I -started off for the southwest, saying that I hoped to see him again in -four or five days. - -I was young, strong, and keen to have some fighting experience, and I -well remember my delight at the thought of a brush with Sultan Harun. -The idea of difficulties and fatigue never crossed my mind; all I longed -for was a chance of showing my men that I could lead them. At sunrise I -halted my little party, which consisted of two hundred Blacks,--the -officers also being Sudanese,--and the horsemen Turks and Egyptians, and -addressed them in a short speech, saying that at present I was an entire -stranger to them, but they should see I was ready to share fatigue and -discomfort with them on all occasions, and that I hoped we should march -rapidly forward with a good heart. Simple as my harangue undoubtedly -was, I saw that it had made an impression, and when I had finished, they -raised their rifles above their heads, in Sudanese fashion, and shouted -that they were ready to conquer or die. - -At noon we halted near a village, and I then carefully inspected the -men. They were all well armed, and had a plentiful supply of ammunition; -each man was also provided with a water-bottle made out of goat or -gazelle skin, known as "sen" (pl. siun); but they had brought no rations -with them. On inquiry, I was told, "Wherever you go in Darfur you will -always find something to eat." I therefore made my way to the Sheikh of -the village, and asked him to supply some dukhn. This corn is generally -soaked in water, then pressed, mixed with tamarind fruit, and eaten in -this condition; the bitter-sweet water being an excellent -thirst-quencher. This food Europeans usually find indigestible; but it -is very nourishing, and is eaten almost exclusively by the Sudanese -soldiers when campaigning. I gradually got accustomed to it, taking it -almost invariably when out on such expeditions; but I found that unless -one was feeling very well, it generally brought on most painful -indigestion. The Sheikh now brought us the corn, and also a large dish -of asida, which was divided amongst the men; and whilst they were having -their meal, I asked the officers to share with me a tin of preserved -meat, which they admitted was much superior to the asida and dukhn. I -then called up my clerk, and told him to write out a receipt for the -corn, which he was to give the Sheikh, to be his voucher for the -remission of taxation equivalent to the value of the dukhn supplied. But -the good man, when he understood my orders, refused to accept the -receipt, adding that it was not only his duty to give the corn, but that -the rights of hospitality demanded it. I told him, however, that I was -well aware the natives of Darfur were most generous; but to impose the -feeding of two hundred men on him quite exceeded the bounds of -hospitality, and that it was only just he should receive payment. He at -length agreed, and this conversation appeared to give him confidence; -for he admitted that if this principle were always carried out, the -natives would greatly appreciate it; but, unfortunately, it was the -usual custom for troops arriving at a village to enter the houses, and -take anything and everything they wanted, with the result that the -inhabitants dreaded their approach, and at once tried to hide all they -had. I thanked the Sheikh for telling me this, and promised I would do -all I could to rectify the evil. We moved on again at three o'clock, -loaded with the blessings of this good man and his people, and after a -quick march of four hours halted in a small plantation of trees. Our -route had led us across a country overgrown with dense bush, and -intersected by innumerable dry gullies; and here and there we passed a -village buried amongst the trees. From our halting-place I sent off two -horsemen to Bir Gowi to announce our approach; and, after a refreshing -rest of five hours under the wild fig-trees and tamarisks, we started -off again, and marched almost uninterruptedly till noon the following -day. We once or twice had to ask for corn, and always had the same -difficulty in getting the Sheikhs to accept the receipt; but as I -insisted, they generally ended by gladly taking it. I was anxious, if -possible, to reach Bir Gowi before dark, so pushed on; we passed on the -way a large plantation of deleb palms, and had to be careful not to be -struck by the heavy fruit, which, weighing from two to three pounds, and -falling from a height of some forty feet, was a positive danger. Woe to -the unfortunate traveller who thoughtlessly halts for the night in one -of these palm-groves! The natives, however, are very careful, and -generally warn the unsuspecting of the risk of sleeping anywhere near -these trees when bearing fruit. - -At sunset we reached Bir Gowi, which was situated in the centre of a -large clearing; and to reach the station we had to pass between the -stumps of trees, which considerably impeded the march. It was surrounded -by a square zariba, each side of which measured about one hundred and -eighty paces, and consisted of a thorn barricade about twelve feet thick -and six feet high; on the inside, the ground was raised to enable the -men to fire over it from a platform, and the whole was surrounded by a -ditch nine feet wide, and about nine feet deep. - -The garrison, consisting of some hundred and twenty men armed with -rifles, was drawn up outside, with their officers, ready to salute. I -halted the men, and, riding forward, saluted the garrison, and was -welcomed by the vigorous beating of the nahas (copper war-drums) and -noggaras (other drums, made from the hollow trunk of a tree, covered on -both sides with skin), the blowing of bugles and antelope horns, and the -rattling of dry skins filled with pebbles,--a very effective, but by no -means melodious band, diversified by the occasional crack of rifles -fired off in a promiscuous manner, and which could not exactly be -compared to a _feu de joie_, though no doubt the intention was the same. -After inspecting the garrison, I ordered my men to file into the fort. -The interior of the zariba was filled with straw huts, those of the -chiefs being surrounded by high straw enclosures; but there was -sufficient room for us all, and I was given a good-sized hut, standing -in almost the only open place visible. - -The object of the Bir Gowi military post was to protect the surrounding -villages from raids; but the strength of the garrison to take the -offensive was insufficient, and it would probably have been of little -use. Dismounting from my horse, I sat on an angareb, and sent for Ahmed -Katong and Gabralla to discuss the situation, and obtain the latest news -about Harun's movements. Katong soon arrived, hobbling along on a -crutch. He belonged to the Fung tribe, his forefathers having been -captured by the Furs, after the conquest of Kordofan, and he had been -made Hakem Khot, or chief of the district; his duty being to collect -taxes, and at the same time to be responsible for the security of the -country. In reply to my question as to how he had become lame, he told -me that some years before he had been struck in the knee by a bullet. -"Since that date," said Ahmed, "I always have a saddled horse near me. -In the zariba, of course, it does not matter; but when travelling in -these unsettled times, and when one is liable to be attacked at any -moment, I lie down to sleep holding the bridle in my hand. Those with -good legs can easily get away in case of danger; but with a stump like -mine I cannot run, so I have taught myself to mount my horse quickly, -with one leg." - -I now begged them to give me the latest news about Harun. "Gabralla," -said Ahmed, "sent out spies, who returned this afternoon, and who state -that Harun has collected his men, but has not yet come down from the -mountains;" and Gabralla, chiming in, said, "Yes, I did so, and have -sent off others to watch his movements; if he comes here I don't think -we shall run away now." - -I could not help scanning this man with some curiosity. He was tall, and -of the usual black complexion of the Fur tribe; he possessed also--which -is very unusual--a well-shaped aquiline nose and a small mouth; he had -a slight beard, was about forty years of age, and had a very pleasant -expression. Yet this was the villain who had betrayed the father of his -own beautiful wife! Was I to trust him, or not? He had certainly every -inducement to be loyal, for should he fall into the hands of Harun, he -would doubtless pay with his life for the death of his uncle and his -father-in-law. - -Naturally I gave him no occasion to discover my thoughts, and we chatted -about former times, agreeing they were very different from the present; -he then began to talk of himself, and told me how he was employed as a -spy to bring the news of Harun's movements to Dara, and thence to El -Fasher. He had between thirty and forty of his old slaves, who were -armed, and whose duty it was to guard and serve him, whilst the older -male servants and female slaves had to work in the fields and keep the -household supplied with corn. Being in the pay of the Government, he was -quite content, but told me that he wanted to do something which would -qualify him for the rank of Bey. "Zogal, who is a friend of mine," he -said, "is a Bey." - -By this time I was so thoroughly tired and sleepy after my long journey, -followed by the two days' hard marching, that I went to bed; but my head -ached, and the incessant beating of drums in my honour kept me awake all -night, and the following morning I felt really unwell. Ahmed Katong came -to see me, and I told him I had a bad headache. "We can easily cure -that," said Ahmed, cheerfully. "I have a man here who can stop headaches -at once; he is a much better man than the doctor at Dara,--indeed there -is no doctor at Dara; he is really only an apothecary, with the courtesy -title of doctor." - -"All right," said I, "but how is he going to cure me?" "Oh! it is very -simple," he answered; "he places both his hands on your head, and -repeats something; then you get perfectly well,--in fact, better than -you were before." "Then let him come at once," I cried. I was young and -ignorant in those days, and I thought that possibly one of these -wandering Arabs might have visited Europe and learned something of the -magnetic cure, and had given up the pleasures of life in order to make -himself useful to mankind. I confess to feeling a little mistrustful -when I thought of what Ahmed had said; but then, after all, doctors in -Europe speak, so why should not he? In a few minutes Ahmed ushered into -my presence a tall dark man with a white beard, who appeared to be a -native of Bornu, and introduced him as "the doctor who will cure your -headache." Without a moment's hesitation, the doctor placed his hand on -my head, pressed my temples with his thumb and forefinger, and, -muttering a few words I could not understand, to my horror, spat in my -face. In a moment I had jumped up and knocked him down; but Ahmed, who -was standing by, leaning on his crutch, begged me not to take it in this -way. "It was not really meant for rudeness," he said; "it is merely a -part of the cure, and will do you much good." But the poor doctor, whose -confidence had been somewhat shaken, and was still standing at a -distance, muttered, "Headache is the work of the devil, and I must drive -it out; several passages from the Kuran and the sayings of holy men -direct that it should be chased away by spitting, and thus his evil work -in your head will cease!" In spite of my annoyance, I could not help -laughing. "So I am supposed to be possessed of a devil," I said; "I -trust he was only a little one, and that you have really driven him -out." I did not, however, let him make a second experiment, and, giving -him a dollar as compensation, I bade him good-bye, and he left me, -calling down the blessings of Heaven on my poor head, which was still -aching sadly. - -All day we awaited news of Sultan Harun's movements, and as there was -nothing to be done I kept to my bed. I was just dozing off, when my -servant announced that Katong and Gabralla wished to see me. They were -admitted, for I thought that no doubt they brought news of Harun; but it -was only to say that it was the custom of the country, and one of the -claims of hospitality, that, having only one horse, I should accept from -each of them a fine country bred animal as a mark of their loyalty and -respect. I replied to them much in the same terms as I had answered -Zogal, adding that I had no doubt we should remain equally good friends -without giving and taking presents, provided they continued to carry out -their duties faithfully. - -Although they appeared greatly distressed at my refusal to accept the -horses, I have no doubt they went home rejoicing secretly that I had -refused their gifts. However, before many minutes had passed, Gabralla -came back and asked to say just a few words. He had been much pained, he -said, by my refusal to take the horse, and now, as I was quite alone and -very unwell, he took the liberty of offering me one of his -maid-servants. "She is young and pretty," he said, "and has been well -brought up in my house; she knows how to prepare native food, is good at -housework, and is above all a good and careful nurse, and thoroughly -understands all the ailments of the country." Again I was obliged to -refuse this proffered kindness; so poor Gabralla went away somewhat -downcast with his failure. But having already had a rather painful -experience at the hands of the doctor, I was not particularly anxious to -intrust myself to the tender mercies of even a dusky maiden, however -proficient a nurse she might be. - -The next morning I arose feeling quite myself again; and when I met -Ahmed and told him that I had recovered, he at once answered, "Of -course, I knew you would get quite well; Isa (the name of my doctor) has -never yet put his hands on any one and failed to cure him." - -Another day passed, and still no news of Harun. Accompanied by Katong -and Gabralla, I visited the market, which was about a hundred yards -outside the zariba, and was held specially for the benefit of the -surrounding villagers, who purchased here all they required. Sometimes -the Beni Helba Arabs, who reside in this part of the country, are seen -here. Women sitting on the ground expose palm mats for sale, as well as -giraffe, antelope, and cow meat; salt is also an important commodity, -besides a great variety of native vegetables which are used as -ingredients in making sauces for the asida dish. Men are to be seen -selling takaki, or native woven linen and cotton cloth, thread, natron, -and sulphur, which the Arabs buy freely to grind, and mix with the -grease with which they rub their heads. The women are usually the -marissa vendors; and here and there a young female slave is exposed for -sale. I thought I must buy something, so invested in a few palm mats. - -On the following day, about noon, one of Gabralla's messengers returned -with the news that Sultan Harun had collected his men, but still had not -moved down from his summer resort in the hills. On the fourth day after -our arrival at Bir Gowi, a second messenger came in and stated that when -Sultan Harun heard from the natives that I had left Dara for Bir Gowi -with the intention of fighting him, he had at once disbanded his men, -who had dispersed over Jebel Marra. - -Thoroughly disappointed with my first failure, I returned crestfallen to -Dara, but before doing so visited the sulphur spring from which the -station of Bir Gowi (or the strong well) is named. The warm water spouts -up from the centre of a sandy depression, and is cooled by two small -streams artificially led into it. Natives affected with rheumatism or -diseases of the blood bathe in this spring, and are said to derive great -benefit from its strengthening properties. - -Nine days after leaving Dara I was back there again, and by that time -Dr. Zurbuchen had gone, leaving behind him a letter in which he wished -me all success. I also found that during my absence my unfortunate Arab -clerk who had accompanied me when I was Financial Inspector, and had -come with me to Dara, had become crazy: they had put him into a house -next my own, and when I went to see him, he sprang forward to embrace -me, crying out, "Thank God! Sultan Harun has done no harm to you; but -Zogal Bey is a traitor, beware of him. I have ordered the fires in the -engine to be lighted, in order that the train may take you to Europe, -where you will be able to see your relations again. I shall come with -you; but we must be careful about Zogal, he is a scoundrel!" Evidently -the poor man's mind was quite unhinged; nevertheless, crazy people -sometimes speak the truth. I quieted the poor old man, and induced him -to lie down till he heard the engine's whistle warning us to be off; -and, commending him to the care of the servants, I went away. Five days -later, the whistle had sounded, and the poor man had been carried off to -his long home,--his death was, I suppose, due to a rush of blood to the -brain. - -I now busied myself with the administrative affairs of the province of -Dara, which, exclusive of the districts of Kalaka and Shakka, comprised -five divisions, or kisms, viz., Toweisha, Kershu, Giga, Sirga, and -Arebu, each of which was supposed to pay taxes at a fixed rate; but I -found that the officials conducted affairs just as they pleased. It was -thought impossible to take regular taxes from Arabs who had no settled -places of abode, and whose wealth in cattle was continually increasing; -a system had, therefore, been arrived at by which each tribe was -assessed at a fixed sum, for the payment of which the head-Sheikh was -made responsible, and he, in turn, assessed the various sub-tribes by a -mutual arrangement with which the Government did not interfere. I now -ordered each district to forward lists to me showing the name and number -of the villages and the names of the landowners and traders in every -village. When these came in, it would be an easy matter to lay down -definitely the rates to be paid by every individual. It was also my -intention to make an inspection of every district, in order to see for -myself the quality of soil, and assess the value locally; and at the -same time my inspections would enable me to see for myself the strength -of the Arab tribes, and thus acquire some real data for laying down the -tribute which they should pay. - -About a month after my return from Bir Gowi, I received a letter in -French from Messedaglia, telling me that he had determined to put an end -to the Harun trouble; and for this purpose he ordered me to move -secretly _via_ Manawashi and Kobbé, with a division of regular troops, -towards Jebel Marra, and attack Niurnia, the Sultan's residence. At the -same time, he wrote, he was despatching troops from El Fasher, _via_ -Tura, and from Kulkul, _via_ Abu Haraz, to rendezvous at a certain spot -and co-operate in the attack. - -In compliance with this order, I left Dara with two hundred and twenty -regulars and sixty Bazingers; but as the horses were unshod, and not -used to hill work, I took only six of them. It was then the month of -February, and extremely cold. We marched _via_ Manawashi, where I -visited the tomb of the last Sultan of the Fur dynasty, and on the -following day we bivouacked near Kobbé, close to the defile which leads -to Jebel Marra. Being now fairly near the enemy, I increased the -outposts; but we passed the night without being disturbed. Early the -next morning we began our march through the defile, carefully protecting -the flanks by sending parties up the hills on both sides. In an hour and -a half we had traversed the valley and reached the village of Abdel -Gelil, who was one of Harun's chiefs. He had quitted the village only -the day before; and, dividing amongst the men the corn we found, we -continued our march over most rugged country, alternate steep hills and -deep valleys, and here and there a stony plain. My men, being unused to -climbing of this description, got very tired. The country was completely -forsaken; not a human being was to be seen. Occasionally, close to the -track, we came across small deserted huts with stone walls and thatched -roofs; and now and then were to be seen little patches of ground, either -at the bottom of the valleys or on the slopes of the hills, planted with -various sorts of wheat; and there were wild fig-trees in abundance. - -That night we bivouacked on a small plateau; but, fearing to expose our -position, we did not dare to light fires, though we could have procured -plenty of wood from the huts. In spite of our warm clothing, the cold -was bitter; but it was better to bear that than make ourselves a target -for the enemy, who, armed with Remington rifles, were in all probability -prowling about on the heights. At sunrise we marched on again, and -halted in the afternoon on an open plain called by the natives Dem es -Sakat (the cold camp); so named because Zubeir Pasha, in his Darfur -campaign, had stayed here and had lost many men from the cold. The next -day, although I had ordered a large fire to be lit, several of the men -were reported to me as being unable to move, owing to the cold; but we -mounted them on the donkeys and mules, and so brought them along with -us. At noon we reached the highest point of Jebel Marra, and had a -magnificent view over the whole country; and far in the distance could -be seen Niurnia, the objective of our expedition. This ancient capital -of the Fur Sultans lay far down the valley, where it began to open out -into the plain, and was almost buried in a mass of wild fig-trees. With -my glasses I could just descry people apparently hurriedly quitting the -village and leading their horses. We pushed on, but it took us four -hours to climb down the mountain side; and it was not till sunset that, -preceded by a line of skirmishers, we entered the town to find it -completely evacuated. - -Sultan Harun's mosque lay to the west of the town, and was enclosed by a -stone wall four and a half feet high and a hundred yards square. The -mosque itself was in the centre of the enclosure, and was a stone -building about forty feet square, with a straw-thatch roof. Some three -hundred yards from the mosque lay the houses of the Sultan, built of mud -and stone; and one of them was furnished with a second story. They were -all surrounded by straw fences, and near them were the huts of the -personal retainers and armed men. The open space between the mosque and -house was divided by a silvery stream of beautifully clear water. The -mosque being empty, I turned my men into it, as I thought it the safest -place to be in in case of attack. - -The same evening a mountaineer was caught creeping into the village; and -on assuring him that I meant him no harm, he told me, through an -interpreter (he did not speak Arabic), that Sultan Harun, with all his -men, had left Niurnia that morning, and had gone west in the direction -of Abu Haraz, but that he had sent all the young slaves and those not -strong enough to march, to a safe place in the mountains, about an -hour's distance from the town. As I had to wait for the troops from -Kebkebia and Kulkul, which should have already arrived, it was -impossible for me to pursue Harun. I therefore proposed to the spy, -under promise of a good reward, that he should lead me to the -hiding-place in the hills. Accordingly, we started the next morning at -an early hour, with one hundred men and a couple of horses, and had not -been out more than half an hour when, from the direction from which we -had just come, I heard some shots, and then a series of volleys. Was it -possible Sultan Harun had suddenly returned and was attacking my men? I -instantly turned back, and, galloping on in front, reached an open -space, in which I saw soldiers firing at each other. My trumpeter, whom -I had mounted behind me, now jumped down, and I shouted to him to sound -the "Cease fire;" but for a few minutes I could not get them to take any -notice. Still riding on, I came within range, and a bullet passed -through the cloak I had thrown over my shoulders to keep out the cold, -and my horse was slightly struck in the hind leg. At last I managed to -stop the firing, and summoned the officers to find out what had -occurred. It now transpired that the troops advancing from El Fasher -under Kasem Effendi and his assistant, Mohammed Bey Khalil, had been -informed that Sultan Harun was in Niurnia. They had marched all night, -and, concealing themselves behind the huts, had crept in unawares close -to the big fire round which my men were sleeping, and had suddenly fired -on them. The latter, alarmed, had jumped up and begun firing, believing -that they were attacked by Harun's men. My chief officer, Hassan Rifki -(who was one of those who had been present at the death of Suleiman -Zubeir), had done his utmost to check the firing by repeated -bugle-signals; but the Fasher troops, who had been told that Sultan -Harun also had buglers who wore the fez, could not be induced to stop. -Curiously enough, during the late revolt several of the soldiers had -deserted and joined Sultan Harun. It was only when I appeared on the -scene that the contending parties realised what had happened. Both sides -had suffered: three of my men had been killed and four wounded, while -the Fasher troops had lost four killed and seven wounded. I had a small -field dispensary, and dressed the wounds as best I could; and then -ordered a statement of what had occurred to be taken down and sent to -the authority concerned. - -The horse which I had bought from Zogal, and which I had left at the -mosque, was struck in the neck by a bullet, which had slightly -penetrated, and he almost died from loss of blood; but fortunately the -ball had not lodged in a vital part, and after some days he recovered. - -We remained ten days at Niurnia, and still the troops coming from Kulkul -had not arrived; while communication by letter-carriers between us and -Dara and Fasher was interrupted by the mountaineers, who would not allow -the messengers through. - -During this waiting time I made a small expedition to the village of -Abderrahman Kusa, one of Harun's principal men. But it was deserted, -though I knew that the villagers were concealing themselves amongst the -rocks and were watching our movements; they had always early -information, and were able to make off in good time. During this march -we came across some trees to which curious clay vessels had been -attached, and which I learnt were beehives. On the advice of Sheikh -Taher we did not go near the trees, as he said the bees would probably -attack us, but halted some two miles away. That evening Sheikh Taher, -taking some wood and straw, smoked out one of the hives and brought us a -quantity of excellent honey; but his servants, who accompanied him, -carried in a dying Bazinger on a stretcher. He was one of my men; and -when he saw the hives, he had fallen out of the ranks, and, tying some -cloth round his hands and face, had attempted to procure some honey. The -bees had attacked him, and he had fallen off the tree unconscious, where -he lay until picked up by the others; and I do not think I ever saw a -more terrible sight. His face was swollen beyond all recognition, and -his tongue protruded to an enormous size from his widely distended -mouth. The poor man never regained consciousness, and died in an hour or -two. - -We had to start off before sunrise the next morning, as the Sheikh told -us that when the sun was up the bees would probably attack us. - -On our return to Niurnia I gave orders to start back the following day, -marching _via_ Dar Omongawi, Murtal, and Murtafal. On our way we passed -through several villages and took the people entirely by surprise, for -they had not expected us from the west. Most of the men had been -collected by Sultan Harun, and those who could escape to the hills did -so; but my men captured about thirty women, whom we took along with us -for a short distance. In one village the people were so completely -surprised that few of them had time to fly; and, seeing that they were -only women, I sounded the halt, in order to give them a chance of -getting away. I then formed up the men on the road, so as to prevent -them scattering through the village, and in this formation we marched -on. One poor woman, I noticed, in her hurry to escape, had left her two -children on a rock, while she herself fled like a gazelle up the -mountain side. Going to the rock, I found two pretty little babies, -quite naked, but with strings of coral round their waists and necks. -They were as black as ravens, and probably twins about eighteen months -old. Dismounting, I went up to them, and they began to cry and cling to -each other; so, taking them in my arms, I told my servant to bring me -some sugar from my travelling-bag. This pacified them at once; and, -smiling through their tears, they munched what to them was probably the -nicest thing they had ever tasted in their little lives. Then, taking -two of the red handkerchiefs (a supply of which I generally carried -about to offer as presents), I wrapped the babies up in them, laid them -down on the rock again, and moved on some distance. Looking back, I saw -a human being, evidently the mother, creeping down the rocks. Then, -joyfully seizing her little ones, whom she thought perhaps she had lost -for ever, she fondled them most lovingly. She had got back her naked -treasures clothed in lovely garments, and licking their little black -lips all sticky with their feast of sugar. - -After a three days' march we reached Murtafal; and from here I sent the -Fasher troops back to their station, whilst we continued on to Dara. But -before leaving, I had all the women whom we had picked up on the march -to carry corn, collected together, and then set them free. I told them -that next time I hoped their husbands would be more submissive, and in -that case wives, husbands, and children need never be separated. A -shriek of joy, a mutter of gratitude, and they were off like gazelles -released from a cage. - -I had now been away from Dara about three weeks, and had heard no news -whatever. At the noon halt, the following day, my men brought before me -some of the Beni Mansur tribe, who told me that Sultan Harun had -attacked Dara, and, on being repulsed, had turned to Manawashi, which -was about a day's march from where we were. They told me he had looted -the place, and also burnt the village of Tanera, which belonged to -Sheikh Maki el Mansuri, and was about six hours' march from us. This -Sheikh, whom I knew well, had lost everything, they said, and had barely -escaped with his life. - -Telling my informants to lose no time in bringing Sheikh Mansuri to me, -I marched on at once towards Manawashi, and by the evening we had made -good progress. I now ordered the halt for the night, and soon afterwards -the Sheikh arrived, in a very destitute condition. He had lost all his -property, and had nothing left but the clothes in which he stood; and -they were torn to shreds by thorns during his flight. Seating himself, -he briefly related what had occurred. Sultan Harun, it appeared, on -quitting Niurnia, had collected a considerable force, and had descended -to the plains in the direction of Abu Haraz. Here he had a collision -with the Kulkul troops, who had suffered slight loss, and had retired on -Kebkebia; and that was the reason they had failed to come up to the -rendezvous at Niurnia. Harun had advanced immediately on Dara, and the -news of his approach had only reached the garrison two hours before he -had made his night attack on the town, in which many of the inhabitants, -including Khater, a brother of Vizir Ahmed Shata, had been killed, and -several women captured. Eventually driven out, he had retired to -Manawashi, which he had partially destroyed; and detaching some of his -men to Tanera, they had burnt the village and taken almost all the -women. The unfortunate Sheikh Maki had been wounded in the leg, and had -only escaped death by a miracle. It appeared that Harun was now in a -position about four hours' march from me in a westerly direction, and -was being followed up by Ahmed Katong and Gabralla, who, when Harun had -passed through the Beni Helba country, had not been sufficiently strong -to attack him, but were now doing their best to keep in touch with him, -and send news of his movements to Dara and Fasher. - -I at once despatched messengers with instructions to them to join me -during the night, and to send spies to ascertain exactly where Harun was -encamped. At dawn the following morning, Katong and Gabralla arrived, -with about a hundred Bazingers. They reported that Harun had struck his -camp, and was marching west with his entire force. A woman they brought -with them, and who belonged to Sheikh Maki's village, also stated that -Harun had collected all the women he had captured at Dara and Manawashi, -and had addressed them as follows: "I was not told that the unbeliever -Slatin had liberated the women he had captured; but as I am a believer -and the Sultan, it is not fitting that I should keep you captive; you -are therefore free; but my blood relatives I will keep with me, for I am -the head of the family, and, therefore, their master." - -The woman also stated that amongst those Harun had captured at Dara were -some of the princesses of the royal house of Darfur, as well as Sheikh -Maki's wife, who belonged to the late Sultan's family. This sad news -greatly distressed poor Sheikh Maki, whose cup of sorrow was indeed full -to overflowing. - -I now made preparations to march off at once in pursuit of Harun; but my -little expedition into Jebel Marra had considerably reduced my numbers. -The cold had been fatal to many of the Blacks, and I remarked that those -who were accustomed to eat meat and drink marissa stood the cold and -hardships well; whilst those whose duties lay chiefly in tax-gathering -amongst the nomad Arabs, and who consequently existed principally on -milk, succumbed in large numbers. - -Including Katong's and Gabralla's reinforcements, my little detachment -consisted only of a hundred and seventy-five regulars and a hundred and -forty Bazingers. The horses had all been lamed by the rough ground, -except the gray which I rode. I had sent messengers to Dara to say that -I was on my way back, and had arrived near Manawashi, where I wished the -chiefs of the Beni Helba and Messeria Arabs to meet me, with their men; -and starting off at a rapid pace, after a few hours' march, we reached -the camp Sultan Harun had just quitted. It was completely deserted, and -we made out from the tracks that the force had moved off at least nine -or ten hours before; and, following them up, we found ourselves marching -in a northwesterly direction towards El Fasher. From the tracks, we -gathered that Harun's force numbered about four hundred rifles, some -hundreds of sword and spear men, and about sixty horsemen. With so few, -it would be impossible for him to attack Fasher. What, therefore, could -be his intentions? - -By sunset the troops were thoroughly exhausted, and darkness forced us -to halt. Besides, there was no moon, and we could no longer make out the -tracks. At the first streak of dawn, however, we continued our advance, -and, to encourage the men, I walked the whole way. They had suffered -considerably in Jebel Marra, and were thoroughly tired out; and had -there been time, I would have relieved them by fresh troops from Dara. -But there was not a moment to be lost; so we pushed on as best we could, -making short halts every now and then. We had had no time to take in -provisions, and, indeed, most of the corn in the villages had already -been seized by Harun. My men were, therefore, getting famished; and when -we reached Jebel Abu Haraz (about two days' march from El Fasher), I -promised them that if we did not come up with the enemy on the following -day, steps would then be taken to procure provisions at any cost. At -sunrise the next morning we reached the Abu Haraz wells, which we found -deserted. We had had no water since the previous day; so we were obliged -to halt for a short time, and we found a woman who had concealed -herself, thinking we were the enemy. She reported that, the previous -day, Harun had attacked Hillet Omar, the village of the Sultan of the -Massabat (about four hours' march further on), which he had plundered, -and killed a number of the inhabitants; but that she and other survivors -had hidden in the forest, and so had escaped detection. Harun, she said, -had moved on that morning, and could not be far off. She therefore -offered to lead us along his tracks, which we had been obliged to leave -the previous evening, owing to want of water. The news that before long -we should come up with the enemy was hailed with delight, and, with the -woman as our guide, we hurried forward, and were soon on their quite -fresh tracks. Inspired with the prospect of a successful action, a -speedy return to their wives and families, and a long rest, my men now -moved on very cheerfully and at a good pace. - -Our direction lay nearly due east, and about an hour before noon we -came in sight of two small hills. Just then, some of Katong's and -Gabralla's men, who were scouting out in front, brought in a wounded -man, who stated that he had been taken prisoner at Hillet Omar, and had -just escaped, having seen our red flag a long way off and knowing that -he would be safe. Sultan Harun, he said, was halted a short distance -beyond the small hills at Rahad en Nabak. We now increased the pace, -and, galloping forward, I could see from the hills the position of the -enemy. They were encamped on a grassy slope about two thousand five -hundred yards away, and through my glass I could see the horses being -saddled up, and much commotion, as if the camp were about to move on. - -There was not a moment to be lost. Taking, therefore, a hundred and -thirty regulars with me, I pushed straight on, my left flank being -covered, at a distance of about half a mile, by forty-five regulars and -forty Bazingers under Wad el Abbas, while Katong and Gabralla were -ordered to remain as a reserve, concealed behind the rising ground. - -The enemy had now discovered us. I therefore advanced at the double -between the two hills, Wad el Abbas circling round the hill on the left; -and once through, we deployed for attack. Half a mile further on, we -came under a heavy rifle-fire; and my gray horse, which had only just -recovered from his wound, got restive, and neither spurs nor whip were -of any avail to make him move on. I therefore jumped off, and we -continued advancing till within six hundred yards of Harun's line, when -we halted and fired a volley. Then, ordering Wad el Abbas to double -forward and wheel up to the right, we caught the enemy between a cross -fire, under which they were soon forced to retire. I now lost no time in -sending orders to the reserve to make a flank attack on the retreating -enemy, which had the effect of turning Harun's retirement into a -headlong flight, in which the Sultan's horse was shot dead under him, -and he himself only just eluded us. - -If we had had cavalry, none could have escaped. As it was, our men -pursued till nightfall, and inflicted great loss on the enemy. We halted -that night at the Abu Haraz well, and collected our spoil, which -consisted of a hundred and sixty rifles, four large copper war-drums, -four flags, and two horses, the riders of which had both been killed. -Our losses consisted of fourteen killed and twenty wounded. The women -captured by Harun were all saved, and returned to their husbands. - -Amongst our wounded was Babakr, the chief of Katong's Bazingers, who had -personally attacked Harun, and was on the point of taking him prisoner, -when he was shot by one of the Sultan's guard. Some of the prisoners -informed me that it had been Harun's intention to ally himself with the -Mima Arabs, who had agreed to revolt against the Government as soon as -he could come to them; but he was now, after this defeat, forced to -retire once more to Jebel Marra, whilst I and my exhausted troops -marched back to Dara. On our way, we came across some four hundred Beni -Helba and Messeria horsemen, who had come to join us, but were -unfortunately too late for the fight. - -At Dara, I found everything in the greatest confusion. When the enemy -had attacked, the principal merchants, terrified of their lives, had -fled to the fort, leaving their property at the mercy of Harun's men. -The fort was still crowded with these people, who did not dare to return -to their houses until the result of the fight between Harun and myself -was known. My appearance on the scene was, therefore, the signal for -general rejoicing, and the refugees now all returned to their own homes. - -Meanwhile, Sultan Harun, who had recovered his defeat, again collected a -force, and proceeded to Dar Gimmer, in the Kulkul district; and here he -made a raid on the Arabs, captured their cattle and camels, and killed -some merchants. On the news reaching Nur Bey Angara, the Governor of the -district, he advanced rapidly, covering the usual two days' march in -twenty-six hours, and, early the following morning, he surprised Sultan -Harun in his camp. In great haste, Harun's horse was saddled, but in -mounting the stirrup-leather broke. Another horse was brought, and just -as he was about to put his foot into the stirrup, a bullet hit him full -in the chest, and he fell dead (March, 1880). His fall was the signal -for a wild flight, and Nur Angara took possession of his camp without -any further difficulty. Sultan Harun's head was cut off and sent to El -Fasher, and there was general rejoicing at his death. The few adherents, -however, who had fled, now collected in Jebel Marra, and selected as -their ruler Abdullahi Dudbenga, the son of Harun's uncle Abakir; but -henceforth their raids became insignificant, and peace was once more -restored to the country. - -Three days after my return to Dara, I received a letter from Gessi -Pasha, in Bahr el Ghazal, informing me that Dr. R. W. Felkin and the -Rev. C. T. Wilson, of the English Church Missionary Society, were on -their way from Uganda to Khartum, _via_ Dara, and with them were some -Waganda envoys sent by King Mtesa to Her Majesty the Queen of England. -Gessi begged me to give them all help on their journey, and said that -they were leaving for Dara on the date he was writing. I calculated, -therefore, they would arrive in a few days, so I despatched mounted -messengers to the Mamur and Sheikh of Kalaka, directing him to have the -necessary food and provisions ready for them on their arrival, and to -send them, with a strong escort, to Dara. It was not until fourteen days -after the receipt of Gessi's letter that news reached me they had passed -Kalaka, and were not far from Dara. At the head of about forty horsemen -I started off to welcome them, and met them, after a ride of two hours, -in a small wood. Our meeting took place under a large tree, and the two -travellers seemed to me to be very tired after their long journey. I had -brought some breakfast with me, and, laying our rugs on the ground, we -sat down and had a good meal. They had heard in the southern Kalaka -district that I had gone off to fight Sultan Harun; and as the roads -were considered unsafe, they had not ventured to come on, and that was -the cause of the delay. Dr. Felkin, who had studied in Jena, spoke -German well; but I had great difficulty in making myself intelligible in -my broken English to the Rev. Mr. Wilson. After breakfast we rode on to -Dara, where the garrison had turned out to welcome them. I then led them -to the house prepared for their reception, where Zogal, the commandant, -the Kadi and chief merchant, came to pay their respects; and after the -usual lemonade and talk, I told them that my guests were greatly in need -of rest, on which they withdrew. - -Having ascertained, through an interpreter, that Mtesa's envoys were -fond of meat, I gave them a fattened ox, which they killed themselves, -skinned, and then roasted on a wood fire; and with several draughts of -marissa, to which beverage they had been introduced by an old _habitué_, -they appeared to have had a thoroughly enjoyable feast. Indeed, so much -did they relish this native drink that I was obliged to commission Zogal -Bey to supply them daily with a considerable quantity. - -Meanwhile our dinner-party consisted of the two travellers, Zogal and -Rifki, and, as usual, we dined off roasted mutton; after dinner I gave -our two native friends a hint to retire, and then Dr. Felkin and the -Rev. Mr. Wilson began to relate their experiences in Uganda, as well as -amongst the various tribes through which they had passed. I was -immensely interested in all they told me, and could not help wishing I -were at the great lakes instead of in Darfur. Outside, the singing and -beating of drums was getting louder and more boisterous, and from -curiosity we went out to look on. The company was a very cheerful one: -men and women shouting and dancing round a big fire, on which huge -pieces of meat were roasting, whilst close by stood the half-empty -pitchers of beer. - -We remained till late talking over our travels and the future of these -countries. All they told me was of immense interest, and I, too, was -able to give them the latest information from Europe, which, though -months old, was news to them. At length, towards midnight we turned in, -having come to the mutual conclusion that in the Sudan, as well as in -Europe, matters seemed very unsettled. - -Next morning we were up early, and had a two hours' ride, in which I -showed my guests the surroundings of Dara, which were far from -interesting; and on our return was told, much to my amusement, that the -sight of a camel had caused Mtesa's envoys such alarm that they had -fled. "Well," said I to Dr. Felkin, "as you have to make the rest of -your journey on camel-back, it is advisable your men should get into the -way of it; so if you will get them together I will send for a camel and -put their courage to the test." He went off, and I sent for a camel -belonging to one of the merchants, which was very big and fat. By this -time the envoys and others had arrived and the camel, appearing suddenly -round a corner, caused almost a stampede. It was only the sight of the -unconcern of Dr. Felkin and myself which kept them from bolting as hard -as their legs could carry them. Dr. Felkin explained to them that the -camel was a most patient and docile animal, on which they would have to -make the remainder of their journey to Egypt, and that there was no -cause for fear; still, they kept a respectful distance from the alarming -beast, and when I told my kavass to mount and make it get up and sit -down, their astonishment was boundless. At length one, more courageous -than the rest, volunteered to mount; timorously approaching the animal, -he was assisted into the saddle, and, having safely got through the -operation of rising, with a beaming countenance he surveyed his friends -from his lofty seat, and proceeded to make a speech to them on the -pleasures of camel-riding. Apparently he had invited them to share these -pleasures with him, for suddenly, without a moment's warning, they -rushed at the poor animal in a body, and began swarming up it. Some -tried to mount by the neck, others by the tail, and half a dozen or so -clung to the saddle trappings. For a moment the camel seemed stupefied -by this sudden attack; but, recovering its presence of mind, it now -lashed out in all directions, and in a moment had freed itself -completely from every unfortunate Waganda who had been bold enough to -approach it. I do not think I ever laughed so much in my life. These -people evidently took the poor animal for a mountain; but the shocks -they experienced when the mountain began to heave so terrified them that -for long they would not come near it. However, first one and then -another summoned up courage to mount, and by the time they left Dara -they were all fairly proficient in the art of camel-riding. - -I had in my household several young boys who had been taken from the -slave-traders; and as Dr. Felkin had no servant to attend on him -personally, I suggested he should take one of them. He accepted the -offer gladly; so I handed over to him a bright little Fertit boy called -Kapsun, whom he agreed to bring up in Europe. Two years and a half -later, I received at El Fasher a letter written in English by little -Kapsun, thanking me for allowing him to go with Dr. Felkin "to a country -where every one was so good and so kind," and saying that he had adopted -the Christian religion, and was "the happiest boy in the world;" he also -sent me his photograph in European clothes. - -The time for the departure of my two friends came all too soon for me; -but they were anxious to get on, and, mounted on their camels, they left -for Khartum _via_ Toweisha. - -Some time later I received a letter from Messedaglia telling me that he -was leaving for Khartum to fetch his wife. No sooner had he reached that -place than he got into some difficulty with the authorities and was -discharged, and his place as Governor-General of Darfur was taken by Ali -Bey Sherif, formerly Governor-General of Kordofan. - -It was about the close of 1879 or early in 1880 that I received a letter -from General Gordon, written in French some two months previously from -near Debra Tabor, in Abyssinia. Although this letter was destroyed many -years ago, I can remember almost the exact words, which were as -follows:-- - - DEAR SLATIN,--Having finished my mission to King John, I wanted - to return the same way that I came; but when near Gallabat I was - overtaken by some of Ras Adal's people, who forced me to go back, - and I am to be taken under escort to Kassala and thence to - Massawa. I have burnt all the compromising documents. King John - will be disappointed when he finds he is not master of his own - house. - - Your friend, - C. GORDON. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -THE GOVERNMENT OF DARFUR. - - Government Administration in Dara--My Difficulties with the - Gellabas--Manners and Customs of the Arabs--Arrival at - Shakka--Madibbo Bey Sheikh of the Rizighat--My Visit to - Khartum--Arrival of Gessi in Khartum--I return West with Bishop - Comboni and Father Ohrwalder--Am appointed Governor-General of - Darfur--Hostilities between the Maheria and Bedeyat Arabs--I - proceed to the Bedeyat Country--Strange Manners and Customs of - the Bedeyat--Saleh Donkusa and the Heglik Tree--The Ceremony of - Taking the Oath of Fidelity--Return to El Fasher--Troubles at - Shakka and Death of Emiliani--I leave for Dara. - - -I now busied myself with the administrative affairs of the province of -Dara. The returns which I had called for, showing the names and numbers -of villages, their population, etc., were duly submitted to me, and I -now resolved to travel over the entire district and personally inquire -into the state of affairs. - -There is very little money in cash in Darfur. The northern Arab tribes -who act as camel-men, and who supply transport for the great caravan -road between Assiut and Darfur, have a small amount of gold and silver -coin; but in all other parts of the province payments are made -principally in "takia," a sort of native-made cotton fabric, or in -European gray cotton cloth, cut in various lengths; but it can be -readily understood that such material, continually passing from hand to -hand, greatly loses in value, and eventually will not even pass for its -cost price. - -Taxes were always paid in kind, such as corn, honey, camels, cows, -sheep, and native-made cloth, and a certain fixed tariff being arranged, -it became a simple matter to assess the taxation in Egyptian piastres. -There were always merchants ready to purchase the various products and -animals for which payment was generally made to Government in corn, and -in this latter commodity the salaries were paid to officers, soldiers, -and officials. As the price of corn varied, it happened as often as not -that the cash value of the salaries was in excess; but on the whole I -think the system was not an unfair one. - -My first tour of inspection took me to Toweisha and Dar el Khawabir, and -back to Dara _via_ Shieria. I then went to Shakka, _via_ Kershu, and -everywhere I assessed the exact amounts to be paid by all Sheikhs and -chiefs. At Shakka, Kalaka, and in Dar Beni Helba, by personal inspection -and by inquiry, I did all I could to find out what the Arab tribes -really possessed; and at the same time I was anxious to collect the -Bazingers who had formed part of Suleiman Zubeir's army, but who were -now scattered amongst the Rizighat, Habbania, and Taaisha Arabs. I -therefore issued orders to all Sheikhs, both great and small, to hand -over the Bazingers to me; and though it was of course impossible to -collect all, I nevertheless succeeded in getting some four hundred men -capable of bearing arms, and these I at once sent under escort to -Khartum. I was anxious also to increase the number of troops in my own -district; but I hesitated somewhat to introduce into the ranks these -Bazingers, who, accustomed to a life of liberty and freedom, might have -a bad effect on the discipline of the men; and I also knew that if kept -under very strict control they would be likely to desert, and, with -their knowledge of the country and people, might prove an eventual -source of danger. - -On my return to Dara I learnt that General Gordon had left Abyssinia, -had resigned his appointment as Governor-General, and had been succeeded -by Rauf Pasha, who was so well known in connection with Sir Samuel -Baker's work in the Sudan. - -The Gellabas and merchants whom Gordon had turned out of Kalaka and -Shakka at the time of Suleiman Zubeir's revolt, now seized this -opportunity to proceed to Khartum, and, relying on the ignorance of the -new Governor-General of the real state of affairs, they submitted -petitions to the effect that the Arabs had plundered them of their -wives, children, and property, and that they now sought the protection -of the Government. Rauf Pasha forwarded these petitions to me, with a -covering letter to the effect that I was to deal justly with these -people, restore to them their property, and do what I could to unite -them with their families. Hundreds of Gellabas now came to Dara and -submitted petitions of every description, enumerating, with the grossest -exaggeration, the various articles for which they claimed compensation. -I went to the trouble of having all these claims totalled up in one -list,--ivory, ostrich feathers, gold and silver ornaments, etc., etc.; -and I found that if all the property at present in the hands of the Arab -tribes were confiscated and sold, it would not nearly cover the claims -of the Gellabas. - -I was obliged, however, to comply with my orders from Khartum; I -therefore summoned the Sheikhs of the various Arab tribes to Dara, and -informed them of the claims of the merchants against them. Naturally -they at once denied having taken anything whatever from them, and they -told me privately that if Government persisted in the payment of these -claims, there would be no other course open to them than to emigrate to -Wadai and Bornu. Some of them, however, agreed that if permitted they -would endeavour to come to a mutual understanding with the merchants as -regards the restoration of their wives and children; but they absolutely -declined to do this if Government interfered. These latter were about -twenty in number; all the others, who had been turned out by General -Gordon's orders, and who now amounted to some hundreds, I ordered back -to Khartum, as it was quite impossible to come to any sort of -arrangement which would satisfy them and the Arabs. - -I reported fully the steps I had taken to Rauf Pasha, and urged him to -pay no further heed to these claims. Soon after this, several of the -Habbania Sheikhs came and informed me that the Gellabas whom I had -ordered back to Khartum had--instead of going there--proceeded to -Kalaka, where they had concluded a private arrangement with Ali Wad -Fadlalla, the official tax-gatherer and a relative of Zogal Bey, to -ignore my orders and, through his assistance, to force the Arabs to -return the property, on condition that they (the Gellabas) and Fadlalla -should share the proceeds between them. - -As for various other reasons I wished to again inspect the southern -districts, I took the Sheikhs with me and set off for Kalaka, travelling -_via_ Nimr and Deain, where Madibbo Bey, head-Sheikh of the Rizighat, -resided. Here I promised Madibbo that on my way back I would endeavour -to effect a reconciliation between him and Egeil Wad el Jangawi, with -whom he was in continual dispute. Two days later, accompanied by forty -horsemen, I reached Dawila, which is almost in the centre of the Kalaka -district, and surprised my friend Fadlalla, who was quite ignorant of my -approach. Questioned before the Sheikhs, he could not deny that he had -given orders for some of the property taken from the Gellabas to be -returned to them; without delay I ordered the Arab Sheikhs to bring -before me all Gellabas in the district who had not special permits to -trade, and in a few days one hundred and twenty-four of them were -collected, and I found them to be the actual men whom I had ordered to -Khartum. When I asked them why they had disobeyed orders, they told me -frankly that they had no intention of returning as poor men to their own -country. I then told them to explain how, having no capital whatever, -they proposed to enrich themselves,--especially as I had given orders -that their claims, which were in the majority of cases utterly false, -were not to be considered; and to my repeated questions they refused to -give any answer. I therefore gave instructions to Fadlalla's assistant -to take all the Gellabas as prisoners, under an escort of fifteen -soldiers, to Hassan Agha, the Mamur of Shakka, to whom I gave orders to -send them to El Obeid; and Fadlalla himself I placed under arrest, and -gave instructions that he should be taken with me to Dara, to be tried -for disobedience of orders. - -Several of the merchants who were living with the Arabs came and thanked -me for having helped them, saying the Arabs had voluntarily returned to -them their concubines, children, and some of their property, and that -they were living in peace and harmony with the natives of the country. I -now appointed another Mamur in place of Fadlalla, and, according to my -promise, returned to Madibbo, who was expecting me. - -As we were riding through the woods in the early morning we passed a -place which smelt very strongly of the civet cat; and in reply to my -question as to whether such animals were to be found there, the Habbania -Sheikh replied, "Yes; but you surely do not want one, it will poison -your whole house." "Poison?" said I, in a tone of feigned surprise, for -I well knew that the Arabs detest the civet cat. "Yes," said he, "the -civet of this cat has such a strong smell that you cannot get rid of -it;" and he held his nose as we passed through the wood. I answered, -"Well, now, in my opinion sulphur has a much more disagreeable smell -than civet." "On the contrary," he replied, "sulphur is one of the -choice perfumes of the country; we are used to it, and we enjoy -it."--"Perhaps you are right," said I; "I have seen how mothers of the -southern tribes mix together sulphur and fat and smear the bodies of -their new-born children, as well as their own breasts, with it. Why -should I wonder that you, who have lain on your mother's lap, drunk her -milk, and gazed lovingly into her eyes, should think the sulphur smell -pleasant? You have been bred and brought up in it, and so it happens -that habit makes us used to everything." - -The manners and customs of these wild Arabs always interested me, and -the journey passed quickly enough in chatting with my companions. We -frequently passed settlements of nomad Arabs, who always insisted on our -partaking of their hospitality. The post which caught me up on the way -brought me instructions from the Governor-General that Dar Janghé, -which up till recently had formed part of the province of Dara, was in -future to be attached to Bahr el Ghazal, to which it really belonged. -This new arrangement appeared to me to be a very satisfactory one, as -the Janghé tribe were cattle-owners, and I had already a surplus of -cattle tribute from the numerous Baggara tribes in Darfur, and was not -at all desirous of adding to this stock, which fetched an exceptionally -low price in the market. On the other hand, Gessi was delighted, for the -Janghé were the only cattle-owners in his district, and the payment of -taxes in kind suited his requirements, as it supplied meat for his -troops. - -After four days' march we reached Shakka, and halted at the station of -Abu Segan, in which there was a small fort or enclosure surrounding a -few mud-huts and tukuls, which served as quarters for the small garrison -of between thirty and forty men and the Mamur. Surrounding the fort, but -at some distance from it, were the huts of the merchants who had -immigrated from Darfur, and who practically formed the entire -population. It was a well-known market for the district, the principal -days being Friday and Monday, when numbers of Arabs came in to make -their purchases. - -I found Madibbo Bey here at the head of several hundred horsemen, and he -informed me that Egeil Wad el Jangawi had gone to Khartum a month ago to -make an official complaint about his discharge from the Sheikhdom. I -therefore pushed on to Dara, and a few days after my return received a -letter from Marcopoli Bey, Rauf Pasha's secretary, to the effect that -Egeil had arrived in Khartum and had lodged a complaint against Madibbo -Bey, whom he characterised as in league with me, and through whose -intrigues he had been deprived of the office of Sheikh, and had even -been threatened with death. The letter went on to say that every effort -had been made to induce Egeil to return to Dara with a letter of -recommendation to me, but he had refused to come, as he was convinced I -was in Madibbo's hands. In order, therefore, to get rid of the man, the -case had been handed over to Ali Bey Sherif, acting Mudir of El Fasher, -who had been instructed to settle it. In reply, I wrote that I had -repeatedly written to Egeil ordering him to come to me, but that he had -persistently refused, and that in consequence I must decline to employ -any man as Sheikh in my district who had objected to coming to see me -when ordered to do so; and I added that as I had been suffering -considerably from fever, and besides had several matters to place before -the Governor-General regarding the administration of the country, I -requested permission to come to Khartum. - -A few days later Ali Bey Sherif wrote from El Fasher that, having been -charged to inquire into the Egeil matter, and being unable at present to -come to Dara and examine into the case on the spot, he had in -consequence delegated the Shaigia Sanjak, Omar Wad Darho, to represent -him. - -About a month after I had written for leave to go to Khartum, I received -a reply approving, and two days before I started, Omar Wad Darho -arrived, with an escort of one hundred horsemen. It was quite clear to -me that as the country was perfectly tranquil, he had brought these men -simply to plunder. He assured me that it was his intention to act in the -matter under consideration entirely in accordance with my wishes; but I -did not hesitate to tell him that it was his duty to inquire most -carefully into the whole of the facts of the case, and to act justly in -the interests of the Government. At the same time he should not ignore -the interests and wishes of the tribe in selecting as Sheikh a man whom -the tribe would accept, and who would at the same time have sufficient -power to uphold the Government authority. I then appointed Zogal Bey as -my representative, and ordered him not to interfere in the conduct of -the case, and to report the matter fully to Khartum. - -I left Dara at the end of January, 1881, and, marching _via_ Toweisha -and Dar Homr, I reached El Obeid in nine days, and proceeded at once to -the Mudiria to pay my respects to Mohammed Pasha Said, the Governor. He -gave me a very kind reception, and asked me to be his guest; but as I -had previously known Ahmed Bey Dafalla, who had a horse ready to take me -to the quarters he had specially prepared for me, I thanked the Governor -and proceeded to Dafalla's house, which was close to the gate. Here I -found everything most comfortable. I was ushered into a large room hung -with richly embroidered curtains, whilst laid out on two tables were all -sorts of pleasant drinks and eatables, cigars, cigarettes, etc.; in -fact, I could see that my host had done everything that was possible to -make my stay pleasant. - -Mohammed Pasha Said now came to return my call, and invited us both to -dinner; and after he had gone I had visits from all the notables of the -town. That evening at dinner he told me that he was coming to see me the -following morning on official business. He duly arrived the next day, -and, seeing my three Black boys at the door, his first question was, -"Are these boys free, or slaves?" I at once replied "free," and that -they were in my service of their own free will and accord; they then -showed him their manumission papers, which they kept in little brass -boxes. The Pasha now turned to me and said, "My friend, you are a more -careful man than I. I only wanted to take a rise out of you; but -unfortunately you have turned the tables on me." This little episode -brought us into a discussion on the slave question, and I remarked that -in general terms I agreed with him that from the standpoint of morality -no doubt the abolition of slavery was by all means to be recommended, -but that in actually bringing these measures into effect we should do so -with the greatest circumspection, and should not hurry matters, -otherwise we should deprive the country of its means of obtaining -labour, and we should also place the slave-owners in great difficulties -by any sudden enforcement of the law. Gradual and resolute action was -what was required. Mohammed Pasha Said quite concurred in these views, -pointing out that everything should be done to improve the relations -between the natives and the Egyptians and Turks, by whom they were -governed, but that the sudden abolition of a system which had been a -national custom from remotest times would most certainly lead to -estrangement and difficulties. - -I did not make a long stay in El Obeid, and the following morning I -started off on camels, accompanied by two Maalia Sheikhs who had caught -me up on the road from Darfur. I had already telegraphed to Dr. -Zurbuchen to get a room ready for me, and Said Pasha had officially -reported my departure. - -On the third day after leaving El Obeid we passed the station of Abu -Garad, where I found a telegram from Zurbuchen begging me to be his -guest; and the following day we crossed the Nile at Tura el Hadra at the -spot where I had said good-bye to Gordon, and whose last words I -remembered had been verified,--"I shall perhaps go to Europe." - -The camel I was riding was a young one which Ahmed Dey Dafalla had -bought for me, and they had forgotten to tell me that he should be -ridden with both halter and nose-rein; consequently when we set off in -the dark and I found he would not go on, I drove him, with the result -that he set off at a gallop, and no amount of tugging at the nose-ring -had the smallest effect in stopping him. He ran out of the track -straight for some trees, and in an instant one of the branches, striking -me in the chest, hurled me to the ground some yards away. I fell on my -back with such a thump that it seemed to me as if two pillars of fire -had shot out of my eyes up to the heavens, and for a few minutes I lost -consciousness; but my kavass, who had rushed after me, picked me up, -pulled at my joints, and turned my neck about, and in ten minutes I had -come to and was able to mount the camel, which, when I had fallen, had -patiently stood beside me. We rode till midnight; but the pain in my -chest and spitting of blood obliged me to halt; after a few hours, -however, I was able to move on again, and at length, bruised and sore, -we reached Khartum seven days after leaving El Obeid. - -Here I found Zurbuchen, who welcomed me heartily, and carried me off as -his guest to a house near the Roman Catholic Mission, which had belonged -to the late Latif Debono, a Maltese and a well-known slave-dealer. - -The Governor-General had sent his kavass to meet me with a message that -I was to call on him during the afternoon; after a short rest, -therefore, I presented myself at the palace, where I was well received -by Rauf Pasha and his secretary, Marcopoli Bey, whom I had known before -as Gordon's interpreter. I soon noticed that Rauf Pasha's cordiality had -somewhat cooled down; and to my utter astonishment he announced that the -leave of absence for which I had asked, in order to proceed to Cairo, -had been granted me, and that Riaz Pasha had just telegraphed to that -effect. "But," said I, "I never wrote to Cairo for leave of absence." -"Then what does this telegram mean?" said he. "I think that you, as a -soldier, should have known better than to have acted in this irregular -manner. You should have applied for your leave through me, and not -direct to Cairo; and now you say you never asked for any!" Marcopoli -then read out the telegram, which ran as follows: "To the -Governor-General of the Sudan: Three months leave on full pay has been -granted to R. Slatin, Mudir of western Darfur." - -I was at a complete loss to understand what had occurred, and all I -could do was to repeat that I had not asked for leave. I could see -perfectly well that Rauf Pasha felt insulted at my apparent disregard -for his position, and in this I fully sympathised with him. The next -day, however, light was thrown on the matter. Some time previously I had -written home saying that I had been suffering lately from fever, and my -dear mother, who is now dead, in her loving concern for her absent son, -at once thought that I was concealing from her some terrible malady; she -had, therefore, written to the authorities in Egypt, urging that I -should be recalled to Cairo for medical treatment, and she was thus the -innocent cause of this estrangement between Rauf Pasha and myself. The -matter explained, the Governor-General at once apologised for having -wrongfully accused me of irregularity, and was touched by my dear -mother's love for me, saying that such affection can alone be returned -by the deepest love and obedience on the part of the children. "I -myself," said he, "love my mother with all my heart; though she is only -a poor Abyssinian, and formerly a slave. At all times I am ready to ask -her advice, and follow it in all matters relating to the family and -home." Since this conversation I have often had occasion to notice the -genuine love and affection which exists between parents and children of -this race. - -During my stay in Khartum I had frequent talks with Rauf Pasha on the -state of my province, and I suggested that a more just and lenient form -of taxation should be introduced in the Fasher and Kebkebia districts. I -also asked him to allow me to order the Arab tribes to supply annually a -certain number of young slaves, who should form a contingent from which -the vacancies caused by sickness, deaths, and other casualties amongst -the troops could be filled up; and I further proposed that the Arabs -should be allowed to pay their tribute in slaves instead of cattle, as -by this means I hoped to win back Suleiman Zubeir's Bazingers, who were -scattered amongst the tribes, and whose knowledge of the use of -fire-arms was, in my opinion, a continual source of danger to the -Government. Rauf Pasha concurred in all these suggestions, and gave me -written orders to this effect. - -When I arrived in Khartum, a certain Darfuri named Hassan Wad Saad en -Nur, whose father had been killed with Vizir Ahmed Shata in Shakka, came -to me, and begged me to intercede for him to be permitted to return to -his country; meeting Rauf Pasha shortly afterwards, I begged him to -allow this, and he gave instructions for his discharge to be at once -made out. A few days later, however, he sent for me and explained that -after further inquiry he had decided to cancel Nur's discharge. I -explained that he had only acted like the rest during the revolt, and -that now it was not possible for him to do any further harm. Rauf -Pasha, however, remained resolute, and I, feeling annoyed, retorted that -as I had given Nur my word that he should return with me, it remained -for Rauf Pasha to decide whether he would let him go or whether he would -discharge me, and, bidding him good-bye, I marched off. Two days later -he again sent for me, and said that I was wrong in having given Nur my -word so quickly. I fully admitted the justice of this censure, and to my -surprise he then said that he had reconsidered the matter, and had -decided to let Nur go; and as regards myself he thought me a stubborn -but capable official, and had in consequence requested His Highness the -Khedive, Mohammed Tewfik Pasha, to appoint me Governor-General of -Darfur, with the title of Bey. I thanked him for his kind words, and -assured him that I should do my utmost to justify his confidence in me. - -Rauf Pasha now asked me to state in writing that I would be responsible -for the future good behaviour of Nur; and this I did gladly, feeling -convinced that after all my trouble on his behalf the man would prove -loyal and faithful. On returning to my house I sent for Nur, who had -spent two days of suspense, dreading that his discharge would be -refused; and when I told him the good news, he fell at my feet and -poured out his gratitude in the most voluble terms. I felt that he was a -man of honour, and that I could trust him: little did I know that I had -taken a snake into my bosom. - -My short stay in Khartum passed rapidly in the company of my many -friends. Bishop Comboni and Fathers Ohrwalder and Dichtl had arrived -from Cairo towards the end of January, 1881, as well as Hassan Pasha, -the chief of the Financial Department, Busati Bey, Consul Hansal, and -others. Ohrwalder and Dichtl put up in my quarters; and many a long talk -used we to have over our own beloved country. - -On 25th January, 1881, Gessi arrived at Khartum very seriously ill. -During his journey from Meshra er Rek he had been hemmed in by the -"Suds," or barriers of floating vegetation through which travellers must -at times cut their way with axes. For three months and more he had -struggled hopelessly to make his way through them, and the terrible -sufferings undergone by him and his men through famine and sickness are -almost indescribable. He lost the majority of his men and crew, and acts -of cannibalism were of daily occurrence. He was at length rescued by -Marno in the steamer "Bordein," and brought to Khartum, where he was -most carefully tended by the Mission sisters; but the shock to his -system had been so great that he could not recover his strength, despite -every effort made by Dr. Zurbuchen. It was at length decided to try and -send him to Egypt, and we made all arrangements to make his journey as -comfortable as possible. He was particularly anxious to take with him -his servant Almas, who happened to be a eunuch; but Rauf Pasha, fearing -that it might create a scandal, and that strictures might be passed on -his government of the Sudan, for a long time refused permission for him -to go. Yielding, however, to the persistence of Zurbuchen and myself, he -at length authorised it, and on 11th March we carried poor Gessi in a -sort of litter to the Governor's dahabia, in which he was towed to -Berber, thence he was carried across to Suakin, where he arrived on 10th -April, and, embarking a fortnight later, reached Suez on 28th, too weak -almost to move. He was taken to the French hospital, where he expired -two days later. - -Meanwhile matters in Darfur had not been progressing very -satisfactorily. Zogal Bey wrote that Omar Wad Darho had been conducting -himself very badly at Shakka, and I showed the report to Rauf Pasha, who -telegraphed that he was to return at once to El Fasher. - -Having now thoroughly recovered, I decided to return and take up my new -duties as soon as possible. Rauf Pasha placed a steamer at my disposal, -and, accompanied by Bishop Comboni and Father Ohrwalder, whom I promised -to mount on my camels as far as El Obeid, we quitted Khartum on 29th -March. Consul Hansal, Marcopoli Bey, Zurbuchen, and Marquet travelled -with us in the steamer as far as Tura el Hadra, and here we bade them -good-bye. Little did I think that one only of that company should I -ever meet again, and under what strange circumstances I was once more to -return to the capital of the Sudan. I was very young, the heavy -responsibilities of my new and important position occupied all my -thoughts, and I was full of high hopes for the future; but fate had a -strange and terrible destiny in store for me. - -After five days' march we reached El Obeid, and from here the Bishop -made a tour through Jebel Nuba, while Father Ohrwalder remained at El -Obeid, and was eventually sent to the mission station of Delen, in -southern Kordofan. I stayed in El Obeid a few days only, and, having -received telegraphic orders to proceed to Foga, I bid my two friends -farewell. One of them--the good Bishop--I was destined never to see -again; he died in Khartum on 10th October, 1881. The other,--my dear -friend Ohrwalder,--like myself, was soon to go through many strange and -horrible experiences before we were again to meet as fellow-captives of -the as yet unknown Mahdi, who was shortly to overthrow every vestige of -Government authority in the Sudan. - -Two days later I quitted El Obeid, and, travelling _via_ Abu Haraz and -Shallota, reached Foga, where I found a telegram from His Highness the -Khedive, officially appointing me Governor-General of Darfur, and -directing me to proceed forthwith to El Fasher, to take over the duties -from Ali Bey Sherif. I had some urgent business to do in Dara, and -several private letters to attend to; but I thought it advisable to -proceed at once to El Fasher, where I arrived on 20th April. Here I -found much intriguing going on, from the Mudir down to the lowest clerk -in the office; the Kadi and his employés were all at variance, and even -the clerks of the law-courts had sued each other for contempt. Several -petitions had been filed against officials; there were all sorts of -charges pending against false witnesses; cases regarding breaches of -morality abounded; in fact, it would have required years to settle the -mass of suits and petitions brought before me for decision. A few I -managed to settle, but I regret to say that I had to leave the greater -number pending. The most important case was that against Nur Angara, his -sanjak, and the Kulkul officials, who, with their complainants, had all -been summoned to El Fasher, whence, after freely bribing the officials -with money and slaves, they were sent back to Kulkul without any -decision having been given. There was a large box full of correspondence -on this subject, most of which was not worth the paper it was written -on; I therefore sent instructions to Nur Angara, his officials, and the -complainants, who were all living at Kulkul without work, to come to El -Fasher; and, pending his arrival, I endeavoured to establish some sort -of order in regard to tributes, taxation, etc. Several cases had also -been filed against the late Mudir, Said Bey Guma,--who was at the same -time commander of the troops,--but it was impossible to prove them; and -as it was imperative that I should have an assistant, I reinstated him -as Mudir of El Fasher. There was no doubt he was an intriguer; besides -being excessively parsimonious, he was not liked by the officers, and -was famed for his vocabulary of bad language; but at the same time he -was a brave soldier in the field, and this quality,--especially amongst -Egyptians,--was excessively rare in these distant regions. I therefore -re-employed him, on condition that he would amend his ways; and I -frankly told him that if he gave me the slightest trouble I should -discharge him, and pack him off to Khartum. I knew this would be a -terrible punishment; for, though an Egyptian, he had become greatly -attached to Darfur. - -Major Hassan Effendi Rifki, commanding at Dara, I transferred to the -command of a battalion at El Fasher, under Ali Bey Sherif, as he was -constantly drunk; but no sooner had he come under my observation than he -appeared before me twice in a state of intoxication, and I was obliged -to discharge him and send him to Khartum. Meanwhile, Nur Angara and the -host of defendants and complainants duly arrived, and I very soon found -out that the latter had been for the most part his friends, through -whose help he had become Mudir; but as he had abandoned them, they were -anxious to revenge themselves by plotting against him. On the other -hand, Nur Angara himself was a most resolute villain; without rhyme or -reason, and often merely to satisfy his own brutal pleasure, he shed -blood; and as for his views in regard to the property of his fellow -creatures, they were beyond the conception of the most advanced Social -Democrat in the world. As he was a Bey, and held the rank of colonel, I -ordered the proper salute to be fired when he entered the fort, gave him -a hearty welcome, and ordered his attendants to be lodged in one of Omar -Wad Darho's houses, lying to the north of the town. He was a tall, -beardless man, with a dark copper-coloured complexion, and the usual -three slits on his cheeks; he had an energetic and wild look, but when -talking he appeared to be a perfectly harmless individual. He was a -Dongolawi, and had been brought up by the Shaigi, Melek Tumbal, who was -formally a sanjak, and claimed descent from the Shaigia kings. When -quite a boy he had come to Cairo, and, owing to his connection with -Zubeir and his son, he had acquired to some extent the good-will of the -Government. He had an old mother of about sixty years of age living in -Dongola, and in spite of his wild character she had the same affection -and care for her son which Rauf Pasha's mother had for him. It is said -that when Gordon was in Dongola, an old woman asked to see him, and on -entering, said: "I am Nur Angara's mother, and have come to seek your -help." "But," said Gordon, "you have a good-for-nothing son, who passes -his time in riotous living instead of looking after his old mother." -"Ah!" said the old woman, "may he be always happy! I forgive him, but I -want you to help me." Gordon presented her with £50 from his own pocket, -and she returned home heaping blessings on his head and on that of her -undutiful son. - -After speaking some time to Nur Angara about his province, I referred -quite casually to his great case, saying that I had had no time to -examine carefully into the matter, and that when he and his traducers -had rested sufficiently, I proposed sending them on to El Obeid. The -next day happened to be the first of Ramadan, and all the people were -fasting except Nur Angara, who did little else but drink araki and om -bilbil, and listen to the music of antelope-horns and noggaras played by -his attendants, and every now and then he ordered the big war-drum to be -beaten. So irritated was I by this constant noise that I sent orders to -him to stop it, telling him at the same time that it was a matter of no -concern to me whether he fasted or not; but I declined to allow him--a -Moslem, and an Egyptian official--to cause public annoyance, and I told -him he had no right to disregard public opinion. "I shall comply with -your orders," said he, "and stop my noisy amusements; but I never did -care for Ramadan, and never shall. I shall continue to drink as much as -I like, and I don't care a brass farthing what people say or think of -me." I could see that he was then under the influence of drink, so I -ordered him to go to his house and prepare to leave. Two days later he -quitted El Fasher for El Obeid, and on arrival there was at once -discharged from the Government service. Ali Bey Sherif also left when he -had finally handed over the province to me, and I now proposed going on -a tour of inspection through the entire country, with the administration -of which I had been intrusted. - -Just as I was making preparations to start, news arrived that a fight -had occurred between the Maheria and Bedeyat Arabs at Bir el Malha; and -a few days afterwards Hasaballa, the head-Sheikh of the Maheria, with -many of the chiefs, arrived to represent the case. It appeared that the -Maheria Arabs had gone, as usual, to the natron fields at Bir el Malha -on the Arbaïn road, ten days' march north of El Fasher, to procure -natron to sell in Darfur; here they had been surprised and attacked by -their deadly enemies, the Bedeyat, who lived in the northeast portion of -Wadai, and who captured some fifteen hundred camels, and took upwards of -one hundred and sixty men prisoners. These tribes had been at war with -each other from remotest times, and men captured were generally ransomed -at the rate of ten to fifteen camels a head. It was usually considered -that the Bedeyat belonged to Darfur, though they never paid tribute; and -that, I suppose, was the reason for the Maheria Sheikhs coming to me to -ask for the forcible return of the captured men and camels. - -The road between Assiut and Darfur had been formerly much used by -merchants, and large caravans used to pass along it; but it had been -discovered that it was also used as a slave route, and several merchants -had been caught in this traffic and had been exiled; consequently, the -Egyptian Government had given orders for the road to be closed. From the -first day I arrived in El Fasher, I had heard nothing but complaints -about the stoppage of trade along this road, and I had already -represented to the Government that this was the direct trade route with -Egypt, and would serve as an outlet for the ivory, feathers, skins, and -tamarisk fruit with which the country abounded, instead of sending it in -a roundabout way to Khartum, and thence down the Nile, involving the -merchants in heavy transport expenses as well as long delays. Government -now approved of my reopening trade by this road, but held me responsible -that no slaves should be sent along it. No sooner had I received this -permission than I ordered a caravan to be prepared, and, under the -guarantee and guidance of Sheikh Mohammed Wad Idris, some eight hundred -camels started for Egypt, and in less than seven weeks I received a -telegram _via_ Khartum announcing their safe arrival at Assiut. - -As I was very anxious to inspect the northern and western frontiers of -Darfur, the complaint of the Maheria afforded me a pretext for doing so, -and for settling their affairs as well. I therefore ordered them to -supply, without delay, one hundred and fifty baggage-camels, and one -hundred "suga," or large water-skins made of bullock's hide; this they -readily agreed to do, and we named the village of Melek Hagger (the -chief of the Zaghawa Arabs), lying to the north of Kebkebia, as the -rendezvous. - -About the middle of December, 1881, I left El Fasher with two hundred -infantry and some irregular Shaigia cavalry, under Omar Wad Darho. This -individual, it will be remembered, had been sent by Ali Bey Sherif to -settle the Madibbo-Egeil differences, and having found on my return to -Darfur that he had acted unjustly, I had discharged him; but he had -subsequently told me that he had been ordered by Ali Bey Sherif to -collect a considerable sum of money for him, and that, therefore, he -could not act otherwise. I pardoned and reinstated him; moreover, most -of the Shaigia horsemen in El Fasher were his relatives, and he was the -only man who appeared to be able to exercise any degree of authority -over them. - -The first night after leaving El Fasher we camped near the Migdob wells, -about half way to Kobbé; and when it was dark, I happened to stroll -towards the wells, accompanied by one of my attendants. I was dressed in -much the same way as the soldiers, and it was too dark for me to be -recognised; I therefore came close to the well, and watched the women -drawing water. Some Shaigia now came up to water their horses, and asked -the women for their buckets, which they refused to give. "We shall first -fill our jars," they said, "and then you can use the buckets." "Your -words are as a punishment sent from God," replied one of the Shaigia; -"this is the result of bringing liberty into the country. By Allah! were -it not so, and were not Slatin with us, you and your vessels would very -soon be our property." "God grant him a long life!" was the retort; and -I strolled quietly away, thoroughly pleased to have heard with my own -ears an admission from the mouths of Sudanese that they were thankful to -the Europeans for having released them from the oppression and violence -which had hitherto characterised the system of government in this -country. - -At 11 A. M. the next day we reached Kobbé, the old trade capital of -Darfur, which was now inhabited principally by Jaalin, whose fathers and -grandfathers, immigrating from the Nile valley, had intermarried with -the local people. The Mamur of this place was a certain Emiliani dei -Danziger, of a Venetian family of Austrian origin. He had been given -this position by Gordon, and I now sent him to act as Mudir of Dara. The -people seemed sorry to say good-bye to him; they said he was a good man, -and when slaves and masters disagreed, and the former wanted to leave -the latter, he had often been able, by quiet words, to effect a -reconciliation. Fortunately, I was not called upon to give any immediate -decisions here on the slave question, and the following morning, leaving -Kobbé, we marched, _via_ Sanied el Kebir and Bir el Gidar, to Kebkebia, -where we arrived in two days. Kebkebia is situated on a rocky plateau, -and just at the edge of a deep khor. In the centre of the town was a -square, loopholed enclosure about nine feet high, constructed of rough -stones and mud, smeared with whitewash, in which were the huts of the -officers and the small garrison. Formerly the Mudir and troops were -quartered at Kulkul, but had been transferred here about a year and a -half before. The buildings had not been completed, and, in consequence, -the houses of Nur Angara and the other officials were situated outside -the enclosure. The khor contained some good gardens and some very high -palm-trees, which gave the town a most picturesque appearance. - -After inspecting the garrison under Major Adam Omar, I proceeded to my -quarters in the fort; and scarcely had I arrived there when I heard a -great noise and commotion, which I was told proceeded from the houses -occupied by Nur Angara's women. The noise increased to such an extent -that I sent for Nur Angara's brother Idris, and asked him what was the -cause. He began by making excuses, saying that it was only a little -domestic dispute; but when I pressed him, he admitted that all these -women knew that I had sent their lord and master to El Obeid, and they -wished to attract my attention. I now sent my chief clerk, Ahmed Effendi -Riad, the Kadi of the Mudiria, and Idris to make a full inquiry, and -report. They returned shortly, and stated that several of the women -complained before Idris of being kept by force in the house, and a few -of them said that they had not the necessary means of living. I now -sent the same deputation back again, and instructed the Kadi to give the -legal wives and their slave-girls injunctions to remain in the house and -await their master's orders; and at the same time he was to legally -nominate some one to look after them, while Idris was ordered to deduct -any expenses incurred in the maintenance of the family, from Nur -Angara's pay. A list was then to be made of the remaining women, who -were ordered to be sent to their relatives or tribes against receipts; -and I further instructed the delegates to remain quite neutral, and -force no one to leave the house who did not wish to do so, or who wished -to stay until their master's return; I added that I would be responsible -that such as wished to remain should be provided for. It is needless for -me to add that women's affairs take quite as long a time to settle in -the Sudan as they do in Europe; I was not, therefore, surprised that my -delegates remained absent two hours, and in the lists which they brought -back I found the names of no less than sixty young girls who pleaded for -liberty. They had all been captured in the various campaigns, and their -tribes were now the loyal subjects of the Government. Their detention by -force was, therefore, quite illegal, and I ordered them to be at once -sent back to their relatives. Of the remaining thirty, some, owing to -family matters, and others for various reasons, expressed a wish to -remain, and I gave instructions for them to be supplied with the -necessary means for living. As for Idris, I told him that I held him -responsible for his brother's household, and that he must either look -after the women or release them. - -I also found the Bazingers and their wives in this station very -discontented, and I did what I could to place matters on a better -footing. Several of the neighbouring Sheikhs came to see me here, -amongst them Hegam of the Dar Massalit, Sultan Idris of Dar Gimr, El -Mahi of Dar Jebel, and Hamad Tor Jok of the Beni Hussein. I had a most -interesting conversation with these men, especially with the Massalit -Sheikh, who was constantly at war with the tribes on the Wadai -frontier. He told me it was their custom to go to battle with their -wives and children, who always carried the om bilbil. "This drink," said -he, "encourages one for the fight; and as for our wives and children, -why should we leave them for our enemies? We always go out to conquer or -die." I told him that I had heard it was the custom in their tribe to -use the skins of their slain enemies as water-skins, in their natural -form, and that if he had some of these skins, I hoped he would give me a -male and female as specimens. The Sheikh at once denied it; but the -other Sheikhs said that it was so, and Hegam admitted that it had been a -tribal custom long ago. I begged him to search among his old -war-trophies, and he promised he would do so; but he evidently failed to -procure one, for he never again mentioned the subject. These Sheikhs -afterwards asked to see me privately, and each of them in turn offered -me a horse, which, they said, was the custom of their country; but I -persistently refused to accept one, much to their chagrin. - -After inspecting the books, I left Kebkebia, accompanied by Omar Wad -Darho, and directed the infantry to follow us to the village of Melek -Hagger, where we had arranged to meet the Maheria Sheikhs. The road now -became practically a desert; but as it was winter time, and we were -mounted, the journey was not a trying one. About half a day's march -beyond Kebkebia, we reached the Ogelli wells, where our horsemen filled -their water-bottles, and we started on again at midnight, so as to get -over the distance as quickly as possible. In the early morning we were -overtaken by some mounted messengers, despatched by Adam Omar with a -French cypher message from Marcopoli Bey, in the Governor-General's -name, which had been sent to Foga, whence it had been posted on to -Kebkebia _via_ El Fasher. It ran as follows: "A Dervish named Mohammed -Ahmed has, without just cause, attacked Rashed Bey near Gedir. Rashed -Bey and his troops have been annihilated. This revolt is very serious. -Take the necessary steps to prevent malcontents in your province from -joining this Dervish." I sent an immediate answer, as follows: "Your -message received. I shall take the necessary steps to comply with your -orders." - -Some time previously, I had been told privately that a religious Sheikh -had been causing difficulty to the Government by calling on the natives -to resist authority. As, however, I had heard nothing of the matter -officially, I concluded it had been satisfactorily settled; but now this -annihilation of the Mudir Rashed Bey and his troops was evidently a -matter of grave import. The movement must have suddenly assumed large -dimensions; but who would have dreamt the results would have been so -terrible and so widespread! - -Having started on this expedition, I could not now well give it up -without exciting mistrust; but I determined to bring it to a successful -issue with the least possible delay. That evening we came across a herd -of giraffe, which abound in this desert. Catching sight of us, they at -once scattered; and as I was mounted on the fast little pony Gordon had -given me, I galloped after one, and in a few minutes caught it up, and -could with ease have killed it; but I knew that to cut it up and -distribute the flesh would have taken hours, and the thought of this -alarming telegram induced me to let the animal go. That night we halted -at an ostrich hunter's settlement, and lost no time in lighting a fire -to keep ourselves warm. We found these great desert tracts bitterly -cold, and the Shaigia were so numbed they could scarcely sit on their -horses. These districts contain quantities of ostriches, which are -hunted by the Arabs and Gellabas. A party of them, taking a supply of -water on camels sufficient to last them for weeks, usually settle in -some spot in the desert frequented by ostriches, where they build little -straw huts just large enough to contain one man; and in these they -patiently wait, on the chance of a stray shot. Of course, if a man is -fortunate enough to discover where an ostrich has laid eggs and buried -them in the sand, he will patiently watch until the eggs are hatched, -when he seizes the little birds, puts them in the cage he has ready, and -takes them off to the nearest market, where he invariably gets a good -price for them. - -We marched the whole of the next day, and at eleven o'clock the -following morning reached the village of Melek Hagger, and were welcomed -by the great Zaghawa Sheikh, who begged us to come to his village; but I -preferred to camp under an enormous nabak-tree which stood in the centre -of the khor, and was large enough to accommodate a hundred people under -its shade. Hasaballa, Sheikh of the Maheria, was also there, and told me -that he had collected the water-skins, and a hundred and fifty camels -which were grazing close by. Adjutant-Major Suleiman Basyuni, at the -head of two hundred infantry, also marched in that evening; and, having -procured from the village the quantity of corn required, as well as two -oxen which were offered by the Sheikhs and specially killed for the -troops, we were able to continue our march the next morning. Two days -later we reached Kama, the market town of the district ruled by Melek -Saleh Donkusa. This Donkusa's sister, Khadiga by name, when quite a -young girl, had been presented by her parents to Sultan Hussein, and had -eventually entered his harem, while her brother, who had also come to El -Fasher, obtained, owing to his superior ability, a high position in the -palace. Khadiga eventually bore Sultan Hussein a son, who died; and the -latter had then liberated both Khadiga and Saleh, and had appointed him -Emir of the portion of the Zaghawa tribe to which he belonged. Now it -happened that the mother of Saleh and Khadiga was a Bedeyat maiden, and -the present Bedeyat rulers were their uncles. All this I knew -beforehand, and had already taken steps to use Donkusa as an -intermediary between the Maheria and the Bedeyat, in order to induce the -latter to give up the stolen camels without being obliged to have -recourse to force. - -Saleh informed me that, in accordance with my instructions, he had -already sent word to the Bedeyat chiefs, and that he expected them to -arrive in a few days to make their submission to me. He therefore begged -I would wait at his village. I was much gratified with this news, for I -was most anxious to settle matters quickly and get back to El Fasher. I -told Saleh to let the Bedeyat chiefs know that I did not intend to be -very severe, and that if they were really anxious to avoid a conflict, -they should come at once; but at the same time I told him to warn them -that I was very strong, and would not be tampered with. - -It is a strange fact that the Bedeyat, although completely surrounded by -Moslem states and peoples, are almost the only tribe in this part of -Central Africa who still adhere to their old heathen customs. If their -chiefs are asked by Mohammedans to repeat the creed, they can say, -"There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his Prophet." But beyond this -they know nothing; they are utterly ignorant of the precepts of the -Kuran, and never pray as Moslems. - -Under the widespreading branches of an enormous heglik-tree, and on a -spot kept beautifully clean and sprinkled with fine sand, the Bedeyat -beseech an unknown god to direct them in their undertakings, and to -protect them from danger. They have also religious feasts at uncertain -dates, when they ascend the hills, and on the extreme summits, which are -whitewashed, they offer sacrifices of animals. They are a fine, stalwart -race, very dark in colour, with straight features, a thin nose and small -mouth, and resemble Arabs more than Negroes. The women are famed for -their long flowing hair, and there are some great beauties amongst them, -as one often finds amongst the free Arab tribes. They generally wear -skins of animals round their waists and loins; but the higher class and -their women dress in long flowing robes made of white Darfur cotton -cloth. Their food is very plain. Corn does not grow in their country, -and is almost unknown to them. They take the seeds of the wild pumpkin, -which grows there in abundance, and they soak them in wooden vessels -made from the bark of trees. After taking the outer shells off, they -leave the seeds to steep until they lose their bitterness, and then, -straining them off and mixing them with dates, they grind them into a -sort of flour, which is cooked with meat, and forms the principal food -of the country. - -[Illustration: Bedayat praying to the Sacred Tree.] - -They have also most strange customs as regards inheritance and -succession. The cemeteries are generally situated at some distance from -the villages; and when a father dies, the body is taken by all the -relatives to be buried. The ceremony over, on a given signal they all -rush together at the top of their speed to the deceased's house; and he -who arrives first and fixes his spear or arrow in it is considered the -rightful heir, and not only becomes possessor of all the cattle, but -also of his father's wives and other women, with the exception of his -own mother. He is at perfect liberty to marry them if he wishes, or he -can set them free. A man's female household is entirely regulated by his -financial position. It is great or small according as the lord and -master is rich or poor. - -As I before remarked, most of the people still adhered to their pagan -customs, and it amused me greatly when Saleh Donkusa, who was by way of -being a good Moslem himself, denied to me, in the most emphatic manner, -that such customs were still in vogue in his tribe. I asked him what the -great heglik-tree was which I had passed the previous day when riding -through the khor, and why the ground underneath was sprinkled with fine -sand. The question surprised him, and for a moment, he was silent; he -then answered that it was the usual meeting-place in which tribal -matters were discussed. "The Maheria Arabs," said I, "wanted to graze -their cattle near the tree; but when I saw that it was dedicated for -some special purpose, I prevented them from doing so." He thanked me -most heartily, and I could see that, though a fanatical Moslem himself, -he was determined to uphold the ancient manners and customs of his -tribe, and so retain his hold over them. I subsequently learned that it -was entirely through him that the holy tree was preserved; and as my -work was not that of a missionary, I had no desire to interfere in their -religious matters, and possibly bring about difficulties with the -Bedeyat, who had never seen a white man before. - -I was beginning to lose patience, owing to the delay of the chiefs in -coming, when a certain Ali Wad el Abiad arrived; he had been Sub-Kadi of -Shakka, and had just been discharged by Emiliani, against whom he made -the most bitter complaints, charging him with allowing the clerks to do -exactly as they pleased, because he was so ignorant of the Arabic -language. He then told me he had heard in Shakka that a Dervish had been -preaching a Jehad (religious war) against the Turks (Government), and -had already fought several successful actions. I immediately wrote off -to Emiliani, telling him of the Kadi's complaint, and urging him to do -all in his power to prevent the Arabs communicating with the rebels, and -to endeavour to do his utmost to keep the country tranquil. I also told -him to lose no time in reporting to me fully on the general state of -affairs. - -At length, after a stay of six days at Kamo, Saleh came to me with the -satisfactory news that the Bedeyat chiefs would arrive the next day. In -concert with him, I selected the heglik-tree as the place of meeting, -which was to be held one hour after sunrise and in which he was to act -as the intermediary between myself and the Bedeyat. I then ordered our -tents to be moved to within less than half a mile of the tree, and early -the next morning I had the troops drawn up in line ready to receive the -Bedeyat chiefs, whose approach Saleh now announced. Standing with my -officers and sanjak, Omar Wad Darho, about one hundred yards in front of -the line, with our servants holding the horses, we prepared to receive -our distinguished visitors, who, guided by Saleh, were now seen -advancing, with their hands crossed on their chests and heads bowed low. -They had brought an interpreter with them, and through him we exchanged -mutual greeting. I then ordered carpets to be spread on the ground, and -asked them to be seated, whilst I and my officers sat on small field -chairs; and, having partaken of sugar and water and dates, we began our -palaver. - -[Illustration: Surrender of the Bedayat to Slatin.] - -The four Bedeyat Sheikhs were tall, fine-looking middle-aged men, with -good features and dressed in long white robes which no doubt our friend -Saleh had prepared for them; they also wore the usual straight Arab -sword. Their names were Gar en Nebbi, Bosh, Omar, and Kurukuru; but I am -not quite sure that these high-sounding Arab names were not assumed for -the occasion. Their attendants, numbering between sixty and seventy men, -dressed in shirts and skins, stood some way behind, while Saleh Donkusa -seated himself close to the Sheikhs and the interpreter. The spokesman, -Gar en Nebbi, now addressed the interpreter with the words "Kursi -Sellem," to which the latter answered "Sellem," indicating that he was -ready to translate; and he then began: "We belong to the Bedeyat tribe, -and our fathers and grandfathers have paid tribute to the Sultans of -Darfur every two or three years when an officer was sent to collect it. -You Turks have now subdued the Furs and have conquered the country, and -you have never before asked us to pay tribute. You [Slatin]--as our -friend and brother Saleh Donkusa has informed us--are the ruler of this -country, and in token of submission we have brought you ten horses, ten -camels, and forty cows. Do you, therefore, fix the amount of tribute to -be paid by us." - -It was now my turn to speak; so, repeating the "Kursi Sellem," I began: -"I thank you for your submission, and I am only going to demand a small -tribute; but I have specially come here to call on you to return the -camels you stole from the Maheria, and release the prisoners you -captured." Gar en Nebbi, after a short pause, replied: "Since the time -of our forefathers we have been in constant feud with the various Arab -tribes. If we fight and take prisoners, it is our custom to allow them -to be ransomed. We have often before released Maheria captives." I -referred to Sheikh Hasaballa to ask if this was so, and he answered in -the affirmative; and then I asked whether he had ever done so since the -Egyptian Government had taken possession of the country, or whether he -referred to the period in which they were ruled by the Darfur Sultans. -"Before you conquered the country," he answered, "but only two years -ago, the Maheria invaded our country; we repulsed them and drove them -out, so that they returned empty-handed." I looked at Hasaballa, and saw -from his silence that the Bedeyat was telling the truth. "That may be -so," I answered, "but at that time I was not governing this country. I -am well aware that in those days you did what you thought was right, and -I do not in any way blame you for it; but as I am now your master, I -wish you to act in accordance with my orders. You should, therefore, -hand over your prisoners; but as the Maheria previously attacked you, -then I order that instead of returning them all the camels you took, you -can retain half, as a reward for your bravery in having prevented them -from pillaging your country." A long pause now took place, and the four -Sheikhs discussed the matter between themselves. Gar en Nebbi then -answered, "We shall comply with your orders; but as it will take a long -time to collect the camels, which are scattered throughout the country, -it will be easier for us to release the captives." "Then look sharp," -said I, "and carry out these orders as soon as possible; and when you -have done so, I will release you from the payment of this year's -tribute. I can quite understand that it may cause you some difficulty to -return the camels and pay your taxes as well." - -This arrangement apparently quite satisfied them, and they thanked me -profusely; so I asked them to stay with us till the following day, and -Saleh would look after all their wants. Then, mounting our horses, I -gave the command to the troops to fire three volleys, which terrified -the poor Bedeyat, who had scarcely ever seen fire-arms. Telling Saleh to -bring the Sheikhs before me the next morning at the same hour, I -galloped off with my escort to the camp. - -During the day I busied myself in considering how best to get back to -El Fasher without endangering the success of my present expedition; I -could not wait until the Bedeyat had collected and handed over their -captives; moreover, I was disturbed about the condition of the -water-skins supplied by the Maheria, and blamed Hasaballa severely for -furnishing such bad equipment. Next morning, when the Sheikhs arrived, I -asked them if they had yet despatched men to collect the prisoners and -camels; and when they answered no, I replied in an irritated tone that I -could not possibly wait to see my orders carried out. To this Gar en -Nebbi answered, "Master, we are here to carry out your orders; you can -return, and we shall deliver over the men and animals to Saleh Donkusa -and Hasaballa, who is remaining as his guest." "I have another proposal -to make," said I. "I do not doubt your sincerity and loyalty, but I am -anxious to know you better personally; I wish, therefore, you and any -others you may desire to bring with you should accompany me to El -Fasher, and at the same time tell your representatives to collect the -men and animals and hand them over to Hasaballa, who is staying with -Donkusa. When I hear at El Fasher that this has been done, I shall then -send you back to your country laden with rich presents. You have never -visited El Fasher yet, and you will be interested to see the seat of -Government and understand its power, and I sincerely trust that you and -Saleh will concur with my proposal; you will be so pleased with all you -will see that in future I know you will always comply most readily with -my orders." - -Saleh at once answered that he thought the proposal a very good one, and -that he was content to stay behind, as he had already seen El Fasher. I -saw by the faces of the Bedeyat that the idea pleased them, and after a -long palaver amongst themselves they made up their minds to accompany -me. Knowing that the sooner they carried out my orders about the return -of the captives and camels the sooner they would start, they lost no -time in nominating good men as their representatives with the tribe, -and, selecting six men as their attendants, they announced they were -ready to leave; but before starting they wished to swear the oath of -fidelity, in which, of course, I readily acquiesced. The ceremony was -performed as follows: A horse's saddle was brought and placed in the -midst of the assembly, and on this was laid a large earthenware dish -filled with burning charcoal; a lance was then fixed to the saddle, and -the head-Sheikhs, with their attendants, now came forward and, -stretching out their hands over the lance and burning charcoal, they -recited the following words with great solemnity, "May my leg never -touch the saddle, may my body be smitten with the lance that kills, and -may I be consumed by the burning fire, if I ever break the solemn oath -of fidelity which I now make to you." - -After this solemn declaration I had now no doubt of the loyalty and -honesty of these people. - -That afternoon I gave the order to start, and, accompanied by the four -Bedeyat chiefs and their attendants, we left Kamo, having given Saleh -and Hasaballa most strict injunctions to inform me without delay when -the tribe had complied with my instructions. Anxious to reach El Fasher -without further delay, I left the Sheikhs in charge of the infantry, -telling the officers to do all that was possible to make their journey -comfortable; and then, accompanied by Omar Wad Darho and my Shaigia -escort, I set off at a rapid pace. - -The first information I received on arrival at El Fasher was the sad -news of the sudden death of Emiliani at Shakka. He had been suffering -from heart disease for years, and at last it had carried him off; his -officials, who did not understand the suddenness of the disease, thought -they might be suspected of poisoning him, and had at once brought his -body on a camel to Dara, where the apothecary held a rough post-mortem -examination, and certified that death had occurred from natural causes. -His body was buried at Dara, and I afterwards had a stone erected to -commemorate my poor countryman who had died in this distant land. - -I next learnt that some trouble had arisen at Shakka which would oblige -me to go to Dara for a few days. Disquieting rumours also reached us of -the state of affairs in Kordofan and Khartum; however, it was generally -thought in Government circles that the revolt would be speedily crushed -by the military expedition despatched for this purpose. - -A few days later the troops with the Bedeyat Sheikhs arrived, and in -order to impress them, I ordered out all the garrison, and in the -evening we had a grand firework display in their honour. I intrusted the -Mudir with looking after the comfort of my guests, but unfortunately I -was not able to stay long with them; as soon as the horses were -sufficiently rested, I started off again for Dara, accompanied by Darho -and his two hundred Shaigias, leaving Said Bey Guma as commandant and -representative of the Government during my absence. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE KHALIFA'S PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE RISE OF THE MAHDI. - - Early Life of Mohammed Ahmed, the Mahdi--The Religious - Tarikas--Mohammed Ahmed quarrels with his Religious Superior--He - is refused Forgiveness, and joins a Rival Sheikh--He is joined - by Abdullahi et Taaishi--The Mahdi secretly tells Abdullahi of - his Divine Mission--The Failure to seize Mohammed Ahmed on Abba - Island--The Mahdi's Hejira to Jebel Gedir--He nominates his - Khalifas--The Defeat of Rashed Bey and Yusef Pasha - Shellali--Effect of the Mahdi's Victories in Kordofan--The - Mahdi's Intrigues with the Inhabitants of El Obeid--Futility of - the Steps taken by the Government to cope with the Revolt. - - -The revolt raised by the so-called Dervish proved to be of a very -serious nature. - -This man, Mohammed Ahmed, was born near the Island of Argo, in Dongola, -and was of a poor and obscure family, but who claimed to be "Ashraf," or -descendants of the "Prophet." Their claims to this dignity, however, -were not inquired into or acknowledged by any one. In general he was -known as a Dongolawi. His father was an ordinary fiki, or religious -teacher, and had given him his early instruction in reading the Kuran -and in writing, and when still a child had taken him to Khartum; but he -himself had died on his journey, near Kerreri, and here his son -subsequently erected a tomb to him, known as the "Kubbet es Sayed -Abdullahi" (the dome of Sayed Abdullahi). - -Young Mohammed Ahmed was now left entirely to his own resources. He -studied assiduously, and, being of a deeply religious disposition, he -became a great favourite with his master, who taught him to learn the -Kuran by heart, and gave him his early instruction in theology; he -subsequently went to Berber, and became the pupil of the well-known -Mohammed el Kheir (formerly Mohammed ed Dekkeir), who completed his -religious education. He remained for several years in Berber continually -studying, and his unassuming nature, intelligence, and religious zeal -made him a great favourite with his instructors. When he arrived at -manhood he quitted Berber and went to Khartum, where he became a -disciple of the celebrated and highly revered Sheikh Mohammed Sherif, -whose father, Nur ed Dayem, and grandfather, Et Tayeb, had been the -principal exponents of the Sammania Tarika, or doctrine. - -The meaning of the word "tarika" is literally "way"; hence "Sheikh et -Tarika" signifies "the guide to the way." The duties of these holy -personages consist in writing a certain number of prayers and texts of -the Prophet, which the devotees are called upon to repeat a certain -number of times, and thus facilitate the "way" to those heavenly -mansions which are the goal of all true believers. The Sheikhs et Tarika -are therefore exponents of various doctrines, and each one bears the -name of the original founder of the order; such as the "Khatmia," the -"Khadria," the "Tegania," the "Sammania," etc. They are held in high -respect by their disciples, who are their most devoted and obedient -adherents. - -Mohammed Ahmed soon showed himself a most zealous and ardent supporter -of the Sammania tarika, and became very devoted to its head, Sheikh -Mohammed Sherif. He now went to live on the Island of Abba, on the White -Nile, near Kawa, surrounded by several devoted disciples. They earned a -livelihood by cultivating the lands, and received frequent gifts from -religious persons who passed up or down the Nile. Mohammed Ahmed's -grand-uncle, Mohammed Sharfi, had resided on the island for some years, -and the young zealot had married his daughter. His two brothers, -Mohammed and Hamed, also lived there, drove a good trade in -boat-building, and supported the young fiki, who had hollowed out for -himself a cave in the mud bank, and lived here in almost entire -seclusion, fasting often for days, and occasionally paying a visit to -the head of the order to assure him of his devotion and obedience. - -One day it fell out that Mohammed Sherif, as is the custom on such -occasions, had gathered together his Sheikhs and disciples to celebrate -the feast of the circumcision of his sons; he had also given out that -his guests might amuse themselves by singing and dancing as they liked, -and that as such feasts were occasions of rejoicing, he would pardon, in -God's name, any sins that might be committed during the festivities -which were contrary to the religious law. But the godly fiki, Mohammed -Ahmed, pointed out to his friends that singing, dancing, and playing -were transgressions against the laws of God, and that no man, be he even -Sheikh et Tarika, could forgive such sins. These views reached the ears -of Mohammed Sherif, who, entirely disagreeing with Mohammed Ahmed's -arguments, and being withal very angry at this assumption on the part of -his disciple, called on him to justify himself. Consequently Mohammed -Ahmed, in the presence of all the inferior Sheikhs and fikis, came in -the most humble manner before Mohammed Sherif and besought his -forgiveness. Sherif, however, abused him roundly, called him a traitor -and a sedition-monger who had broken his vow of obedience and fidelity, -and ignominiously struck him off the list of disciples of the Sammania -order. - -Thoroughly humbled and subdued, Mohammed Ahmed now went to one of his -relatives and asked him to make a sheba;[3] and with this on his neck, -and his head besprinkled with ashes, he again returned in deep -repentance to Mohammed Sherif, begging his forgiveness. The latter, -however, utterly refused to have anything further to say to him, and, in -despair, Mohammed Ahmed returned to his family in Abba. He held the -founders of the Sammania order, Sheikhs Nur ed Dayem and et Tayeb, in -the greatest respect, and to be removed with ignominy from his beloved -tarika was a disgrace too hard to be borne. Shortly afterwards Mohammed -Sherif happened to be in the neighbourhood, and again Mohammed Ahmed -appeared before him in the sheba and ashes, and once more implored -forgiveness. "Be off, you traitor!" shouted Mohammed Sherif. "Get away, -you wretched Dongolawi, who fears not God and opposes his master and -teacher! You have verified the words of the saying, 'Ed Dongolawi -Shaitan mugalled bigild el insan' [The Dongolawi is the devil in the -skin of a man]. By your words you try to spread dissension amongst the -people. Be off with you! I shall never forgive you!" - -Kneeling in silence, his head bowed low, Mohammed Ahmed listened to -these scathing words; then, rising, he went sadly away. Tears streamed -down his cheeks; but they were not now tears of repentance. Rage and -anger burned within him, and these feelings were heightened by the -knowledge of his powerlessness to do anything by which to wipe out this -disgrace and insult. Boiling over with indignation, he returned to his -home and announced to his faithful disciples that he had been finally -abandoned by Mohammed Sherif, and that he now intended to apply to -Sheikh el Koreishi, who lived near Mesallamia, to receive him into his -order. This Sheikh had succeeded the holy Sheikh et Tayeb, the -grandfather of Mohammed Sherif, and was one of those authorised to -maintain and teach the Sammania doctrines as he considered right; and on -this account there was considerable jealousy between him and Mohammed -Sherif. - -In due time Sheikh el Koreishi's reply was received, saying that he -would accept him gladly. Mohammed Ahmed and his disciples now made all -preparations to proceed to Mesallamia, and were on the point of -starting, when a message was received from Mohammed Sherif, directing -him to appear before him, when he would give him a full pardon, and -permit him to resume his old functions; but to this Mohammed Ahmed sent -back a dignified answer that he felt perfectly innocent of any crime, -and sought no forgiveness from him; and that moreover he had no desire -to lower him in the eyes of the world by bringing about a meeting -between him and "a wretched Dongolawi." - -Sheikh Koreishi now received him with open arms; and the incident -between the godly but cunning Mohammed Ahmed and his late spiritual -guide spread far and wide in the Sudan. That an inferior in a religious -order should have refused the forgiveness of his superior was an -unheard-of proceeding; but Mohammed Ahmed did not hesitate now to -proclaim openly that he had left his late superior because he could no -longer have any respect for a master who acted contrary to the religious -law. And in this way he secured an immense amount of public sympathy, -which brought his name prominently forward, and added considerably to -his prestige. Even in distant Darfur the matter was the principal topic -of conversation, and his refusal to accept forgiveness made him the hero -of the hour. - -He obtained Sheikh Koreishi's permission to return to Abba, where he -received visitors from all parts, who sought the blessing of this holy -man; and common people now crowded to the island, seeing in him a -sympathetic leader who was bold enough to openly defy his superiors. He -received quantities of gifts, and these he openly distributed amongst -the poor, thus earning the epithet of "Zahed" (the renouncer, or one who -has renounced the good things of this life). He then made a journey -through Kordofan, where the towns and villages abound with religious -fikis of the most ignorant and superstitious description. Amongst them -he had an enormous success. He also wrote a pamphlet, which he -distributed amongst his specially trusted adherents, summoning them as -true believers to do all in their power to purify the religion, which -was becoming debased and insulted by the corruption of the Government -and the utter disregard of the officials for the tenets of the true -faith. - -A few months later the Sheikh el Koreishi died, and Mohammed Ahmed and -his disciples lost no time in going at once to Mesallamia, where they -erected a tomb, or dome, to his memory. - -It was while here that a certain Abdullahi bin Mohammed, of the Taaisha -section of the Baggara (cattle-owning) tribe of southwestern Darfur, -presented himself to Mohammed Ahmed and sought permission to be admitted -into the Sammania Tarika; his request was granted, and Abdullahi swore -eternal fidelity to his new master. This man was the eldest of the four -sons of Mohammed et Taki, of the Juberat division of the Taaisha tribe, -which in its turn was descended from the "Aulad um Sura." His three -other brothers were Yakub, Yusef, and Sammani; he also had a sister -named Fatma. The father was on bad terms with his relatives, and -determined to proceed on pilgrimage with his whole family to Mecca, -where he resolved to settle, and end his days in close proximity to the -birthplace of his Prophet. Those who knew Et Taki described him as a -good man, scrupulous in his attendance to his religious duties, and -capable of curing diseases and insanity by means of heggabs, or -religious charms; he was also a teacher of the Kuran. Of his sons, -Abdullahi and Yusef were the most unmanageable, and the father had the -greatest difficulty in making them learn by heart even the few passages -from the Kuran necessary for the ordinary prayers. Yakub and Sammani, on -the other hand, had more of their father's quiet disposition, and, -having learnt their verses and commentaries, were able to help him in -his religious duties. - -The family had, it appears, joined the Furs in combating Zubeir's entry -to Darfur, and the latter relates how, during the fight at Shakka, he -took Abdullahi prisoner, and was about to have him shot, when some of -the Ulema craved pardon for him, which he granted. Abdullahi, in his -gratitude, subsequently sought out Zubeir secretly, and announced to him -that he had had a dream, in which it had been shown to him that he was -the expected Mahdi, and that he (Abdullahi) was to be one of his -faithful followers. "I told him," relates Zubeir, "that I was not the -Mahdi; but that when I became aware of the wickedness of the Arabs, and -how they blocked the roads, I came to open them and establish trade." - -Et Taki and the family quitted their home when Zubeir had concluded -peace, and, travelling _via_ Kalaka to Shakka, they had remained there -two years, and had proceeded thence _via_ Dar Homr and El Obeid to Dar -Gimr, where they remained the guests of the head-Sheikh for some months, -and where Et Taki died, and was buried by the head-Sheikh, Asaker Abu -Kalam, at Sherkéla. Before his death he urged on his eldest son, -Abdullahi to take refuge with some religious Sheikh on the Nile, then -immigrate to Mecca, and never return again to their country. - -Leaving his brothers and sister under the care of Sheikh Asaker Abu -Kalam, in accordance with the dying wishes of his father, Abdullahi set -out for the Nile valley; and when making inquiries along the road, he -heard of the dissension between Mohammed Ahmed and his Sheikh, Mohammed -Sherif, and he resolved to go to the former and ask him to allow him to -join the order. "It was a very troublesome journey," said Abdullahi bin -Sayed Mohammed, Khalifat el Mahdi (his full name), to me some years -later, when he first became ruler of the Sudan; for at that time he used -to talk openly to me, and had not learnt to mistrust me, as he did -latterly. In those days, as I shall subsequently relate, he would send -for me and chat with me alone by the hour, seated on his beautifully -made angareb, over which a palm-mat was spread, whilst I sat beside him -on the ground, with my legs tucked up under me. "Yes, indeed, it was a -very troublesome journey," he repeated. "At that time my entire property -consisted of one donkey, and he had a gall on his back, so that I could -not ride him; but I made him carry my water-skin and a bag of corn, over -which I spread my rough cotton garment, and drove him along in front of -me. At that time I wore the wide cotton shirt, like the rest of my -tribe. You remember it, do you not, Abdel Kader? For you have only -recently come from my beautiful country [he always used to call me -"Abdel Kader," unless there happened to be present another man of the -same name, when he would call me "Abdel Kader Saladin," _i. e._, -Slatin]. My clothes and my dialect at once marked me out as a stranger -wherever I went; and when I crossed the Nile, I was frequently greeted -with 'What do you want? Go back to your country; there is nothing to -steal here.' The Nile people do not think well of us," he continued, -"because the merchants going west to Zubeir, in Bahr el Ghazal and to -our countries, were frequently maltreated by the Arabs; and when I asked -them where the Mahdi, who was known as Mohammed Ahmed, lived, they gazed -at me incredulously, saying, 'What are you going to him for? He would -not soil his lips by even mentioning the name of your race.' Every one, -however, did not treat me in this way; some would take pity on me and -direct me. Once, when passing through a village, the people wanted to -take my donkey away, saying that it had been stolen from them the year -before; and they would have succeeded, had not an elderly and -God-fearing man interposed and allowed me to pursue my way. I was -continually mocked and hooted at during my long journey; and had not a -few people out of sheer pity occasionally given me some food, I must -have starved. At length I reached Mesallamia, and here I found the Mahdi -busily engaged in building the tomb of the late Sheikh el Koreishi. On -seeing him I entirely forgot all the troubles I had suffered on my -journey, and was content to simply look at him and listen to his -teaching. For several hours I was too timid to dare to speak to him; but -at length I plucked up courage, and in a few words told him my story, -and about the sad condition of my brothers and sister, and I begged him, -for the sake of God and His Prophet, to allow me to become one of his -disciples. He did so, and gave me his hand, which I kissed most -fervently, and I swore entire submission to him as long as I lived. This -oath I kept most scrupulously until the angel of death overtook him; and -some day he will overtake us, and therefore we should ever be ready to -meet him." - -Pausing for a moment, he gazed at me, and I at once said, "Yes, indeed, -sire, you have faithfully kept your promise; and the Lord God Almighty -has rewarded you; for you, who at one time were despised and rejected, -have now become absolute lord and sovereign of this land. Those who -insulted you at that time should indeed be thankful that you have not -wreaked vengeance on their heads. A man capable of such restraint must -indeed be the successor of the Prophet." Abdullahi, I knew, loved praise -and flattery, and on this occasion I perhaps almost exceeded the limits; -but I was most anxious that he should continue to tell me his story. - -"When I had taken the oath," continued Abdullahi, "the Mahdi called one -of his disciples, named Ali, and said to him, 'You are brethren from -this day; give each other your mutual support, trust in God, and do you, -Abdullahi, obey the orders of your brother.' Ali was very good to me; he -was as poor as myself, but when the Mahdi sent him any food he always -shared it fairly with me. During the day we carried bricks required for -building the tomb, and at night we slept side by side. In a month the -dome was complete. At this time the Mahdi received hundreds of visitors, -and had little time to look at or think of me; still, I knew that I had -found a place in his heart, and he appointed me one of his -flag-bearers.[4] When we left Mesallamia, people flocked around us to -gaze at the Mahdi, whom they at that time called only Mohammed Ahmed, -and listen to his teachings and seek his blessing. - -"It was in this way that we marched to the Island of Abba. My sandals -were worn out, and I had to give my donkey to a Mukaddum [superior -disciple] to carry a sick man; but at length we reached the Mahdi's -house, and now I fell very ill with dysentery. My brother Ali took me to -his little straw hut, which was scarcely large enough to hold two -people, looked after my food, and, as I was in bed, he used to fetch -water from the river to enable me to perform my 'wadu' [religious -ablution]. - -"One evening he went to fetch the water, but did not return; and the -next day I was told that he had been attacked and killed by a -crocodile,--Allah yerhamu! Allah yeghfurlu! [May God be merciful, may -God forgive him his sins!]" I repeated these words after the Khalifa, -adding, "Sire, how great is your patience! and therefore has God exalted -you. Now may I ask you if, during your illness, the Mahdi paid any -attention to you?" "No," replied Khalifa Abdullahi, "the Mahdi wished to -try me. It was not till after Ali's death, and when I lay helpless in -the hut, that he was told I was ill. One evening he came to see me. I -was too weak to get up, so he sat beside me, and gave me some warm -medida [a sort of meal pap which, mixed with melted butter, is used as a -stimulant] out of my pumpkin gourd, saying, 'Drink that, it will do you -good; trust in God.' He then left me, and shortly afterwards some of the -brethren arrived, and took me, by his order, to a cottage near his own -hut. He himself lived in a simple tukul [straw hut]. From the moment I -had taken the medida which he had given me I felt better; he had said it -would do me good, and the Mahdi always speaks the truth, and cannot -lie." "Yes, indeed," I interposed; "the Mahdi is faithful and true, and -you as his successor have followed exactly in his footsteps." "Once near -him," continued the Khalifa, "I recovered rapidly, for I saw the Mahdi -daily; he was as the light of my eyes, and my mind was at rest. He used -to ask about my family, and said they had better remain in Kordofan for -the present. 'Trust in God' was always the last thing he said to me. He -now used often to come and talk privately with me, and one day he -intrusted me with the secret of his divine mission. He was appointed as -Mahdi by God, he said, and had been taken by the Prophet into the -presence of the apostles and saints. But long before he intrusted me -with his secret--indeed from the first moment I beheld his face--I knew -that he was the messenger of God,--el Mahdi el Muntazer [the expected -guide]. Yes, these were indeed happy days, and we had then no cares or -troubles; and now, Abdel Kader, as it is getting late, you had better go -to bed." "May God grant you a long life, and may He strengthen you to -lead the true believers into the right path," said I; and I quitted his -presence with the usual salute. - -In Abdullahi, the Mahdi had a ready instrument at hand for his great -work. It is strange to think that this man might never have risen to any -importance, had he not quarrelled with Mohammed Sherif; but now the -reputation he had already gained amongst the inhabitants of the Gezira -(the country lying between the Blue and White Niles) raised hopes in his -mind that he was destined for a high position. He now began to secretly -tell his special adherents that the time had come when religion must be -purified, that this was to be his work, and that those of them who -wished might join him in it. But he always called himself the slave of -God, and made believe that he was acting entirely on inspiration from -above. Abdullahi was able to give him full information about the western -tribes, who, he said, being powerful and courageous, would gladly seize -an occasion to fight for the religion of God and his Prophet, and to -conquer or die. To secure their adherence he advised Mohammed Ahmed to -make a tour through Kordofan; and, setting out, they proceeded to Dar -Gimr, where Abdullahi's family immediately joined them and became his -faithful adherents. He told them, however, that the time had not yet -come for them to leave their homes; for the present they would be more -useful in inciting the local inhabitants. - -From Dar Gimr he proceeded to El Obeid, where he visited all the -principal chiefs and Sheikhs, religious and other, and by inquiring -carefully into their views and opinions, he gradually laid the -foundations for his great design. In the strictest secrecy he told those -of whose fidelity he was assured that he had a divine mission to cleanse -and purify the religion, already polluted and debased by corrupt -officials. In El Obeid his most trusted confidant was the Sayed el -Mekki, the head of the religious Sheikhs; but he advised that for the -present no active steps should be taken, as the Government was very -powerful, and the tribes were too split up and disunited to be able to -raise a revolt. Mohammed Ahmed took a more sanguine view, and between -them it was agreed that Mekki should observe absolute secrecy, and -should take no steps until Mohammed Ahmed should begin the movement, -when he promised him his entire support. - -After leaving El Obeid, he proceeded to Tagalla, where he interviewed -Mek Adam Um Daballo, the ruler of the district, who received him very -kindly, but who, on the advice of his Kadi, refused to make any promises -of assistance. He now returned to Abba, _via_ Sherkéla. - -During this tour Mohammed Ahmed had full opportunities of seeing for -himself the state of the country, and he was soon convinced that there -was a spirit of the most bitter hostility against the authorities on the -part of the poorer population, who, as I have already pointed out, were -taxed out of all proportion to their property, and who suffered terrible -oppression and tyranny at the hands of the self-seeking and unscrupulous -tax-gatherers who infested the country. Amongst the latter, there were -now a considerable number of Sudanese, who lost no opportunity of -enriching themselves and of putting their relatives in positions of -secondary importance, to help them to this end. As a case in point, -Gordon's nomination of the wealthy Sudanese merchant Elias as Pasha and -Governor-General of Kordofan created an immense amount of ill-feeling in -the country; and the same might be said of his assistant, Abderrahman -ben Naga, also a wealthy Kordofan merchant. Both of them were capable -men, and understood the management of the people; but they worked -entirely for their interests and those of their relatives. Moreover, a -spirit of jealousy became rampant amongst other Sudanese of high rank, -who considered themselves quite as capable of filling high positions as -those who had been selected in preference to them. Consequently, when -Elias Pasha sent orders to Mek Adam to pay his taxes, he refused point -blank, as he was of royal descent. "I pay for goods I buy from -merchants, but I do not pay tribute to them," said Mek Adam proudly to -the officials who had been sent to him. At the same time he sent to El -Obeid to inquire if all the Turks and other "Whites" had died, as the -Government had now given high positions to men who were merely -merchants, instead of to persons of high descent. These were the reasons -for the subsequent discharge of Elias Pasha and Abderrahman from their -official positions, and their substitution by Turks and Egyptians. - -As regards the Europeans, there were very few of us; but as a rule we -were liked and respected, because the people trusted our word; but I do -not doubt that we also gave them cause at times to be dissatisfied with -us. With probably the best intentions in the world, we would issue rules -and regulations entirely at variance with the manners, customs, and -traditions of the Sudanese. There is also no doubt that our attitude in -regard to the slave question caused wide-spread discontent. The religion -permitted slavery, and from time immemorial the ground had been -cultivated and the cattle tended by slaves. That slave-hunting and -slave-driving led to the perpetration of the most horrible cruelties and -bloodshed, I do not for a moment hesitate to admit; but this was a -matter of very little concern to the slave-buyers, who as a rule did not -ill-treat their slaves. Now we, by our activity and energy, had not only -made the export of slaves from the Black countries almost impossible, -but we listened to the complaints of slaves against their masters, and -invariably set them free. - -Mohammed Ahmed cleverly seized the occasion of all this discontent to -act; he was well aware that religion was the only possible means of -uniting all these discordant elements and widely diversified tribes who -were at continual feud with each other; he therefore declared himself -the "Mahdi el Muntazer"; thus at once creating himself a personality -which must be superior to all others, and hoping by this means to drive -out of the country the hated Turks, Egyptians, and Europeans. But still -he thought the time for an open declaration was not yet ripe; he -therefore continued to increase the number of his trusted adherents, -till at length the nature of his divine mission became an open secret. - -Some time previous to this, Rauf Pasha, Governor-General at Khartum, had -been secretly told by Mohammed Sherif of Mohammed Ahmed's intentions; -but it was known that the early differences between the two religious -Sheikhs had greatly embittered Sherif, and consequently the authorities -did not lay much store by his statements, and merely concluded that -Mohammed Ahmed was a holy man who had obtained a certain hold over the -people, owing to his superior sanctity. - -But now the Government learnt from quite another source that this man -was a danger to the public peace, and therefore they determined to put -an end to the matter, once and for all. - -For this purpose Rauf Pasha sent for Mohammed Bey Abu es Saud, who was -known to Mohammed Ahmed, and despatched him in a steamer to Abba with -orders to bring the Sheikh to Khartum. Mohammed Ahmed's friends, -however, gave him timely warning, and told him that if he came to -Khartum he would in all likelihood be kept there, through the intrigues -of Mohammed Sherif. When, therefore, Saud appeared at Abba, he was -welcomed by Abdullahi and Mohammed Ahmed's brother, who conducted him to -the Sheikh. Abu Saud now informed him of the reports--false he -admitted--which had been circulated about him, and strongly advised him -to come to Khartum and justify himself before his master, the -Governor-General. "What!" shouted Mohammed Ahmed, rising suddenly, and -striking his chest with his hand, "by the grace of God and his Prophet I -am the master of this country, and never shall I go to Khartum to -justify myself." - -Abu Saud drew back terrified; he then tried to calm him by soft words; -but Mohammed Ahmed, who had previously planned this scene with Abdullahi -and his brother, continued to talk vehemently, and urged Abu Saud to -believe in the truth of what he said. - -Abu Saud was now, however, much concerned about the safety of his own -person, and as soon as he could beat a safe retreat, he did so, and -returned to Khartum to inform the astonished Governor-General of the -failure of his mission. - -Mohammed Ahmed now realised that there was no time to be lost; his -future depended entirely on his own immediate exertions, and he did not -hesitate to instantly write to his adherents throughout the length and -breadth of the Sudan, stirring them up against the Government, while he -directed his own immediate followers to prepare forthwith for the Jehad. - -In the meantime, Rauf Pasha was not idle; realising, after his interview -with Abu Saud, that the matter was very serious, he resolved to despatch -two companies, each under the command of an adjutant-major, to seize -this fanatic; and thinking to create emulation between them, he promised -that the officer who succeeded in capturing him should be promoted at -once to the rank of major. But this plan only ended in creating discord, -and the consequences were direful in the extreme. The troops, under the -chief command of Abu Saud, were embarked in the steamer, "Ismaïlia," -which had been armed with a gun, and, quitting Khartum early in August, -1881, they proceeded to Abba; but on the journey discussions arose -between the two officers and Abu Saud. Meanwhile Mohammed Ahmed, who had -news of the despatch of the steamer, collected his people, and, -obtaining help from the Degheim and Kenana tribes near him, whom he -summoned to join in a Jehad, he made all preparations to offer -resistance, stirring up religious enthusiasm by declaring that the -Prophet had appeared to him and announced that all persons taking part -in this religious war should earn the title of "Sheikh Abdel Kader el -Gilani" and "Emir el Aulia,"[5] titles highly prized amongst Moslems. -Now, however, that matters had become really serious, those who came -forward and offered to give up their property and lay down their lives -for the great cause were not numerous. - -The steamers arrived off Abba at sunset, and, in spite of Abu Saud's -appeals, the two officers determined to disembark at once. But the -commander, into whose heart fear had entered when he heard Mohammed -Ahmed declaring that he was "master of the land," remained on board with -his gun, and anchored in mid-stream. Both officers, entirely ignorant of -the locality, and each jealous of the other winning the tempting reward, -advanced by different paths in the dead of night along the muddy banks -towards Mohammed Ahmed's settlement. The latter with his adherents had -quitted the huts, and, armed with swords, lances, and clubs, had hidden -themselves in the high grass, whilst the troops, arriving from opposite -directions, now opened a hot fire on the empty village, with the result -that each inflicted considerable loss on the other; and in the midst of -this hopeless confusion the villagers leapt from their ambush and -created terrible havoc amongst the already demoralised men, who fled in -all directions. A few only succeeded in reaching the bank and swimming -out to the steamer; and Abu Saud, now thoroughly terrified, wished to -return instantly to Khartum, but was at last induced by the captain to -stay till the following morning, in the hope of picking up fugitives. -None, however, came, and at dawn he steamed back at full speed, with his -direful news. - -The effect of this success on Mohammed Ahmed and his adherents can be -readily understood; they had suffered little or no loss, though he -himself had been slightly wounded in the arm, and Abdullahi, who dressed -the wound, counselled that this little accident should be kept secret -from the rest. Still, the number of his followers was not largely -increased, as the local people were convinced that Government would take -strong measures to suppress the revolt, and they would not risk the -losses which they felt certain would ensue. - -Mohammed Ahmed, strongly urged by Abdullahi and his brothers to -increase the distance between himself and the Khartum authorities, now -resolved to retreat to southern Kordofan; and to avoid this move being -considered a flight, he announced to his adherents that he had received -an inspiration to proceed to Jebel Masa,[6] and there await further -Divine instructions. Before quitting Abba, he appointed, also in -accordance with the Divine Will, his four Khalifas. The first of these -was Abdullahi, who (the precedent of the Prophet being adopted) -represented the Khalifa Abu Bakr es Sadik; Ali Wad Helu, of the Degheim -tribe (White Nile), was chosen to represent the Khalifa Omar ibn el -Khattab; and the representative of the fourth Khalifa, Ali el Karrar, -was Mohammed esh Sherif, one of Mohammed Ahmed's relatives, who was then -only a boy. The chair of the third Khalifa, Osman ibn Affan, was not -filled for the moment, but was subsequently offered to and refused by -the great Sheikh Es Sennusi, of Northern Africa. - -To move this large following across the river was now a matter of some -difficulty, for the people who owned boats, fearing that they might be -accused of complicity, at first refused; but at length all--including a -large contingent of Degheim and Kenana Arabs, who joined at the last -moment--were transferred to the west bank; and, advancing into the Dar -Gimr country, Mohammed Ahmed summoned the inhabitants of the districts -through which he passed to follow him to Jebel Masa. The greatest -enthusiasm now prevailed amongst his followers, who lost no opportunity -of telling the credulous and superstitious populations through which -they passed, of the wonderful miracles performed by the Mahdi. On one -occasion, quite ignorant of any danger, he halted with only a few -followers in close proximity to the camp of a certain adjutant-major -named Mohammed Guma, who, with a party of sixty soldiers, was collecting -taxes. The latter, fearing the responsibility he might incur by -attacking him without orders, referred to El Obeid for instructions; but -long before they arrived the Mahdi had rejoined the bulk of his people -and had continued his march; so this golden opportunity was lost. Years -afterwards I met the unfortunate Guma in a sad and miserable plight in -Omdurman. "Ah!" said he, "if I had only known then that I should be -reduced to walking about barefoot, and begging my bread, I should not -have asked for instructions, and so allowed that wretched Dongolawi to -escape; it would have been better to have been killed than to have -endured the miseries of this wretched existence." - -Another excellent opportunity of capturing him was also lost. It -happened that Giegler Pasha had been ordered to come to El Obeid to -represent the Governor-General in connection with a case of embezzlement -by a district inspector and wealthy Sudan merchant named Abdel Hadi; -hearing that the so-called Mahdi was in the neighbourhood, he -despatched, towards the end of September, Mohammed Said Pasha with four -companies to arrest him and bring him to El Obeid. But either by design -or through carelessness the expedition failed in its object; the troops, -apparently, halted during the day at the place in which the rebels had -slept the previous night, and after thus uselessly wasting three days, -they returned to El Obeid, the result being that they were discredited -as being afraid to attack, and the Mahdi's prestige rose -proportionately. - -It had been Mohammed Ahmed's intention to stay for a time at Jebel -Tagalla; but Mek Adam, learning of this, sent one of his sons to him -with a gift of corn and sheep, bearing a message that he thought he had -better retire further into the interior. He was therefore obliged to -continue his journey, and after a long and troublesome march at length -reached Jebel Gedir, where, in addition to the local inhabitants, a -section of the Kenana tribe now resided. - -At this time Rashed Bey was Governor of Fashoda; and, being fully -informed of the Mahdi's movements, resolved to attack him before he -became more powerful. A German named Berghof was also in Fashoda. He was -formerly a photographer in Khartum, but Rauf Pasha had sent him up the -river as an inspector for the suppression of slavery. Rashed now -advanced, accompanied by Berghof and Kaiku Bey, king of the Shilluks, -towards Gedir. Entirely underrating the enemy with whom he had to deal, -he marched with no military precautions, fell into a carefully prepared -ambush, and some fourteen hundred of his men were annihilated. So sudden -was the attack that there was not even time to fire a rocket. Rashed and -a few of his personal attendants made a gallant defence, but were soon -overpowered by superior numbers and killed. - -This defeat occurred on 9th December, and Mohammed Ahmed no longer -hesitated to call himself the Mahdi. His prestige, especially in the -eyes of the Arabs, rose enormously; nevertheless, his relations with his -immediate neighbours were not of the best. Khalifa Abdullahi, in -subsequent conversations with me in Omdurman, referred to this period, -as far as I can recollect, in the following words: "We arrived at last -at Gedir, thoroughly tired out after our long and troublesome journey. -The Mahdi had only one horse, and that of the inferior Abyssinian breed, -while I had to walk almost the whole distance; but God grants strength -to those true believers who are ready to lay down their lives for the -faith. My brothers, Yakub, Yusef, and Sammani had joined us with their -families, also my stepmother, who was nursing my baby at her breast. My -brother Harun, too, would not stay behind, so he also joined us. I was -always greatly concerned about my wife, stepmother, and child, who is -Osman Sheikh ed Din, whom you now see before you. It did not so much -matter for us men; troubles and afflictions are sent us by God, and we -bear them, only too thankful that we should be chosen by Him to raise -the faith which had been trodden down to the dust, and to teach our -brethren. But," said he, smiling, "teaching won't bring us food for our -women and children. People flocked to us in crowds, it is true; but most -of them were even more destitute than ourselves, and came to us for -support. Those who were well off shunned us,--riches are the curse of -this world,--and those who have them will be deprived of the joys of -Paradise. The people whose countries we crossed did not give us much -help; but the little he got the Mahdi graciously offered to the -pilgrims, whom he considered as his guests. When I heard the women and -children weeping, I felt sometimes that my heart would break; but when I -gazed at the Mahdi's face I trusted in God and became at rest. Patience, -Abdel Kader, is the highest virtue. Practise that, and God will reward -you." - -The defeat of Rashed Bey awakened the Government to a sense of the -serious nature of the revolt, and an expedition was at once organised -and placed under the command of Yusef Pasha Shellali, who had greatly -distinguished himself in Gessi's campaign in Bahr el Ghazal, and was -noted for his courage and resource. A reinforcement of a battalion of -infantry and some volunteers, under the command of Abdalla Wad Dafalla -(the brother of Ahmed Wad Dafalla), with Abd el Hadi and Sultan Dima, -was also to be sent from Kordofan. - -Meanwhile the Mahdi despatched letters in all directions, proclaiming -his victories and his Divine mission. He summoned all to join the Jehad, -giving the name of Ansar[7] to his followers, and promising them -four-fifths of the booty taken in war (the remaining fifth he reserved -for himself), while to those who should fall fighting for God and His -religion he held out the certainty of the fullest enjoyment of the -pleasures of Paradise. Thus did he pander to the main characteristics of -the Sudanese, viz., fanaticism and greed. - -Yusef Pasha Shellali's force, which numbered some four thousand men, was -composed of regular infantry under Mohammed Bey Suleiman and Hassan -Effendi Rifki, whom I had previously discharged; the irregular cavalry -were placed under the courageous Shaigia Melek, Taha Abu Sidr, and -leaving Khartum on 15th March, 1882, they proceeded to Kowa, where they -awaited the reinforcements expected from El Obeid. - -Abdalla Wad Dafalla, however, found it no easy matter to collect -volunteers. There was a general feeling that it was wrong to fight -against a man of piety, and, moreover, as the Mahdi and his followers -were little else than beggars, there was no enticement of rich plunder -to allure them. Besides all this, Elias Pasha, the richest merchant in -Kordofan and the ex-Governor, was the deadly enemy of the Dafalla -family, and exercised all his influence, which was still considerable, -in preventing men joining him. However, Abdalla had agreed with the -authorities to proceed, and, including regulars, the force with which he -left El Obeid numbered some two thousand men; and joining with the -remainder at Kowa, the entire expedition of six thousand strong -proceeded to Fashoda, which was reached in the middle of May. - -After a short rest, Yusef Pasha advanced west, and camped, on the -evening of 6th June, at Mesat, near Jebel Gedir, confident of success. -Why should such men as Yusef Pasha, Mohammed Bey, and Abu Sidr fear a -starving crowd of sickly, half-famished, and almost naked Arabs? Had -they not won victories on the White Nile at Duffilé? Had they not -conquered Bahr el Ghazal, and brought the proud Sultans of Darfur to -submission? What could this ill-armed and ignorant fiki do? Abdalla Wad -Dafalla alone raised a note of warning that they should not underrate -the danger. He had had a fall from his horse when marching out of El -Obeid, which is considered a bad omen in the Sudan; but who was going to -listen to this preacher in the wilderness? They did not even think it -worth while to cut down a few thorn bushes to make a zariba, but merely -picked up a little of the scrub lying close by, and formed a rough -enclosure, utterly inadequate for defence; so the Mahdi's sickly, -half-famished, and almost naked Arabs fell on Yusef Pasha's army in the -early dawn of the 7th June. Dashing through the slight inclosure, they -were on the sleeping soldiers in a moment, and made short work of them. -Yusef Pasha and Abu Sidr were killed in their night-shirts at the doors -of their tents, and in a few minutes there was scarcely a man left -alive. Abu Sidr's concubine rushed at her master's murderers, and shot -two of them with a revolver; but she fell prone over his body, stabbed -to the heart. Abdalla Wad Dafalla, with a few of his attendants, alone -made a short stand; but they soon shared the fate of their companions. - -When anything unusual happens in uncivilised countries, it is always -considered by the natives as supernatural; and this was exactly the -effect of Yusef Pasha's disaster on the credulous and superstitious -minds of the Sudanese. For sixty years the country had been governed by -the Turks and Egyptians. If the tribes refused to pay their taxes, they -were invariably punished; and no one dared to question for a moment the -right of the authorities to do so. Now this holy fiki, Mohammed Ahmed, -had suddenly appeared on the scene. With a crowd of ill-armed and -undisciplined men he had inflicted several crushing defeats on the -well-armed and well-equipped Government troops. There could now be no -doubt he was the "Mahdi el Muntazer," the expected Mahdi! - -The defeat of Yusef Pasha placed the whole of southern Kordofan in his -hands, and now he was in a position to make good his deficiencies. He -had gained money, arms, horses, and loot of all sorts; and these he -distributed amongst the chiefs of tribes who now flocked to him. They -believed most firmly that he was the true Mahdi, whose only intention -was to uphold the faith, and who had no regard for wealth and property. - -The news of the Mahdi's victories now spread far and wide; and, amongst -an uneducated population such as that of Kordofan, the accounts were -exaggerated to a quite ridiculous extent. Roused by the spirit of -fanaticism, numbers of them quitted their homes, and marched to Jebel -Gedir, which was now openly re-named Jebel Masa, while others, gathering -round the local chiefs, prepared to fight against the various Government -posts and stations scattered throughout the country. - -This condition of affairs was eminently favourable to the ruling -passions of the nomad Arabs. Under the cloak of a religious war, which -owed its existence to them, they massacred, plundered, and robbed the -natives who, they said, were loyal to the hated Turks; and at the same -time they shook themselves free from the taxation imposed on them by a -Government they detested. - -The Mahdi now placed himself in communication with the merchants of El -Obeid, who, through their wealth and connection with the people, -virtually ruled the town and a considerable part of the country. They -thoroughly understood the situation. None knew better the weakness and -effeteness of the Government, and many were prepared to side with the -Mahdi. Elias Pasha was the chief amongst these malcontents, and detested -Ahmed Bey Dafalla, who was a great friend of Mohammed Pasha Said. He was -well aware that these two would, in the event of the defeat of the -rebels, do him all the harm they could. Elias Pasha, therefore, employed -himself actively in secretly collecting adherents for the Mahdi. Many of -the less wealthy merchants anticipated better times should the -Government be overthrown, whilst there were not a few who, though -disinclined to the Mahdi, were driven to espouse his cause by the fear -that, should he prove successful, their wives and property would fall -into the hands of his victorious followers. - -As for the religious Sheikhs, this movement was one which held out the -highest prospects of promotion for them. They prided themselves that one -of their number had successfully dared to proclaim himself a Mahdi, and -they looked to the time when he or his sons should drive out the hated -Turk, and rule the land. A few--only a very few--sensible people foresaw -the danger which would threaten the country should the Mahdi prove -successful, and these did all they could to prepare the Government for -the coming storm; but their numbers were too small to have any effect. - -Elias Pasha now sent his son Omar to acquaint the Mahdi with the -situation, and to beg him to come forthwith to El Obeid; while Mohammed -Pasha Said, realising that this would undoubtedly be the next step, and -deluded with the idea that the people would be prepared to stand a siege -with him, began to dig an enormous ditch round the town, and, at the -suggestion of Ahmed Bey Dafalla, he put the Government buildings in a -state of defence, and built a parapet around them. His parsimonious -ideas, however, led him into a grave error. Instead of laying in large -stores of corn, which the merchants, seeking only their own interests, -were perfectly ready to provide, he refused to pay more than peace -prices. It was, in consequence, rapidly bought up at a higher rate by -those who were already beginning to feel the effects of the disturbed -state of the country; and so he lost the favourable moment to buy. - -Meanwhile, massacres in the districts were of almost daily occurrence. -Tax-collectors, detached military posts, and Government officials fell -an easy prey to the bloodthirsty Arabs. The Bederia tribe attacked and -almost annihilated the inhabitants of Abu Haraz, which was a day's march -distant from El Obeid, and only a few men, women, and children succeeded -in reaching the capital; the rest were all killed or taken prisoners -during the flight along the waterless track. Young girls were, of -course, looked upon as valuable booty, and were given water by their -captors; but the older women suffered the most horrible mutilation. Arms -and legs were ruthlessly cut off merely to gain possession of the -bracelets and anklets they wore. A few days later, the town of Ashaf, in -northern Kordofan, was attacked and plundered by the Arabs, though a -defence was made by Nur Angara, who was living there at the time, and -who assisted Sanjak Mohammed Agha Japo, formerly one of Gordon's -kavasses. They were, however, eventually forced to retire on Bara. This -Japo was an old Kurdi, and during the retreat he performed prodigies of -valour. Collecting all the women and young girls in the centre of his -square, he bade them sing songs of victory, saying that such music drove -fear out of all hearts; and, making constant counter-attacks, he -succeeded in bringing almost all the fugitives in safety to Bara. - -This town was now attacked, and the Arabs repulsed; but, collecting in -greater numbers under Sheikh Rahma, they completely invested it, and cut -off all supplies. - -A mass of Arabs had also collected at Kashgeil; and against these -Mohammed Pasha Said despatched a battalion of regulars, who succeeded in -temporarily dispersing them; but, in doing so, the troops lost so -heavily that virtually it was little short of defeat; and, collecting -again, these Arabs attacked Birket, where the entire garrison of two -thousand men was put to the sword. A similar disaster overtook the -troops at Shatt, on the White Nile, where two hundred were massacred; -but their subsequent attack on Duem was repulsed, with a loss of two -thousand men. - -Meanwhile, the emissaries sent by the Mahdi to the Gezira had not been -idle. The Gehéna, Agaliyin, Hawazma, and Hammada Arabs, under Abu Rof, -had attacked and invested Sennar; but the town had been subsequently -relieved by Sanjak Saleh Wad el Mek, who had been despatched thence with -a large force of Shaigia. - -The town of Abu Haraz, on the Blue Nile, had been invested by Sherif -Ahmed Taha; and Giegler Pasha, who was acting Governor-General in place -of Rauf Pasha, had arrived in the neighbourhood, and had directed Melek -Yusef of the Shaigia to attack the rebels with an inferior force, which -was defeated. Melek Yusef, disdaining flight had got off his horse, and, -seating himself cross-legged on his farwa (sheepskin), had ordered one -of his slaves to kill him. Giegler had at once proceeded to Khartum, -and, procuring reinforcements, had returned and attacked Ahmed Taha, -who had been killed, and his head sent to Khartum. He had then cleared -the neighbourhood of Sennar of rebels without suffering any serious -loss. In spite, however, of these temporary successes, troubles -increased, and the Government daily received alarming accounts of the -disasters which had overtaken troops and inhabitants in various parts of -the country. In consequence, Abdel Kader Pasha had been despatched to -the Sudan as Governor-General. He had arrived at Khartum on 11th May, -1882, and had busily set to work to place the town in a state of -defence. These measures had some effect on the natives, and it was -evident to them that the Government intended to act resolutely; but, at -the same time, it was perfectly clear to them that these steps were not -merely precautionary, but were rendered absolutely necessary by the very -serious position of affairs. The arsenal and dockyard, ammunition -stores, magazines, and Government archives must be safeguarded against -all eventualities. Besides, one of the first acts of the new -Governor-General was to withdraw to Khartum a portion of the garrisons -of Gallabat, Senhit, and Gera, in which districts there was at present -complete tranquillity. - -Meanwhile, Mohammed Ahmed fully realised that to kindle the smouldering -fire into a blazing flame his presence was absolutely necessary. He -therefore accepted Elias Pasha's invitation to come to El Obeid, and, -leaving his uncle, Mahmud Sherif, with a few followers, to look after -his wives and children in Jebel Masa, he descended into the plains, and -marched with his forces towards the wealthy capital of Kordofan. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -SPREAD OF THE REVOLT IN SOUTHERN DARFUR. - - I arrive at Dara--Despatch of an Officer to Shakka--Character of - Zogal Bey--Return to El Fasher--Causes of my Unpopularity with - the Officers--Disturbances at Om Shanga--The Southern Tribes - join the Revolt--I make Dara my Headquarters--The Power of a - Woman's Tongue--Immorality of the Maalia Tribe--Sheikh Madibbo - threatens Shakka--Cowardly Conduct of Mansur Helmi--I proceed to - his Assistance--I commence my Campaign against the Southern Arab - Tribes--The Night Attack on Madibbo's Camp--Mansur Helmi's - Cowardly Retreat from Shakka--He deserts his own Men--Courageous - Conduct of Ali Agha Juma--I decide to retake Shakka at all - Costs--Difficulty of enforcing my Orders. - - -When I quitted El Fasher for Dara, early in 1882, I was accompanied by -three hundred and fifty mounted men under Omar Wad Darho. This large -escort was quite unnecessary, but I thought it advisable to show the -Arabs that the Government had plenty of troops at its disposal to -suppress any trouble on their part. - -On arrival at Dara I visited poor Emiliani's grave, and put up a stone -to his memory. Zogal Bey was administering affairs here as -Acting-Governor in his place, and the general aspect looked very -troubled. The southern Arab tribes--the Rizighat, Habbania, and -Maalia--were in revolt; they held constant meetings, in which it was -declared that Dervishes were flocking to the standards of the Mahdi, who -had been sent by God to raise the Faith, and remove the oppression and -tyranny of the hated officials; it was said that, armed merely with -sticks, they had gained victory after victory over the Government -troops. Emiliani, whom I had previously sent to Shakka to report on -affairs there, had been driven to distraction by the constant quarrels -between Madibbo and Egeil Wad el Jangawi of the Rizighat tribe, and had -ended by discharging Madibbo and replacing him by Munzel, who had -previously acted for many years as principal Sheikh. Madibbo, enraged at -this insult, had joined his own section, the Aulad Mohammed, who had -immigrated at that time towards the Bahr el Arab for pasture. - -I now sent letters to both Madibbo and Egeil, ordering them to keep -their Arabs well in hand and stop these meetings which were being held, -and at the same time I instructed Madibbo to come and see me and talk -over his personal and tribal affairs. Just at the time I was despatching -these letters, news arrived that, owing to the disturbed state of -Shakka, the forty soldiers previously sent by Emiliani to assist the -Sheikh in collecting the taxes had been obliged to turn back, and were -now within two days' march of Dara. I therefore ordered Mansur Effendi -Helmi to proceed at once to restore order with two hundred and fifty -regulars and twenty-five horsemen, and instructed Ismail Wad Barnu, who, -it will be remembered, had been the intermediary between Gessi and -Suleiman Zubeir, to accompany him. At the same time I sent word to -Abakr, Sultan of the Begu tribe, who was thoroughly loyal, and -particularly well acquainted with the Rizighat country, to join the -expedition. - -My instructions to Mansur Helmi were to act leniently with the Arabs, -but at the same time with such discretion that the interests of the -Government should not suffer. I gave him, however, full powers to put -down disturbances by force if other means failed. He marched off _via_ -Kalaka, whilst I returned forthwith to El Fasher to collect the various -detachments of troops which were out in the district gathering taxes, -and prepare for all eventualities. Before leaving Dara, I had a long and -serious interview with Zogal. I had known this man well when I had been -Governor here, and it had come to my ears that he and Omar Wad Darho had -had several talks about the Mahdi and his doings, and had agreed that -should he continue to be victorious they would join him. These two men -were the richest officials in Darfur, and exercised great influence in -the country: their secession would have been very serious; I therefore -thought my best plan was to show them great friendliness, and do all -that was possible to avoid a breach occurring between us. In my -conversation with him I therefore made no allusion to his meetings with -Darho, but confined myself to pointing out that he, being a relative of -the Mahdi and at the same time a high Government official, it behoved -him to support lawfully constituted authority to his utmost. I reminded -him that he had been born in Darfur and had been only an ordinary -merchant, but that Government had recognised his capacity and had given -him one position after another, which he certainly could not hope his -cousin the Mahdi would be able to confer on him. I urged him not to be -deluded by the exaggerated rumours he heard of the Mahdi's prestige, and -above all begged him to put aside all idea of his being credited with a -Divine mission. Sooner or later, I said, the Government must be -victorious, and all those who had failed to support it in times of -difficulty must expect severe punishment. I urged him to think of his -women and children, who, by an ill-considered and thoughtless step on -his part, might be placed in great difficulties; and I wound up by -saying that I did not speak to him now as his official superior, but as -to a friend who had worked together with me for long, and whose true -interests I had at heart. - -I think Zogal was favourably impressed by what I said; he admitted that -as a relative of the Mahdi he could not help being struck by all that -was going on, but at the same time he was most grateful for the favours -bestowed on him by Government, and he would seize every opportunity to -prove that he was truly loyal. When I asked him point blank whether he -was in personal communication with the Mahdi, he denied it, but showed -me letters which the Mahdi had written to several of the religious -Sheikhs, inciting them to revolt, which he had intercepted. On inquiry, -I found that the bearer of these letters had confessed to the battalion -commander that he had received them from the Mahdi for distribution; I -therefore ordered him to be tried by court-martial (the country being -now subject to martial law). He was condemned to be shot, and in the -interests of discipline I ordered the sentence to be carried out. - -In saying good-bye to the officers and officials, I pointed out the -absolute necessity of strict attention to their duties, and told them I -would return from El Fasher as soon as possible; and, leaving the -mounted troops in Dara, I departed for the capital, where I arrived -after three days' march. The first news received was that the -telegraph-station at Foga had been destroyed by the Homr Arabs, that the -entire country in the neighbourhood of Om Shanga was unsettled, and that -several people who were out in these districts collecting wood had been -captured and enslaved by the Arabs. - -Om Shanga was an important trade centre between El Obeid and El Fasher; -it had a garrison of only sixty men, and as it contained some wealth, -the Arabs would in all likelihood attack it. I therefore ordered Major -Hussein Effendi Maher to proceed thither with reinforcements of two -hundred men and fortify the place, and I also instructed Omar Wad Darho -to advance towards it with three hundred horsemen, but at the same time -I particularly warned him that the object of this expedition was to -chastise the Arabs, and that I considered their conduct sufficiently bad -to warrant their being freely plundered. I thoroughly understood Darho's -disposition, and I was most anxious to create hostility between him and -his men and the Arabs, who were now the firm adherents of the Mahdi, and -thus by every means in my power prevent a coalition between them, which -was the principal danger I feared. - -The postal system was now completely interrupted, and I was obliged to -send any communications to El Obeid and Khartum concealed in -hollowed-out lance-staves, between the soles of boots or sandals, or -sewn into the bearer's clothing. The extra ammunition I had ordered -when in Khartum had, owing to the negligence of the officials, been -delayed; it had reached El Obeid late, and now, the roads being cut, it -could be sent no further. The man despatched in charge of this -ammunition was a certain Mohammed Pasha Wad el Imam, the wealthiest -merchant in Darfur, whom Gordon had turned out of the country, together -with his brothers, for malpractices; and no sooner did he arrive at El -Obeid than he joined the Mahdi. Also of the four hundred cavalry, mostly -Turks and Egyptians, under the command of Mohammed Agha Abu Bala, -destined for Darfur, one hundred only had been sent on, and the -remainder were retained at El Obeid. I had therefore to make up my mind -to do the best I could with the forces originally at my disposal in -Darfur. - -From the beginning I had enforced very strict discipline, and in -consequence was not popular amongst the officers; they were inclined to -pay little attention to the training of their men, and much preferred -being sent to collect taxes, which, for them, was a very lucrative -employment. In garrison they occupied themselves principally in building -their houses and laying out their gardens, for which work they utilised -the men under their command. I had at once put a stop to all this, and -they had in consequence sent a petition to Cairo, signed by almost all -of them, complaining that I was in the habit of removing powder from the -magazines, that I taxed their houses and gardens, and had appointed as -police inspector a Turkish sergeant in place of the officer I had -discharged. But when the reply came from Cairo to say that as -Governor-General of Darfur I was responsible for all such matters, and -had the authority to do what I thought just and right, they found they -were powerless, and had to put as good a face as they could on what they -were pleased to call my innovations. - -Meanwhile Major Hussein Maher and Omar Wad Darho sent in messages that -the rebels were collected near Om Shanga and I at once despatched orders -to them to attack. - -From Dara I learnt that Madibbo on receiving my letter had refused to -come, and had gone off to the Mahdi at Gedir instead; Egeil, who was -with his cattle on the Bahr el Arab, also refused to come. Moreover, a -certain Thiran of the Rizighat tribe and a relative of Madibbo, who had -formerly been employed as a Government tax-collector, had murdered in -cold blood two soldiers who happened to have gone to him; he had also -attempted to seize by force some of Sultan Begu's cattle, but had been -wounded in the fray, taken prisoner, and sent to El Fasher for trial. He -was found guilty, and I ordered his execution in the public -market-place. - -There was now no doubt that all the southern tribes were in a state of -active revolt, and had every intention of joining the Mahdi; I therefore -thought my headquarters should now be at Dara; so, taking two hundred -infantry and seventy-five of the newly arrived cavalry, I proceeded -thither. On my arrival I heard some interesting details regarding the -progress of Mansur Helmi's expedition. It appeared that on his way he -had come across the Om Sureir section of the Rizighat tribe, who had -been implicated in a number of raids, had stolen a quantity of cattle, -and had shown themselves generally hostile to Government. Mansur had -seized the Sheikhs; but the latter had offered him a large bribe, which -he had unhesitatingly accepted, and in consequence had released them, -and returned them the greater part of their cattle. On his arrival at -Shakka he had been attacked by some Rizighat and Maalia Arabs, and -though he had driven them off with ease, he had lost Ali Agha Kanké, -Omar Wad Darho's uncle, a most courageous man. He now officially -informed me that an extensive revolt on the part of the Arabs was out of -the question, and they were quite ready to serve the Government loyally, -if they received a full pardon for past offences. - -An incident, however, had occurred which, though in itself -insignificant, led to very serious consequences. I previously mentioned -that on my way to Khartum I had been met by Sheikh Ali Wad Hegeir, of -the Maalia tribe, who had accompanied me there. He had proved loyal and -faithful to the Government, and I had appointed him chief of the -southern Maalia Arabs. Hearing that a meeting of the Rizighat Arabs -under Sheikh Belal Nagur, with a view to joining the Mahdi, was about to -be held, he resolved to attend the meeting and arrest this -sedition-monger. Accompanied by his father-in-law and a few of his -friends, he presented himself at the meeting, and, seeing some of his -own tribe amongst the number, he called on them to separate themselves -from the rest and come to him. His summons was left unheeded, and a -disturbance took place, in which Hegeir and his friends, being far in -the minority, were severely handled, and barely escaped with their -lives. The news of the fray had, however, preceded them and had been -distorted, so that on reaching their home Hegeir was greeted by his wife -with the words, "Rageli hidlim wa Abuyi Rabta; Safar yomein sawuhum fi -Gabta" (My husband is a male ostrich, and my father a female ostrich; -they made a two days' journey in a moment). Belal Nagur, however, -pursued the fugitives, and, joined by the Maalia, attacked Hegeir's -house. The latter was urged by his friends to flee for protection to -Mansur at Shakka; but, smarting under his wife's sarcastic verses he -refused, saying, "I shall never fly to save my life. Better is it to -fall under the sword than to be laughed at by a woman." And, true to his -word, he defended himself against fearful odds until a spear split his -head in twain, and he sank down to die, repeating his creed with his -last breath. His father-in-law fell dead close to him; and his wife, who -was the cause of this sad catastrophe, and had thus lost husband and -father, was captured and enslaved. - -Mansur Helmi, being now anxious to conclude arrangements with the -tribes, begged that I should come to Shakka, as, being the -representative of Government and well known to the Arabs, I would have -greater weight with them; he also expressed his opinion that a strong -fort should be made in Shakka, and manned with a couple of guns. As it -was most important to conclude terms with the Arabs, I resolved to -comply with his request, and, taking one hundred and fifty regulars, -twenty-five horsemen, and one gun, I started for Shakka. - -Meanwhile, I had received news from Major Hussein Maher at Om Shanga -that the new fort was nearing completion; and he enclosed a report from -Omar Wad Darho, in which the latter stated that he had attacked the -Arabs collected at El Esefer, two days distant from Om Shanga, had -defeated them after a hard fight, and had captured a few horses. The -bearers of these letters, however, stated that he had captured a very -large number; and this news gave me considerable satisfaction, for I -knew that he would be now more anxious to fight against the rebels, -since he had the prospect of taking possession of captured loot. I at -once wrote back, congratulating him on his successful action, and -telling him to do what he liked with the horses; but at the same time I -gave him strict orders not to proceed further east than Serna, and -further south than El Esefer, both of which places were within the -Kordofan frontier. I also gave him permission to fill up any casualties -amongst his men by fresh recruits, if he could get them, provided he -could depend on their loyalty; and I told him that if he continued to -perform his duties satisfactorily I should not fail to recommend him to -Government for reward. - -On arrival at Kalaka I was met by Mohammed Bey Abu Salama, one of the -northern Maalia Sheikhs, who had been given the title of Bey by Gordon, -and who was waiting to receive me with an escort of forty armed -Bazingers. He gave me the fullest information regarding the state of -affairs in various parts of the country, and I knew I could implicitly -rely on the statements of this faithful Government servant. The southern -Maalia tribes are perhaps the most drunken and immoral people of those -districts; they are held in the greatest contempt by the Rizighat, -Habbania, Messeria, and Homr Arabs, who are exceptionally moral and -abstemious, and who never touch intoxicating drinks. The following -anecdote relating to Sheikh Salama will best describe the peculiarities -of these Arabs: One day, happening to return home unexpectedly, he found -his sister had admitted her lover to his angareb. He had her instantly -put in chains; and when his friends expostulated with him for this -treatment, which in their estimation was excessively harsh for so -trivial an offence, he replied that he had no objection to his sister -having a lover, but he protested against her making her brother's -angareb the place of assignation, and thereby detract from his dignity -as Sheikh. - -Abu Salama with his Bazingers and about fifty horsemen accompanied me as -far as Dem Madibbo, which was this Sheikh's usual summer resort; but it -was now completely deserted, with the exception of a few slaves, who ran -away at our approach. I camped within about a mile of this place, and -made a zariba, having resolved to remain here until I received news from -Mansur Helmi. I had not long to wait. He had told me that there was no -prospect of trouble with the Arabs, but that was when Madibbo was -absent; he had now returned from a visit to the Mahdi in Jebel Gedir, -laden with trophies and proofs of the success of the new prophet. He had -been present when Yusef Pasha Shellali had been annihilated, and he -brought with him quantities of arms, ammunition, horses, and female -slaves, with which the Mahdi had presented him; he had also received -from him a flag, which he had been told was accompanied by invisible -angels, who would lead him to victory wherever he went. Besides this, he -brought numbers of proclamations, which he distributed broadcast. His -tribe had no longer the slightest doubt that the Government troops had -been defeated, and he now summoned them to join in the Jehad. Obedient -to his call, the Rizighat tribes to the northeast and southeast of -Shakka flocked to the holy standard. But Egeil still stood aloof; he -could not forgive his quarrel with his rival, and resolved to remain -neutral. - -In a few days Madibbo had collected a force sufficiently strong to -attack Mansur. The latter had made a zariba at Murrai, about half a -day's march from Shakka, and thither most of the merchants, with their -wives and families, had fled for protection. Early one Friday morning -Madibbo with his hosts approached the zariba, and Mansur, instead of -waiting to be attacked, foolishly sent out Rashed Agha with one hundred -and fifty regulars and two hundred of Ismail Wad Barnu's, Sultan -Abakr's, and the merchants' Bazingers,--the whole under Abder Rasul -Agha, who had just joined from Kalaka. He himself stayed behind in the -zariba with the rest of the troops. Rashed Agha advanced boldly without -any scouts to the place where Madibbo was supposed to be, and the -latter, dividing his men into three sections, ordered them to conceal -themselves in the depressions of the ground and in the thick grass. The -luckless troops saw too late the trap that had been laid for them. On a -given signal the enemy attacked them in flank; they had only time to -fire one volley, and the Arabs were amongst them. A pitiless massacre -ensued. Sultan Abakr and Abder Rasul alone escaped, through the -fleetness of their horses, back to the zariba, and all the rest -perished. - -Mansur Helmi, terrified at this sudden disaster, now completely lost -hope; but Wad Barnu and Abakr encouraged the troops not to despair, with -the result that when the victorious Madibbo attacked the zariba he was -driven off with considerable loss. A messenger despatched by Mansur -under cover of darkness, brought me the sad news of the catastrophe. In -his alarm he had greatly exaggerated Madibbo's strength, and, consulting -two of my most trusted officers, we decided that the best plan would be -to send one hundred and fifty men and the gun to Murrai, while the -remainder of the troops should proceed to Salama Bey's settlement, -whither reinforcements from Dara would be instantly despatched, and from -which place an advance on Murrai could then be made. - -Madibbo, who had originally a few hundred rifles, had now captured three -hundred more, as well as a quantity of ammunition. I had at my disposal -only one hundred and fifty regulars, and, despatching these with the gun -and a further supply of ammunition loaded on twenty camels, to guard -which I detailed forty men, I left myself with only one hundred and ten -men. I wrote to Mansur, instructing him that on the arrival of these -reinforcements he should strengthen his position at Murrai as much as -possible, and await my arrival with the reinforcements ordered from -Dara. I thought it very unlikely that, having had one unfortunate -experience outside the zariba, he would again risk leaving it; besides, -I knew he had sufficient corn for some days. In my letter to Zogal, -ordering him to send more troops, I merely mentioned that Mansur had -suffered a slight reverse, as I greatly feared the effect of this bad -news in Dara; and I told him we were all well, and hoped to make a -successful attack without delay. - -While at my zariba at Deain, Sheikh Afifi Wad Ahmed of the Habbania, -accompanied by Sheikhs Khamis Wad Nenya and Khudr Wad Girba, arrived -with twenty horsemen, and gave me assurances of their loyalty to -Government. The subsequent exploits of Afifi proved how true he was to -his word. He told me frankly that the whole country was unsettled, and -that almost all the tribes in the Kalaka neighbourhood wished to join -the Mahdi. - -Madibbo's prestige was no doubt greatly increased by his success against -Mansur; constant contact for years with the Government had taught him a -great deal and he was as capable as he was brave. Learning that I was -encamped with only a small force at Deain, he very rightly decided to -leave Mansur alone and turn on me. - -One evening just before sunset, when my men were out collecting wood, we -were suddenly attacked by Madibbo's horsemen, who were seen in hundreds -some distance off galloping towards the zariba. Sheikh Afifi instantly -saddled his horse, mounted, and, standing before me with poised spear, -shouted, "Arifni zen! ana thor et tokash, abu galb min adem, ana bidaur -el mot!" (You know me well! I am the pushing ox, the man who has a heart -of bone. I seek death!) and with this he dashed out of the zariba, and, -disappearing amongst the trees, returned in a few minutes, his spear -dripping with blood, and leading after him a captured horse; the two -other Sheikhs and their men also had a slight skirmish, losing one horse -and capturing another. In a few moments we heard some rifle shots, and -fearing that Madibbo's main body had arrived, I called the mounted Arabs -into the zariba and prepared for defence. However, I soon ascertained -that a small party only had come, and had taken up a position in a clump -of trees; I therefore sent fifty men to drive them out, and they -retired, leaving behind them three killed. - -As it was now sunset, I summoned the Sheikhs and officers, and explained -that it was impossible to retreat now, as the camels carrying the -ammunition would probably get frightened if we were attacked in the -dark, and we should run the risk of losing them. It was better, I said, -to wait till daylight, when we should in all probability be attacked, -and that in view of Madibbo's great superiority in numbers it was -advisable for us to remain entirely on the defensive, and await a -favourable opportunity to retire on Dara. "Under these circumstances," I -said, "we shall not require the horses. Do you, therefore, Afifi, and -your men leave us under cover of darkness, and return to your country, -which you should be able to reach in safety. You will be more use to us -there than cooped up in this zariba." After a short pause, Afifi -replied, "My life is in God's hands, and man cannot escape his destiny. -If it is God's will that I should die here to-morrow, so be it; but this -might equally happen on my way back, for God is almighty. I think it a -shame to leave you, and I prefer death to a life of shame. This is my -opinion, and I have spoken it." No sooner had Afifi concluded, than the -Habbania Arabs, in one voice, shouted that they were all of the same -opinion; and such a noise did they make that I was obliged to tell them -the enemy would probably hear them. Being quite unable to make them -change their minds, I agreed that they should remain till the following -day. I now ordered the ditch inside the zariba to be deepened, to give -more cover from the bullets, and the men worked hard all night. At dawn -the next morning, the outposts reported a man in the distance waving a -white flag, and on giving orders that he should be allowed to approach, -I found him to be Sheikh Ishak el Abd, of the Rizighat tribe, and I went -outside the zariba to confer with him. Saluting, he handed me a letter -from Madibbo, which my Arabic clerk now read to me; it was very long and -bombastic, but not unfriendly in tone. He summoned me to submit, gave a -full account of the defeat and death of Yusef Pasha Shellali, of which -he himself had been an eye-witness, and then told me how he had been -victorious over Mansur Helmi. He urged me, on his word as a former -official and my friend, to believe in the truth of what he said, and -then declared that, having seen the Mahdi with his own eyes, he had now -not the smallest doubt that he was a man sent from God, and that all who -resisted him must perish miserably. - -Turning to my old friend Ishak, I laughingly asked him what he thought -about it. "Master," said he, "I have eaten bread and salt with you, and -therefore I will not deceive you: the whole country is in revolt, and -every one says he is the true Mahdi. If you intend to submit to Madibbo, -I can guarantee that you need have nothing to fear." "Never!" was my -short reply. "I shall never lay down my arms to an Arab. Go to Madibbo, -and tell him that battle must decide between us!" "Master," answered -Ishak, "I will not deceive you; every word I have said is true. I, -personally, shall not fight against you; but my tribe is no longer under -control." "It is all the same to me," I replied, "whether you fight -against me or not; one man alone cannot make much difference one way or -the other." I then shook hands with him, and bade him good-bye. Pressing -my hand, he said, "If one day I am forced to fight you, I will let you -know," and, mounting his horse, he was in a few minutes out of sight. - -Returning to the zariba, I now made all preparations for the impending -struggle. Amongst the refugees with us was a Greek named Alexander, who -had come to Shakka with two camel-loads of spirits and clothing, which -he expected to sell at an enormous profit at Shakka: also a certain Ali -Wad Fadlalla, with ten Bazingers, had joined us. He was a man I had long -since discharged from the mamurship of Kalaka; but he expected in this -way to re-establish himself in my good graces. Seeing the plight we were -in, these two worthies did nothing but bemoan the ill luck which had -brought them to my zariba. - -Scarcely two hours had elapsed since Ishak had left, when, through my -field-glasses I saw the enemy advancing. I at once sounded the "alarm," -and every one went to his post. The attack came from the northwest, -where there was a small wood which gave considerable cover. In the -centre of our zariba was a mound, on the top of which I placed an old -bench found in one of Madibbo's huts, and which an Egyptian had turned -into a chair. Seated in this position, I obtained a good view of the -surrounding country, as well as of all that was going on in the zariba. -The enemy now advanced within rifle-range, and the bullets began to -whistle about our ears. Getting up from the chair to give some order and -have a better view, a shot whizzed past and struck the back of the chair -in which I had just been sitting, and shivered it to pieces. After this, -I thought it advisable to take up a less-exposed position. The enemy's -fire now became very hot, but the men were well protected in the -trenches, and our loss was trifling. The horses and camels, however, -suffered severely; and feeling that if kept huddled up in the zariba we -might lose them all, I selected fifty men and, making a sortie from the -southern entrance, we turned west, and, opening suddenly on the enemy's -flank, inflicted considerable loss on him by a murderous cross-fire, -eventually driving him from the position. However, we did not secure -this success without paying for it. As far as I can recollect, we lost -twelve killed, including Fadlalla, and the Greek Alexander was amongst -the wounded. - -Discussing the situation with my officers, it was decided that if the -enemy attacked us the following day and we succeeded in repulsing him, -we should be prepared to act offensively. We had some suspicion, too, -that Sheikh Abu Salama was inclined to revolt; his conduct had -undoubtedly altered considerably of late. - -The day's experience had the effect of making the men deepen their -trenches and heighten their breastworks, thus affording better -protection to themselves and the animals. By the evening, thoroughly -tired out, most of them had dropped off to sleep, and we anticipated a -quiet night. But at about eleven o'clock we were startled by a brisk -rifle-fire. Fortunately it was a very dark night, and the fire was -ill-directed. So I ordered the men not to reply, and in consequence it -slackened, and eventually ceased altogether. - -Summoning Sheikh Afifi, I now asked him to send out some of his men to -discover Madibbo's position, promising them they would be well rewarded -if they brought back reliable information. In about two hours they -returned, and reported that Madibbo was in his village with his -Bazingers, while the Arabs were encamped to the south and west of it. -They were in considerable force, but had taken no precautions for -defence, and our spies, who had crept up quite close to their -camp-fires, had overheard them laughing and joking at our not having -replied to their fire, saying we must have been too frightened to do so. - -Waiting for half an hour, I called up seventy men, and told them, before -the officers, I wanted them to surprise Madibbo's camp; that if we -fought an action in the open against superior numbers, we should -probably lose heavily; but we had now ascertained the Arabs were quite -unprepared, and a sudden night attack might completely demoralise them, -and give us a chance of returning to Dara for reinforcements. The plan -was thoroughly approved, and all the officers at once volunteered to -join; but this I could not permit. So, leaving behind two officers, -four buglers, and seventy men, I quitted the zariba, accompanied by -Afifi, who refused to leave me. Suspecting that possibly some of Abu -Salama's people might get out and betray us, I gave the officers who -remained behind strict injunctions that during our absence no one should -leave the zariba, and that a most careful lookout should be kept; and -advancing cautiously, guided by the spies, in the space of about an hour -we found ourselves close to the enemy's camp. Our spies proved -thoroughly trusty; and, besides, I had previously travelled in these -districts, and knew the country well. Dividing up, therefore, into two -parties, I placed one under the command of a very brave officer named -Mohammed Agha Suleiman, a native of Bornu, and leading the other party -myself, we crept up to within six or seven hundred yards of the -unsuspecting foe, when I ordered the bugler to sound "Commence firing." -The confusion in the enemy's camp was now indescribable. Madibbo's -Bazingers, leaving their arms, fled. The horses, terrified by this -sudden commotion in the dead of night, became restive, broke their -ropes, and bolted in all directions, chased by the Arabs. In a few -minutes every one of Madibbo's huts was deserted, and in the distance -could be heard the sounds of the terrified crowds, fleeing from our -little band of seventy men. We had been completely successful, and it -took Madibbo some days before he could collect his men again. I burnt -his village, and the blazing flames, shooting to the sky, lighted up the -deserted camp. Only two of my men had been wounded by thrown spears. We -captured a large number of saddles, which I ordered to be thrown into -the flames, as well as a quantity of old guns and matchlocks; but we -kept the forty Remington rifles taken, and now marched back to the -zariba, where we had a most enthusiastic welcome from the others, who -had been awaiting our return with great anxiety. - -I gave the order to move at sunrise the next morning. The entire -neighbourhood was deserted, and during our five hours' march to Bir -Delwei we met no one. Here, however, we were caught up by some Rizighat -horsemen, who had followed us with the evident intention of finding out -if we were really quitting the district. Afifi, catching sight of them, -was after them in a moment, and, severely wounding Madibbo's cousin, Isa -Feisal, he captured his horse. We now continued to march forward as -rapidly as possible, hoping soon to meet the reinforcements which should -have started by this time from Dara for the relief of Mansur Helmi. At -midnight we reached Kelekle, where I resolved to give the exhausted men -a good rest. Here, under the pretext of telling his tribe to drive their -cattle out of the Rizighat districts towards the north, Sheikh Abu -Salama left us; but as he did not return the next morning, and as it was -reported by some men I had sent out after him that he and his family, -taking all their property with them, had left for the south, I had no -doubt he had gone to join the rebels. Having still no news from Dara, I -did not deem it advisable to wait longer, so continued my march north, -and reached that town by noon the following day. I found the -reinforcements and ammunition all ready to leave, and as the men I had -brought back were tired, I determined to change them also, and return -with a completely fresh force to help Mansur Helmi; but to my surprise, -at daybreak the next morning, I received a letter from Ismail Wad Barnu, -saying that he and Mansur were on their way to Dara, and would arrive -the following day. This was to me most unsatisfactory news, for it meant -that my difficulties in re-occupying Shakka would be considerably -increased. The next morning they arrived, accompanied by a few slaves, -who were ready to drop down with fatigue. Calling up Mansur before a -council of officers, I asked him officially, in writing, why he quitted -his post without orders, and he replied that he was too tired to answer. -I then called on Ismail Wad Barnu for a full explanation, and he stated -as follows: "Having despatched the messenger to you with the news of our -disaster, we hourly expected you to arrive. When the messenger returned, -reporting that you were retiring on Dara for reinforcements, and that -Madibbo was on the point of attacking you, we gave way to despair. Our -corn was finished, and we had no means of procuring any more supplies. -We therefore made up our minds to take to flight." "But," said I, "where -are the camels carrying ammunition and rockets? and where are all the -merchants and their families who came to you for protection? There were -some hundreds of you; and now you are only fifteen." "We loaded the -ammunition and rockets on the camels," replied Mansur, nervously, "and -they and the merchants started the same time as we did; but we got -separated on the march." "What!" said I, in a tone of wonder, "how could -heavily laden camels become separated from horsemen? Only in one way: -they move slowly, and you have deserted them in your terror. How long -did you take to come here?" By this time Mansur had worked himself into -such a state of nervous excitement that he had become incoherent. I -therefore again called on Wad Barnu to complete this painful narrative. -"We left the zariba three days ago," said he. "Three days!" I said. "And -yet you say that the camels separated from you. It is a seven days' -march between Murrai and Dara. You are a civil official, Ismail, and -joined this expedition by my orders. You need not be afraid. Tell me -now, truthfully, why you left the others?" "Master," said Ismail, who -had by this time regained confidence, "when we heard that you were -waiting for reinforcements from Dara, we held a consultation, and -decided that, as we had only a small quantity of supplies left, we -should abandon the position and come here. Mansur Effendi, being our -chief, gave the order to march three hours before sunset. We loaded up -the camels, and, with the merchants, their wives and children, all left -the zariba together. The marching of so many of us made a great noise; -and fearing that the enemy would hear it, Mansur called me up, and -suggested that we should go on ahead, and that Ali Agha Guma, who was in -command of the fifty men escorting the ammunition, should follow on and -catch us up. At dawn the next morning we halted for some time, and at -length Abder Rasul Agha arrived, reporting that he too had got separated -from the caravan during the night. Master, where is the heart without -fear? As the merciful and almighty God had delivered us, so we believed -He would deliver the others; therefore we hurried on. Master, make -allowance for us. Remember that we lost relatives and slaves in the -battle, and that I am married and the father of children!" - -Mansur listened to this confession in silence. I frequently called upon -him to say anything which would justify his conduct; but his only excuse -was that the ammunition column did not arrive at the appointed -rendezvous, and that as he himself had so few men, he did not think it -wise to go in search of them, and had therefore continued his march. I -now directed the senior officer present to take Mansur's sword from him, -to keep him in close arrest at the headquarter guard, and to take down -in writing a full deposition of what had occurred. - -Meanwhile I sent off spies in all directions to discover the whereabouts -of the column, and for the moment abandoned all idea of an expedition to -Shakka. Seven days later I received the joyful news that the column had -safely arrived at Toweisha with almost all the merchants and their -families, and as, up to the present, no disturbances had taken place in -that district, the latter had asked permission to remain there. Three -days afterwards the column was reported to be within an hour's march of -Dara. I therefore rode out at the head of the whole garrison to meet -them, and marched them in with all honours. On their arrival they were -publicly entertained, and I gave all the non-commissioned officers a -step, and promoted fifteen of them, who were specially recommended by -Ali Agha Guma, to the rank of officer. Ali Agha now related the -following. "In accordance with Mansur Effendi's orders, we loaded up the -camels and started; the merchants, with their women and children, who -had not been informed, now made a great commotion, and insisted on -coming with us; the poor people well knew that if they remained behind -they could expect no mercy from the Arabs. Mansur Effendi, alarmed at -the noise, and fearing that the enemy might come down on us, was chiefly -concerned about the safety of his own person, and therefore started off, -directing me to catch him up the following morning. Now, how was it -possible for me in a bushy, trackless region, with heavily laden camels, -to catch up a man flying on a horse? I hurriedly collected the soldiers -and the merchants, and told them that I proposed to march towards Goz el -Maalia, and in this roundabout way, please God, we should avoid the -enemy and reach home safely. I knew that the country round Goz el Maalia -was open, and that if attacked we should be able to defend ourselves -better than in the enclosed country through which we were now marching. -I knew that we were quite strong enough to force our way through the -Maalia tribe, and therefore, repeating the 'Fatha' [the Moslem creed] -and asking the Almighty to protect us, we marched in a northeasterly -direction, camels and women in the centre. Thank God, the darkness of -the night helped us to pass through the enemy's country unobserved, and -by sunrise we had reached the southwestern boundary of the Maalia -country. Here we made a short halt, but did not dare to stay long. We -made the merchants' wives act as camel-drivers, and those who were ill -and the children we mounted on camel-back on the top of the -ammunition-boxes; in this way we managed to have about one hundred men -with rifles as escort. We had sufficient corn for three or four days, -and instead of water we quenched our thirst with the juice of the -water-melons, which grew in abundance. At noon we were attacked by some -Rizighat horsemen who had been joined by some Maalia; but by God's help, -who forsakes not those in distress and danger, we drove them off, -killing a few horses and men. Although utterly exhausted, we did not -dare to halt till sunset; and, surrounding ourselves with a light -zariba, we passed a quiet night, and started off again at sunrise the -next morning. The enemy, being joined by some revolted villagers, again -attacked us; but God gave us strength and courage, and we drove them -off, and at length, after eight days' hard marching, we reached Toweisha -safe and sound. The merchants and their wives and children left us there -full of gratitude, and we thank the merciful God who has brought us -unhurt out of all these dangers." - -"I also thank God," said I, "that you are safe; I was greatly concerned -about you. But tell me how goes it at Toweisha? How is the chief of the -district, Abo Bey el Bartawi?" "He himself seems loyal to Government," -he replied, "but his people have begun to get disaffected, and sooner or -later, if good news is not received from Kordofan, he will join the -rebels; at present, however, the Om Shanga garrison keeps him quiet." - -I now publicly thanked Ali Agha Guma for his valuable services and for -his forethought and bravery, and ordered his promotion from second to -first lieutenant, writing to Cairo for confirmation. This plucky officer -was a native of the Tagalla mountains, and had been trained as a soldier -in Cairo. - -As there was no officer of Mansur Helmi's rank in Dara, I sent him under -escort to Fasher, with instructions to Said Bey Guma to deal with his -case in accordance with the written depositions; at the same time I told -him to send me two hundred infantry, also some ammunition and lead. - -Meanwhile, I ascertained that Madibbo had returned to Deain, rebuilt his -village, and concluded an offensive and defensive alliance with Sheikh -Abu Salama. On the day I arrived in Dara I sent back the faithful and -brave Afifi to Kalaka. He was very anxious not to go; but I told him -that should his tribe revolt, he had permission to bring his wife and -children to Dara; in the meantime he had better be with his people. - -In order to dissipate any idea on the part of the rebels that I intended -to sit down quietly and watch events, I despatched Ali Effendi Esmet -with one hundred and eighty regulars to Hashaba, two days' march south -of Dara,--one of Abu Salama's villages,--with orders to wait there till -I had collected my forces. The news from the Om Shanga district was -satisfactory. Omar Wad Darho, with his four hundred horsemen, succeeded -in keeping the Arabs under; he had several skirmishes, and once or twice -some losses, but on the whole he was successful. The continual strides -now made by the revolt in Kordofan made postal communication more -difficult than ever; all I could do was to send short cypher messages, -very few of which ever reached their destination. One of my principal -objects in keeping Darho at Om Shanga was that, in the event of the -troops in Kordofan being successful, he could advance east, and, -combining with them, reopen the post-road. - -Zogal Bey, who was with me in Dara at this period, was performing his -duties in a satisfactory manner. He was opposed to my getting -reinforcements from El Fasher, saying I need not be so mistrustful; -however, there was no doubt he had received letters from his relative, -the Mahdi, but I do not think he answered them in writing: in fact, -affairs in Darfur were not altogether unsatisfactory, and he was now -certainly more careful and attentive to his duties. - -During my stay here I did my utmost to collect Bazingers, and by -promises to the Gellabas I succeeded in getting many of them to place -their servants at the disposal of the Government. I also utilised the -services of an old officer named Abdel Kader Wad Asi, who had formerly -commanded the irregular cavalry in Dara, to collect as many horses as he -could; and in a few days he got together upwards of one hundred and -fifty. Meanwhile I had written to Sultan Abakr el Begawi--head-Sheikh of -Berket--and to the Messeria and other tribes, to get ready and follow me -to Shakka. Some of these readily obeyed the call; and as to those who -hesitated, I did all I could, by working up tribal jealousies, to -increase the ill-feeling between them and our enemies. Abder Rasul Agha, -who had fled from Murrai with Mansur Helmi, I had imprisoned; but as he -had on previous occasions shown capacity, and as my available officers -were getting scarce, I released him, and put him in command of the -Bazingers who were to remain behind in Dara, and told him to do all he -could to procure more. Most of the arms in store at Dara were old -double-barrelled guns, flintlocks, and a few damaged Remingtons; these I -had roughly repaired, and distributed to the Bazinger recruits. I had -not much ammunition, and urgently ordered more to be sent from El -Fasher. About a fortnight later, one hundred regulars duly arrived under -Said Bey el Fula, a brave Sudanese, who brought me letters from Said Bey -Guma. In these, my representative at the capital informed me that he -could not send the ammunition, as he had no camels, and if he took them -by force from the people, he feared the result; as soon as he could -procure camels he would send me the ammunition and the other hundred -men. In reply to this I wrote back somewhat shortly that the despatch of -the ammunition was an urgent necessity, and that if he could not obtain -the camels from the Arabs, he must get them from the officers and -employés on payment; I told him that I had to do this in Dara, as there -were no other camels available in southern Darfur. It was perfectly -clear to me that orders sent to El Fasher were not carried out with -expedition. It was useless to waste more time; I therefore quitted -Dara,--leaving behind an adequate garrison,--and set off for Hashaba, -where it had been arranged the various friendly tribes would meet me. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE SIEGE AND FALL OF EL OBEID. - - Said Pasha, Governor-General of Kordofan, prepares to defend El - Obeid--The Mahdi attacks the Town, but is repulsed with Great - Loss--The Missionaries at Delen fall into the Mahdi's Hands--The - Siege and Fall of Bara--The Horrors of the Siege of El - Obeid--Said Pasha is forced to surrender--His Interview with the - Mahdi--The Search for Treasure--The Mahdi's Miracles--Effect of - the Fall of El Obeid on the General Situation. - - -Inspired by his numerous victories, and encouraged by Elias Pasha's -urgent appeal that he should proceed to El Obeid, the Mahdi left Gedir, -and, joined by thousands upon thousands of fanatical Arabs and -slave-hunters, he advanced to Kaba, a village on the outskirts of the -town. - -From here he despatched horsemen to reconnoitre and summon all those who -were willing to join his banners. He also wrote to Mohammed Pasha Said, -calling on him to submit. His letter was read out before the officers; -and at the suggestion of Mohammed Bey Skander and the majority of the -officers the bearers of the letters were sentenced to be shot. Said -Pasha himself was averse to this decision, but eventually gave way and -confirmed the sentence, which was immediately carried out. - -The secret emissaries were more successful; they had an easier task -amongst the local population many of whom really believed in the Mahdi, -and those who did not, well knew the weakness of the Government and the -very critical state of affairs. Besides, as I have already related, the -hostility of Elias Pasha to Said Pasha and Ahmed Bey Dafalla had the -effect of bringing over to the rebels the majority of the civil -officials and principal merchants,--consequently, in a few days the bulk -of the population moved bodily out of the town and joined the Mahdi. -The latter had previously written to them that they had only to shut up -their houses and leave all their property as it was, and when he entered -the town he would guarantee that nothing should be touched. These -injunctions they obeyed implicitly, taking with them, or burying in the -ground, their money only. - -On Ahmed Bey's advice, Said Pasha had divided up the town in such a -manner that the evacuation of a large part of it by the merchants and -others would not seriously affect the question of its defence; and he at -once ordered the soldiers to collect all the corn they could find in the -houses and store it in the citadel,--an operation which was carried out -with considerable alacrity, and full advantage was taken of the occasion -to freely loot the dwellings of the trustful populace, who had counted -somewhat prematurely on the Mahdi's protective powers. Minni, of the -Gowama Arabs, also freely pillaged the deserted town. - -Mohammed Ahmed now spared no effort to rouse the fanatical spirit of the -masses by whom he was surrounded. He preached day and night to a rapt -audience on the heavenly joys in store for all those who joined the -Jehad, and on Friday morning, September the 8th, this seething mass of -human beings, armed only with swords and spears, rolled like the waves -of the sea towards the town. All the arms taken in Rashed's and -Shellali's expeditions had been left behind at Jebel Gedir, and the -rifle fire of the defenders soon began to play with deadly effect on the -crowd, who, utterly undeterred, and seeking only for blood and plunder, -continued their advance, swarming into the ditches and up the parapet, -and entering the deserted town. At this critical moment Major Nesim -Effendi told his bugler to sound the advance; and the signal being taken -up by the other buglers, the soldiers, clambering up on to the tops of -the walls and houses, brought a murderous fire to bear on the -assailants. Slowly the surging mass, under this hail of lead, was driven -back, leaving behind them thousands of killed and wounded. Once more -they rallied and attempted again to storm; but again were they driven -back with still greater slaughter, till at length the survivors retired -out of range, and the gallant garrison was completely victorious. - -In this assault the Mahdi's brother Mohammed, Khalifa Abdullahi's -brother Yusef, the Kadi, and a host of Emirs were killed. The Mahdi -himself, during the attack, took up a position out of range, behind a -small house; and had Said Pasha taken Ahmed Bey Dafalla's advice to -pursue after the Dervishes had been routed, in all probability he would -have been taken, and the subsequent bloodshed and horrors thus avoided. - -But Said Pasha contented himself with this temporary success, believing -that the Mahdi was too crushed to again attempt an attack, and that this -defeat would probably destroy his influence. The Mahdi's relatives and -near friends also realised this, and on their advice he removed his camp -to Gianzara, a hill lying beyond range to the northeast of the town; and -in this position maintained an open investment, while awaiting the -arrival of the arms and ammunition for which he had sent to Jebel Gedir. - -The mission station at Delen, which had been founded some eight years -before, and which was guarded by eighty men of the slave guard, had long -been in a critical position. Whilst on his way to El Obeid, the Mahdi -had sent one of his adherents, Mek Omar, with instructions either to -capture or kill all persons found there. The missionary Fathers, Joseph -Ohrwalder and Luigi Bonomi, had arranged to flee with the troops and all -the mission to Fashoda; but their plan fell through, owing to the -cowardice of the captain commanding the troops. They were eventually -obliged to submit, were robbed of all they had, and were marched as -prisoners to El Obeid. Here the Mahdi and Khalifa Abdullahi made every -effort to convert them and the sisters who were with them; but they -remained firm. The following day they were taken, accompanied by -thousands of howling Dervishes, to an open space where a great review -was held. After momentarily expecting death, they were at length told -their lives were spared, and they were handed over to the care of a -Syrian named George Stambuli, who had joined the Mahdi from El Obeid. - -At this time a most wonderful comet appeared, which was taken by the -Sudanese as a sign from Heaven that the Government was about to be -overthrown, and that the true Mahdi had appeared on earth. - -An expedition sent under Ali Bey Lutfi to relieve Bara and El Obeid, -when on the march and suffering from thirst, was attacked by the Gowama -Arabs under Fiki Rahma, and of the two thousand men of which it was -composed, two hundred only succeeded in escaping to Bara. Soon after -this Tayara was attacked, and its little garrison, after resisting -manfully, was obliged to submit at the end of September. - -Bara fell next, after a long and well-sustained siege. The garrison had -inflicted considerable loss on the rebels, but a fire had broken out and -burnt up almost all the corn. Hunger and disease had done their work, -and, hopeless of any succour, Surur Effendi, the commandant, Nur Angara, -and Mohammed Agha Japo, at the urgent request of the garrison, were -forced to submit early in January, 1883, to Abderrahman Wad en Nejumi, -and were conducted by him to Gianzara. On arrival here they received the -Mahdi's pardon, and Surur Effendi, who was an Abyssinian by birth, but a -particularly religious Moslem, was allowed by the Mahdi to have back a -portion of his confiscated property; Nur Angara, being a Dongolawi, was -also well received; and Japo, whose exploits during the retreat from -Ashaf had reached the Mahdi's ears, was given back one of his own -horses. The troops, who were all Blacks, were made over to Khalifa -Abdullahi, who subsequently transferred them to Hamdan Abu Anga, who was -made Emir of the force. - -The astute Japo was not slow to show devotion to his new master, and -begged for his blessing and for permission to get married, as hitherto -he had lived a single life. The Mahdi, flattered that an old and -irreligious man like Japo should show such complete submissiveness to -his will, at once granted his request. A few days later, however, Japo -came before the Mahdi with a very sorrowful face, and told him that the -money he had given him for his marriage had been spent to no purpose, as -he had divorced his wife. "What!" said the Mahdi, "why should you have -done this? Is she not pretty, or has she a bad character?" "No," said -Japo, "she has a far more serious fault: when I tell her to say her -prayers, she refuses to do so; and a wife who does not pray is an -abomination to me." So delighted was the Mahdi with his supposed -conversion that he gave Japo a large sum of money to get married again, -and presented him with sufficient means to keep him from want for a long -time. Some years later, after the Mahdi's death, I met Mohammed Japo in -Omdurman, and I laughingly reminded him of this story. "Yes," said he, -"in spite of all the harm and evil done by the Mahdi, he was not, after -all, such a bad man,--one could get something out of him; but I pity the -man who relies on Khalifa Abdullahi's benevolence." Japo was quite -right. - -The Mahdi celebrated the capture of Bara with a salute of one hundred -guns, and the unfortunate garrison of El Obeid, hearing the sounds, -thought that a relieving army was approaching; but when they learnt that -Bara had fallen, they became greatly disheartened. For months they had -been suffering all the horrors of famine; food had risen to fabulous -prices; no steps had been taken to lay in a stock of provisions, and -there was a great scarcity of corn. A month before the capitulation -dukhn had risen to four hundred dollars the ardeb; only the most wealthy -could supply themselves with a little meat. The price of a camel rose to -fifteen hundred dollars, a chicken might be had for thirty or forty -dollars, and an egg for a dollar to a dollar and a half. But my comrades -in captivity, Fathers Ohrwalder and Rosignoli, have already described -the horrors of that long and terrible time, and I need not repeat them -here; suffice it to say that after a five months' siege, during which -the most terrible privations were endured, and in which a very large -proportion of the remaining population and garrison died of starvation, -Mohammed Pasha Said was at last forced to capitulate. He wished to blow -up the powder magazine; but the officers begged that their wives and -children might be spared, and he was obliged to give way. He therefore -wrote to the Mahdi that he was prepared to surrender the town. The Mahdi -replied that he and his officers need have no fear, and the following -morning sent a deputation of leading merchants, under Mohammed Wad el -Areik to Said Pasha, with instructions that he, the superior officers of -the garrison, and the chief merchants should present themselves before -him. The deputation had brought with them jibbas (the patched shirt -adopted as a uniform by the followers of the Mahdi), which had now to be -worn, and, mounting on horses, the sad cavalcade, led by Said Pasha, -filed out of the fort which they had defended so long and bravely. With -him were Mohammed Bey Skander, the commandant, Major Nesim Effendi, -Ahmed Bey Dafalla, Mohammed Bey Yasin, and several other officers. -Seated on his angareb, on which a goat's skin was spread, the Mahdi -received them kindly, gave them his hand to be kissed, and pardoned -them. He told them that he of course understood they had been deceived -in regard to him, having doubted his Divine mission; but that he forgave -them, and now required them to take the solemn oath of allegiance, and -complete submission to him and the cause. This formality over, he gave -them dates and water, and urged them to renounce the pleasures of this -world, and think only of the world to come. Turning to Said Pasha, he -then said: "I do not blame you as a Turk for having done all you could -to defend the post confided to you; but you did not do well to kill my -messengers, for it is not right that messengers should be punished." -Before Said Pasha could reply, Skander Bey quickly answered, "Master and -Mahdi, Said Pasha did not do this, but it was I, in my capacity as -commandant of the fort, who ordered the execution, as I considered them -rebels, and in this I did not do well, as you truly say." "I did not -mean by my question to ask you to justify yourself," said the Mahdi. "My -messengers have obtained what they most desired; when they took the -letters from me they sought the death of martyrs, and their wish was -fulfilled. The merciful God has granted them their hearts' desire, and -now they are in the enjoyment of all the pleasures of Paradise. May God -grant that we may follow in their footsteps." - -During this conversation, according to a plan prepared beforehand, Abu -Anga and his men had occupied the fort, powder-magazine, and Government -buildings, whilst the Emirs installed themselves in the officers' -quarters. The Mahdi now told Wad el Areik, who happened to be a personal -friend of Said Pasha, to take him and his officers back to their houses; -but on their return they found them occupied, and were given to -understand that their property had now been confiscated. Soon afterwards -the Mahdi himself entered the town to inspect it, and ordered the -garrison to quit the entrenchments. The women and children, who had so -patiently waited for relief, were now ordered out to the Mahdi's camp, -and were allowed to take nothing with them. Even the women were searched -to the skin, in a most revolting manner, and anything found was -instantly taken off to the Beit el Mal (Mahdi's treasury), where the -property was subsequently distributed amongst the Emirs and other high -personages. In searching for gold and treasure the most heart-rending -scenes were enacted, and weeping and wailing was heard on all sides, as -the unfortunates were flogged to make them disgorge. - -Said Pasha himself was called upon by Ahmed Wad Suleiman, the Mahdi's -Emin Beit el Mal (or treasurer), to hand over all his money; but he -replied that he had none. It was well known that he was a very wealthy -man, but he obstinately denied he had anything. When the Mahdi heard -this, he instructed Wad Suleiman to make every inquiry of Said Pasha's -servants; and while he was occupied in doing this, the Mahdi continued -conversing with Said Pasha on the precepts of religion, and frequently -asked him, before the assembled masses, why he refused to disclose the -hiding-place of his treasure, and Said Pasha as persistently denied that -he had any money whatever. In this way some time passed, and at length -Wad Suleiman, who had meanwhile succeeded in getting one of the female -servants to admit that her master had concealed the treasure in the -wall, returned to the Mahdi, and whispered in his ear that they had -found it. The latter, beckoning him to sit down, continued to talk of -the vanities of this world, and the great necessity of renouncing them; -and then, turning suddenly to Said Pasha, he said, "You swore a most -solemn oath of allegiance; why, then, do you refuse to say where your -money is? Money is the root of all evil. Do you now expect to gather -more riches?" "Oh, sire," replied Said Pasha, "I have neither money made -honestly, nor money made dishonestly; do with me what you like." "Do you -take me for an ordinary man?" replied the Mahdi. "Do you not understand -that I am truly the 'Mahdi el Muntazer,' and that the Prophet has -revealed to me the hiding-place of your treasure, which you have -concealed in the wall of your house? Go, Ahmed Wad Suleiman, to his -house. Enter his room, and on the left side, near the door, remove the -plaster from the wall, and there you will find the Turk's treasure. -Bring it here." During Wad Suleiman's absence Said Pasha sat -disconsolately, close to the Mahdi, frowning deeply. He knew his -treasure had been discovered, but he was too proud to admit that he had -told an untruth, and he refused to join in the conversation. In a few -minutes Suleiman returned, dragging behind him a large tin box, which he -placed before the Mahdi, who opened it, and found it full of gold, -packed up in small bags. Over £7,000 was counted out. "Mohammed Said," -said the Mahdi, "you have told a lie; but I will forgive you. Ahmed, -take the money to the Beit el Mal, and distribute it amongst the poor -and needy." "You, who preach renunciation, have now got my money; do -what you like with it," said Said Pasha, turning on his heel and -marching off. The Mahdi, frowning darkly, muttered, "Di ma biyenfa -maana" (This man won't do for us). - -Said Pasha turned to Ahmed Bey Dafalla, who had witnessed this scene, -and the Mahdi then addressed the latter in the following words: "Do not -follow in the footsteps of your old friend; he has an obstinate -disposition. Be honest and true to me, and I will give you all you -require. I secretly warned your brother Abdalla, but it was God's will -he should be overthrown. He blindly espoused the cause of God's enemies, -the Turks, and fought against me. The merciful God has destroyed them. -They were blown like chaff before the wind, and are now suffering all -the torments of hell-fire. Ahmed, save your soul while you may. Be -faithful to me, and when this life is over you shall enjoy the -everlasting pleasures of Paradise, and God will receive you into His -heavenly kingdom." - -"Oh, Mahdi," said Ahmed Wad Dafalla, "I shall certainly not enter the -heaven in which my brother Abdalla is not." And with that he rose and -left the meeting. - -Not a word did the Mahdi say, but it seemed to be quite understood that -his sentence had been pronounced. Signing to his followers that the -meeting was over, the latter now lost no time in complying with their -master's wishes, which, though unexpressed, they well understood. In a -few minutes it was known far and wide that the cursed Turk, Mohammed -Said, had refused to disclose the hiding-place of his treasure, but that -the Prophet had revealed it to the Mahdi. For some days tongues never -ceased talking of this wonderful miracle; and far and wide spread -Mohammed Ahmed's repute as the true Mahdi, sent from heaven to destroy -the hated Turk. - -Directions were now given to supply Said Pasha, Ahmed Bey, Ali Sherif, -and the other officers with their beds, cooking-pots, clothing, and some -money, until the Prophet further revealed to the Mahdi what he should do -with his prisoners. - -Mohammed Ahmed now occupied himself in writing letters and proclamations -to all parts of the Sudan, announcing the capture of El Obeid, and -enjoining on all the necessity of activity and endurance in the great -religious war which had now spread over the country. He called on the -faithful to renounce the pomps and vanities of this world, and to think -and work only for the joys to come. He also issued very stringent -regulations against smoking and drinking, imposing terrible penalties on -any one found wilfully disobeying. Special instructions were also issued -regarding marriage ceremonies, dowries, etc., and every effort was made -by the Mahdi to follow the example set by the Prophet in his early -wars. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -VAIN EFFORTS TO STEM THE TIDE OF MAHDISM IN DARFUR. - - I advance on Shakka--The Battle of Om Waragat--Besieged in the - Zariba--My Retreat on Dara through the Enemy's Country--The - Illness and Death of Gottfried Rott--I despatch Secret - Emissaries to Kordofan--My Difficulties with the El Fasher - Garrison--The Revolt of the Mima Arabs--I learn of the Fall of - El Obeid--The Death of Sheikh Afifi--My Campaign against the - Mima and Khawabir Arabs--Discovery of a Plot amongst the Troops - in Dara--My Officers and Men ascribe our Defeats to the Fact - that I am a Christian--I decide to nominally adopt the - Mohammedan Religion--I decide to send Zogal Bey to El Obeid--My - Campaign against the Beni Helba--Beshari Bey seeks Death and - finds it--Gravity of the Situation in Darfur. - - -Having reached Hashaba, I now did my utmost to organise a force capable -of operating successfully against Madibbo. I had succeeded in getting -the Gellabas either to join me themselves or give me their Bazingers. I -called on Zogal Bey and his brother for help, and between them they -collected two hundred of their Bazingers. I myself had also collected a -number of Blacks, some of whom I had freed, and others I employed at a -regular rate of pay. I had re-engaged Sharaf ed Din, formerly major and -commandant of Bazingers at Kulkul, but who had been discharged by Nur -Angara, as well as a number of Jaalin officers who had previously served -with Zubeir Pasha. And now the tribes I had summoned to aid the -Government had arrived, and my force consisted approximately of the -following:-- - - Regulars, armed with Remingtons 550 - Gellabas 200 - Armed Bazingers under Sharaf ed Din, amongst whom, as - leaders, were Abder Rasul, Sheikhs Khudr, Umbatti, - Mungid Madani, Hassan Wad Sattarat, Sultan Begu, - Suleiman Wad Farah, Muslem Wad Kabbashi, and - others 1,300 - Various 100 - ----- - Total guns (of which about 600 were Remington rifles) 2,150 - ===== - Also a muzzle-loading mountain gun and thirteen artillerymen. - -The friendly tribes consisted of contingents from the Begu, Berket, -Zagawa (of southern Darfur), Messeria, Tagu, and some of the Maalia who -were hostile to Sheikh Abu Salama; numbering in all some seven thousand -spearmen and four hundred horses. - -The garrison I had left behind at Dara consisted of four hundred -regulars, seven guns and the gunners required for their service, thirty -horses, and two hundred and fifty Bazingers; all under the command of -Zogal Bey, who was carrying on the duties of Acting-Governor, in -Emiliani's place. With him I had also left a certain Gottfried Rott, a -Swiss, and begged him to keep me fully informed of all that occurred. -This Rott had been a schoolmaster at Assiut, and had discovered, some -years previously, a quantity of slaves who were being smuggled along the -Arbaïn road, for sale in Egypt. In consequence of this service, Mr. -Gladstone had written him a complimentary letter. He had also received -an expression of approbation from the Anti-Slavery Society, and had been -appointed by the Egyptian Government an inspector for the suppression of -the slave-trade. He had been sent to me in Darfur, with instructions to -proceed to Shakka, which was to be his district; but he arrived just as -the troubles began, and I was obliged to keep him in Dara; he thoroughly -understood our position, and I had requested him to abandon for the -moment his anti-slavery work, which if persisted in would certainly have -increased our difficulties. He was a good Arabic scholar, and in a very -confidential talk I had with him, I confided to him my suspicions about -Zogal, and asked him to find out all he could from his relatives, and -keep me fully informed. - -At the end of October I moved south, from Hashaba, with my entire force. -The Rizighat country, through which we advanced, was covered with dense -bush and forests; and, being constantly exposed to attack, I had to -march in such a way as to avoid confusion in the event of an ambush or -surprise. - -The Bazingers on the flanks were well provided with buglers, in order to -give timely warning of an alarm. The rear guard I made stronger than the -flank guards because the Arabs generally attack from the rear, and I -considered that in case of a flank attack I should have ample time to -reinforce from the main body in case of necessity. The rear guard had, -of course, the most troublesome duty to perform, as they had to look -after any camels that broke down, and keep a careful lookout for men who -fell out or attempted to desert; I therefore gave orders that it should -be relieved daily by the flank guards in rotation from the left: thus -the left flank guard would become rear guard, the relieved rear guard -would become the right flank guard, and the latter would become the left -flank guard. I also relieved the three hundred Bazingers and sixty -regulars daily from the main body. - -In this manner I hoped to reach Shakka without any serious loss; and on -arriving there it was my intention to build a fort where I should mount -the gun, and, leaving a small garrison there, make expeditions in light -marching order to the various disturbed districts, where my Arab -spearmen, if fortunate, would have ample opportunities of capturing any -quantity of Rizighat cattle. - -On arrival at Deain, we found quantities of corn stored in the new -village just built by Madibbo; the guard he had left behind made a -slight resistance, but were soon put to flight, and we encamped on the -site of our old zariba. We found that Ali Wad Fadlalla's grave had been -opened, and a skull and some bones lying close by were evidently his. We -had covered the grave with a heap of thorns, and it was evident the -Arabs had committed this sacrilege; they had taken off the shroud in -which the body had been wrapped, and the hyenas had devoured all but -the skull and bones. - -I distributed the corn found in Madibbo's village amongst the men, and -they had now sufficient supplies to last them some days. It was my -intention to march direct on Shakka; but as there was some doubt about -the water on the roads and the whereabouts of Madibbo, I sent two -Rizighat spies--who were on bad terms with the remainder of the tribe, -and had immigrated to Dara--to obtain the information I required. The -day after they left, our camp was reconnoitred by Arab horsemen, but -they kept at a respectful distance. Three days later the men returned, -reporting that there was sufficient water on the road, and that Madibbo -had driven all his cattle south of Shakka, where his force was probably -collected; but they said they could procure no more definite -information. We therefore marched off; the men and Arabs all in the best -possible spirits, laughing, joking, and discussing amongst themselves -how they intended distributing the plunder they expected to get, and how -they proposed dividing amongst themselves the wives and households of -Madibbo and his Sheikhs, on exactly the same plan as that adopted by the -Mahdi. I had little fear as to the eventual result of our operations, -but at the same time I was anxious to get to Shakka before being -attacked. - -As I was suffering from a heavy bout of fever, I handed over the command -of the troops temporarily to Sharaf ed Din, but ordered him to remain -close to me. The following day, having left the village of Kindiri on -our flank, and having made a short halt, there was an alarm that -horsemen were advancing to attack us. Immediately every one was in his -place, and, in spite of my fever, I joined the rear guard, whence the -alarm had come; and from this position I could see numbers of -horsemen--there might have been some hundreds, but owing to the -intervening trees it was impossible to estimate accurately. Signalling -to the flank guards to join me, I advanced with the cavalry and Arab -horsemen, and a skirmish ensued amongst the trees, in which the enemy -were driven back with some loss, and we captured six horses; our own -losses were seven horses killed, two men missing, and several wounded. -Having pursued for some distance, we returned, and as it was still -early, the march was continued till nightfall, when we encamped at a -place called Om Waragat. - -[Illustration: BATTLE OF OM WARAGAT-- -Disposition of Troops on the March to Shakka] - -Still suffering from fever, I told Sharaf ed Din to make exactly similar -dispositions (see plan); and starting off the following morning, after a -march of two hours we reached some more or less open but boggy moorland, -at the southeast end of which were visible a few huts such as are -erected by the Rizighat slaves who work in the fields. The vanguard had -already cleared the soft ground; I had gone forward with it to examine -the huts, whilst the men in the square were occupied in trying to help -out the animals whose feet had sunk into the mire, when suddenly from -the rear guard the alarm was sounded twice, followed almost immediately -by some rifle-shots. Ordering the vanguard to hold the huts, I -immediately galloped towards the left flank of the square, and, sounding -for the reserve of ninety regulars, I proceeded towards the rear guard; -but it was too late. The Bazingers and regulars of the rear guard, -having fired a volley, had no time to reload before the enemy was on -them; and, overpowered by thousands of half-naked Arabs, they were being -forced back on to the rear face of the square, the men composing which, -fearing to fire on friend and foe alike, did nothing to stop the rush, -and already several of the enemy had penetrated. Without a moment's -hesitation, I ordered my bugler to sound "lie down" for those in the -square, and, firing on the Arabs who had broken in, as well as on those -still pushing on from behind, I checked the rush, and caused them to -split up into two parties, who, trending off right and left, made for -the flank guards already engaged with other parties of Arabs who were -attacking them in front. - -The confusion was now indescribable; within the square the Arabs who had -already penetrated, although suffering heavily from the fire from my -small party, were creating frightful havoc amongst the almost -defenceless Bazingers, who, armed only with muzzle-loaders, could do -nothing, whilst the regulars--so sudden had been the rush--had not even -time to draw their bayonets; eventually, however, those who had entered -were all killed. The flank guards, taken in front and rear, suffered -even more heavily than the square, and, breaking up entirely, they fled -in all directions, hundreds being killed by the Rizighat horsemen -concealed in the forest. - -The action had lasted only twenty minutes, but in that short space of -time our losses were terrible. Fortunately, on the dispersion of the -flanking parties the enemy had pursued them hotly. My fire, it is true, -had driven them away from the square, but at what sacrifice! Amongst the -regulars who had obeyed my signal to lie down, the losses had not been -so severe; but the untrained Bazingers had suffered terribly, and many -of our camels had also been killed. - -In the midst of the confusion, I saw one of the enemy, who passed close -to us, carrying off a red bag containing the fuses for the gun. He -evidently thought he had some very special loot; and so indeed it was, -as without the fuses our gun was useless. "Kir," said I to my young -Black attendant, who seldom left me, "let me see if you are as brave as -you always say you are; go and fetch the red bag,--here is my horse;" -and, jumping off, I gave it to him. He mounted, and taking only a spear -in his hand, dashed off, returning in a few minutes with the red bag and -a still redder spear. - -The last horseman had disappeared in the distance, and I now sounded the -"assembly." Only a few hundred responded to the call, and dividing these -up into parties, I detailed half as guards, while the others were -employed in collecting together the ammunition and arms of those who had -fallen, packing them on the camels and depositing them in the little -village, which, standing on a small sandy plain, afforded us a fairly -clear field of view; then, collecting a quantity of thorn-bushes, we -constructed a zariba as quickly as possible, fearing that at any moment -the enemy might return. This done, our next thought was for the wounded; -those only slightly hurt had already crawled to the zariba, and the -severely wounded we now carried in, and did what was possible to -alleviate their sufferings. - -As far as the eye could reach, the ground was strewn with dead bodies, -and what numbers too lay in the forest out of view! Curiously enough, -this disaster had taken place on the actual spot where, years before, -Adam Tarbush, the Vizir of Sultan Hussein, had suffered a similar defeat -and lost his life. - -Now came the terribly sad duty of calling the roll. Of my fourteen -infantry officers, ten had fallen, and one was wounded. The Gellaba -chiefs, Sheikh Khidr, Mangel Medani, Hassan Wad Sattarat, and Suleiman -Wad Fatah had been killed, as well as Fiki Ahmed, Hassib, and Shekelub. -Of the thirteen artillerymen, one only remained alive. The Greek -Alexander, too, who had previously been wounded at Deain, and who had -not yet recovered, had been killed. Sorrowfully we collected the dead, -to pay them the last honours. Amongst a heap of bodies we found Sharaf -ed Din, stabbed to the heart. In the soft damp ground we hurriedly dug -rough graves, and officers and chiefs we buried in twos and threes,--a -terribly sad task. - -As for the poor wounded, there was little we could do for them. Those -only slightly hurt were already dressing their own wounds; but for the -severe cases, we had no means of dressing them, and a few comforting -words was all the small help we could give them. It was indeed painful -to see such suffering, and feel how utterly incapable one was of -alleviating it. Catching sight of one of my boys, who was carrying my -satchel with a few bandages in it, I took it from him and began dressing -one or two cases, when it suddenly occurred to me that I had not seen my -other boy, Morgan Hosan, who was leading one of my horses. He was a -fine, intelligent young fellow, scarcely sixteen years old, honest, -quiet, and brave. "Isa," said I to the boy carrying the satchel, "where -is Morgan, who was leading my horse Mubarak [on which were my note-books -and sketches in the saddle-bags]; he is an active fellow, and perhaps -mounted the horse, and has managed to escape." Sad and broken-hearted, -poor Isa shook his head, and, his eyes filling with tears, he handed me -a bit of my horse's bridle. "What is this?" I asked. "Master," said he, -"I did not want to make you more sorry than you are. I found him not far -from here, lying on the ground with a spear-wound in his chest. When he -saw me he smiled and whispered, 'I knew you would come and look for me. -Say good-bye to my master, and tell him I was not a coward. I did not -let go his horse, and it was only when I fell down stabbed in the chest -that they cut the bridle to which I clung, and took him; show my master -the bit of the bridle that is still in my hand, and tell him that Morgan -was faithful. Take the knife out of my pocket,--it belongs to my master; -give it to him, and say many salams to him from me.'" Isa, his voice -choked with sobbing, handed me the knife, and I, too, now quite broke -down. Poor Morgan, so young and so true! Poor master, to have lost so -faithful a servant and so true a friend! "Tell me, Isa, what was the -end?" I said. "He was thirsty," he replied, "and I took his head in my -hands, and in a few seconds he was dead. I then got up and left him; I -had other things to do, and there was no time to cry." - -[Illustration: Fight between the Rizighat and Egyptian Troops.] - -Ordering the zariba to be strengthened, and trenches to be dug inside, I -then had the drums beaten, bugles blown, and some rifle shots fired, so -that any who might still be fleeing, or stopped by the swampy ground -slightly wounded, might know that a place of refuge was at hand. During -the day, a considerable number came in, and, calling over the roll in -the evening, I found we mustered in all nine hundred men, including -regulars and Bazingers,--a sad and broken remnant out of a force of -eighty-five hundred men, but still something for which to be thankful. -Of our horsemen and cavalry, thirty only were left,--the enemy had -probably captured a large number, and some had perhaps escaped and -returned to Dara or to their own homes; but of arms and ammunition of -those who had fallen we had abundance. - -At sunset the Rizighat Arabs returned from the pursuit, and, to their -astonishment, found us in an entrenched position, ready to fight them. -Madibbo now sent forward his Bazingers to attack us; but after a short -struggle we drove them back, and darkness coming on, all firing ceased. -Whilst sitting talking to my officers, Sheikhs Abder Rasul, Muslim Wad -Kabbashi, and Sultan Begu approached, and asked whether it would not be -better to retreat from our present position under cover of night, as -after our heavy defeat and losses we had no chance now against the -enemy. "Well," said I, "you wish to retreat during the night; but what -will you do with all our wounded comrades and brothers? Do you want to -leave them to the tender mercies of our enemies?" Shamefaced, they were -silent and did not reply. "No," said I, "your proposal is not a good -one; I have been talking over the matter with my officers, and we have -resolved to remain where we are for a few days. We have now nothing to -fear but hunger; the wounded and tired camels can be killed for food for -the soldiers. Besides, we can exist somehow or other for a few days. We -shall most certainly be attacked, as we have already been, but we shall -equally surely drive off the enemy. In this way the men will regain -confidence after the terrible shock we have all suffered. I know the -Rizighat; they will not stay here and watch us. I feel confident we -shall settle accounts with Madibbo, his Bazingers, and Sheikh Jango, who -fled once before to the Bahr el Ghazal. Our wounded comrades will have -time to recover their strength a little; those only suffering slightly -will be able to march in a few days, and the others we can mount on our -horses. I think my proposal is a much better one than yours." - -Whilst I had been talking I had overheard Sultan Abakr making remarks of -approval, and by the time I had finished all had agreed to stay. - -Speaking generally to all present, I said to them, "Can any of you -understand how it was we were defeated to-day?" "No," they all answered. -"Well, I will tell you," I replied. "This evening I saw amongst the -wounded the assistant of Hassan Wad Sattarat, commander of the rear -guard. He said, 'Sharaf ed Din did not carry out your instructions to -relieve the rear guard, as on the previous days; the regulars were -annoyed, and joined their companies without permission, and no fresh men -were sent in their places. At the same time the friendly Arabs joined -the flank guards, and when we were attacked, Hassan Wad Sattarat had at -his disposal only about two hundred and fifty Bazingers armed with old -percussion-guns.' Sharaf ed Din has paid for his negligence with his -life, and we have all suffered as well. It is too late for recrimination -now; let us think of something else. Go and cheer up your men; get some -sleep, so that you may be fit for what to-morrow may bring. But you, -Said Agha Fula, as you are wounded, will probably not be able to sleep; -so we will put an angareb for you to lie down on at the gate of the -zariba, and, should any one attempt to go out without my permission, you -have my orders to shoot him." - -Now that I was alone, I had time to think over the situation. It was -very probable we should succeed in retiring on Dara, we had over eight -hundred rifles and guns. But I bitterly deplored the losses; all my best -officers and advisers were killed, and I dreaded lest the news of our -disaster should reach Dara before I could communicate, as, in the event -of this, the effect might be most serious both on the garrison and -amongst the inhabitants. I therefore woke up my clerk and ordered him to -write two short notes,--one to Zogal, and the other to the commandant, -Adjutant-Major Mohammed Farag, informing them that, in spite of heavy -losses, we were well, and that we hoped to return to Dara in about a -fortnight; but should fugitives come in and spread false and alarming -news about our situation, they were to be arrested and kept under guard -till I returned. I myself wrote a few lines to Gottfried Rott, -describing the situation, and informing him that I hoped to return to -Dara before long with the remainder of the troops; that he must not be -down-hearted, but should do his utmost to keep up the spirits of all. I -enclosed also a note to my mother, brothers, and sisters, bidding them -farewell, as it was impossible to foresee what would be the end of all -this trouble. In case I should fall, I begged Rott to send these on to -my dear ones at home. - -Taking the letters in my hand, I now went to Abdulla Om Dramo, Sheikh of -the Messeria Arabs, who resided near Dara, and, waking him up, I said, -"Where is your brother Salama?" "There he is," said he, pointing to the -man lying beside him, and waking him up also. "Salama," said I, "you can -render me a great service, which will also be of much advantage to -yourself. You see these letters, you must take them to Dara and hand -them over to the European Rott, whom you have often seen with me; I -shall give you my own horse, which you always say is such a good one, -for this mission. You must leave at once, and when you get near the line -of the enemy encircling us, ride sharply through, for they are all -asleep, and you will have disappeared in the dark before they can get -their horses ready; once through their lines you will be safe, and in -two days you should be in Dara. As a reward, I, will give you my black -mare, which is in my stable." Whilst I was talking, Salama had tightened -up the cloth round his chest and loins, and merely said, "Where are the -letters?" I gave them to him, and, taking them, he said, "Please God and -with the help of the Almighty I shall take these letters to their -destination. But I prefer to ride my own horse; he may not be so swift -as yours, but he is quite strong enough to take me home on his back. I -know my horse, and he knows me. Mutual acquaintances are always an -advantage on such expeditions." Whilst he was girthing up his saddle, I -scribbled a line to Rott, telling him to give the bearer of these -letters my black mare, and, handing it to him, I told him what I had -written; then, leading his horse to the gate, we came to Said Agha Fula, -who was lying restlessly and in pain on his angareb: he was wounded in -the right leg and left arm. I told him about Salama's mission, and he -then ordered the gate to be opened. In a moment Salama had mounted, and, -holding in his right hand his long spear, and in his left his bundle of -small spears, he started off. "I commit you to God's keeping," I cried. -"I trust in God," was his reply. Going slowly at first, he approached -the lines cautiously; then I heard the rapid clatter of hoofs, in a few -minutes one or two rifle-shots rang out in the still night, then all was -as silent again as death. "May God go with him!" we all ejaculated, and -then re-entered the zariba. Exhausted nature now claimed me, and, -utterly tired out, I was soon fast asleep. - -When I woke up at early dawn I found the men already at work -strengthening the breastworks, and, as I had anticipated, the enemy -renewed their attack at sunrise. For some time a very brisk fire was -kept up on both sides; but, owing to our dominating position the Arabs -were at length forced to retire, after suffering considerable loss. On -our side there were a few killed and wounded; amongst the former being -Ali Wad Hegaz, a Jaali, and one of the best and bravest of his tribe. As -it was our intention to remain here four or five days, the men busied -themselves in strengthening the zariba, and we also buried the bodies of -friends and foes in the immediate vicinity, as already the air was -contaminated with the fetid smell of decaying corpses. - -Amongst my men were two Bazingers whom on a former occasion I had -employed to carry messages to my friend Lupton, who had succeeded Gessi -as Governor-General of Bahr el Ghazal. It now occurred to me that it -would be advisable to let him know the situation in Darfur, and ask him, -should he be not otherwise occupied, to make an expedition against the -Rizighat and Habbania Arabs, who in the wet season took their cattle -into his province. I had ascertained that trouble had broken out in the -Bahr el Ghazal as well, from a wounded Rizighat slave-hunter who had -fallen into our hands; and he had told me that the Janghé tribe had -revolted. Sheikh Janghé had attached Telgauna and sacked it; but having -been subsequently defeated, he had joined Madibbo, and had been present -with two hundred men in yesterday's action. However, I had no doubt that -Lupton was better off than I was; and, provided the Government officials -were loyal, I knew he had nothing to fear, for the tribes were too -disunited to join in common action against the Government. Besides, the -religious factor, which was the bond of union amongst the northern -tribes, did not enter into the Bahr el Ghazal situation, where the -majority of the Black tribes were pagans. - -In the Bahr el Ghazal the most important tribes, who are principally -negroes and negroids, are the Janghé, Farogé, Kâra, Runga, Fertit, -Kraitsh, Baya, Tega, Banda, Niam Niam, Bongo, Mombuttu, etc.; all these -were entirely distinct from one another, having their kings or rulers, -and there were continual feuds between them. It was this fact which -enabled the Nile Arabs to enter the country with comparative ease, as -Zubeir Pasha had done; it was a very simple operation to collect a -number of the inhabitants, train them to the use of fire-arms, and -utilise their services to invade a neighbouring tribe. These savage -chiefs were too ignorant to understand that by combining in their -opposition to foreign intrusion they would probably have been able to -preserve their own integrity; but it is contrary to the traditions of -these tribes to be ruled by any but their own chiefs, unless it be by -Arabs or Europeans; and this fact accounts for the ease with which the -slave-hunters pursued their nefarious traffic, almost unopposed, -throughout the length and breadth of this vast province, which is -peopled by the most warlike races in the Sudan, and who are capable of -making excellent soldiers. - -To Lupton, therefore, I decided to write, requesting him to advance -against the Arabs on the Bahr el Ghazal frontier,--an operation which -would certainly weaken the latter, or at least prevent them from -entering Darfur. These few lines I concealed in a dry pumpkin gourd, and -despatched by the hands of the two Bazingers. - -We passed five days in the zariba, attacked once, if not twice, every -day. During the action fought on the third day Koreina Nur, the -commander of Madibbo's gun-bearers, and the bravest and boldest of his -Arabs, was killed; and henceforth the enemy's attacks diminished greatly -in vigour. - -But now we had a new enemy to contend against,--famine. Almost -everything eatable in the camp had been consumed; the camel meat, which -had amply sufficed for the men, was now finished; there was not a grain -of dhurra left; my officers and I had lived for some time on some old -crusts of dhurra bread, which we had cooked with the leaves of a plant -called kawal, and stirred up into a sort of tasteless porridge. We had -no prospect of being relieved, to stay longer where we were was -impossible, and already we were weakened by want of food; I therefore -assembled the entire force,--consisting of nine hundred men, almost all -of whom were armed with rifles and guns, except a few Arabs, who, being -ignorant of fire-arms, prepared to trust to their lances,--and, -addressing them in a few words, I told them that the blood of their dead -officers and chiefs cried to them for vengeance; that their wives and -children anxiously awaited their return, but that it was impossible to -reach them without enduring troubles with patience, and facing -difficulties with courage and endurance; and I closed my harangue by -saying that those in whose hearts was fear had left us in the day of -battle, but those now before me had bravely stood their ground against -overwhelming odds, and that I had no doubt they would do so again, and -that God would crown our efforts by victory. - -A shout, and the shaking of rifles and guns over their heads, which is -their usual method of signifying their obedience and courage, was their -reply; and I then dismissed them, with orders to prepare to march the -following day. I now took out the hammers from the percussion guns -belonging to the killed, which lay heaped up in the middle of the -zariba, and threw them into a rain pool; but of the stocks I made a -bonfire. The filled shells for the gun I threw into the water, and as -much ammunition as possible was distributed amongst the soldiers, each -man carrying from sixteen to eighteen dozen rounds; but all the -percussion gun ammunition I was obliged to destroy, in case it should -fall into the hands of the enemy; the lead in the cartridges was -removed, and some of the very severely wounded having just died, I -placed it in the open graves, over which we laid the bodies of our poor -comrades, as guardians of our precious metal. - -It was on a Saturday, the seventh day after our disaster, and just after -sunrise, that we marched out of the zariba, and, forming up in square -with flank and rear guards, we began our retreat. The only two camels -remaining drew the gun in the middle of the square, and I sent out two -Arab horsemen as far as possible on each side to scout. We had one -hundred and sixty wounded inside the square, and as many of them as -could march did so; but the most severe cases we mounted on the few -remaining horses, each horse carrying two or three men. I myself was -prepared to walk; but, at the urgent request of my officers, I mounted, -so as to obtain a better view over the country. We all knew that when we -had marched some distance from the zariba we should most certainly be -attacked; I therefore had the gun loaded, and we resolved to sell our -lives dearly. We well understood the Arab mode of fighting, and were -confident that if we succeeded in driving back the first two or three -attacks, we should not be further molested. It was decided the line of -direction should be northeast, as the ground was more open; but we were -ignorant of the whereabouts of the rain-pools, as our guides were either -killed or had deserted. - -Before we had been on the march an hour, we were attacked in the rear by -horsemen, and I knew the decisive moment had come. Halting instantly, I -called in the flank guards closer to the square, and, accompanied by my -own escort of fifty men, proceeded to the rear guard, distant about two -hundred yards. The gun was run out to the rear face of the square, and -several of the slightly wounded held the cartridges and shell ready to -reload without delay. Before the enemy's footmen were in sight we could -hear the sound of their advance; and when they did appear, a few -well-directed volleys from the rear guard had the effect of slightly -checking them; but, encouraged by those coming up behind, they rushed -towards us, waving their great lances in their right hands, and carrying -in their left bundles of small throwing spears. They succeeded in coming -so close that several of our men were wounded by thrown spears; but our -fire created havoc amongst their ranks, and the gun played on them -freely from the square. Their spearmen now gave way to Madibbo's and -Jangho's Bazingers, and a very brisk fire was maintained on both sides; -but, getting reinforcements from the square, we succeeded, after twenty -minutes' hard struggle, in driving back the attack. On the first shots -being fired, I had at once jumped off my horse, which is always -understood in the Sudan to mean that, abandoning his chance of flight in -case of a reverse, the commander has determined to conquer or die with -his troops; and now that the action was over, the men came round me, and -we had a great mutual hand-shaking over this, our first success. - -Whilst we had been engaged in combating the attack on the rear, the left -flank guard had also become engaged, and, though the enemy had been -driven off, nevertheless it had suffered somewhat, and my best remaining -officer, Zeidan Agha, was dangerously wounded. He was a Nubian by birth, -and during the Darfur campaign had shown conspicuous gallantry in -recapturing, at the head of only twelve men, a gun which had been taken -by the enemy. For this service he had been promoted to the rank of an -officer; and now he lay with a bullet through his right lung. I asked -him how he was, and, giving me his hand, he murmured, "Now that we have -conquered, we are all right;" and, pressing my hand, in a few minutes he -was dead. Besides him we had lost twenty men killed, and several -wounded. Our dead we buried roughly, as there was no time to dig -graves; but we covered them sufficiently to avoid the reproach that we -had left our dead unburied, and then continued our march with the same -precautions, but with considerably increased confidence. - -About three o'clock another attack on the rear was signalled; but this -time it was not pressed home, and we drove off the enemy without -suffering any loss ourselves. We now halted and formed a zariba, -momentarily expecting another attack. But, to our surprise, we passed -the night undisturbed, and the next morning at sunrise, having finished -all our water, we resumed our march. Again we were subjected to an -attack; but on this occasion it was even weaker than that of the -previous afternoon, and was driven off without any trouble. We continued -our march till midday, without finding any water; but got a little rest -under the shady trees, and found a quantity of "fayo," a sort of native -radish and very juicy. Three small leaves springing from the ground -denote its presence, and it was sucked with avidity by our parched -troops, and in some measure assuaged our thirst; but still it was -absolutely necessary to find water. After a short halt we pushed on -again, and by good fortune accidentally came across a Rizighat shepherd, -driving before him a flock of sheep. In an instant the men had seized -the sheep, while the unfortunate shepherd, taken completely by surprise, -did not attempt to escape, and would certainly have been killed, had I -not rushed forward and prevented the men from harming him. I now had all -the sheep driven inside the square; and meanwhile, my boys, having tied -the Arab's hands behind his back, brought him before me. But before -interrogating him, I gave orders for the sheep, of which there were over -two hundred, to be distributed amongst the famished men, to every five -men one sheep, and we kept a few for ourselves. What a godsend to us was -this food! Turning now to the Arab, I told him that his life would be -spared if he would guide us to a rain pool; and that if he proved -faithful I should give him a good reward, and let him go to his own -home. He agreed, but said that there were only a few small pools in -this neighbourhood, and that if we went on some distance further, and -then halted, he would guarantee to bring us to the "fula el beida" (the -white rain-pool) early the next morning, where there was sufficient -water to last us for months. I was somewhat suspicious of him, and, -therefore, ordered a non-commissioned officer and eight men to keep -guard over him, and not to allow him to go far from me. We then resumed -the march, halted at sunset, and made our zariba as usual. We came -across a few pools, but they were quite insufficient; and as we were -still suffering considerably from thirst, I started on again at earliest -dawn, having passed a miserable and sleepless night. About midday the -guide pointed out some large trees, under which he said the pool lay. -Halting, therefore, at once, I ordered the gun to be dismounted and -loaded, and all preparations made to resist. It seemed to me very -probable that the enemy, knowing that we should be suffering from -thirst, would be in concealment somewhere near the water, and would -charge us as we were approaching. I now called on the men to strictly -obey all orders, and on no account to become undisciplined. But as soon -as the water came in view, the poor thirsty troops could contain -themselves no longer, and rushed pell-mell towards it. I managed to -restrain the forty men I had as escort, and there were about the same -number with the rear guard; and although I sounded the "assembly" again -and again, the men were now completely out of hand, plunging up to their -waists in the water, in their frenzy of delight. But, as I had -anticipated, the enemy were concealed behind the trees--fortunately, at -some distance off--and, seeing our disorder, they now made a general -attack from all sides. Galloping to the front, followed by the escort, -we opened fire; while Mohammed Suleiman did the same as regards the -rear. Our demoralised men, seeing the situation, at once fell in, and -after some heavy firing we drove off the enemy, losing in this mêlée -only one horse. We now selected a suitable position near the water, and -set to work to make a zariba; and that finished, the men killed their -sheep, fires were lighted, and in an hour they were enjoying the first -solid meal they had had for many a day. As we were all sadly in need of -a rest, I decided to remain in this position till the following day. - -That evening a report came in from the outposts that a man was seen -waving a piece of white calico and asking to be allowed to see me. I did -not wish him to enter the zariba and see all our wounded; I therefore -went out, and found that he was one of Madibbo's slaves, bearing a -letter for me from his master. In this letter Madibbo called on me to -surrender and hand over my arms. He further wrote that the Mahdi was now -encamped before El Obeid, which he expected to capture shortly. He -promised to treat me with all respect, and to send me, under safe -escort, to the Mahdi. I now ordered this letter to be read aloud to the -men, who greeted it with jeers, and asked the slave if his master was -mad; to which the terror-stricken man replied that he did not really -know. I then turned to him seriously, and, speaking loud enough for all -to hear, I said, "Tell Madibbo it was God's will we should have suffered -losses, but we are not defeated. We are wandering about in his country, -and if he does not like us to do so, he must accept the situation, as he -has neither the power nor the courage to stop us. If he is really an -adherent of the Mahdi, and desires to enjoy the pleasures of Paradise -promised him, then let him come here to-morrow morning. We shall wait -for him, and for his sake we shall not march to-morrow." - -Most of the men had now gathered round us, and were listening to this -speech and laughing; and when I bade the messenger good-bye, some of the -wits begged him to give Madibbo their compliments, and tell him they -hoped soon to have the pleasure of his personal acquaintance. The men -were now in the highest spirits; they really did wish to make Madibbo's -acquaintance, and wipe out, if possible, the defeat they had suffered at -Om Waragat. - -That evening I presented our guide with a piece of red cloth, a pair of -silver bangles, and a few dollars, which I borrowed from the surviving -merchants, and he quitted the zariba full of gratitude. At the same time -I told him that should he come to Dara I would repay him the value of -his sheep. - -The next morning we ascertained in various ways that Madibbo was not far -off, and after our boasting it behoved us to be very cautious. However, -we were not attacked. Some of the men outside the zariba were amusing -themselves by making small caps of twisted palm-leaves, like those worn -by some of the Arabs we had killed, when a Rizighat horseman, who had -evidently lost his way, came galloping towards us, thinking we were -Madibbo's people. My men at once stopped him, and, making him dismount, -brought him before me. Suddenly realising his mistake, he cried out, -"Allahu Akbar! ana kataltu nafsi" (God is most great! I have killed -myself). However, I consoled him, and handed him over to Mohammed -Suleiman to be watched, and gave his horse to Mohammed Khalil, who had -lost his in yesterday's action. That night I sent in a letter, by a -runner to Dara, informing Zogal and Gottfried Rott that we were all -well, and hoped soon to be with them. - -The next morning I gave orders to march, and sent for the Arab who had -come in yesterday, to speak to him about the road, but was told that -some of the men, infuriated at the death of their comrades, had split -open his head with an axe. Mohammed Suleiman denied all knowledge of the -perpetrators of this crime, and knowing in what condition my men were, I -thought it better to let this incident of brutality pass. During this -day's march, as if to bid us farewell, we were once more attacked, but -the enemy was again driven off. We picked up a wounded Arab, who told us -that Mohammed Abu Salama and several Habbania Sheikhs were still with -Madibbo, but that Sheikh Jango, owing to the heavy losses he had -suffered at Om Waragat, had returned to the Bahr el Ghazal. I had no -doubt the man would be picked up by his own friends, so I left him, and -that evening reached a place some distance southeast of Deain. On the -following day we reached Bir Dilwei, and thence we continued our march -without interruption to Dara. - -On the road letters reached me saying that Salama, whom I had sent off -from Om Waragat, had arrived safely; they reported rumours that the Mima -intended to revolt; and Rott, in a letter of which the handwriting was -scarcely legible, told me that he had been taken ill the previous -Saturday, and was very anxious to see me. I also received a report from -Omar Wad Darho, stating that he had heard El Obeid was besieged, and -that he did not think the Homr Arabs would dare to attack Om Shanga -again, after their constant defeats. The reports of the Mudir of El -Fasher were in general satisfactory, except as regards the Mima Arabs. -News from Kebkebia and Kulkul was also good. - -At length we reached Dara, and our entry was by no means a cheerful one. -Many, of course, were happy to see their husbands, fathers, and brothers -again; but how many more wept and wailed for their dead, lying on the -distant battle-field! - -It behoved me now to look after my own bruises. In the various fights I -had been wounded three times. A bullet had shattered the ring-finger of -my right hand, which had to be amputated almost to the root; the fingers -on either side were also damaged. Another bullet had struck me in the -upper part of my leg, and, flattening against the bone, made it -protrude. A thrown lance had also struck me in the right knee. In spite -of these wounds, I had been able to go through the campaign without much -suffering; but I felt weak and overdone, and was very glad of a few -days' rest. - -I found poor Gottfried Rott very seriously ill. He wanted to move to -Fasher for change of air; and having again heard from Said Bey Guma that -it was impossible to get camels to send the remainder of the ammunition -for which I had asked, I now hired all the camels I could in Dara,--the -property of officers, officials, and merchants, about fifty in all,--and -sent them under escort of one hundred regulars to El Fasher, ordering -Said Bey to load them up with ammunition, send them back without delay, -and with them as many other beasts of burden as he could procure. I -wrote also to Adam Amer, the commandant, ordering him to send me a -reinforcement of two hundred men (one hundred regulars and one hundred -Bazingers) from Kebkebia direct to Dara. With this caravan I sent -Gottfried Rott in charge of an officer, who was ordered to take him to -my house in El Fasher, and at the same time I wrote to a Greek merchant -named Dimitri Zigada, and asked him to do all he could for the patient. - -The news from Kordofan being very contradictory,--though at the same -time the general tenor was unsatisfactory,--I set to work to try and -procure some reliable information. I therefore sent Khaled Wad Imam and -Mohammed Wad Asi--the latter a most faithful man--to that province, with -instructions either to send me news with the least possible delay, or -return with it themselves. Khaled Wad Imam had been brought up with -Zogal, and although they were not related to each other, they were -generally looked upon as brothers. My reason for sending him with Asi -was that he should protect him in El Obeid, and the plan succeeded -admirably; for Khaled was naturally anxious to do nothing which would -jeopardise Zogal, who, of course, remained with me at Dara. At the same -time I cautioned Asi to remain on as friendly terms as possible with -Khaled, and to try and find out if Zogal was in communication with the -Mahdi, and, under any circumstances, to return to me as quickly as -possible. - -The day after my return to Dara, I sent orders to Omar Wad Darho to go -back at once with all his men to El Fasher, leaving one of his officers, -El Ata Wad Melek Usul, of the Shaigia royal blood, as commander of the -newly recruited horsemen at Om Shanga. I also learnt that Abo Bey el -Bartawi, the official in charge of the Toweisha district, was in -communication with the Mima, and was inclined to revolt,--a rumour which -was subsequently confirmed, as he refused to obey my summons to him to -come to Dara, and he did not explain his reasons for not doing so. - -In twelve days the caravan returned from El Fasher with the fifty -camels, a hundred boxes of Remington ammunition, and ten kantars of -lead. Said Bey made the usual excuses that he could hire no camels from -the employés, and Adam Amer wrote that, owing to the disturbed aspect of -affairs in the Fasher district, it was impossible to send me the -reinforcements I had ordered. - -I now thoroughly understood the situation. The officers were undoubtedly -hostile to me. They had talked amongst themselves, and had spread -rumours all through the country that Ahmed Pasha Arabi had turned his -master, the Khedive, out of Egypt, because he was friendly to -Christians, and admitted them into his service; that Arabi was now -master of the country, and had turned out all who were not Egyptians, -such as Turks and Circassians, and had confiscated their property, which -had been turned over to the Government. They had further declared that I -had been discharged from my position, but that, owing to the roads being -cut, the authority for my dismissal had not come to hand. Of course the -more sensible people placed no credence in these idle tales; but there -was no doubt my authority was distinctly impaired, and this state of -things was taken full advantage of by those who bore me a grudge. -Hitherto there had been no overt act of disobedience to my orders; but -excuses were being continually made, as there was evident inclination -not to comply with them. However, such was the situation, and I had to -put up with it and be as cheerful as I could under the circumstances. I -was reminded of the Arab proverb, "El kalb yenbah wa el gamal mashi" -(The dog barks, whilst the camel _unheeding_ passes by); in other words, -I thought it better to take no notice of all this cackling. - -Beshari Bey Wad Bekir, head-Sheikh of the Beni Helba Arabs, whom I had -summoned to Dara, pleaded sickness; but anxious not to break off -entirely with me, he sent me two horses and thirty oxen, which he begged -me to accept as a token of submission, adding that as soon as the state -of his health permitted he would certainly come. I gave the horses to -the officers who had lost theirs in battle, and the thirty oxen I gave -to the men. - -By the same post which brought me news of Omar Wad Darho's arrival at El -Fasher I heard of poor Gottfried Rott's death. In spite of most careful -nursing and attention, he gradually sank, and was buried at El Fasher, -beside Dr. Pfund and Friedrich Rosset, who had died there some years -before. - -The Mima were now in a state of open revolt. They had killed one of the -Government mounted postmen, and had turned out their own Sultan Daud, -who was peaceably inclined to Government, and replaced him by another. I -therefore sent instructions to Omar Wad Darho to proceed with two -hundred regulars and two hundred horsemen into their country, to -chastise them; and at the same time I decided to operate against the -Khawabir, who were acting in conjunction with the Mima. Darho started -off, and had a successful little campaign, defeating the Mima at Fafa -and Woda, whilst I proceeded, with a hundred and fifty regulars and -fifty horsemen, _via_ Shieria, to Bir Om Lawai, where the Khawabir, -apprised of my approach, were waiting to attack me. After a short fight -they were defeated and dispersed, and we captured a considerable number -of sheep and oxen. - -When these operations were over, I instructed Darho to leave a -sufficiently strong force at Fasher, and to join me at Bir Om Lawai with -the remainder of his men. In a few days he arrived, and gave me a full -account of all his doings, and further details of the Mahdi's successes -in Kordofan, which to me were excessively disquieting. Abo Bey having -now openly joined in the Mima revolt, I decided to send Omar Agha with a -sufficiently strong force to Toweisha, with instructions to destroy his -residence, distant two days, whilst I despatched Omar Wad Darho and his -men to again worry the Khawabir, who had retired to their sand-hills. -He, however, met with no very signal success. The Khawabir country, -except at Bir Om Lawai, is a sandy tract, destitute of trees and -vegetation; but the rain, which lies for some months in the depressions -of the ground, enables the Arabs to live here; and when it dries up they -drink the contents of the water-melons, which grow in abundance near the -pools, and which, when pressed, yield a somewhat sour but -pleasant-tasting juice. - -On the evening in which I was writing out Darho's instructions for his -expedition against the Khawabir, a certain Abderrahman Wad Sherif came -and urgently begged to speak to me. He was a well-known Dara merchant, -and had previously travelled to Khartum. He began by saying that as I -had always treated him with kindness, he thought it his duty to inform -me that El Obeid had capitulated, adding that the early news of this sad -event might enable me to take the measures I considered necessary. This -was a terrible blow; but I thanked him for his melancholy news, and he -then described to me in detail what had taken place. He was present at -the time of the surrender and had left three days afterwards to visit -his family in Dara; but hearing at Toweisha that I was at Bir Om Lawai, -he had come straight to me, as he was most anxious that this news should -reach me first through a friend. - -As I knew it was useless to try and keep this secret, I summoned Darho -and Suleiman Basyuni, and told them what I had heard, and we talked over -the steps which we should now take. It was very evident that this news -would prove an immense incentive to those hostilely inclined to the -Government, and there was no doubt my presence in Dara was an urgent -necessity. As the Mima and Khawabir had been chastised, the next thing -in order of importance was to send an expedition to Toweisha, and on the -following day I wrote to Said Bey Guma that Om Shanga should be -evacuated, and that the garrison, merchants, and any who wished should -withdraw to El Fasher. I explained that as El Obeid had fallen, it was -more than probable the Arabs would now turn on Om Shanga, and if -invested, it would be quite impossible to send relief; and that, under -any circumstances, it was imperative that the principal fighting forces -in the province should be concentrated at Fasher. I also ordered him to -establish a strong post at Fafa and Woda, in the Mima country, in order -to keep open communication between Fasher and Dara. Omar Wad Darho and -his men I instructed to return forthwith to El Fasher, adding that any -booty taken from the Mima should be distributed amongst his men and the -Fasher garrison, whilst that taken from the Khawabir should go to the -Dara troops. On the following day we separated,--Darho to Fasher, and I -back to Dara. - -In a few days the news of the fall of El Obeid had spread far and wide, -and the effect on the Arab tribes became immediately apparent: meetings -were held in all parts of the country, and it was decided almost -unanimously to rise against the Government. - -The day I arrived at Dara, I ordered all the dhurra I could find to be -bought up; we had a considerable amount now in store, but more would -certainly be advantageous. Sheikh Afifi now sent me news that his tribe -had revolted and had joined the Rizighat, but he himself, true to his -promise, was leaving his own country with his family and relatives and -was coming to me _via_ Dar Helba, and that he had sent his brother Ali -with a message to Beshari Bey Wad Bekir, the head-Sheikh of the Beni -Helba, with whom solemn oaths had been exchanged, agreeing to his safe -conduct through his country, and therefore he hoped to be with me in a -few days. - -I was awaiting his arrival when the sad news came that he had been -killed. In him I lost my most faithful Arab Sheikh. It transpired that -the Beni Helba, who had been ordered by their Sheikh to let him through, -wanted to take from him his numerous sheep and oxen, and, having -refused, a fight had ensued; he had performed prodigies of valour, but -had been slain by some spearmen concealed amongst the trees, when in -pursuit of the mounted Arabs, whom he had twice successfully driven off. - -Mohammed Wad Asi, whom I had sent with Khaled Wad Imam, now returned -from Kordofan, and gave me the fullest particulars regarding the -situation there. He brought me the good news that Government was -collecting a large force in Khartum for the re-conquest of Kordofan, but -that no doubt a considerable time must elapse before the expedition -could start. I told him to spread this news in all directions, and then -inquired as to Zogal's relations with the Mahdi. He replied that in -spite of the most careful investigation, he could not ascertain -definitely if any direct correspondence took place between them, but he -had no doubt that Zogal received verbal messages from the Mahdi, brought -by itinerant merchants; he however shared my views, that Zogal, being a -man of position and education, must be well aware of the actual motives -of the revolt, and would not be likely to embark on any foolish -undertaking. No doubt the capitulation of El Obeid had greatly weakened -our position, and with the whole of Kordofan in the hands of the enemy, -it behoved us to act with the greatest caution and circumspection. Wad -Asi's news about the expedition preparing in Khartum would probably have -the effect on the Mahdi of making him keep his forces together so as to -offer a united resistance; it was not, therefore, likely he would turn -to us just at present. We must give all our attention to the revolt of -the Arab tribes, who, now thoroughly inflamed by the news of the -capitulation of El Obeid, and stirred up by fanatical proclamations, -were ready to proceed to all extremities. As the operations of the -intended expedition to Kordofan would not probably be finished till the -winter, it was imperative that we should try and hold out by some means -till then. - -In spite of the formation of the military post at Fafa and Woda, the Bir -Om Lawai Khawabir Arabs had again collected, and, joined by a number of -Mima who had been irritated by the roads to their country being cut, -and stimulated by the fall of El Obeid, were now stirring up the entire -country between Fasher and Dara, whilst the troops at Fafa were not in -sufficient force to attack them. I therefore decided on another -expedition against them, as I was resolved to show them that the fall of -El Obeid had not discouraged us. Selecting two hundred and fifty old -soldiers, well inured to war, I had them trained in bayonet-exercise for -a few days preparatory to my departure, the date of which I kept -strictly secret. - -Taking with me all the horses I could muster at the time, some seventy -in number, and instructing Wad Asi to keep me informed of events in Dara -during my absence, I advanced rapidly; and in two days reached the -neighbourhood of Bir Om Lawai, where both the Mima and Khawabir were -collected. We took with us only our arms and ammunition, as our -intention was to attack them, and then return. The instant, therefore, -the enemy came in view I gave the order to "fix bayonets," and, in spite -of the Bazingers and their guns, after a sharp fight of twenty minutes -we drove them off and dispersed them. A few of the Mima Arabs had got -amongst my men, but had all been bayoneted. I now ordered the horsemen -to take up behind them the regulars and pursue, and do their utmost to -discover where the water-melons were stored, as they would undoubtedly -make for them to quench their thirst. This order was well carried out, -the water-melons were destroyed, and a number of women and children -captured; whilst the tribesmen were scattered over the country in search -of water, and many died of thirst. The next day the enemy's camp was -burnt, and the women and children, who would otherwise have perished, I -ordered to be brought to Bir Om Lawai, which I now attacked. The enemy -here made a most determined defence, and I lost sixteen men killed, and -twenty wounded. This loss brought home the fact to me that I had very -few good regulars left, whilst the enemy, even if defeated, were daily -increasing in number. - -The women and children brought from Bir Om Lawai I handed over to -Muslem Wad Kabbashi with directions that he should take them to Hilla -Shieria, and thence to their homes at Fafa and Woda. The trees at Bir Om -Lawai I ordered to be cut down and thrown into the wells, which I then -filled up with earth, and returned to Dara. - -Being the solitary European in a foreign country, and in the midst of an -intriguing and unfriendly population, I had to resort to all sorts of -means to discover the plots and designs of those by whom I was -surrounded; and sometimes by money, or by gifts distributed in secret, I -was able to learn beforehand what was likely to occur, and take measures -accordingly. Through the help of my servants I utilised the services of -some of the profligate women of the town, who, as was the custom of the -country, prepared the native beer, or marissa, which is consumed in -large quantities by the lower classes in the brothels. These houses were -the rendezvous for every description of loafer, grumbler, and tattler -who wished to let his tongue wag without restraint, under the influence -of drink. My servants had told me that during these drinking-bouts they -frequently talked of the great religious rising of the Mahdi, for which, -it may be readily imagined, those present had not much sympathy. It was, -however, generally agreed that the Government, having placed so many -Christians and unbelievers in high positions, in which they were -employed in combating this religious reformer, the result must be bad. -The soldiers who frequented these houses of ill-fame often remarked, I -was told, that although they liked me, they attributed the losses we had -suffered in action to the fact of my being a Christian. I was perfectly -well aware that these views were not the outcome of the brain of the -Black soldier, who, as a rule, cares little about religion, but were -instigated by those who were doing their utmost to upset and nullify my -authority and make me unpopular with the men. - -Now, on my return from Bir Om Lawai still more serious news awaited me. -My servants told me that in one of the brothels belonging to a woman in -my secret pay, daily meetings were held, in which the soldiers -discussed the project of wholesale desertion. On inquiry I found that -the principal instigators of these seditious meetings were -non-commissioned officers and men of the Fur tribe, who were reported to -be tired of this constant fighting, and who declared that the days of -Turkish authority were numbered. Their plan was to desert to Sultan Dud -Benga, the successor of Sultan Harun, who resided on the western slopes -of Jebel Marra. As the Fur section was the most numerous and powerful in -the battalion, the matter was a most serious one; I therefore sent for -the battalion commander, Adjutant-Major Mohammed Effendi Farag, and told -him what I had heard. He appeared greatly surprised, and assured me he -knew nothing of the matter, and that he should not fail to unearth the -plot and bring the ringleaders to justice. I ordered him to maintain the -strictest secrecy, and do nothing which would raise the slightest -suspicion. Whilst he was with me I sent for my servant and handed him a -bag full of money, telling him to take it to the woman and instruct her -to invite the various persons concerned to her house the next day, and -give them an exceptionally good entertainment at her own expense; at the -same time I told my servant to induce her to let him hide somewhere in -the house where he could overhear what was said; and that if she could -carry out these directions to my satisfaction I should reward her -handsomely. Soon after, my servant returned, telling me he had arranged -everything. - -The day following the entertainment I again sent for the adjutant-major, -and was now able to communicate to him the names of six of the -ringleaders, whom I ordered him to instantly arrest; moreover I was able -to give him the details of the design and the actual date of its -intended execution. In half an hour he returned with the six prisoners, -whose hands were tied behind their backs. They comprised one sergeant, -three corporals, and two lance-corporals,--all of the Fur tribe. They -were accompanied by a crowd of kavasses and spectators, whom I sent off; -and then, in the presence of their commanding officer, I asked them -what instigated them to revolt against the Government. They absolutely -denied having any such intention, and assured me of their innocence. -"But," said I, "I know perfectly well you have been holding meetings in -the house of your compatriot Khadiga. I gave you plenty of time to come -to reason, but you grew daily more rebellious. Yesterday you were all -with Khadiga, drinking marissa, and you agreed that the day after -to-morrow you would execute your plan. Your object was to join with your -friends in the third, fourth, and fifth companies, take your arms, open -the western gate of the fort, and desert to Sultan Abdullahi, and, if -necessary, to have recourse to force to carry out your design. Did you -not assert yesterday, Sergeant Mohammed, that you had almost two hundred -men at your disposal? You see now I know everything, and it is useless -to deny it." - -They listened in silence; they knew they had been discovered, and now -they freely confessed and asked for my pardon. "That is out of my -hands," I replied. "Go now with your commandant and confess openly that -you are guilty in the presence of the other officers of the battalion; -the law shall then decide." I then instructed the commandant to assemble -a court-martial, and to arrange that all the non-commissioned officers -should be present whilst the evidence was being taken; but at the same -time I warned him to let it be understood by all (as I was afraid that -some of the men might desert through fear) that other men implicated in -the case should not be punished, as I held the non-commissioned officers -alone responsible. The same afternoon the proceedings of the case, with -the full confessions, were brought to me, but without the sentence. I -therefore returned them to the court to give sentence, and soon -afterwards the commandant returned. The court had sentenced them to -death, but recommended them to mercy. In my opinion an example was -absolutely necessary, and though it was pain and grief to me, I -confirmed the sentence of death, which was ordered to be carried out at -once. - -The regulars and irregulars were marched to an open space outside the -zariba; six graves were dug, and the condemned men, who showed no signs -of fear, after saying two rakas (short prayers), were led to the brinks -of the graves, and there shot dead by the six detachments. I spoke to -the assembled men, warning them that any one again found guilty of -mutinous or seditious conduct would undoubtedly suffer the same penalty, -and I sincerely trusted this would be the first and last case of the -kind that should ever be brought to my notice. I hoped we should all be -better friends in the future, and that times would improve. I then -ordered the garrison to march back to the fort. - -I was upset and sad. I thought of the number of good men lost in our -fights, and now I was forced to take the most extreme measures to -maintain discipline. On all sides intriguers were doing their utmost to -impair my authority, quite ignoring the fact that should they succeed -they would be no better off,--indeed, times were to come when they would -be only too glad to obey the orders of the European they now so -detested. That evening I sent for Mohammed Effendi Farag, and questioned -him about the day's proceedings, and whether the men had been impressed -by the execution; remarking at the same time that the soldiers must -thoroughly understand their non-commissioned officers fully deserved the -punishment they received, and moreover that it was an act of great -leniency on my part not to take action against the other men implicated -in the plot. "Now, Farag Effendi," said I, "I want you to be thoroughly -true and straightforward with me. I know that you are friendly-minded -towards me, otherwise I should not certainly have asked you to come and -speak with me alone. Tell me, how am I regarded personally by the men -and the officers, excepting, of course, those who are selfishly seeking -their own interests?" "Although not accustomed to such severe -discipline," he answered, "they are fond of you, and you are beloved by -the men because you pay them regularly, which was not formerly the case. -Besides, they much appreciate your custom of distributing the plunder -amongst them. But this year we have had very heavy losses, and the men -are getting tired of continual fighting." - -"But," said I, "we have to fight. I do not go out on expeditions to make -conquests or gain honour and glory; personally, I would much prefer rest -and peace." "Of course I quite understand that," said Farag Effendi, -"still, these losses, which might have been avoided, have greatly -affected the men. One man has lost his father; another his brother; many -have lost friends and relatives; and if this goes on they will become -disinclined to fight." - -"I also quite understand that," I replied. "Although I have not lost a -father or brother, still I have lost friends; and I risk my precious -life equally with my officers and men. I am always with them, and am -just as liable to be struck by bullets and spears as they are." "They -are well aware of that," he answered, "and you should give them credit -for their obedience to foreigners, with whom they are always ready to -risk their lives." "Certainly I am a foreigner and a European," I said; -"and I have no reason to make a secret of it, or be ashamed of it. Is -this what they object to? Now, tell me truly?" - -Mohammed Farag was one of my best-educated officers. He had studied in -various schools in Cairo, but had been taken as a conscript; he was one -of those rare men who acknowledge others' merits, and was always ready -to learn from those he thought better educated than himself. He was -neither fanatical nor religious, but he was a grumbler, and rather -hot-tempered. These were, I think, his only bad qualities, and they had -led him to commit some crime, for which he had been banished to the -Sudan. - -When I now called upon him to tell me the truth he threw up his head and -looked straight at me and said, "Well, you wish me to tell you the -truth, then here it is: they do not object to you on account of your -nationality, but on account of your faith." At last I had drawn out of -him what I was so anxious to know. - -"Why on account of my faith?" I asked. "During all these years that I -have been in Darfur they knew that I was a Christian, and yet no one -ever said a word to me." "Ah!" said he, "the times were very different -then, and much better; but now that this rascally Dongolawi has made a -cloak of religion, he has adherents everywhere who purposely incite the -people so as to attain their own evil ends. The idea has got about in -the battalion (I do not know who started it) that in this religious war -you will never be able to gain a victory, and that in every battle you -fight you will suffer great losses, till at length you yourself will be -killed. You can perfectly understand how an ignorant soldier would -credit all this, and how he would impute it to the fact of your being a -Christian. Our men are far too stupid to realise that our losses are due -to the vastly superior strength of the rebels, and that as we have no -chance of being relieved, so we must go on suffering defeat." - -"Suppose that I now turned Mohammedan," said I, "would my men believe in -me and hope for victory? and would that give them more confidence in -me?" "Of course the men would believe you," said he,--"at least the -majority of them; have you not taken every opportunity of showing -respect to our religion, and even caused it to be respected by others? -They will trust you implicitly; but will you change your faith from -conviction?" he asked, smiling. - -"Mohammed Effendi," said I, "you are an intelligent and well-educated -man; here conviction has nothing to do with the case. In this life one -has often to do things which are contrary to one's persuasions, either -by compulsion or from some other cause. I shall be quite content if the -soldiers believe me and abandon their silly superstitions. Whether -others believe me or not, is a matter of indifference to me. I thank you -most sincerely; keep our conversation entirely to yourself. Good night!" - -Mohammed Effendi Farag now left, and after a few minutes' deliberation I -resolved to present myself to the troops the following morning as a -Mohammedan. I was perfectly well aware that in taking this step I -should be placing myself in a curious position, which could not fail to -be condemned by some. However, I made up my mind to do it, knowing that -I should thereby cut the ground from under the feet of these intriguers, -and should have a better chance of preserving the province with which -the Government had intrusted me. In my early youth my religious ideas -were somewhat lax; but at the same time I believed myself to be by -conviction as well as by education a good Christian, though I was always -inclined to let people take their own way to salvation. The simple fact -was that I had not been sent to the Sudan as a missionary, but as an -official of the Egyptian Government. - -At sunrise the next morning, I sent for the adjutant-major, and ordered -him to have all the troops paraded and to wait for me; I then sent word -to Zogal to summon before me the Kadi, Ahmed Wad Beshir, and the chief -merchant, Mohammed Ahmed. When they came I talked to them on general -matters, and then told them to come on parade with me inside the fort, -only a few hundred paces from my door. Taking command of the parade, I -ordered the troops to form square, and, mounted on horseback, I then -entered it, accompanied by the officers, attendants, and officials. -"Soldiers!" said I, "we have passed through many hard times together; -the presence of danger shows what a man is made of. You have fought and -endured bravely, and I am certain you will continue to do so. We fight -for our master the Khedive, the ruler of this country, and for our -lives. I have shared with you your joys and your sorrows. Where danger -was to be faced I was there with you, and that shall ever be my place. -Although I am your chief, my life at such times is of no more value than -yours." "Allah yetawel umrak! Allah yekhallik!" (May God give you long -life! May God preserve you!) shouted most of the men. I then continued, -"I hear that I am considered a foreigner and an unbeliever. You also all -belong to different tribes; my birth-place is far away, it is true, but -I am not a foreigner. I am not an unbeliever; I am as much a believer -as you. Ashhadu inna la ilaha illallah wa inna Mohammed rasul Allah!" (I -bear witness that there is no God but God, and Mohammed is His Prophet). -On my uttering these words the soldiers raised their rifles, shook their -lances, and shouted out congratulations to me, whilst the officers and -officials advanced and shook hands with me. When order was restored, I -told them that I should openly attend prayers with them, and, ordering -the men to re-form, Farag Effendi gave the "present arms," and the men -then marched off to their quarters. - -When everything was over, I invited Zogal Bey, my former companion, and -the officers to remain and partake of food and coffee with me; they then -bade me good-bye, assuring me of their delight, fidelity, and obedience. -They made as if they credited me with my convictions, and I gave them -equally to understand that I believed in the reality of their feelings -and sentiments (though I well knew how little they were really worth). -When they left I told Farag Effendi to select twenty of the best oxen -from our stock and distribute them amongst the men as "karama" -(sacrificial offerings), as well as one ox for each officer, at my own -expense. - -The effect on the men of the step I had now taken was much greater than -I expected; there was no longer any reluctance to be sent on -expeditions, although our enemies were increasing daily in number and -strength. - -It will be remembered that I had sent Gabralla and Ahmed Katong some -time before to Sirga and Arebu--a country which had been desolated by -war and was peopled by the ignorant Fur tribe--with instructions to -collect a force of his own people in these districts, and uphold the -Government authority there. Instead of doing so, however, he had sold -them as slaves to the Gellabas after a peculiar method of his own. -Despatching messengers to the Gellabas with orders to come to him at -once under pain of punishment, he then insisted on each of them marrying -three or four women, and instructed the latter to depart with their new -husbands, accompanied by their brothers and sisters. Many of the former -husbands having been killed in the wars, it happened that most of the -women thus disposed of were widows; but should any of them happen to -have husbands, the latter Gabralla threw into chains and compelled them -to work in the fields. For each human being thus made over to the -Gellabas he received a small sum of money. When these extraordinary -proceedings had been brought to my notice, I had ordered the roads to be -watched, and it was not long before a batch of newly married women and -their relatives was seized; I had sent for Gabralla and put him in -chains, and about twenty months later I had released him on bail; but -shortly afterwards he had disappeared, together with his guarantor, and -had joined the Beni Helba, who, after the murder of Afifi, had actively -joined in the revolt. - -Next to the Rizighat, the Beni Helba was the most powerful tribe in -Darfur, and they soon began worrying the Tagu and Messeria Arabs, who -had up to now remained faithful, and lived in the neighbourhood of Dara. -I therefore resolved to attack them, but before doing so sent a message -to Beshari Bey Wad Bekir, warning him that he must make no more -incursions. Although my letter remained unanswered, it seemed that my -threatening attitude had had some effect, for the neighbouring tribes -were not further molested. - -Merchants whom I paid to send me news from Kordofan informed me that -reinforcements were daily arriving at Khartum from Cairo, and that the -Government was hurrying on preparations for the despatch of the -expedition, under European officers, to retake Kordofan; whilst the -entire population without exception had joined the Mahdi, and were -determined to offer a powerful resistance. - -In Darfur all the southern tribes were now in open revolt; but thanks to -our military posts and to the fact that the northern tribes had been in -contact with Egypt, from which they had derived considerable benefit -through the caravan routes, they had hitherto shown no hostility. Of -course it had been for long impossible to gather taxes in any part of -the country; I had, therefore, paid the troops out of our reserve -stores. - -The Mahdi's continual victories were at last beginning to tell openly on -Zogal Bey, and I noticed a distinct change in his conduct, though he -still appeared loyal and submissive. It was abundantly clear to me that -in his heart he wished all success to his cousin, the Mahdi, because he -knew that, in that eventuality, he would be one of the first to reap -tangible benefits. He was a man much liked by the officials under him; -fairly well educated for a Sudanese, he was ever ready to do a favour -when his own pocket was not thereby touched, and he got the character of -being liberal. He was very wealthy, and kept up an enormous household in -great state. He kept an open table, and his popularity amongst the -officials was, I think, in a large measure due to the fact that, as -Acting Governor, he had freely pardoned past offences, and took no steps -to prevent them enriching themselves in all sorts of illicit ways. -Through his influence, most of his relatives had secured good positions -and become wealthy. He was, therefore, a man with whom I had to reckon -somewhat circumspectly. His popularity, coupled with the fact that he -generally concurred in and executed my orders, rendered an open split -with him undesirable, and would have certainly led to a diminution of my -authority; I was therefore inclined to let him alone for the present. -"Ebed en nar an el kotn wa enta tertah" (Keep fire away from cotton, and -you will be at ease), as the Arabs say, seemed to me to thoroughly apply -in this case, and to that principle I adhered. - -Summoning Farag Effendi, Wad Asi, and Kadi el Beshir, all of whom were -loyal to Government, and prayed from their hearts for its success, I -communicated my plans to them, in the strictest secrecy, and obtained -their full concurrence. When they had left me I summoned Zogal, and now -conversed with him quite alone. "Zogal," I began, "you and I are -perfectly alone here, and God is our witness. For years we have eaten -bread and salt together, and although from the day I arrived I have -been your superior, our relations with each other have been rather those -of a friendly than of an official nature. I now ask you to do two things -for me,--trust me and render me a service." - -"Well, Mudir umum" (Governor-General), he replied, "you are my superior; -tell me what you want and I shall obey." "Your cousin the Mahdi," said -I, "has now conquered Kordofan, El Obeid has fallen, and the entire -population has joined him. The country between us and Government is in -his hands. His extraordinary success has inclined your heart to him; -have you forgotten all the favours you have reaped from Government? Are -you unmindful of the distinction bestowed upon you by the Khedive, in -the shape of a decoration and rank obtained for you through the good -offices of the Government? Have you forgotten the duties required of you -from your position? Speak, is it not so?" "It is so," replied Zogal, -quickly; "the Mahdi is my cousin, and I cannot deny that our -blood-relationship has inclined me to him. Still, hitherto I have -faithfully performed my duties, and I trust I shall continue to do so in -the future." - -"Speaking generally," I replied, "you have performed your duties well; -but I am told you are in communication with the Mahdi; why should you -hide this from me?" - -"I do not communicate directly," replied Zogal, quickly; "but merchants -coming from Kordofan give me verbal messages from him, and I have sworn -to the bearers of these messages that I would not tell you; that is why -I kept it secret. But I assure you that they only referred to news from -Kordofan, and no attempt has been made to win me to his cause." - -"Well, let it be," said I, "I do not want you to justify yourself; but, -tell me, what have you heard about this expedition which the Government -is preparing to send to retake Kordofan?" "I have heard," replied he, -"that a large expedition has arrived at Khartum, and that they are going -to try and reconquer the country." "Not only will they try, but they -will effect the reconquest of the country," I answered. "Now, Zogal, -you are a man of sense and intelligence: it must be perfectly clear to -you that, if compelled by circumstances, I am still sufficiently -powerful to make you harmless; but I do not think this would be an -advantageous step to take, and it would pain me deeply to take action -against a man like yourself, who has served the Government loyally for -many years, and has always befriended me. I will therefore discharge you -for the present, and you may now go to Kordofan with my full consent. -Religious movements, such as that now going on, have a certain amount of -glamour from a distance, and induce sympathy; but when examined more -closely, they are neither so seductive nor so alarming. I shall intrust -you with letters to the Government which I want you to send secretly to -Khartum, and which will inform them of the nature of your mission. As -the expedition will probably start for Kordofan next month, I want you -to do your utmost to prevent the Mahdi sending a force into Darfur or -despatching proclamations to the tribes inciting them to revolt. If you -can arrange this, it will be of advantage both to him and to you. Should -the expedition succeed, I will take all responsibility for your conduct -on my shoulders, and you need have no fear; but if the Mahdi is -successful,--which God forbid,--then we shall be entirely cut off from -all hope of relief, and will probably be compelled to submit, in which -case it shall be of advantage to him to have the country handed over in -fairly good condition. As a guarantee for the loyal conduct of your -undertaking, I shall keep your wives, children, and households in the -fort here. The Mahdi will respect this, and for your sake will not run -the risk of endangering their lives." - -"I shall carry out your instructions," said Zogal, "and prove to you -that I am loyal. Are you going to write a letter to the Mahdi?" - -"No," I replied, "because I do not want to have any dealings with him. I -know perfectly well that you will repeat the whole of this conversation -to him. Your cousin is very cunning, and, privately, will give me credit -for having spoken the truth, and he will, no doubt, make as much -capital as he can out of your mission; but as long as you hold loyally -to your promise, I shall take every care of your family, and although -you are nominally discharged, I shall continue to issue your pay in -full; but should you fail to keep to the conditions of this arrangement, -the guarantee will no longer hold good. I should like you to start as -soon as possible, and in three days I shall expect you to be ready; I -think that should be sufficient time." - -"I would prefer to stay here with my own people," said Zogal; "but as -you wish me to perform this mission, and to put my loyalty to the test, -I shall carry it out, but with a sorrowful heart." - -Sending now for Farag Effendi, Wad Asi, and the Kadi, in Zogal's -presence I told them of the arrangement we had made; they showed much -apparent surprise and excitement, and summoned Zogal to swear a solemn -oath of loyalty. He swore on the Kuran by the oath of divorce[8] that he -would adhere truly and faithfully to the agreement made between us. - -I now wrote the necessary letters to the Government, giving a brief -account of the situation in Darfur; and three days later, Zogal, -accompanied by three servants, left Dara for El Obeid, _via_ Toweisha. -It was well known he was a relative of the Mahdi; he had therefore -nothing to fear, and I subsequently learnt he was received everywhere -with open arms. - -I now set to work to build fresh batteries at the angles of the fort, -and collected all the corn I could find; but this short period of -tranquillity did not last long. Beshari Bey Wad Bekir, chief of the Beni -Helba Arabs, instigated by his father-in-law, Sheikh Taher et Tegawi, -planned a raid on Dara. In spite of my threatening letter, he had -attacked the Tagu and Messeria Arabs, killing a number of them, and -capturing many women and children. In consequence, I placed two hundred -and fifty regulars and one hundred Bazingers under the command of -Mattar, one of Zogal's relatives,--but I could only take twenty-five -horses, as most of them had been attacked by some sort of disease,--and -with this force I quitted Dara. - -After three days' march we arrived at Amaké, where I was attacked by the -Beni Helba, under Beshari Bey, with whom was my old friend Gabralla; -they were in considerable force, but had few fire-arms, and we succeeded -in beating them off and dispersing them without much difficulty. The -next day they attacked us again at Kalambasi,--a march of a day and a -half from Amaké; but here again we put them to flight with equal ease. -Our insignificant losses on both occasions were ascribed by my men to -the efficacy of my Friday prayers with them, and not to the small number -of fire-arms possessed by our enemies. We now advanced on Hashaba which -was the head-Sheikh's village, turned him out, and then offered to -conclude peace with him. In reply to my letter, one of Beshari Bey's -relatives, named Fiki Nurein, arrived, asking my terms. I demanded two -hundred horses and two thousand oxen. He returned to his people, and -came back to me the following day, saying that they were prepared to -conclude peace, but thought my terms very hard; and as I was anxious to -settle matters without delay, I agreed to accept half the original -demand, on condition that they absolutely refrained from further -aggression, and agreed to send back the women and children captured from -the friendly tribes. I now returned to Dara; but Fiki Nurein arrived two -days later, and said that, to the great regret of Beshari Bey, his Arabs -had rejected the terms of peace, though he himself was perfectly -prepared to accept them. This change of front had been brought about by -Sheikh Tegawi's daughter, who had called her husband a coward for making -peace, and therefore, in honour bound, he was obliged to continue -fighting. Fiki Nurein told me he had been commissioned by Beshari Bey to -offer me his best thanks for having sent him some barley cakes covered -with sugar, when I had been obliged to turn him out of his house. It -happened that just before starting on my last expedition, Zogal's wife -had sent me some exactly similar cakes, which I had handed over to my -servants; as they were still untouched, I gave them to Fiki Nurein to -take to Beshari Bey with my compliments, and he left with a sorrowful -heart, feeling convinced that in the next fight he must be defeated. - -I now left for Hashaba, and proceeded thence to Guru, about half a day's -march further on. On the way, the twelve mounted scouts in advance were -suddenly attacked by Beshari Bey alone, who broke through their line, -wounded one of them slightly, and then, turning to the left, he drew his -horse up between the scouts and my main body, at the edge of the forest -and about eight hundred yards from us. Advancing some three hundred -paces closer, I recognised him, but purposely did not shoot; instead, I -sent one of my boys, unarmed, to him, saying, "Isa, give my compliments -to Beshari Bey, and tell him that if he wants to show his wife how brave -he is, he should set about it in a different way; if he repeats this -manoeuvre he will certainly be killed." The road was fairly open, with -trees only here and there; and as we marched on I could see my servant -standing for a few seconds before Beshari Bey, and then returning -towards us; on reaching us, he said, "Beshari Bey sends you his -compliments; he says he has no wish to live any longer, and seeks -death." Deluded man, he soon found it! - -Arriving at Guru, we constructed a zariba, and the owner of the village, -which was close by, now came forward and asked us for peace and -protection, which was of course given him. He was a Gellaba named Ahmed -Wad Serug, who had settled here many years before. He now told me that -Beshari's nephew Rahmatalla had, since yesterday, been seeking an -opportunity to come in and ask for pardon, but had been afraid to do so, -and was concealed in the forest close by. I told Ahmed to go out and -offer him pardon and peace and bring him in. That evening at sunset he -arrived, bare-headed and barefooted, and made the most profuse promises -of fidelity, saying he would do his utmost to induce his tribe to stop -fighting. He admitted that the majority of the Arabs were not anxious to -prolong the war, but were continually incited by Sheikh Tegawi. - -Nothing happened the next day, but that evening Rahmatalla brought in -two Arabs with the news that Sheikh Beshari had collected all the -available horse and spear men, and intended attacking us in the morning. -Mohammed Bey Tia and Sultan Abakr el Begawi had just joined me with -forty horsemen; I had now, therefore, at my disposal some seventy -irregular cavalry. My zariba lay close to the wells in an open spot with -a good view in all directions. At sunrise the following morning I saw -the first signs of the enemy at the edge of the forest to the south. -Feeling sure that Beshari's ill-considered dash would make him attack -the zariba, I ordered the troops to move out about three hundred paces, -whilst I posted the cavalry on the flank and sent forward about twenty -horsemen to try and decoy the Arabs out of the wood. The latter had -barely started when I saw two mounted Arabs dashing at them full speed, -with lances lowered; they were Beshari Bey and his attendant. Before he -reached my men his horse stumbled and fell; and while his companion was -holding his horse to enable him to mount, my horsemen seized the -occasion to attack him, and, a thrown spear striking him full in the -eye, he fell, whilst his attendant was struck by a spear in the back and -killed. Meanwhile I had galloped up to the spot, and there I found -Beshari Bey lying dead: my men had twice plunged a huge spear into his -body. His son Abo, who had dashed out to his aid, was also wounded, but -succeeded in escaping, though two other Sheikhs who had accompanied -him--Shartia Habiballa and Et Tom--were killed. Seizing their horses, I -now called out to the regulars to advance; and on their arrival I -ordered each of the horsemen to take up an infantryman behind him and -pursue the Arabs, who I felt sure would not attempt to stand after the -death of their leaders. After a gallop of about two miles we came up -with the flying Arabs, and, ordering the regulars to dismount and fire, -I turned the horsemen against the mounted Beni Helbas. No quarter was -given, as my men were determined to avenge the death of Sheikh Afifi, -who had been killed near here. - -After a few hours the rout was complete, and we now returned to the -zariba. On our way back we stumbled across Beshari's body, beside which -sadly sat his nephew, Rahmatalla. My officers at once asked to be -allowed to cut off his head and send it to Dara; but out of respect to -his nephew, who had pleaded yesterday for peace, I prevented them from -doing this, giving over the body to him, with a piece of calico in which -to enshroud it, and I myself attended the burial of my old friend who -had fought against us,--contrary to his own convictions,--and who, -seeking death, had now found it. In this engagement we lost two killed -and several wounded, amongst whom was the faithful Salama, who had taken -my letter from Om Waragat to Dara, and who was ever foremost in pursuit. - -The following day I sent spies to Roro, Sheikh Tegawi's village, and -hearing he was there, I resolved to surprise him that night. I arrived -in the early morning, but found the nest empty,--my bird had flown: he -had evidently got wind of my coming; my men, however, seized all the -portable things they could find in his house, and then set it and the -village on fire. - -I now returned to Guru. The disease of _filaria medenensis_ -(guinea-worm) had broken out in the upper part of my leg and in both -feet, and caused me such excruciating pain that I could scarcely remain -in the saddle. Having crushed the Beni Helbas, it was useless for me to -remain out any longer; I therefore handed over the command to Mohammed -Bey Tia, and told him to take every occasion to chastise the Arabs, but -on no account to penetrate into the Taaisha country. The latter had -previously written to me expressing loyalty to the Government, and, -curious to relate, this tribe, to which Khalifa Abdullahi belonged, was -one of the few in the whole of the Egyptian Sudan which, in spite of -tribes revolting all around them, remained neutral. I now wrote to them -that should the Beni Helba attempt to take refuge in their country, they -might seize their flocks and herds, and I should not ask them to give -them back. Accompanied by ten men, I now returned to Dara. - -Up to the present, Fasher had been left undisturbed, and hitherto the -tribes in the neighbourhood had not shown any open signs of hostility; -but the chief of the station at Om Shanga had refused to attend to my -order to return to Dara, having been bribed by the merchants to remain, -and had been attacked by the Arabs; he had succeeded, however, in -repulsing them, though the road was still cut, and one of my faithful -Sheikhs, Hassan Bey Om Haj, had passed over to the enemy. - -About a fortnight later, Mohammed Bey Tia returned to Dara with a large -amount of plunder: exclusive of the quantities he had distributed on his -own account, he brought with him no less than three thousand oxen and a -few horses. The latter I made over to the men, and also divided between -them and the loyal Arabs a thousand oxen; another thousand I handed over -to Farag Effendi to keep with the general reserve; and the remaining -thousand I exchanged for corn and cotton stuffs. - -In spite, however, of our success against the Beni Helba, our situation -was anything but satisfactory. All eyes were directed to the Mahdi, in -Kordofan; he had representatives and agents everywhere, who were -inciting the people to revolt. In the province of Dara, besides the -Taaisha, Messeria, and Tagu Arabs, those in the districts of Bringel and -Shieria were also quiet; but I ascribed this fact to the proximity of -the fort, for they were well aware that should they revolt, they would -be in the greatest danger. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -HICKS PASHA'S EXPEDITION. - - The Execution of Said Pasha and the Brave Defenders of El - Obeid--Spread of Belief in the Mahdi's Divinity--Sheikh Sennusi - is offered, but refuses, the Position of Mahdi's Khalifa--The - Mahdi begins to organise his Government--The Spread of the - Revolt in the Gezira--Criticisms on the Attitude of the Egyptian - Government--The Despatch of Osman Digna to the Eastern - Sudan--Hicks Pasha's Expedition enters Kordofan--Incidents on - the March--Gallantry of Colonel Farquhar--The Diaries of - Farquhar and Vizetelly--The Desertion of Gustav Klootz--The - Mahdists harass the Expedition--The Final Attack on the Doomed - Square--Incidents after the Battle--Extracts from O'Donovan's - Diary--The Mahdi's Triumphal Entry into El Obeid. - - -After the capture of El Obeid the Mahdi turned all his attention to -increasing his power. His adherents on the river kept him very fully -informed of all that passed. He was aware that Abdel Kader had applied -to Cairo for reinforcements, which had arrived, and he did not doubt the -Government would do all in its power to reconquer its lost provinces; -that was his reason for so constantly preaching the Jehad, and reminding -his followers that a great war was impending, in which they would be -victorious. - -Giegler Pasha had been successful at Duem in November, 1882, and at the -end of January, 1883, Abdel Kader Pasha had scored a signal success at -Maatuk. But the Mahdi paid little attention to these defeats; he was -principally concerned with the news that an expedition was being -prepared in Khartum, under European officers, for the reconquest of -Kordofan. - -Meanwhile Mohammed Pasha Said thought it his duty to draw up a report -justifying the surrender of El Obeid, which he intended to send to -Khartum. He exposed the courage and endurance of the garrison who had -been at length obliged to capitulate, after having been more than -decimated by famine and disease, and he explained that they were still -thoroughly loyal, and longed for the success of the Government arms. -This document was signed and sealed by all the officers, Said Pasha and -Ali Bey Sherif heading the list, and also by Ahmed Bey Dafalla and -Mohammed Yasin; it was then given to an Arab, who was promised a large -reward if he took it to Khartum. Amongst the officers who signed was a -certain Yusef Mansur, formerly police officer at El Obeid, but who had -been dismissed by Gordon, sent to Khartum, and afterwards allowed to -return to El Obeid, where he had settled. Fearing that the report might -be intercepted, and that he might suffer with the others, he, to show -his fidelity and submission to the Mahdi, fell at Khalifa Abdullahi's -feet, confessed everything, and earnestly entreated for pardon, which -was granted. On his way home he met another officer, named Mohammed Bey -Skander, whom he also urged to seek the Khalifa's pardon; and the -latter, although he cursed his friend for his cowardice, thought that -now the secret was out he had better save himself, so he, too, begged -the Khalifa's forgiveness. The Arab letter-carrier was intercepted and -thrown into chains, and of course the occasion was taken advantage of to -spread far and wide the story that the Mahdi had discovered this plot by -direct inspiration from the Prophet. This gave him a ready pretext to -make away with his enemies. All those who signed the document were -seized, and, after consultation between the Mahdi and his Khalifas, it -was decided they should be banished. Said Pasha was sent to Aluba, where -he was handed over to the tender mercies of Ismail Delendok; Ali Bey -Sherif was sent to Nawai, Sheikh of the Hawazma; while Ahmed Bey Dafalla -and Yasin were sent to Madibbo at Shakka. Of the other officers, some -were exiled to the Nuba mountains, and others to Dar Homr. Yusef Mansur -and Mohammed Bey Skander were the only officers allowed to remain at El -Obeid, and the former, in order to mark his fidelity to the cause, was -made commandant of the Mahdi's artillery. - -Soon afterwards, in accordance with his orders, Said Pasha was killed -with axes, and Ali Bey Sherif was beheaded, while Abdullahi, who had, on -the day after Ahmed Bey Dafalla's departure, taken his wife as his -concubine, despatched one of his relatives, Yunes Wad ed Dekeim, to -Shakka with orders to have both Dafalla and Yasin executed in the -presence of Madibbo. Such was the end of the four men who had so bravely -defended El Obeid, and in truth they deserved a better fate! - -It was about this time that Fiki Minna, of the powerful Gowama Arabs, -having quarrelled with Abdullahi, thought to make himself independent; -but the Mahdi, knowing how serious would be a split, did not hesitate to -send a large force against him under Abu Anga, Abdulla Wad Nur and -Abderrahman Wad en Nejumi. Fiki Minna was surprised, seized, and -instantly executed, and the Mahdi lost no time in at once despatching -proclamations ordering the tribes to leave their districts and join him. -To these assembled multitudes he now preached more fervently than ever, -urging them to renounce the pleasures of this life, and think only of -the life to come. "Ana akhreb ed dunya wa ammer el akhera" (I destroy -this world, and I construct the world to come), was his endless theme. -To those who were obedient he promised pleasures in Paradise beyond all -the heart could conceive; but the disobedient he threatened with condign -punishment and hell-fire. Circulars written in this sense were -despatched far and wide, and the Emirs were enjoined to allow only those -to remain in their districts whose services were absolutely necessary -for the cultivation of the lands, but that all others must forthwith -immigrate to him and range themselves under his banners. - -Men, women, and children now flocked in hundreds of thousands to El -Obeid to see this holy man and catch even a word of his inspired -doctrine; and the ignorant multitudes saw in his face and person what -they believed to be truly "a man sent from God." - -Dressed only in a jibba and sirual (drawers), with a belt of gus, or -straw, round his waist, and wearing a Mecca takia (skull-cap), round -which was bound a muslin turban, he stood with all humility before his -followers, preaching of love to God and the cause, and of the necessity -of renouncing the vanities of this world. But once in his house it was -quite another matter; here he lived in a state of grandeur and luxury, -and became a slave to those passions for food and women to which the -Sudanese are so addicted. Should any women, young girls, and slaves be -captured, they were brought before him, and all the prettiest and the -best found a home in his harem; whilst the maid-servants, who were -versed in all the arts of the most approved Sudan cooking, were -relegated to his kitchen. - -After the siege of El Obeid he considered whom he should appoint as his -fourth Khalifa, and decided that Mohammed es Sennusi, the most -influential religious Sheikh in North Africa, should be nominated; he -therefore despatched Taher Wad Ishak, of the Zaghawa tribe, with a -letter to him to that effect; but Sennusi treated the offer with scorn, -and left the letter unanswered. - -The Mahdi now set to work to regulate his government. His administration -was based on very simple lines. First of all he established the Beit el -Mal, or treasury, over which he placed his faithful friend Ahmed Wad -Suleiman. In this treasury were deposited the tithes (ushr) and the -fitra and zeka (alms for the poor, two and a half per cent) on all booty -taken in war as well as confiscated property, and fines for theft, -drinking, and smoking. There was no system to regulate the revenue and -expenditure. Ahmed Wad Suleiman was, therefore, free to give what he -liked to whom he pleased. - -Jurisdiction was placed in the hands of the Kadi, who was called by the -Mahdi "Kadi el Islam," and several assistants. Ahmed Wad Ali, who had -formerly been Kadi at Shakka under me, and who had been one of the -foremost in the storming of El Obeid, was the first to hold this high -position. Of course the Mahdi and his Khalifas reserved to themselves -the right to punish all crime--more especially anything connected with -doubt or suspicion as to the Divine nature of the Mahdi--with death. As -such judgments were in entire opposition to the sharia (or Moslem -religious law) as taught, the Mahdi strictly forbade the study of -theology, and ordered all books of this description to be burnt; the -Kuran alone being allowed to be read, though even this he did not permit -to be openly expounded. - -Communication between the Mahdi and the inhabitants of the Gezira, who -now looked upon themselves as his most devoted adherents, was of course -frequent and detailed. He learnt of Abdel Kader's departure for Kawa and -Sennar with a large force in February. That town had been besieged by -Ahmed el Makashef; but the Pasha inflicted a defeat on him at Meshra ed -Dai, and had raised the siege. Saleh Bey had pursued the rebels as far -as Jebel Sekhedi, and had driven them into the waterless plain between -that place and Kawa, where numbers perished from thirst. This district -is still called by the local people, "Tibki wa teskut" (You cry and are -silent). - -These defeats, however, in no way diminished the Mahdi's popularity; -they relieved the situation for the soldiers and officials, it is true, -but they only put off the evil day which was surely to come. Had -attention been paid to Abdel Kader Pasha's advice, the whole situation -in the Sudan might have been changed. He was against the despatch of a -large expedition to reconquer Kordofan, but recommended the -reinforcements coming from Cairo should be garrisoned in strong -defensive positions along the White Nile, and that for the time being -the rebels should be left to themselves. The military forces at his -disposal were quite sufficient to stamp out the revolt in the Gezira -(Island) between the Blue and White Niles, and to check the advance of -the Mahdists from the west. Had this plan been adopted, and the rebels -been left to themselves, it is more than probable the complete absence -of any regulated system of administration would have soon resulted in -discord breaking out, and gradually, at a later period, Government would -have been able to recover the ground it had lost. I certainly could not -have preserved authority in Darfur until that time; but even if that -province were lost, it would undoubtedly have been the lesser of two -evils. However, those at the head of the Government in Cairo thought -otherwise. The edict went forth that the prestige of the Government was -to be restored at all costs, and this was to be effected by an army -despatched under the English General Hicks, assisted by other European -officers; Abel Kader Pasha was recalled, and relieved by Ala ed Din -Pasha, formerly Governor-General of the Eastern Sudan. All these facts -were known almost at once to the Mahdi, and he took good account of -them. - -Meanwhile Zogal had arrived at El Obeid, where he had received an -enthusiastic reception; one hundred guns were ordered to be fired in his -honour, and it was reported far and wide that Darfur had surrendered to -the ever-victorious Mahdi. Zogal's return to Darfur was considered quite -a sufficient guarantee for the preservation of the province as a -possession of the new ruler; consequently no force was despatched, and -the Mahdi now directed all all his attention to events on the Nile. - -General Hicks shortly after his arrival proceeded with a portion of his -force to Kawa, inflicted a defeat on the rebels at Marabia (29 April, -1883), and killed Ahmed el Makashef. - -Amongst the various emissaries despatched to different parts of the -country was Osman Digna, the former Suakin slave-dealer, who was -enjoined to raise the Jehad in the neighbourhood of his own town. The -Mahdi showed much astuteness in selecting this man, who subsequently -became so celebrated; and he rightly judged that a local revolt in the -Eastern Sudan would in all probability seriously embarrass the Khartum -Government, and delay, or perhaps put off altogether, the expedition -about to be sent to Kordofan. The details of the various encounters -between this redoubtable Emir and the Government troops are too well -known to require more than a mere passing reference here; suffice it to -say that the operations in the eastern districts, although successful to -the Mahdists, did not have the effect of causing the Government to alter -their intention in regard to the Kordofan expedition, and early in -September, 1883, the ill-fated Hicks left Khartum for Duem, on the White -Nile, where he joined Ala ed Din Pasha, who had been instructed to -accompany the expedition. - -Surely the situation in Kordofan must have been misunderstood by the -Cairo authorities if they imagined that, by the despatch of this -expedition, they would succeed in overturning the Mahdi, who was then -supreme ruler of these western districts in which every man was his most -devoted adherent. Did they not realise that the annihilation of Rashed, -Shellali, and Lutfi, as well as the fall of Bara, El Obeid, and a host -of other towns had placed the Mahdi in possession of a far larger number -of rifles than those disposed of amongst Hicks's force of ten thousand -men? Were they not aware that these rifles were now in the hands of men -who thoroughly understood how to use them,--men who had been owners of -Bazingers, who were elephant and ostrich hunters, and had now at their -command contingents of reliable fighting material? Besides, were there -not now enrolled under the Mahdi's banners thousands of regulars and -irregulars who had been formerly in the Government service? Did they -imagine for a moment that all these men, when the chance came, intended -to desert and join Hicks? No; they seemed to realise nothing of this, -and, on completely wrong presumptions, they risked the lives of -thousands. Surely there were those amongst the Government advisers who -had sufficient knowledge of the Sudan to realise how fully the negro -proverb applied in this matter: "Illi beyakhud ummi hua abuya" (He who -marries my mother is my father). The Mahdi had conquered the country, -and had thus metaphorically married their mother; him, therefore, they -had fully accepted as their lord and master. What do those people care -about good actions and kindnesses previously done to them? I do not, of -course, deny that to this general rule there are not exceptions; yet -unquestionably my remarks, severe as they are, apply to the majority. - -Ten thousand men in square formation, with six thousand camels in their -midst, were to march through districts overgrown with vegetation and -grass taller than a man's height; at most they could not see more than -two hundred or three hundred yards to their front, in the little open -patches where the sparse population had cultivated small clearings. They -must be ready at any moment for the attack of an enemy far more numerous -and as well armed as themselves, besides being infinitely better -fighters, and who to this day pride themselves on their bravery and -headlong dash. Along almost the entire route by which the army was to -march there were scarcely any wells, though plenty of stagnant -rain-pools; and when they had drunk up the water in them, what were they -then to do? - -Had they adopted the northern road, _via_ Gebra and Bara, they would at -least have had the advantage of open ground and a good supply of water -at certain places, which, if insufficient, could, with modern -appliances, have been made amply sufficient for the whole force. At the -same time the support of the powerful Kababish tribe against the -Mahdists would have been assured, and the enormous train accompanying -the force could thus have been greatly diminished. - -Six thousand camels, huddled together in the centre of a square, -presented a perfect forest of heads and necks; it was impossible for a -bullet fired by one of the enemy from behind a tree to altogether miss -this gigantic target: if it failed to strike in front, it would most -certainly have its billet in the centre or rear. Then again an advance -might have been made by detachments, and the great baggage-train left -under strong guard at either Duem or Shatt, the men merely advancing in -light marching order, clearing the road north, south, and west, and -establishing a military post whenever they had subdued a district. Of -course this plan would have taken some time--perhaps a year--to execute; -but there was no hurry. Then internal dissensions were rife,--Hicks and -his European officers on the one side; Ala ed Din Pasha, his officials, -and most of the Egyptian officers on the other. - -And were not the troops composed mostly of the disbanded rabble of Arabi -Pasha's army, which had just been defeated by the British? General Hicks -no doubt fully understood matters; and, replying to a question put to -him by one of his friends at Duem as to what he thought of the -situation, he replied quietly, "I am like Jesus Christ in the midst of -the Jews." Still, he marched off; perhaps he thought that if he refused -to advance, his honour might be impugned. - -Slowly moved the great mass of men and animals onward; the few -inhabitants who lived in this part of the country had long since fled. -Now and then in the far distance Arabs were seen watching the advance, -and then disappearing from view. On one occasion Hicks, looking through -his glasses, observed some horsemen amongst the trees; halting the -square, he ordered a division of irregular cavalry to advance and attack -them. A few minutes later they returned in hopeless confusion; they had -lost some killed and many wounded, and reported they had been attacked -by a greatly superior force. Hicks then despatched Colonel Farquhar with -half a battalion of regulars to examine the spot where the skirmish had -taken place. He reported that he found six cavalrymen lying dead, shot -in the back; they had been completely stripped, but nothing was to be -seen of the "powerful enemy;" there were the hoof-marks of at most ten -horses, and no doubt by these the cavalry division had been put to -flight. - -The following day three horsemen again appeared in sight, when Colonel -Farquhar, accompanied only by his servants, galloped at them, killing -two, and bringing in the third a prisoner. I was told of both these -episodes by the survivors of the expedition, and they related how the -huge square crawled forward like a tortoise. Under the circumstances it -was impossible to send out the camels to graze; they had to eat anything -they could pick up in the square, and that was very little; of course -they died in quantities. They used to eat even the straw pads of their -saddles, and consequently the hard wood came down on their haunches and -galled them till they became in a truly pitiable condition; still they -dragged along, carrying not only their own loads, but those of their -broken-down companions in misery. - -No doubt Colonel Farquhar, Baron Seckendorff, Major Herlth, the other -European, and some of the principal Egyptian officers did all they could -to help General Hicks in this critical situation, but the bulk of the -army appeared to be utterly regardless of the impending catastrophe. -Poor Vizetelly made his sketches, and O'Donovan wrote his diary; but who -was to send them home to those who were so anxiously awaiting them? - -No sooner did the Mahdi learn that the expedition had started than he -again sent proclamations to all the tribes, summoning them instantly to -the Jehad, with the usual promises of reward to those who obeyed, and of -punishment to those who hung back. Quitting El Obeid himself, he -encamped under an enormous Adansonia tree near the town, and there he -awaited the approach of the Egyptians; his Khalifas and Emirs followed -his example, and soon a gigantic camp of tukuls (straw huts) was formed. -Reviews were held daily, war-drums beaten, guns fired, and men and -horses trained in all sorts of exercises, in preparation for the great -battle. The Emirs Haggi Mohammed Abu Girga, Omar Wad Elias Pasha, and -Abdel Halim Mussaid had already been sent to Duem to watch the enemy's -advance and cut their communications; but they were strictly forbidden -to attack the main body of the army. Before leaving, the real condition -of the advancing force was known, and they begged the Mahdi's permission -to attack it, but it was refused. - -Shortly before the expedition reached Rahad, Gustav Klootz, a German -non-commissioned officer, formerly Baron Seckendorff's, and latterly Mr. -O'Donovan's, servant, foreseeing the almost certain annihilation of the -force, deserted, with the intention of joining the Mahdi. Ignorant of -the country, he wandered about, and the next morning was found by a -small party of Mahdists, who were about to kill him; but he endeavoured -to make them understand, in his broken Arabic, that he wanted to be -taken to the Mahdi, and, after robbing him of all he possessed, he was -sent under escort to El Obeid, three days distant. Although clothed only -as a servant, thousands of people crowded round to see this English -general who had come to ask for terms of peace. He was brought before -the Mahdi, and, through the other Europeans present, was questioned -about the state of the expedition. Gustav did not hesitate to say that -it could not be worse, and that neither courage nor harmony existed -amongst its ranks. Naturally this news greatly pleased the Mahdi; but -Gustav added that the army would not submit without a fight, and that in -all probability it would be annihilated. Immensely cheered by this -information, the Mahdi now summoned Gustav to be converted to Islam, in -which he of course readily acquiesced, and he was then handed over for -further care to Osman Wad el Haj Khaled. - -So confident of victory had the Mahdi become after Gustav's statement -that he had hundreds of summonses written out and distributed along the -road, calling on Hicks and his officers to surrender. Of course they -were left unanswered; but at the same time they had their effect on many -who were concerned about their own safety. Others, on the contrary, used -these papers in a manner which so irritated the Mahdi that for long he -visited his wrath on the unfortunate survivors who had dared to put to -such contemptuous uses documents in which divinely inspired words were -written. - -[Illustration: A Dervish Emir.] - -Prior to his departure from Duem, Hicks had been informed by the -Government that he would be joined _en route_ by six thousand men from -Jebel Tagalla, as well as some hundreds of Habbania Arabs; and he daily -expected to meet these, and thus revive the flagging courage of his -demoralised men. But he waited in vain,--not a man came to him, nor did -he ascertain a word of news. On quitting Rahad he advanced to Aluba in -Dar Ghodayat, in the hope of obtaining an abundant supply of water -there; and on the 3rd November he reached Kashgeil, some thirty miles -southeast of El Obeid. - -Meanwhile the Mahdi had worked up his fanatical followers to a pitch of -the wildest enthusiasm, and had told them the Prophet had announced to -him that on the day of battle they would be accompanied by twenty -thousand angels, who would attack the unbelievers. On 1st of November he -quitted El Obeid for Birket, where his followers, uniting with the force -previously despatched to watch the square, now worried the tired and -thirsty Egyptians incessantly. On the 3rd November Abu Anga and his -Black Jehadia, concealed in the thick forest and broken ground, poured a -continuous fire on the square, which was forced to halt and zariba; and -here human beings and animals, huddled together, offered a target which -none could fail to hit. Every moment a weary man, horse, camel, or mule -would fall to the bullet of an invisible enemy; and for hours this -decimation continued, whilst the wretched troops suffered agonies from -thirst, and were unable to move in any direction. It was not till the -afternoon that the enemy drew off just out of rifle range, and from this -position kept careful watch on the square, as a cat would play with a -mouse. Their losses had been insignificant; one or two Emirs, amongst -them the son of Elias Pasha, had fallen,--and no wonder! his fanaticism -had induced him to dash up almost alone to within a yard of the zariba. -How terrible must have been the feelings of poor Hicks! Instead of -water, his wretched men received a hail of lead,--yet only a mile off -there was a large pool of rain water; but none in that doomed square -knew the country, and even had they known, it was now too late to reach -it. Abu Anga and his men, under cover of darkness, crept close up to the -zariba, and all night long poured an incessant fire into this seething -mass of men and animals. Utterly demoralised, poor Hicks's troops -moaned, "Masr fein, ya Sitti Zenab dilwakti waktek!" (Where is Egypt! -Oh, our Lady Zenab, now is your time to help us!) while the hardy -Blacks, lying flat on the ground within a few yards of the zariba, -unharmed by the shower of bullets which passed overhead, would answer -back "Di el Mahdi el muntazer" (This is the expected Mahdi). - -The next morning (4th November), Hicks continued the advance, leaving -behind him a heap of dead and dying and a few guns, the teams of which -had been killed; but ere he had proceeded a mile, he was attacked by at -least one hundred thousand wild fanatics concealed amongst the trees. In -a moment the square was broken, and a wholesale massacre took place. The -European officers, with a few Turkish cavalry, alone attempted to make a -stand under the wide-spreading branches of a large Adansonia tree; but, -attacked on all sides, they were eventually killed almost to a man. The -heads of Baron Seckendorff (who wore a full, light-coloured beard) and -General Hicks were cut off and sent to the Mahdi, who at once summoned -Klootz (now known as Mustafa) to identify them; but this seemed hardly -necessary, as it was well known they had been killed. - -With the exception of two or three hundred who had escaped death by -hiding themselves under the heaps of dead bodies, the entire force had -been annihilated. Little mercy was shown; a few of the survivors were -pardoned, but the majority of them were subsequently executed. Ahmed ed -Dalia, the Mahdi's executioner, told me that he and Yakub, Khalifa -Abdullahi's brother, with a few hundred horsemen, came across a party of -about one hundred Egyptians who showed fight. Through Dalia, Yakub sent -them a message that their lives would be spared if they gave up their -arms; but no sooner had they done so than he and his men, calling them -unfaithful dogs, charged, and killed every one. One Egyptian owed his -life entirely to his presence of mind; becoming separated from the rest, -he fled, but was followed by some Gellabas, who caught him up. "Do not -kill me, O friends of the Mahdi," he cried, "I know an art which will -make you all wealthy men." Their cupidity now aroused, they spared him, -and promised to do him no harm if he would tell them his secret. -"Certainly I shall do so," he answered. "You have spared my life, you -deserve to know my secret; but I am too exhausted to tell you now, take -me before your master the Mahdi, whom I long to behold; let me seek his -pardon, and then I shall have rest and be able to make myself useful to -you." Taking him in their midst, they brought him before the Mahdi, to -whom they explained he was a man who had long since been convinced of -his Divine mission, but had not succeeded in coming to him before; he -was pardoned, and swore to become henceforth his most devoted adherent. -No sooner was he dismissed from the presence of the Mahdi, than his -captors surrounded him, and insisted on knowing his secret. Sitting on -the ground, he now said quite simply, "I used to be a cook, and know how -to make very good sausages." Irritated and insulted to a degree, the men -would now have killed him; but he at once made his way to the Mahdi, -told him what had occurred, and begged for his protection. The Mahdi -laughingly called his would-be persecutors his compatriots, and ordered -them to take every care of their fellow-countryman. - -[Illustration: The Death of Hicks Pasha.] - -After this immense victory, the Mahdi and his Khalifas now returned with -their troops to Birket, literally drunk with success. - -Several Emirs and their men had been left on the battle-field to collect -the plunder and bring it to the Beit el Mal. The thousands upon -thousands of dead bodies which lay piled up in heaps, were divested of -every stitch of clothing. Some time later the note-books of Colonel -Farquhar and Mr. O'Donovan were sent to me. I read all they contained -most carefully, and terribly sad reading it was! They both wrote much -about the discord that existed, and of the quarrel between General Hicks -and Ala ed Din Pasha. Farquhar attacked his chief somewhat severely for -his military mistakes. Both had foreseen what had now occurred, and -Farquhar reproached him bitterly for having ever started with a force -whose condition and _morale_ were such as to warrant certain disaster. -The European officers got little assistance; apparently one of the few -Egyptian officers who helped them was a certain Abbas Bey. One passage -in Colonel Farquhar's diary I well remember; he wrote, "I spoke to Mr. -O'Donovan to-day, and asked him where he thought we should be eight days -hence? 'In Kingdom-Come,' was his reply." O'Donovan's journal was also -written in much the same strain; he was greatly annoyed about Klootz's -flight, and quoted it as an instance of the general feeling existing in -the force. "What must be the condition of an army," he remarked, "when -even a European servant deserts to the enemy?" In another passage he -wrote, "I make my notes and write my reports, but who is going to take -them home?" - -Some fifteen days afterwards, when all the plunder had been deposited in -the Beit el Mal, the Mahdi returned to El Obeid. Besides the guns, -machine-guns, and rifles, a considerable sum of money had been found; -but quantities of loot were carried off by the Arabs, in spite of the -barbarous punishments for theft enacted by Ahmed Wad Suleiman: it was no -uncommon thing for a thief to have both his right hand and left foot cut -off. The cunning Blacks had secreted quantities of arms and ammunition -in the forests and in their own camps, which at a later period proved -very useful to them. - -Nothing could have exceeded the savage grandeur of the Mahdi's triumphal -entry into El Obeid after the battle. As he passed along, the people -threw themselves on the ground and literally worshipped him. There is -not the slightest doubt that by his victory at Shekan, the Mahdi had now -the entire Sudan at his feet. From the Nile to the Red Sea, from -Kordofan to the frontiers of Wadai, all looked to this holy man who had -performed such wonders, and they eagerly awaited his next move. Those -who had been already convinced of his divine mission were now of course -more than ever his ardent supporters, and spread his fame far and wide; -those who had doubted, doubted no longer; and the few who in their -hearts understood the imposture, decided amongst themselves that if -Government was not strong enough to send a force sufficient to uphold -its authority even in the Nile districts, they must, against their own -convictions, side with the stronger. - -Several Europeans and some Egyptians living in the large cities and -towns now realised the seriousness of the situation, and lost no time in -making the best of their way out of the doomed country, or at any rate -despatched north as much as they could of their portable property, well -knowing that it was impossible to stay any longer in the Sudan, across -which the Mahdi's hands now stretched from east to west. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -THE FALL OF DARFUR. - - Dara besieged by Madibbo--I make a Successful - Counter-Attack--The Overthrow of Darho--I decide to remain at - Dara--The Defeat of Kuku Agha--A Strange Expedient for - concealing Letters--An Armistice proposed and accepted between - Myself and the Besiegers--I resort to Stratagem to gain - Time--Zogal writes from El Obeid, and describes the Annihilation - of the Relief Expedition--I review the Situation and decide to - surrender--Interview with Zogal at Shieria--The Mahdists enter - Dara--Madibbo and his War-drums--Horrible Tortures inflicted on - the Inhabitants who had concealed Money--The Siege and Fall of - El Fasher--Letters from Egypt--The dreadful Fate of Major - Hamada--The Fall of Bahr el Ghazal--I leave for El Obeid. - - -By this time I had recovered from my disease (_filaria medenensis_), and -felt strong enough to undertake another expedition; but the number of my -trusted followers had sadly diminished, and our stock of rifle -ammunition was getting very low. Said Bey Guma still affirmed that it -was impossible for him to send me any from Fasher, owing to the fact -that the Zayedia and Maheria Arabs had begun to show signs of defection, -and had been raiding cattle in the neighbourhood of the town, which they -had refused to restore. - -All my hopes were now centred in the success of the Hicks expedition. -Fortunately at that time I knew nothing of the route they had chosen, -nor of the demoralised condition of the force. For almost a year I had -received no news direct from Khartum, and latterly, in order to keep up -the spirits of the men, I had to have recourse to stratagem, by -asserting that I had received news of great victories for the Government -forces. These scraps of news I of course concocted myself, and wrote out -in the form of messages, which when received were read out with great -_éclat_ before the assembled troops, and were greeted by the salute of -guns and general rejoicings. As a matter of fact, about this time I did -receive a little slip of paper from Ala ed Din Pasha, informing me that -His Highness the Khedive had officially appointed me commandant of the -troops in Darfur, and that it was the intention of the Government to -send a strong force to chastise the rebels and re-establish authority. I -despatched copies of this note to Fasher and Kebkebia, with orders that -it should be read publicly and salutes fired. I gave the bearer of the -letter a public reception, and loaded him with presents; he announced -that when he left Khartum the expedition was being prepared, and -described the force as certain to be victorious. Those who really knew, -hesitated to credit the glowing accounts of the appearance of the -troops; but at the same time their hearts were full of glad expectation. - -A few days later, Khaled Wad Imam, whom I had sent to Kordofan to -collect news, returned, and gave me a verbal message from Zogal, as the -latter thought it inadvisable to write; he sent me his best regards, and -confirmed the news just received as to the intention of the Government -to despatch an expedition against the Mahdi. Khaled, however, told me -privately that many refugees had reached El Obeid from Khartum, and had -reported that several vultures had been seen hovering over the troops -when they were out practising manoeuvres; and that this was a most -unlucky omen for their success. He then proceeded to give me a detailed -account of the Mahdi and his doings, and after a time I had little doubt -that at heart he had become one of his adherents; but I took good care -not to let him see what I had discovered, and thanked him for his -loyalty and good service; at the same time I gave secret instructions -that he should be carefully watched. A few days afterwards a man was -intercepted wandering off to Shakka, bearing a letter from Khaled to -Madibbo, in which he told him to be prepared to meet him shortly, in -order to aid him in his enterprise. I was also informed by my servants, -who were friendly with Zogal's household, and to whom I gave money, in -order to give the latter presents, that Khaled was really Zogal's secret -and confidential agent, and was always at his house in the fort, where -he made himself completely at his ease; that he had privately warned -Zogal's wives to be ready to fly with him, as the people in Dara were -soon to endure hard times; but that the women had refused to obey the -summons, and had made a great commotion. - -I now ordered Khaled to be seized and brought before me, he admitted he -had received Zogal's orders to take his wives away to some safe refuge -beyond my jurisdiction, and his two special ones he had ordered to be -brought to him in Kordofan. It was on this account he had written to -Madibbo. - -It was now abundantly clear to me that Zogal, influenced by his -relative's enormous successes, had definitely decided to join him, and -had thus broken the solemn agreement between him and myself. I now sent -for Zogal's brother, Fiki Nur, and some of his relatives, and in the -presence of the Kadi, the commandant and officers, I openly explained -the situation, telling them that their relative was now disloyal to -Government and had broken his promise, and that therefore I considered -they were all of his opinion and in consequence quite untrustworthy. Of -course they denied it; but I had them all arrested, placed Khaled in -chains, and had his and Zogal's property confiscated and removed to the -Beit el Mal, while that of the other persons arrested was sequestrated. - -Sending the Kadi to Zogal's house, I told him to inform the women that -they should stay where they were, and I should have them cared for as -before; his Bazingers, however, I incorporated with the Government -forces. Amongst those arrested was Zogal's son-in-law, Idris, who, being -of a different tribe, I proposed releasing; but he refused, and said he -preferred to go to prison with his relatives. Before being marched off, -he asked to be allowed to speak to me privately, and then told me that, -according to the custom of the country, it would be most dishonourable -for him not to go to prison with the rest of the family, but he wished -to assure me of his absolute loyalty. He then informed me that Zogal, -before his departure, had secretly assembled the three officers whom I -imagined to be most loyal to me, and they had sworn to him that should -he send them news that Mohammed Ahmed was really the Mahdi, they would -all join him. I thanked him for this most important information, the -truth of which I had little reason to doubt, and at his own request I -allowed him to go to prison with the rest. - -My difficulties were now increasing daily, one might almost say hourly. -Zogal's disloyalty did not disturb me very much, as I had long suspected -it; but I was greatly put about by the unsatisfactory news of the state -of the expeditionary force. Zogal was, I knew, an astute man; had the -news from Khartum been really disquieting to the Mahdi, I felt sure that -he would have stayed at El Obeid, according to our arrangement, to watch -events; but now he had intentionally broken faith with me. Could it be -that he had been befooled by the Mahdi's doctrines and preaching? I wish -I could have thought this possible, but I knew him too well. He was, so -to speak, playing his cards, with the absolute conviction that he would -win; and so he did. - -Madibbo now collected a force of horsemen and Bazingers, and advanced to -Karshu, a day's journey south of Dara, where he desolated the country -and derided the Beni Helba for their timidity. Taking fifty horsemen and -one hundred and fifty regulars, I marched out from Dara at night and -surprised Madibbo at sunrise. He was completely unprepared for this -sudden attack, and barely escaped with his life on a horse which he -mounted barebacked; but his entire camp fell into my hands, and we -captured his well-known copper drums. Unfortunately Mohammed Bey Tia, -one of my best and most faithful officers, and who was ever to the front -in pursuit, was shot dead by some Bazingers hidden behind the trees; I -had also a few men killed and several wounded. But although we had -scored a success, we could not be said to have inflicted a heavy defeat -on our enemies; we had brushed them off as one drives flies off meat, -only to let them settle again. - -A few days after my return to Dara news arrived that the Mima Arabs had -attacked the military post on the road to Fasher, the garrison of which -had been reduced by Said Bey Guma to thirty men, all of whom had been -killed. Said Bey informed me that he had despatched three hundred and -fifty regulars and four hundred horsemen under Omar Wad Darho to -chastise them and re-occupy the post; but the messenger who brought this -letter, and who had the greatest difficulty in reaching me, reported -that the Arabs were collected in considerable force, and were ready to -attack the expedition on its arrival. - -A few days later, the faithful Muslem Wad Kabbashi, Sheikh of Hilla -Shieria, brought me the mournful news of the complete overthrow of Darho -and his men. It appeared that Darho had advanced against the Mima at -Woda, where they had been joined by the Khawabir, Birket, and Manasera -Arabs. He had begun the attack with his horsemen, who, driven back, -retired in headlong flight on the infantry square, followed by an -overwhelming number of Arabs; the regulars, firing alike on friend and -foe, were scattered by this living avalanche, and twelve only had -escaped the slaughter, while of the four hundred horsemen, one hundred -and eighty were saved; the gun, arms, and ammunition were all lost, and -the road between Fasher and Dara was now completely cut. - -It was of immediate necessity to communicate with Fasher; but I had the -greatest difficulty in procuring messengers to take a letter to Said Bey -Guma, ordering him--if he had not already done so--to at once make all -preparations for defence, buy up all the available corn in the town, -and, if possible, carry out my previous instructions to withdraw the Om -Shanga garrison. - -About a month previous to this event I had proposed to my officers to -abandon Dara and retire on Fasher; but my suggestion had been -unanimously vetoed. The question had of course two sides to it, and as I -clung ardently to the hope that the expedition from Khartum would -succeed in relieving us, I did not force the project. Should the -Egyptian army defeat the Mahdi, then the whole of Darfur would be saved; -if, on the other hand, it should fail, then how could we at Fasher stand -against the whole Sudan? My ammunition was running very low, and I was -puzzled as to how to replenish my waning stock. I had sufficient powder -and shells, but lead was my difficulty. However, I refilled the empty -Remington cases, by melting down the bullets for the percussion guns and -muskets, of which a small quantity still remained, and I also made -copper bullets out of the supply of that metal which was in store from -the mines of Hofret en Nahas, and which I augmented by buying up the -bracelets and anklets of the Black women who much affected copper -ornaments. - -Muslem Wad Kabbashi now brought in news that Abo Bey, at the head of -some Mima and Khawabir Arabs, was encamped near Shieria. I was -unfortunately at this time suffering from fever, and was too weak to sit -on a horse; but I could think of no one to whom I could intrust a large -command, and therefore decided to send Kuku Agha, a brave Sudanese, with -only eighty men to attack Abo Bey, then only eight hours distant from -Dara. Muslem Wad Kabbashi offered his services as guide, and they left -that evening at sunset with our best wishes for their success. The -following evening Wad Kabbashi returned wounded, accompanied by only ten -men. "Where are Kuku Agha and the soldiers?" said I, in a state of -considerable agitation. "Scattered or killed," he calmly answered. "But -do not distress yourself, several are following after me; I left in all -haste to bring you the news." "But how did it occur? Tell me," I said. - -He now seated himself on the edge of my carpet, so as not to soil it -with his blood, and began: "We marched all night with only one short -halt; but Abo Bey, who had been largely reinforced the previous day, got -news of our coming, and, ordering his camp-fires to be lighted, he went -into ambush on our line of march. Towards dawn he attacked us suddenly, -when we were quite unprepared. In the dark I became separated from Kuku -Agha, who was making for some rising ground to the north, whilst I began -retiring to the south, with a few soldiers who had collected around me. -Alternately fighting and retiring, I at last reached here, and I hope -that Kuku Agha is following with the remainder of the men." - -Two days passed in anxious expectancy; only four men came in, and there -was now no doubt that the rest had perished. - -Omar Wad Darho's defeat, followed by this last disaster now greatly -encouraged the rebels; and those who had been previously held back by -fear, joined _en masse_. Muslem Wad Kabbashi brought his family into -Dara, saying he preferred to conquer or die with us. Hassan Wad Saad -Nur, whose pardon, it will be remembered, I had procured in Khartum, and -whom I had brought with me on my own guarantee to Dara, to whom I had -given a house just outside the fort, and, when his horse died of -disease, I had given him another, and who, being a native of the place, -I had intrusted with procuring news, now sadly disappointed me. -Unmindful of all the benefits I had bestowed on him, under the pretence -of visiting a relative he mounted the horse I had given him, and rode -straight to El Obeid, where he became one of the Mahdi's faithful -followers. - -Madibbo, enraged at the loss of his precious war-drums, which in the -Sudan counts as a disgraceful defeat, now collected all his Arabs, and -sent word to his neighbours to join him in laying siege to Dara. For a -long time past, communication with Khartum had become impossible, the -Mahdists were fully on the alert, and any men I attempted to send with -letters were invariably intercepted. On one occasion, when fighting -against the Beni Helba Arabs, I managed to send a letter to Egypt by a -caravan marching along the Arbaïn road to Assiut. But now the various -methods of concealment which I had successfully employed, such as fixing -letters between the soles of shoes or sandals, soldering them into the -inside of ablution water-bottles, or placing them in hollow spear -staves, had all been discovered. One morning, whilst inspecting the -fort, I noticed some soldiers giving a donkey medical treatment. It was -lame in the fore-leg; and, having thrown it on the ground, they -proceeded to make an incision in the shoulder, in which they placed a -small piece of wood, so as to tighten the skin, across which they made -several transverse slits, and then, taking out the stick, poured in -powdered natron. The idea at once struck me that I might conceal a -letter in this way under the skin. I therefore procured a good-sized -donkey, and, in the privacy of my own house, I repeated the operation I -had just seen performed, inserting in the first cut a small note -describing the situation, which I enclosed in a goat's bladder. The -entire size of the communication in its cover did not exceed that of a -postage stamp. I then sewed up the wound with silk thread, and the -donkey walked without the smallest difficulty. The man to whom I -intrusted this mission subsequently told me that he had delivered the -packet to Ala ed Din Pasha at Shatt a day or two before the expedition -started for El Obeid, and the latter had told the messenger a reply was -unnecessary, but that he should accompany the force to El Obeid, whence -he would despatch him to me with a letter. - -The various tribes, obedient to Madibbo's summons, had now collected a -day's march from Dara. Abdullahi Om Dramo, Sheikh of the Messeria Arabs, -alarmed that he should lose his property, had unwillingly joined -Madibbo, and it was through him I received this information. Ismail Wad -Barnu and Bakr el Begawi had also come to Dara with their families for -protection, and had constructed a small zariba for themselves about six -hundred yards from the fort, which the rebels had attempted one night to -attack, but had been driven off, with the assistance of some soldiers. -I was now, however, in a sorry plight as regards ammunition. The total -in charge of the men and in the magazines amounted to twelve packets per -rifle; and if I had attempted to risk a fight, at least half would have -been at once expended. Relief I knew was still far off, and the question -was how to hold out till then with this slender quantity of cartridges. -In order to gain time, I now had recourse to the following stratagem. -Taking aside Om Dramo, whom I knew to be loyal to me, I told him to go -to the rebels, and as it were on his own initiative, and without my -knowledge, suggest to them they should propose an armistice. The same -evening Om Dramo returned, and informed me that the enemy were in great -strength, that the Mahdi had summoned them to the Jehad, and they called -upon me to surrender. I told him to return to them and say that I was -prepared to capitulate; but I would not agree to my life or that of my -soldiers being intrusted to the hands of Arabs against whom I had been -continuously fighting for more than a year. I said, however, that should -the Mahdi despatch a special delegate to me, I was ready to make the -necessary conditions of peace. Om Dramo left me with the promise that he -would do his utmost to induce them to accept my proposition, and I also -agreed that should a parley be necessary, I was prepared to meet them -under the large Adansonia tree, a few hundred yards from the fort. Some -hours later Om Dramo returned radiant, and told me that the Arab chiefs, -who had now been appointed Emirs, fully concurred in my proposal, and -were ready to meet me under the tree; Madibbo had alone dissented, and -urged the siege to be continued until I should be forced to surrender. - -I arranged for the meeting to take place at sunrise the following -morning, and made a solemn oath to Om Dramo that should we not arrive at -an understanding, the lives of all the Emirs would be perfectly safe, -and they should be allowed to return unmolested; as an equivalent I -demanded that the Emirs should come to the meeting quite alone. - -Early the next morning my faithful intermediary arrived, and told me the -chiefs had come; I therefore at once went out, accompanied only by my -two servants. The Kadi and Farag Effendi begged to be allowed to go with -me; but I thought it would give the Arabs greater confidence if I went -alone. I therefore told them to wait in one of the batteries about four -hundred yards from the tree. - -On arrival at the rendezvous, Om Dramo brought forward his friends Abo -Bey, of the Berti tribe, Mohammed Bey Abu Salama, of the Maalia, Helu -Wad Gona, of the Beni Helba, and Hamed Wad Nuer, of the Habbania. All of -them shook hands with me cordially, and we took our seats just as if -nothing had happened between us. I now ordered my boys to hand round -dates, not alone with the object of showing them hospitality, but also I -wished them to know that I still indulged in these luxuries, in spite of -the hard times. I then inquired for Madibbo, and they replied that he -had refused to come to the meeting, but perhaps if we arrived at some -definite arrangement, he might join the majority. I explained that I was -ready to submit to the Mahdi, but I had no intention of surrendering -myself and my people to the Arab tribes. "Tell me now," said I, well -knowing how jealous they were of each other, "to which of you should I -hand over my arms and my horses?" They replied that they were just as -before; that is to say, each one head of his own tribe, independent of -the other, but at the same time all fighting in the common cause of the -Mahdi. After a long palaver, it was at last agreed that I should send a -letter to the Mahdi, announcing my submission, by the hands of one of my -own people, who should be accompanied by two of their delegates. All -should proceed together to El Obeid. On Abo Bey's suggestion, -hostilities at Om Shanga were to cease, and it was further agreed that -the delegate sent by me should be either a Turk or an Egyptian. I -suggested a certain Mohammed el Gretli, who was well known to them. He -had formerly been a kavass, and later a leader of twenty-five horsemen; -he had a light complexion, long fair moustache, and had also been -employed as tax-collector; in him the Arabs concluded they had secured -an influential man. Pending the Mahdi's reply, it was agreed there -should be an armistice, during which the various tribes should retire to -their districts, and all hostilities should cease, while the ground in -front of the fort should be utilised as before as the market-place, in -which all business transactions could be conducted without let or -hindrance. By this arrangement I hoped to gain time to gather a -considerable supply of corn, cattle, etc. We both solemnly swore on the -Kuran to each adhere faithfully to our respective pledges, and then -separated, to meet again at two o'clock to read the letter to the Mahdi -and despatch it forthwith. - -When I returned, the Kadi and Farag Effendi were greatly pleased with -the agreement; and, directing Gretli to be ready to start, I proceeded -to write two letters, one to the Mahdi, and the other to the garrison of -Om Shanga. - -At the appointed time we again met under the tree; but Madibbo was still -absent, and on inquiry I was told that he entirely disagreed with the -arrangement, and charged me with merely attempting to delude and cheat -them. All the other Emirs, however, declared they were perfectly ready -to adhere to the conditions to which we had sworn, and that if Madibbo -did not care to join, he was free to stay away. My letter to the Mahdi -ran as follows:-- - - In the name of the Most Merciful God. From the slave of his God, - Abdel Kader Salatin [Slatin] to Sayed Mohammed el Mahdi. May God - protect him and confound his enemies! Amen! For a long time I - have been defending the province which the Government confided - to my care, but God's will cannot be fought against. I therefore - hereby declare that I submit to it (God's will) and to you, - under the condition that you send one of your relatives, with - the necessary authority to rule this country, and to whom I - shall hand it over. I demand a pledge from you that all men, - women, and children within the fort shall be spared. Everything - else I leave to your generosity. - -My letter to the Om Shanga garrison, demanded by Abo Bey, ran thus:-- - - _To the Commander of the Garrison at Om Shanga_: - - Circumstances have compelled me to write to the Mahdi regarding - the surrender of Darfur, under certain conditions. Abo Bey, who - takes this letter to you, will raise the siege; and you are - hereby instructed to cease from all hostilities. I forbid you, - in my capacity as commandant of the troops, to hand over to the - enemy any war material, except in my presence. - - (Signed) _Governor-General of Darfur - and Commandant of the Troops_, - - SLATIN. - -Abo Bey objected to this last sentence; but when I explained to him that -the main point was that I submitted to the Mahdi only, he was satisfied. -Before Gretli left, I told him to point out to the Mahdi that the -surrender of Darfur before the impending battle was fought would -probably bring upon him a number of difficulties from which, at such a -time, he would prefer to be free, and I also warned him to tell Zogal. -As a last request, Abo Bey and Mohammed Abu Salama asked me to liberate -Zogal's relations from prison; but this I told them the Mahdi's deputy -alone could do. Our palaver having ended to the complete satisfaction of -all parties, the meeting broke up, and we separated. - -Gretli now proceeded to the Emir's camp; at sunset we heard the beating -of the war-drums announcing his departure, and soon afterwards the -besiegers quitted the neighbourhood of Dara. I sent spies to see if -Madibbo was still staying behind; but they returned, and reported that -he had gone with the rest. It appeared that he had only decided to go at -the last moment. - -Communication with Fasher was still interrupted; but sometime afterwards -I received a letter from Said Bey Guma to the effect that although the -tribes were in revolt, they had not attacked the town, but had prevented -all communications with the outside world. - -The days which now passed were for me full of anxious expectancy. I knew -that by this time Hicks's force must have almost reached El Obeid, and -that the decisive battle, on the result of which hung all our hopes and -fears, was about to be fought. I used to frequent the market and chat -with the people on all the topics of the day. Every one was aware that a -large army was advancing on El Obeid, but none yet knew how it was -progressing. - -At length, towards the end of November, to my unutterable grief, rumours -began to circulate that the army had been defeated, and although they -sounded suspiciously near the truth, still we could not absolutely -credit them; but a day or two later, definite news was received that the -expedition had been annihilated. Gloom settled down on us all. After so -many hardships and such constant trouble to at length fall into the -hands of the enemy, without the smallest chance of escape! Yet could it -be possible the news was grossly exaggerated? A flicker of hope still -remained, only to disappear finally when information was received that -Zogal had arrived at Om Shanga, and that the garrison had surrendered to -him as Mudir Umum el Gharb (Governor-General of the West), appointed by -the Mahdi. - -On the 20th of December, 1883, Mohammed el Gretli arrived at the gate of -the fort dressed in a jibba, and was brought in to me. He related to me -in full detail the heart-rending news of the complete overthrow of the -expedition, of which he himself had been a witness; he also brought me a -letter from Zogal, calling on me to surrender; and to prove the disaster -which had overtaken the Egyptians, he sent me several of the principal -officers' commissions, a number of reports on the situation, and the -journals of Colonel Farquhar and Mr. O'Donovan. At the same time Gretli -informed me that Om Shanga had surrendered, and that Zogal was staying -in Bringel; with him were Abderrahman Wad Ahmed Sharfi and Said Abd es -Samad, both relatives of the Mahdi, besides the Emirs, Omar Wad Elias -Pasha, Gabr Wad et Tayeb, Hassan Wad en Nejumi, and several others, -accompanied by their rayas (flags). - -To keep this news secret was quite out of the question; I therefore -summoned the Kadi and the leading merchants, and directed Gretli to -repeat to them what he had just told me. This over, I sent for the -officers in whom I trusted, and told them to talk over the matter -between themselves, and come to a decision without my interference, as I -should reserve to myself the right of accepting or rejecting their -proposals as I thought best. - -That evening Farag Effendi and Ali Effendi Tobgi, the commandant of the -artillery, told me that the officers had decided to surrender to the -Mahdi but not to Zogal Bey. They stated their reasons for coming to this -decision very simply: every one, from the highest to the lowest, was now -absolutely convinced that we had not the smallest chance of relief; the -total force of regulars in Dara amounted to five hundred and ten men, of -whom a large number were quite useless; the spirit of the troops was -such as to render all idea of eventual success quite out of the -question; the ammunition was scarcely sufficient to last out one fight -if we were attacked or if we took the offensive. Both the officers -pointed out that I should never succeed in getting the men to fight any -longer; they had made up their minds to surrender, and they urged that -there was now no other course open. I told them I would carefully -consider the matter, and would give them an answer the following -morning. - -That night I did not close my eyes. To think that after all the dangers -and difficulties through which we had passed, there was no other course -now open but to submit! And after that what was to be our fate? - -I reviewed the situation from beginning to end during those sleepless -hours. For four years I had struggled alone to uphold the Government's -authority in the province which had been intrusted to my care,--first -against the local revolts, which I had suppressed; and latterly against -the great fanatical movement which had attacked the very roots of my -administration, and whose canker-worm had spread into the branches, till -at length the leaves withering one by one, the tree was all but dead. - -In short, this strange fanaticism had thoroughly taken possession of my -officers and men; they had openly held out against it as long as it was -possible for me to dangle before their eyes the prospect of an immediate -reassertion of Government authority, through the anticipated success of -the Egyptian expedition under Hicks, and the consequent advantages which -would accrue to one and all of those who had loyally served the -Government. By every means in my power I had striven to prove to my -officers and men that the Government must eventually succeed; but at -length the crash had come, and all prospect of relief was absolutely and -entirely gone. I had struggled against intrigues from within and -without, with what success the reader can judge. With the small amount -of ammunition that remained, I might have made a vain struggle for a few -hours; but would my officers and men have obeyed my orders? They had no -wish and no heart to fight; they knew as well as I did the futility of -it; and why should I call on them to sacrifice themselves, and perhaps -their wives and children, to a cause to which they were no longer -attached? - -Looking at the matter entirely from a general point of view, I had no -doubt in my own mind that capitulation was not only the right course, -but was practically inevitable. Having arrived at this conclusion, I had -now to turn to the personal aspect; and the solution of this problem was -to me beset with the greatest difficulties. As an officer, the idea of -surrender to such an enemy was repulsive in the extreme. I had no fear -of my own life; I had risked it sufficiently during the past four years -to effectually dispose of any notion that my surrender was occasioned by -any want of personal courage,--on that point I felt sure that, if -spared, I could without the smallest difficulty vindicate my action to -my military superiors; but the very word "surrender" was repellant to -me, and doubly so when I thought over the consequences which must -follow to me--a European and a Christian--alone amongst thousands and -thousands of fanatical Sudanese and others, the meanest among whom would -consider himself superior to me. It is true I had nominally adopted the -religion of the country; but this I had done merely as a means of -stifling the injurious opinions which I knew existed in the minds of -officers and men, that the cause of my defeat lay in my being a -Christian. My ruse had succeeded to a greater extent than I had -expected, but the proceeding had been a distasteful one to me. I had no -pretensions to holding very strict religious views on the expediency or -otherwise of the step I had taken; nevertheless, at heart I was, I -believe, as good a Christian as the majority of young men of my -acquaintance, and that being so, a continuance of the life of religious -deception I was then living was by no means a prospect which I -appreciated. Moreover, I was well aware that my surrender would place me -absolutely and entirely in the hands of this mock-religious reformer, -and that not only should I have to show myself to be a Moslem in the -ordinary sense of the term, but to carry out the rôle surrender would -entail on me, I must be prepared to pursue this religious deception to -its fullest extent,--I must become a devotee, and henceforth I must show -myself heart and soul a Mahdist! - -Can any one imagine that this was a pleasing prospect? Nevertheless, I -confess that the religious considerations involved in the step I -contemplated--although they weighed with me to no small extent--did not -occupy my mind so fully as the considerations in regard to my duty. -Generally speaking, I felt it to be my duty to surrender, and make no -further sacrifice of life in a cause which could not now, by any -possibility, succeed. There was no particular reason, however, why I -should voluntarily submit to the indignities and practical slavery which -must follow on my personal surrender; to be accessory to my own death -occurred to me more than once, but my nature revolted against this -thought. I was young, my life during the past four years had been one -of anxious responsibility, but of stirring adventure as well, and I had -no particular desire to bring it to a close, even with the dark prospect -in front of me. God in His mercy had spared me almost miraculously in -this constant fighting, and perhaps He would still spare me to be of use -to the Government I had tried to serve most loyally. - -These were the thoughts which were uppermost in my mind when the dark -hours of anxious meditation gave place to the first streaks of the dawn -of perhaps the most memorable day of my life. Yes, I concluded, there is -nothing for it now but submission; I must become, so to speak, the slave -of those whom I have governed, I must be obedient to those who in every -respect are my inferiors, and I must, above all, be patient: if by a -careful practice of these I should succeed in saving my life and -eventually recovering my liberty, no doubt the experience which I should -gain would be valuable to the Government in whose service I still was. -With this determination and resolution I rose, and dressed for the last -time for many a long year in the uniform, the honour of which I had done -my utmost to uphold, now to be discarded for the Mahdist garb, in which -I was to play an entirely new part in life; but beneath it would beat a -heart as truly loyal as ever to Government, and filled with a -determination that, come what might, if it were God's will I should be -eventually restored to liberty, the strange experiences which it would -now be my fate to undergo might be turned to useful account. It was now -to be a case of my wits against those of my new masters,--who would win? -I did not quail from the contest, though I should have had no little -excuse for doing so, could I have scanned the future, and seen before me -the long years of servitude, and the double life which I should be -compelled to lead, in order to carry through the resolution at which I -had now arrived. - -The next morning, the two officers arrived; I showed them Zogal's -letter, calling on me to surrender peacefully, and to meet him on the -23rd of December at Hilla Shieria, where he would personally hand me the -Mahdi's letter; he further wrote that, in accordance with his present -instructions, my life and those of all the men, women, and children in -the fort should be spared, and we should be afforded all protection. - -Whilst we were talking over the matter, the orderly officer reported -that Abder Rasul Agha, with all the Bazingers, as well as the chief -merchant with his family, had deserted the town during the night, with -the evident intention of joining the enemy. - -This was the last straw. It was absolutely clear to me that further -resistance was impossible. I therefore sent for my clerk and dictated to -him a letter to Zogal, giving in my submission and that of the garrison, -and agreeing to meet him at Hilla Shieria on the 23rd of December; this -I handed to Gretli, with instructions to take it to Zogal, who was now -to be called Sayed Mohammed Ibn Khaled. - -The following day, in the afternoon, I assembled all the officers, and -told them that, as further resistance was not possible, I had concurred -in their proposals; that I was leaving Dara that evening in order to -meet Zogal the next day at Hilla Shieria, and that I would take the Kadi -with me, but would leave the officers to look after the garrison during -my absence. In a few words, which seemed to stick in my throat, I -thanked them for their loyalty, their readiness to sacrifice their lives -in the service of the Government, and their adherence to me; then, -warmly shaking each of them by the hand, and taking a general leave of -the civil officials, I departed. - -At midnight, accompanied by my kavasses, Kadi Wad el Beshir, Sultan -Abakr el Begawi, Ismail Wad Barnu, and Muslem Wad Kabbashi, who remained -faithful to the last, I quitted Dara. During my service in Darfur I had -had many disagreeable experiences, but this journey was quite the -hardest. Not a word passed. We were all fully occupied with our -miserable thoughts. At sunset we made a short halt, but the food put -before us by the servants remained untouched. Our appetites had gone, -so we rode on. As we approached Hilla Shieria, I sent an orderly ahead -to see if Zogal had arrived, and he soon returned, stating he had been -there since yesterday, and was waiting for me. In a few moments we -reached the spot where he was standing, and, jumping off my horse, I -advanced to salute him; he pressed me to his heart, and assured me of -his entire friendliness, begged me to be seated, and then handed me the -Mahdi's letter. It merely stated that he had appointed Sayed Mohammed -Khaled as Emir of the West, had granted me pardon, that he had -commissioned his nephew to treat me with the respect to which my rank -entitled me, and to act with leniency and forbearance to all those who -were formerly Government officials. After I had finished reading the -letter, Zogal informed me that it was entirely owing to his good offices -on my behalf that the Mahdi had pardoned me, and that he would, of -course, do his utmost to help me. I thanked him for his kind sympathy. -The Emirs were then introduced to me: Elias, Tayeb, and Hassan Nejumi I -had met before. After partaking of food, Zogal discussed his intended -journey to Dara; whilst we were talking, one of my officers, Mohammed -Agha Suleiman, arrived, and, without taking the smallest notice of me, -went up and greeted Zogal most effusively; I at once recognised him as -one of the three officers whom I had been told were "Black Zogal's" (as -he was called) secret agents. Mohammed Khaled, as I must call him in -future, now took me aside, and spoke to me about his relatives and his -family. I told him that I had left them all well, and that the former -were still in arrest. He at once said he quite concurred in the steps I -had taken, which of course were in the interests of self-preservation, -and best for us both. We then started off, and encamped the same evening -near Dara. Several of the inhabitants and officials came out to greet -the new governor, already dressed in their Dervish clothes. - -During my absence, Mohammed Khaled had directed Abd es Samad, who was at -Bringel with the Dervish troops, to move down towards Dara and occupy -the buildings to the south of the town, which had formerly belonged to -the Vizir Ahmed Shatta. Joined on his march by most of the country -people, he had arrived at the appointed place, had established friendly -relations with the townspeople and garrison, and had distributed -quantities of the new clothing in presents. - -That night I again passed almost without closing my eyes. It was -Christmas Eve. I thought of home and of the beautiful Church festival -which was being celebrated there, whilst I, alone and defeated, was -handing over my men and arms to the enemy. In those still hours--they -were the saddest in my life--I passed in review all that had happened. -More fortunate by far were those who had fallen on the field of honour! - -The next morning, Zogal officially received all those who had come out -to pay homage to him, and then ordered them and the troops under Abd es -Samad to march past. This over, he dismissed his relatives who had come -out to greet him, regretting the discomfort they had suffered under -arrest, and he then proceeded to his house outside the fort, having, -meanwhile, ordered my men to hand over their arms by companies,--a duty -which was performed with very scant regard for our feelings. The fort -was now garrisoned by Dervish troops, and this completed his occupation -of the country. The inhabitants flocked to him to give their oaths of -allegiance to the Mahdi, and later in the day the troops were paraded by -his order, to go through the same ceremony. - -Madibbo, who had joined Abd es Samad at Bringel, and had come to Dara -with him, followed me home. We shook hands, and I begged him to be -seated; he then began: "You seem to be annoyed with me, and accuse me of -having broken faith with you: but now listen to me. I was discharged -from my position of head Sheikh by Emiliani, and proceeded to the Bahr -el Arab, where the Mahdi's summons reached me. I am a good Moslem, and -therefore I followed him; I beheld the Mahdi's divine nature, and -listened to his doctrines; I was also present at the marvellous -destruction of Yusef Shellali. I therefore believed in him, and am still -a believer. You of course trusted in your strength, and did not wish to -submit without fighting. We both fought, each seeking his own advantage: -I fought against the Government, but not against you personally. God -knows, I have never forgotten that you were friendly minded to me, -therefore let anger depart from your heart and be a brother to me!" - -"I am not at all angry at what you have done," I answered, "you are but -one among many: and should I have been annoyed with you, your words have -quite reconciled me." "I thank you," said Madibbo. "May God strengthen -you, and as He has protected you hitherto, may He continue to protect -you!" "In truth," I replied, "I put my trust in Him. Still it is hard to -have to bear all that has now happened; but I suppose it must be!" "Not -so," he answered; "I am only an Arab, but listen to me. Be obedient and -patient; practise this virtue, for it is written, 'Allah ma es saberin' -[God is with the patient]. However, I have come to ask you something, -and my request is this: If you are really a brother to me, then, in -token of our friendship, I wish you to accept my favourite horse. You -knew him before; he is the Sakr ed Dijaj [the Chicken-hawk]." Before I -could reply, he had got up and gone outside, and in a few minutes -returned, leading his horse, which was the finest and most handsome -animal owned by the tribe; he then handed me the leading-rope. "I do not -wish to insult you," I replied, "by refusing to accept your present, but -I do not require it; I shall not want to ride much now." "Who knows?" -said the Sheikh. "Illi umru tawil bishuf ketir [He who lives long sees -much]. You are still young, and may often ride yet,--if not on this -horse, then on another." "You may be right, Madibbo, but now do you -accept from me this token of friendship," said I, pointing to his -precious war-drums, which my servants took up and handed to him; these -drums, it will be remembered, I had taken in the night attack on -Kershu. On the drums I also laid a sword which I had taken down from -the wall. "To-day," said I, "these are mine, and I can offer them to -you; to-morrow they may be another's." "I thank you, and accept them -gladly," said the Sheikh. "Only a short time ago your men captured my -war-drums; but, as the Arabs say, 'Er rigal sharrada urrada' [A man runs -away and comes back again],[9] and I may truly say I have fought many -times in my life, and sometimes I have run away, then I have returned -and have succeeded." Madibbo now ordered his men to carry off his drums, -and departed in great delight. His conversation had affected me -considerably. So I was now to be "obedient and patient; for he who lives -long sees much." - -Mohammed Khaled soon sent for me, and informed me that on his arrival at -Shieria he had despatched a letter by one of Wad Darho's relatives to -Said Bey Guma, summoning him to surrender, and had at the same time sent -a certain Abderrahman as his representative. He now called upon me to -write officially to him to hand over Fasher and summon every one to -submit. I replied that the clerks were no longer in my service, and that -the document could be made out, should he think it necessary, and I -would sign it. The orders to this effect were given, I signed them, and -Khaled, addressing the letter to the commander of the Fasher garrison, -despatched it at once. - -The following morning the new Governor began his seizure of the state -moneys. The inhabitants of Dara, with the exception of all troops below -the rank of officer, and myself, being considered as Ghanima,[10] were -ordered out of their houses; they were only permitted to take with them -a few necessary cooking utensils and the clothes they wore, and were -ordered to collect in front of the police-station near the market, -whilst their dwellings were ransacked and the contents carried off to -the Beit el Mal which was opened in the Mudiria. As no money or -jewellery was found, all those suspected of having any were brought -before the Emirs, who ordered them to instantly produce it; and in -carrying out the search disgusting cruelties were perpetrated: they -flogged mercilessly, beat them with sticks or tied them by the legs head -downwards in wells until the rush of blood to the head rendered them -unconscious. Amongst those who exercised more cruelty than the rest was -my old Khartum friend Hassan Wad Saad en Nur, whom I reported, in his -presence, to Khaled. Hassan instantly turned to me, saying, "Do you -still think you are Governor-General of Darfur and can say what you -like?" I replied that he should be careful not to go too far, and -reminded him that it was I who secured his release from prison, and that -the horse he was then riding was mine. To this he answered impudently, -"It was God who released me, and it is God, and not you, who has given -me your horse to ride." Khaled, who heard these remarks, angrily ordered -him off, and said to me, "Take no notice of him, his father, Saad en -Nur, was the Sultan's slave, and slave-blood always shows itself." - -As we were now alone, I complained to Khaled of the ill-treatment -visited on those who had shown complete submission, and I reminded him -of his pledge to protect all men, women, and children. "I am not going -to put any one to death," answered he, sharply, "but they have no right -to the money they are concealing; it is contrary to the arrangement, and -it must be taken from them by force." My experiences were beginning. I -went home, and here several of the poor people who had been turned out -of their houses came and begged me to give them something. I furnished -them with a little corn; but since our troubles began I had received no -pay, so had no money to offer them. - -The male and female servants of the former officials were now -distributed amongst the Mahdists, but all the good-looking young girls -were put aside for the Mahdi himself. - -Seven days after our surrender Khaled informed me that Said Bey Guma had -sent the principal officials to make their submission, and that he -himself was in the neighbourhood of the town awaiting further orders; he -therefore collected his forces and prepared to march out to meet him. -The delegates sent by Said Bey Guma were Omar Wad Darho and some of his -officers, Hanafi el Koreishi the grand Kadi, and Ali Bey Khabir. Khaled -received them with great satisfaction, and one of the clerks, coming -forward, presented the documents relating to the transfer of the -Government to Abderrahman; in these were included the lists of arms and -ammunition in store, the number of guns, etc. Khaled now took his guests -into the town and entertained them with the best of everything, pledging -himself to preserve, not only their lives and the lives of all the women -and children in Fasher, but also, when all the money and valuables were -collected, he promised that half would be returned to the owners. The -following day, however, it was rumoured that the Fasher garrison had -decided not to surrender after all, and in the evening news arrived that -Fiki Abderrahman had been warned to leave the city, which he had done, -and that all preparations were being made for defence. Khaled now -anxiously inquired of the messengers what had occurred to cause this -sudden change in Said Bey's intentions; but they replied it was not the -doing of Said Bey, but of some of the officers, who had been told by -refugees from Dara that their comrades had been badly treated, and they -had, therefore, decided to fight to the end. - -Khaled now gave orders that all his people should prepare to advance at -once on Fasher, including the entire garrison, with their arms and -ammunition, with the exception of the officers, whom he ordered to -remain behind and to be carefully watched. He waited, however, two days -longer, in the hope that he might get different news; but as the first -account was further corroborated by some of Darho's men and Ali Khabir's -servant, who came in that evening from Fasher, he set out on 3rd January -to lay siege to the town, followed by large numbers of men marching by -various roads. - -On 7th January he, his Emirs, and the Dara troops under Mohammed Agha -Suleiman, reached Wad Beraj, on the outskirts of the town, where they -pitched camp. The next day a letter was written which I was obliged to -sign, reminding Said Bey Guma and the officers of the agreement they had -made to surrender through Omar Wad Darho, Kadi Hanafi, and others. -My--or rather Khaled's--letter remained unanswered; for it was quite -understood in Fasher that, being now under Khaled, I had no other course -open than to obey his orders. The messenger who took the letter was told -to warn all those who complained of ill-treatment to come and state to -Khaled what they required; and this becoming known to the Fasher -garrison, several who had no desire to fight left the fort, and were -accepted in the Mahdist camp. Wad Darho's men, who lived outside the -fort, also came over to Khaled immediately, and orders were given to -begin the siege forthwith; the operations being intrusted to Darho. - -I now asked Khaled to be allowed to talk to him privately, and I told -him plainly that this opposition on the part of the Fasher garrison was -entirely due to their fear of suffering in the same way as the Dara -people. This he quite admitted. I then told him I was very unwilling to -fight against those who had formerly been under my rule, and, as he was -well aware, the events of the last few days had considerably affected my -health; I therefore begged to be allowed to return to Dara. In reply to -my request he said that were it not that he liked me, he would most -certainly have punished me severely for the words I had just uttered; -nevertheless, he would allow me to return to Dara, on condition that I -pledged myself to abstain from any acts of hostility; at the same time -he showed me some letters which had been addressed to me, but which he -had opened. One of them was a reply to my report sent from the Beni -Helba country to Cairo regarding the desert road to Assiut. They had -been given to some Magharba Arabs to bring to me, and on their entry -into the country they had been arrested by the Saidia Arabs and kept as -prisoners, and on Khaled's arrival at El Fasher they had been sent on to -him. He allowed me to make notes of their contents. The letters were all -of old dates. One was from His Highness the Khedive Tewfik Pasha, -expressing his complete satisfaction with the services I had rendered, -urging me to continue to fulfil with diligence the duties of my -position, and telling me that he was despatching an army under Hicks -Pasha to subdue the rebels in Kordofan and restore peace. Another was -from H. E. Nubar Pasha, Prime Minister, who also expressed satisfaction -with my services, and repeated the information about the Hicks -expedition. The third was from Zubeir Pasha, who sent me his kind -regards, and asked me to make inquiries about the family of his son -Suleiman. As far as I knew, Suleiman had left only one child, who with -his mother I had handed over to the care of Omar Wad Darho with -instructions to take an early opportunity to send them to Zubeir's -relatives on the Nile. The mother, however, preferred to marry one of -Darho's relations, and she was charged with bringing up the child. The -feelings which I underwent on reading these letters can be better -imagined than described. How we had placed all our hopes on the success -of the Hicks expedition, and how rudely had those hopes been dashed to -the ground! However, I did my best to master my feelings, and handed the -letters back to Khaled, who was contentedly smiling at my agitation. -"Your Effendina [the Khedive] thought he would defeat the Mahdi," said -he, "but the 'expected one' has turned the tables on him; there are -still harder times in store for these deluded Turks and Egyptians." I -smothered the retort which hung on my lips, and said nothing. "Be -obedient and patient" was Madibbo's advice; but how difficult it was to -follow it! - -I then got up and took leave of Khaled, who lost no opportunity of -showing me that he was my superior, and then proceeded to Dara without -delay. I was really ill, and on my arrival there kept to my house for -some days; but the weeping and wailing of the unfortunate people gave -me no rest: they had been robbed of all their means of livelihood, and -now eked out a miserable and wretched existence as best they could. - -Meanwhile the Mahdists were besieging Fasher, and had taken up their -position on the hill to the east of the fort, from which they were -separated by the Khor Tendelti; they had taken possession of all the -wells, both near the hill, as well as those in the valley. Said Bey Guma -was the actual commandant, though the preliminary success of the -garrison was principally due to the energy of the two officers, Said -Agha el Fula and Ibrahim Agha et Tagalawi. The former had been wounded -with me at Shakka, and I had sent him to his family at Fasher to -recover; the latter was an exceptionally brave officer, and had -considerable influence with the troops. As there was no water in the -fort, the continuance of the siege depended on the possession of the -wells. Said Bey Guma disposed of eight hundred and fifty rifles, which -were more than were required for the size of the fort; but Khaled was -still better off. Nevertheless, the Fasher garrison succeeded, after a -sharp contest, in regaining the wells, and the Mahdists were forced to -retire to Wadi Baraj; here, however, they were reinforced by a portion -of the Kebkebia garrison. Adam Amer had surrendered, and had despatched -a large party of Bazingers, under Babakr Wad el Haj, with several -regulars to Khaled's support; and with this addition to their strength -another attack was made, which resulted in the garrison losing the -wells. - -Several heroic sorties were made; but after a seven days' siege the -garrison was obliged to submit, on the 15th of January, and Khaled, the -conqueror, entered the ancient capital of his new kingdom. After the -arms had been handed over and the fort occupied, the seizure of property -began, as at Dara, and similar, if not worse, cruelties were perpetrated -on the luckless inhabitants. Said Bey himself was, comparatively -speaking, more fortunate than other commanders; the greater part of his -property was confiscated, it is true, but he was not maltreated nor -insulted, and for the time being he and his family were banished to -Kobbé, where he was given a house, and was thus saved the misery of -seeing his comrades and inferiors being tormented. - -Amongst the latter was a certain Major Hamada Effendi, who, in spite of -every effort to make him confess, persisted in declaring that he had no -money. One of his female slaves, however, told his persecutors that he -had a quantity of gold and silver, but she did not know where he had -concealed it. Consequently he was brought before Khaled, who called him -an unbelieving dog. Hamada Effendi, losing control of himself, retorted -that he was a wretched Dongolawi; and Khaled, furious at this insult, -ordered the unfortunate man to be flogged until he confessed the -hiding-place of his treasure. For three days in succession he received a -thousand lashes a day, but it was all in vain; had he been a block of -wood or stone, he could not have stood this awful flogging more -doggedly. To the repeated questions of his tormentors as to where his -money was, he merely answered, "Yes, I have concealed money, but it will -remain buried in the ground with me." Khaled now ordered the flogging to -be stopped, and the poor mangled man was handed over to the Mima Arabs, -who were told to guard him; and even they were struck with the -resolution of this officer, from whom no amount of torture could wring a -confession. Ibrahim Tegalawi, who had been called a "slave" by one of -the Emirs, deliberately shot dead his own wife, his brother, and then -himself; Said Agha Fula also preferred to commit suicide than undergo -torture. After these occurrences, Khaled gave orders to stop the -flogging, and banished the Egyptian officers to various places in the -neighbourhood. - -Shortly after the fall of Fasher I received a summons from Khaled to -join him, and I arrived there early in February; he gave me Said Bey -Guma's house to live in, and told me that I might send to Dara for my -horses and servants, but as regards the house furniture, that must be -passed into the Beit el Mal as an "act of renunciation." I carried out -these instructions, and handed over all the property in my house in -Fasher to the treasurer of the Beit el Mal, Gaber Wad et Taib, only -retaining such things as were absolutely necessary for daily life. I had -heard on my arrival here of Hamada's heroism, and sought out the poor -old Major, whom I found in a truly terrible state. The gaping wounds -from his shoulders to his knees were mortifying rapidly, and his -tormentors used to pour over them daily a strong solution of salt and -water well seasoned with Sudan pepper, thus hoping to wring a confession -from him during the awful pain which ensued. But it was useless; he -absolutely refused to utter a word. In desperation I went to Khaled, -told him of the poor man's horrible condition, and begged him to allow -me to take him to my own house and treat him there. "He is dishonest," -said Khaled; "he has concealed money and has publicly insulted me: for -this he must die a miserable death." "For the sake of our old -friendship," said I, "I beg and pray you will forgive him and hand him -over to me." "Well," said he at last, "I will if you will prostrate -yourself before me." In the Sudan this is considered a terrible -humiliation. The blood rushed to my face: to save my own life I would -never do such a thing; but if by this self-sacrifice I could rescue the -poor wretched man from his awful sufferings, I ought surely to do so. -For a moment I hesitated; then, with a fearful effort of self-control, I -knelt down, and laid my hands on his bare feet. He drew them back, -raised me up, and, apparently ashamed of having asked such a sacrifice -of me, said, "It is only for your sake that I shall liberate Hamada; but -you must promise that, should you find out where his treasure is, you -will let me know." I promised to do so, and he then sent a man with me -to Hamada. Calling up my servants I had him carried on an angareb, as -tenderly as I could, to my house, and washed his wounds, spreading over -them fresh butter to deaden the pain. It was quite impossible he could -live much longer. I gave him a little soup, and in a low voice he called -down all the curses of Heaven on his enemies. He lay in my house four -days, and then, calling me to his bedside, he motioned to the servants -to leave us; he now whispered, in words which were scarcely audible, "My -hour has come. May the Lord reward you for all your kindness to me! I -cannot do so, but I will show you that I am grateful. I have buried my -money--" "Stop!" said I. "Are you going to tell me where you have hidden -your treasure?" "Yes," he murmured; "it may be of some use to you." -"No," I answered, "I will not and cannot use it; I secured your release -from your tormentors on the one condition that, should I learn where -your money was hidden, I should tell Khaled your enemy. You have -suffered greatly, and are paying with your life for your determination -not to let your treasure fall into your enemy's hands; let it lie -unknown in the ground, it will keep silence!" Whilst I was talking, -Hamada held my hand; with a supreme effort he murmured, "I thank you; -may you became fortunate without my money! Allah Karim [God is -merciful!];" then, stretching out his limbs, and raising his forefinger, -he slowly muttered, "La ilaha illallah, Mohammed Rasul Allah," closed -his eyes, and died. - -As I gazed at his poor mangled corpse my eyes filled with tears. How -much was I still to suffer before it came to my turn to enter into -everlasting rest? Calling my servants, I bade them bring in two good men -to wash the body, and wrap it in some linen I had procured; meanwhile, I -went to Khaled to inform him of his death. "Did he not tell you where -his money was buried?" said he, sharply. "No," said I, "the man was too -stubborn to betray his secret." "Then may God curse him!" said the Emir, -turning to me. "However, as he died in your house, you may bury him; he -really deserves to be thrown out like a dog on the dunghill." Quitting -him, I went home and buried poor Hamada, with the usual form of prayer, -just in front of my house. - -Khaled was a very cunning man, excessively strict with the former -Government officials, and unnecessarily lenient in his transactions with -the local population. He filled all important positions by his own -relatives, and although he strove by every means in his power to squeeze -all he could out of the country, he was specially careful to avoid the -risk of incurring popular discontent. He appropriated to himself the -greater part of the revenues, and every now and then he sent as presents -to the Mahdi and his Khalifas a batch of pretty girls, some good horses, -or some exceptionally fine camels, so as to retain his good reputation -in the household of his lord and master. He kept up great state, and -surrounded himself with an enormous household. He married Mariam Isa -Basi, the sister of the Sultan of Darfur, although she was over fifty -years old. This good lady had hundreds of male and female slaves, and -kept up her state in true Sudanese fashion. It did not seem to occur to -Khaled that any self-abnegation, as required by the Mahdi creed, should -be demanded of him. Every evening he caused a hundred dishes, plates, -and twisted mats, full of every variety of food, to be distributed -amongst his followers, who, seated at their ease under the palm-trees, -would sing the praises of the Mahdi, coupling every now and then his -name with that of their benefactor and Emir, Khaled. - -At about this time a long letter, sent from Cairo to me, through the -Mudir of Dongola, by the hands of a trusty Arab, arrived. In it I was -ordered to concentrate the troops at Fasher, hand over the province to -Abd es Shakur bin Abderrahman Shattut, a descendant of the Darfur -Sultans, and move with all troops and war _matériel_ to Dongola. The -king's son in question was, however, still in Dongola, unable to find -means to come to Darfur; and I greatly doubt if his arrival would have -made the smallest difference in the situation. Concentration at Fasher -would have been rendered impossible by the defection of the officers and -men; and had I been able to collect sufficient troops ready to obey my -orders, and had I been able to march out with them and the war -_matériel_ unmolested, I could equally well have been able to stay in -the country and maintain my position; in which case the Egyptian -Government would have had in me a vassal of equivalent, if not greater, -fidelity than the powerless Abd es Shakur. Khaled showed me these -letters, and also gave me permission to write a few lines to my family -at home, which he allowed the Arab who brought the letters to take back; -but I do not think my letter ever reached its destination. - -During all this time I remained quietly at my house, awaiting the -instructions of the Mahdi as to my movements. About the middle of May, -Khaled informed me that, owing to scarcity of water, the Mahdi had -quitted El Obeid and marched to Rahad, that he wished to know me -personally, and that, therefore, I should make preparations to start at -once. - -News now reached us of the fall of Bahr el Ghazal, under Lupton Bey, and -of the despatch of the Emir Karamalla, as Mahdist Governor of the -Province. This Karamalla had formerly lived with his brother Kerkesawi, -who was commander of Lupton's Bazingers, and on the outbreak of the -revolt had proceeded with his brother's permission to El Obeid, where he -had been well received by the Mahdi. Appointed Emir, he was sent back, -and was immediately joined by all the Bazingers and most of Lupton's -officials, including finally his sub-governor, Arbab ez Zubeir, who had -hitherto served the Government most loyally. Thus deserted by all his -people, Lupton had no other course open than to capitulate, which he -did, without fighting, on 28th April 1884. Had it not been for the -defection of his own men and officials, Lupton, by a judicious -management of the Negro tribes, could have held his province against all -comers for years; but deserted by all, and by them sold over to the -Mahdists, he could not do otherwise than surrender. - -Khaled wished Said Bey Guma to accompany me as well; he was still living -at Kobbé, and, in spite of his former intrigues against me, I agreed to -the proposal; also a certain Greek merchant named Dimitri Zigada asked -to accompany me, and Khaled gave him permission to do so. This man had -been long resident in Darfur, and had been a meat contractor for the -troops at Fasher and Kebkebia. Previous to my capitulation, he had -presented to me claims for £8,000 for meat supplied, which I had -granted, and my signature to that effect he sewed into his clothes. - -Procuring the necessary camels, and confining ourselves to as few -servants as possible, as at that time of the year water was very scarce -along the road, we prepared for the journey. - -Hearing that I could sell horses at a good price in Kordofan, I took -four of mine with me, hoping in this way to obtain sufficient money to -cover our daily expenses. At Khaled's express wish, I gave him the bay -pony which Gordon had presented to me. Said Bey had now arrived from -Kobbé, bringing with him only one wife; the remainder and his seven -children he had, to his great regret, been obliged to leave behind him. -About the middle of June, Zigada and I quitted Fasher, heartily glad to -leave the place where we had suffered so many hardships and bitter -experiences. Khaled supplied us with an escort of ten men under Fiki -Shakir, of the Berti tribe, and no doubt the latter was instructed to -keep a careful watch over us. In bidding him good-bye, I thanked Khaled -for his friendship, and begged him to be kind to the few remaining male -and female servants I had left behind me. - -Our route lay through Toweisha _via_ Woda and Fafa; on the way we were -constantly exposed to the inquisitive importunity of the country people, -and had to submit to many an insulting remark regarding our present -situation, which they invariably said was much better than we deserved. -To save our horses, we marched slow, and on the fifth day reached -Toweisha, where, being our guide's native place, we stayed a few days; -during this time he treated us as his guests, and did all he could to -make us comfortable. On leaving, I gave his little daughters a few -ivory bracelets, which are much prized in Darfur, and which I had -brought with me in lieu of money; I also obtained a few dollars, which I -gave to our host in order to secure his friendship. - -He told me confidentially that Khaled had particularly instructed him to -note carefully all we said to each other on the journey, and, should we -make disparaging remarks about the Mahdi and his doings, he was at once -to let Khalifa Abdullahi know; he asked me to tell my companions this, -so that they might take heed not to allow any ill-advised expressions to -drop which might be made fatal use of by those evilly-disposed to us. I -thanked him heartily for this confidence, and we took special pains to -say nothing of a compromising nature during the rest of the journey. - -Passing through Dar Homr, we were subjected to the insulting curiosity -of the Messeria Arabs, and, continuing our journey towards El Obeid, we -procured water from the Baobab reservoir-trees, for which we had to pay -heavily, and at length reached that city. The Mahdi had left here as -Governor a most dissolute old relative of his named Sayed Mahmud; we -found him sitting on the ground in hot dispute with some merchants. I -told him who I was, and he had already been warned of our approach; but -he took not the slightest notice of us, keeping us standing for some -minutes. Eventually, he gave us a discourteous greeting, and sent one of -his men to take us to a house which was to serve as our lodging. An hour -later, they brought us a sheep, and a sack of corn as food for the -camels and horses, and directed us to attend public prayers. Dimitri -Zigada pretended to be ill; but Said Bey and I went and stayed in the -open court of the mosque from noon till sunset; during the whole of this -time, Sayed Mahmud and his staff instructed the congregation on the -beauties and high importance of the Mahdi's doctrine, and, turning to -us, urged us to serve him honestly and faithfully, or we should suffer -unheard-of punishments in this world, and hell-fire in the world to -come. At last, pleading fatigue after our long journey, we were allowed -to withdraw; and Mahmud directed us to proceed the next day to Rahad, -where the Mahdi was now encamped. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE SIEGE AND FALL OF KHARTUM. - - Gordon returns to the Sudan--The Siege of Khartum--I join the - Mahdi at Rahad--Interviews and first Impressions of the - Mahdi--The Oath of Allegiance--Description of the Khalifa--The - Arrival of Hussein Pasha--Criticisms on Gordon's Mission--The - Abandonment of the Sudan proclaimed--Incidents in Various Parts - of the Sudan--The Arrival of Olivier Pain--His Mission, Illness, - and Death--Arrival outside Khartum--I write to Gordon--I am - arrested and thrown into Chains--Incidents during my - Imprisonment--The Surrender of Omdurman--The Delay of the - British Expedition--Khartum is attacked and taken--Gordon's Head - is brought to me--Account of the last Days of Khartum--Massacres - and Atrocities after the Fall--The Retreat of the British - Expedition--The Rigours of my Imprisonment increased--My Comrade - in Captivity, Frank Lupton--We are both released--I enter the - Khalifa's Body-guard--Illness and Death of the Mahdi--Khalifa - Abdullahi succeeds him--The Rules and Ordinances of the Mahdi. - - -After the destruction of Hicks Pasha's expedition, the Mahdi well knew -that the whole Sudan was at his feet; to take possession of it was -merely a question of time. His first step was the despatch of his cousin -Khaled to Darfur, where he knew no resistance was possible. Through the -influence of Karamalla, he was able to acquire possession of the Bahr el -Ghazal, the employés having merely transferred their allegiance from the -Khedive to the Mahdi. Already Mek Adam of Tagalla had submitted, and had -come to El Obeid with his family. Mahdism had seized a firm hold of the -Eastern Sudan, and found a ready home amongst the brave Arabs of those -regions; Egyptian troops had been annihilated at Sinkat and Tamanib; -General Baker's disaster at Teb had given the tribes great confidence; -and Mustafa Hadal was besieging Kassala. In the Gezira, between the -Blue and White Niles, the Mahdi's brother-in-law, Wad el Basir of the -Halawin tribe, had scored successes against the Government; and such was -briefly the condition of the country when Gordon reached Berber, on 11th -February 1884. - -The Egyptian Government, in accord with the British Government, thought -that by the despatch of Gordon, who had special knowledge of the Sudan, -the agitation would be stopped; but neither these Governments, nor -Gordon himself, seemed to realise how serious the situation really was. -Did they imagine for a moment that Gordon, who had had occasion to show -considerable personal bravery, who had gained a name for charity and -benevolence amongst the lower classes of the Darfur population, and had -suppressed a number of revolts in the Equatorial Negro lands, was -capable of checking the blazing flames of fanaticism? The Jaalin between -Berber and Khartum, and throughout the Gezira, had become restive and -dissatisfied; and was the personal influence of Gordon going to pacify -them? On the contrary, these same tribes had every reason to remember -with little satisfaction the name of the Governor-General who had issued -the ejection edict against the Gellabas of the southern districts, -during the Suleiman Zubeir war against the Arabs. In the events which -followed on this drastic measure, and which I have described elsewhere, -many of these people had lost fathers, brothers, and sons, and had been -reduced to beggary; were they likely to forgive Gordon this? - -On the 18th February, he reached Khartum, and received a warm welcome -from the officials and inhabitants. Those who were in immediate contact -with him, and anticipating for themselves much personal benefit, were -convinced that the Government would never leave a man like Gordon in the -lurch. Almost his first step was to issue a proclamation appointing the -Mahdi Sultan of Kordofan, permitting the slave-trade, and proposing to -enter into relations with him; in his letter he also asked for the -release of the prisoners, and sent the Mahdi some very fine clothes. -Gordon's letter would have been all very well if he had had a force at -his back with which to march into Kordofan; but the Mahdi had been told -that he had arrived at Khartum with merely a small body-guard. Naturally -he thought it an extraordinary proceeding for Gordon to give him what he -had already taken by force of arms, and which it was most improbable any -troops at Gordon's disposal could have wrenched from him; and it was in -this frame of mind that the Mahdi couched his reply advising Gordon to -surrender and save his life. - -Meanwhile, the immense crowds which had collected round El Obeid began -to exhaust the water supply; and, to reduce the pressure, the Mahdi -despatched Abu Anga, with a large force, against Jebel Daïr, where the -Nuba tribes were offering a stubborn resistance to his rule. - -In all these matters, Khalifa Abdullahi was the Mahdi's principal -adviser, and, consequently, he was detested by the immediate relatives -of the Prophet, who did all in their power to frustrate his designs, and -intrigue against him. He was, however, well aware that the Mahdi could -not get on without him; he therefore retaliated by complaining against -these intrigues, and asked the Mahdi to take an occasion to openly -acknowledge his services. This led to the issue of a proclamation which, -to this day, is referred to whenever any exceptionally severe measure or -important change is contemplated by his successor. It runs as follows:-- - - A PROCLAMATION - FROM MOHAMMED EL MAHDI TO ALL HIS FOLLOWERS. - - In the name of God, etc., Know ye, O my followers, that the - representative of the righteous [Abu Bakr], and the Emir of the - Mahdi army, referred to in the Prophet's vision, is Es Sayed - Abdullahi Ibn es Sayed Hamadalla. He is of me, and I am of him. - Behave with all reverence to him, as you do to me; submit to him - as you submit to me, and believe in him as you believe in me; - rely on all he says, and never question any of his proceedings. - All that he does is by order of the Prophet, or by my - permission. He is my agent in carrying out the will of the - Prophet. If God and His Prophet desire to do anything, we must - submit to their will; and if any one shows the slightest - disinclination, he is not a believer, and has no faith in God. - The Khalifa Abdullahi is the representative of the righteous. - You are well aware of the love of God and His apostle for the - righteous; therefore, you can readily understand the honourable - position which should be held by His representative. He is - guarded by the "Khudr," and is strengthened by God and His - Prophet. If any one of you speak or think ill of him, you will - suffer destruction, and will lose this world and the world to - come. - - Know, therefore, that all his sayings and actions must never be - questioned; for he has been given wisdom and a right judgment in - all things. If he sentence any of you to death, or confiscate - your property, it is for your good; therefore do not disobey - him. The Prophet says that, in next degree to the Prophet, Abu - Bakr was the greatest living man under the sun, and also the - most righteous. The Khalifa Abdullahi is his representative; - and, by order of the Prophet, he is my Khalifa. All those who - believe in God and in me must also believe in him; and, should - any one notice anything apparently wrong in him, they should - attribute it to a mystery which they cannot understand, and - that, therefore, it must be right. Let those who are present - tell those who are absent, so that all may submit to him, and - attribute to him no wrong. Beware of doing any harm to the - friends of God; for God and His Prophet curse those that behave - or think badly of His friends. - - The Khalifa Abdullahi is the commander of the faithful, and is - my Khalifa and agent in all religious matters. Therefore, I - leave off as I have begun,--"Believe in him; obey his orders; - never doubt what he says, but give all your confidence to him, - and trust him in all your affairs." And may God be with you all. - Amen. - -As the water was daily becoming more scarce, the Mahdi resolved to move -his entire camp to Rahad, about one day's journey from El Obeid; and, -about the middle of April, the transfer of this immense mass of men, -women, and children to the new position was completed. He had left his -old relative, Sayed Mahmud, at El Obeid with very strict orders that any -persons found remaining in the town, without his permission, were to be -sent to Rahad by force; and he sent further reinforcements to Jebel -Daïr, which was only a day's march distant, and where the plucky Nubas -were defending themselves most gallantly. - -The camp at Rahad soon became a perfect sea of straw huts, or tokuls, -stretching as far as the eye could reach; and, all day long, the Mahdi -occupied himself in his religious duties, preaching and praying -incessantly. Mohammed Abu Girga, he nominated Emir of the Gezira, and -despatched him, with a considerable following, to the Nile, with -instructions to head the revolt in these districts, and besiege Khartum. - -Such was the state of affairs when, towards sunset, Said Bey Guma, -Dimitri Zigada, and I approached Rahad. We stopped for the night at some -huts on the outskirts; and it was not long before a considerable number -of people became aware of our arrival, and we received several visits -from those who were anxious to know the situation in Darfur when we had -left. At sunrise, having donned our new jibbas, we took leave of our -hosts, and proceeded towards the camp where we were expected in two -hours time; my servants, who knew something of tailoring, had made me a -jibba with broad black patches sewn on with such evenness and regularity -that, at a short distance, I must have looked exactly like a lady in a -fancy bathing costume, whilst Said Bey and Zigada wore party-coloured -patches which gave them the appearance of harlequins. I now sent on one -of my servants to apprise the much-feared Khalifa of our approach; but, -as he delayed returning, we rode on along the broad road leading to the -market-place. As we approached, we heard the dismal sound of the ombeÿa, -which was the signal that the Khalifa had gone out on his horse. By -chance, I came across a Darfuri who, when I asked him what the ombeÿa -was being sounded for, replied, "Very probably Khalifa Abdullahi is -giving orders for some one's head to be cut off, and this is a summons -to the people to witness the execution." Had I been superstitious, I -should certainly have taken this as a bad omen,--an execution the moment -I entered the camp! However, we rode on, and soon came in sight of a -large open place where we saw my servant and another man hastening -towards us. "Stay where you are," cried he, "and come no further; the -Khalifa, with his escort, has gone out to meet you; he thought you were -still outside the camp." We halted while the other man returned to let -the Khalifa know we had arrived. A few minutes later, we saw hundreds of -horsemen surrounded by numbers of armed footmen approaching us, and -marching to the sound of the ombeÿa. At the farther end of the open -space was the Khalifa himself; he had halted, and several horsemen, -ranging up to his right and left, stood awaiting his instructions. He -now ordered them to begin their horse exercise, which consisted of -batches of four men abreast, with poised lances, galloping at full speed -towards some point, then suddenly pulling up, turning round and -galloping back again; this useless sort of drill continued until men and -horses became utterly exhausted. Sometimes I was the objective of their -charge, and, as they galloped up, they shook their spears close to my -face, shouting, "Fi shan Allah wa Rasulahu" (For God and His Prophet), -and then galloped back again. After repeating this operation for upwards -of half an hour, one of the Khalifa's servants at length approached me -on foot, and told me that the Khalifa wished me also to gallop towards -him. I did so, shook my lance in his face, shouted, "Fi shan Allah wa -Rasulahu!" and then returned to my place. He now sent word to me to ride -behind him, and in a few minutes we reached his quarters. He was -assisted to dismount by a special attendant, the remainder keeping at a -respectful distance; and he disappeared behind the fence. In a few -moments, he sent out a message to us to come in; and we were conducted -to a spot fenced off from the rest of the enclosure, which is -designated the rekuba; it was merely a small, square apartment with -straw walls and a thatch roof. In it were several angarebs and -palm-mats; we were told to seat ourselves on these, and were served with -a mixture of honey and water in a pumpkin gourd, and some dates. Having -partaken of this, we patiently awaited the appearance of our hospitable -host and master. He soon came in, and we at once rose; seizing my hand, -he pressed me to his heart, saying, "God be praised, we are at last -united! How do you feel after your long and tiring journey?" "Yes, -indeed," I replied, "God be praised for having granted me to live to see -this day! When I beheld your countenance, my fatigue at once left me!" I -well knew that, to win his favour, I must flatter him as much as -possible; he now gave his hand to Said Bey and Dimitri to kiss, and -asked how they were. I scrutinised him very carefully; he had a -light-brown complexion, a sympathetic Arab face, on which the marks of -small-pox were still traceable, an aquiline nose, a well-shaped mouth, -slight moustache, and a fringe of hair on his cheeks, but rather thicker -on his chin; he was about middle height, neither thin nor stout, was -wearing a jibba covered with small square patches of different colours, -and a Mecca takia, or skull cap, round which was bound a cotton turban; -he generally spoke with a smile, and showed a row of glistening white -teeth. Having greeted us, he told us to be seated; and we at once sat on -the palm-mats on the ground, whilst he sat cross-legged on an angareb. -Once more he inquired after our health, and expressed his great delight -that we had at last reached the Mahdi. On a sign to one of his servants, -a dish of asida, and another of meat, were laid before us, and, sitting -beside us, he told us to help ourselves; he himself ate heartily, -seeming to thoroughly enjoy his food, and, during the meal, he asked -several questions. "Why," said he, smiling, "did you not wait for me -outside the camp, instead of entering without permission? You know you -are not supposed to enter a friend's house without his permission." -"Pardon," said I, "my servant kept us waiting so long, and none of us -thought you would take the trouble to come out and meet us; then, as we -reached the entrance of the camp, we heard the beating of war-drums and -the sound of your ombeÿa, and, when we inquired what that meant, we were -told that you had ridden out to witness the execution of a criminal; we -therefore intended following the sound of your ombeÿa, when your order -reached us." "Am I then known as a tyrant amongst the people," said he, -"that the sound of my ombeÿa should always mean the death of some one?" -"No, indeed, sir," said I, "you are generally known to be strict, but -just." "Yes, I am strict," he replied; "but this must be so, and you -will understand the reasons as you prolong your stay with me." - -One of the Khalifa's slaves now entered, and said that several people -were waiting outside, and sought his permission to greet me. The Khalifa -at once asked if I was not too fatigued after my journey; and when I -said no, he allowed them to come in. The first to enter was Ahmed Wad -Ali (the Kadi el Islam), who was formerly one of my Government -officials, but had deserted from Shakka; then followed Abderrahman ben -Naga, who had come with the Hicks expedition, in the course of which he -had lost an eye, and had been wounded in several places, but had been -rescued by some of his slaves who were with the Mahdists; Ahmed Wad -Suleiman, the Treasurer of the Beit el Mal, Sayed Abdel Kader, the -Mahdi's uncle, Sayed Abdel Karim, and several others followed. All of -them kissed the Khalifa's hand with deep reverence, and, after asking -his permission, greeted me. The usual complimentary speeches passed -between us; and, after reciprocal congratulations that we had lived to -see the glorious time of the Mahdi, they withdrew; Abderrahman alone -gave me a wink with his one eye as he said good-bye, from which I knew -he had something to say to me, so I walked forward a few steps with him, -and, in a low quick tone, he muttered: "Be very careful; hold your -tongue, and trust no one." I took his warning to heart. - -The Khalifa then departed, recommending us to take some rest, as he -would present us to the Mahdi at noon-day prayers. We now inquired about -our servants, and were told that they had been taken in and given food. -Once alone, and convinced that there were no eavesdroppers near, we -spoke of our excellent reception, and I warned the others to be most -careful about what they said. Dimitri Zigada was now getting quite -pleased with himself, and began searching about in his pockets for a -piece of tobacco to chew; he produced some from under his jibba, and at -once put it in his mouth. I begged him to be careful, as such practices -were entirely forbidden by the Mahdi; he replied by saying he intended -asking the Khalifa to allow him to go and live with his compatriots, of -whom there were a considerable number in camp. "I am only a common -merchant," said he, "and have lost all my money; the Khalifa won't take -any further notice of me; but you will have to keep a sharp lookout -yourselves, for you are former Government officials and military men, so -he will watch you very carefully." - -About two o'clock in the afternoon a message reached us from the -Khalifa, to perform our ablutions, and prepare to go to the Mesjed -(place of worship); a few minutes later he arrived himself, and told us -to follow him. He was on foot, as the mosque, which was close to the -Mahdi's hut, was only about three hundred yards off. On arrival, we -found the place crowded with devotees, ranged in closely packed lines; -and, when the Khalifa entered, they made way for him with great respect. -A sheepskin was spread on the ground for us, and he directed us to take -our places beside him. The Mahdi's quarters, consisting of several large -straw huts fenced off by a thorn zariba, were situated at the southwest -end of the mosque. A gigantic tree afforded shade to a number of the -worshippers, but those beyond had no protection from the burning sun. A -few paces from the front line, and to the right, lay a small hut which -was reserved for those with whom the Mahdi wished to converse in -private. The Khalifa now rose and entered this hut, probably to inform -his master of our arrival; for, in a few moments, he returned, again -seated himself beside me, and almost immediately the Mahdi himself came -out. The Khalifa at once arose, and with him Said Bey, Dimitri, and I, -who were just behind him, whilst the others quietly remained in their -places. The Mahdi being the Imam, or leader of prayers, his sheepskin -was spread out in front; and he then stepped towards us. I had advanced -slightly, and he greeted me with "Salam aleikum," which we at once -returned by "Aleikum es salam." He then presented his hand for me to -kiss, which I did several times, and Said Bey and Dimitri followed my -example. Motioning us to be seated, he welcomed us, and, turning to me, -said, "Are you satisfied?" "Indeed I am," I replied, readily; "on coming -so near to you I am most happy." "God bless you and your brethren!" -(meaning Said Bey and Dimitri) said he; "when news reached us of your -battles against my followers, I used to pray to God for your conversion. -God and His Prophet have heard my prayers, and as you have faithfully -served your former master for perishable money, so now you should serve -me; for he who serves me, and hears my words, serves God and His -religion, and shall have happiness in this world and joy in the world to -come." We of course all made professions of fidelity; and as I had been -previously warned to ask him to give me the "beia," or oath of -allegiance, I now besought this honour. Calling us up beside him, he -bade us kneel on the edge of his sheepskin, and, placing our hands in -his, he told us to repeat after him as follows:-- - -"Bism Illahi er Rahman er Rahim, bayana Allaha wa Rasulahu wa bayanaka -ala tauhid Illahi, wala nushrek billahi shayan, wala nasrek, wala nazni, -wala nati bi buhtan, wala nasak fil maruf, bayanaka ala tark ed dunya -wal akhera, wala naferru min el jehad" (In the name of God the most -compassionate and merciful, in the name of the unity of God, we pay God, -His Prophet, and you our allegiance; (we swear) that we shall not -associate anything else with God, that we shall not steal, nor commit -adultery, nor lead any one into deception, nor disobey you in your -goodness; we swear to renounce this world and (look only) to the world -to come, and that we shall not flee from the religious war). - -This over, we kissed his hand, and were now enrolled amongst his most -devoted adherents; but at the same time we were liable to suffer their -punishments. The muazzen (prayer caller) now gave the first signal to -begin prayers, and we repeated the usual formulæ after the Mahdi. When -they were over, all those present raised their hands to Heaven, and -besought God to grant victory to the faithful. The Mahdi now began his -sermon. An immense circle was formed around him, and he spoke of the -vanity and nothingness of this life, urging all to renounce the world, -and to think only of their religious duties, and of the Jehad; he -painted, in most glowing terms, the delights of Paradise, and the -heavenly joys which awaited those who paid heed to his doctrine. Every -now and then he was interrupted by the shouts of some fanatic in an -ecstasy; and, indeed, I am convinced every one present, except -ourselves, really believed in him. The Khalifa, having something to do, -had left the mosque, but had ordered his mulazemia (body-guard), who -remained, to tell us to stay with the Mahdi till sunset. I had now a -good opportunity of making a careful survey of Mohammed Ahmed; he was a -tall, broad-shouldered man of light-brown colour, and powerfully built; -he had a large head and sparkling black eyes; he wore a black beard, and -had the usual three slits on each cheek; his nose and mouth were well -shaped, and he had the habit of always smiling, showing his white teeth -and exposing the V-shaped aperture between the two front ones which is -always considered a sign of good luck in the Sudan, and is known as -"falja." This was one of the principal causes which made the Mahdi so -popular with the fair sex, by whom he was dubbed "Abu falja" (the man -with the separated teeth). He wore a short quilted jibba, beautifully -washed, and perfumed with sandal-wood, musk, and attar of roses; this -perfume was celebrated amongst his disciples as Rihet el Mahdi (the -odour of the Mahdi), and was supposed to equal, if not surpass, that of -the dwellers in Paradise. - -We remained exactly on the same spot, with our legs tucked away behind, -until the time for evening prayers came. Meanwhile the Mahdi had -frequently gone to and fro between his house and the mosque; and, -prayers over, I begged leave to depart, as the Khalifa had told me to -return to him at that hour. He gave me permission, and took the -opportunity of saying that I must adhere closely to the Khalifa, and -devote myself entirely to his service. Of course I promised to obey him -to the letter, and Dimitri, Said Bey, and I, covering the Mahdi's hand -with kisses, quitted the mosque. My legs were so cramped by the posture -in which I had been sitting for hours together that I could scarcely -walk; but, in spite of the pain, I was obliged to keep as cheerful a -face as possible in the Mahdi's presence. Said Bey was more used to it, -and did not seem to suffer so much; but poor Dimitri limped behind, -muttering Greek in an undertone, which I have no doubt conveyed the most -frightful imprecations,--at any rate I can vouch that they were not -songs of praise of the Mahdi. A mulazem returned with us to the -Khalifa's house, where he was waiting for us to sit down to supper with -him. - -He told us that since he had seen us in the morning, Sheikh Hamed en Nil -of the Arakin Arabs, and one of the principal Sheikhs of the Gezira, had -arrived, and that his relatives had begged him to ride out and meet him; -but he refused, as he preferred spending the evening with us. We of -course thanked him profusely for his good-will and kindness; and we were -loud in the praises of the Mahdi, which evidently much pleased the -Khalifa. He now left us to attend evening prayers, and, on his return, -talked to us about Darfur; he also mentioned that Hussein Khalifa, -formerly Mudir of Berber, was expected within the next few days. So it -was true Berber had fallen; we had heard rumours to this effect, on the -Darfur frontier, but met no one whom we could ask confidentially about -it. The town must have fallen through the Jaalin; and now communication -with Egypt must be entirely cut off. This was terribly bad news. I -anxiously looked out for Hussein Khalifa's arrival; he would be able to -give us all the facts. - -The Khalifa now left us for the night; and, utterly tired out, we -stretched out our weary limbs on the angarebs, and gave ourselves up to -our own thoughts. There were of course no lights; but in the dark I -heard Dimitri's mouth at work, and I had no doubt the man was again -chewing tobacco. Once more I spoke seriously to him, and warned him that -he would fare badly if discovered; to which he sleepily replied, that -his little stock of tobacco was now done, and that the bit in his mouth -was positively his very last piece. - -Early the next day, after morning prayers, the Khalifa again came to see -us, and asked how we were getting on. Soon after Sheikh Hamed en Nil's -relatives arrived, and begged the Khalifa to allow them to present their -Sheikh to him; he was admitted into his presence as a penitent, his neck -in a sheba, his head sprinkled with ashes, and a sheepskin bound about -his loins. On entering, he knelt down, saying, "El afu ya sidi!" -(Pardon, sire!). Standing up, the Khalifa directed one of his servants -to remove the sheba, and take the ashes off his head, and then told him -to put on his clothes, which were being carried for him. This done, he -asked him to be seated; and the Sheikh, repeatedly begging pardon, -expressed his deep regret that his visit to the Mahdi had been so long -delayed. The Khalifa pardoned him, and promised to present him to the -Mahdi in the afternoon, when he also would, in all probability, forgive -him. "Master," said Hamed en Nil, "since you have pardoned me, I am now -happy, and at ease. I consider that your forgiveness is the same as the -Mahdi's; for you are of him, and he is of you," and saying these words, -he kissed the Khalifa's hand (he had cleverly repeated the words in the -proclamation already referred to). - -After partaking of a breakfast of asida and milk, we separated; the -blowing of the ombeÿa, and the beating of drums, announced that the -Khalifa was about to ride; and horses were at once saddled. Directing my -servants to get two horses ready,--one for myself and the other for Said -Bey,--we mounted and soon caught up the Khalifa, who had gone on ahead. -He was riding for pleasure round the camp, accompanied by some twenty -footmen; on his right walked an enormous Black of the Dinka tribe, and -on his left, a very tall Arab named Abu Tsheka, whose duty it was to -help the Khalifa in and out of the saddle. When he came again to the -open space, he directed the horsemen to repeat yesterday's exercises; -and, after watching this for some time, we rode on to the end of the -camp, where he showed me the remains of an immense zariba and small -tumbled-in trench, which he told me had been one of Hicks's last halting -places before his annihilation, and where he had awaited reinforcements -from Tagalla. The trench had been made for his Krupp guns. The sight of -this awakened very sad memories; to think of the thousands, who but a -short time before had been camped in this great zariba having been -killed almost to a man, and that this disaster was the cause of my being -where I now was! - -On our way back, the Khalifa took me to pay a visit to his brother -Yakub, whose huts were close to his own, the fences being merely -separated by a narrow passage. Yakub received me very kindly, and -appeared as pleased to see me as Abdullahi had been; he warned me to -serve him faithfully, which I of course promised to do. Yakub is a -somewhat shorter man than the Khalifa, broad-shouldered, with a round -face deeply pitted with small-pox; he has a small turned-up nose, and -slight moustache and beard; he is distinctly more ugly than handsome, -but has the art of talking in a curiously sympathetic way. He, too, like -the Mahdi and the Khalifa, smiled continually; and what wonder, when -their affairs were progressing so very satisfactorily! Yakub reads and -writes, and knows the Kuran by heart, whilst Abdullahi is comparatively -very ignorant. He is some years the Khalifa's junior, and is his trusted -and most powerful adviser. Woe to the unfortunate man who differs in -opinion with Yakub, or who is suspected of intriguing against him, he is -infallibly lost! - -Partaking of some of the dates he offered me, I took leave of him and -returned to the rekuba, whence, in accordance with the Khalifa's order, -we proceeded to the mosque, and stayed till sunset, as we did the -previous day. Again the Mahdi preached renunciation, urging his hearers -to be ready for the Jehad, so as to enter into the future joys of -Paradise. Again and again, the faithful devotees, half intoxicated with -fanaticism, shouted his praises; whilst we poor wretches, enduring -agonies in our cramped position, imprecated in our hearts Mahdi, -Khalifa, and his whole crew of base hypocrites. - -The next day, the Khalifa summoned us, and asked if we wished to return -to Darfur. I knew the question had only been put to us as a test; and we -at once answered with one voice, that we should deeply regret leaving -the Mahdi. I saw that he anticipated this answer, and, smiling, he -commended us for our wise decision. The Khalifa now, of his own accord, -suggested that a longer stay in the rekuba was probably distasteful to -us; he, therefore, sent Dimitri with a mulazem to the house of his -future Emir, who was a Greek, and he also gave instructions to Ahmed Wad -Suleiman to issue twenty dollars to him. After he had gone, he turned to -Said Bey, saying, "Said Guma, you are an Egyptian, and every one likes -his own compatriots best; we have with us several Egyptians, many of -proved fidelity. You are brave and I know I can count on you; you will -therefore join the Emir of all the Egyptians, Hassan Hussein, and he -will give you a house, and see to your requirements. I shall also do -what is necessary on my side." Said Bey was of course much pleased with -the arrangement. Then, turning to me, he said, "Abdel Kader, you are a -stranger here, and have no one else but me. You know well the Arabs of -Southern Darfur; therefore, in accordance with the Mahdi's orders, you -are to remain with me as a mulazem." "That is the very wish of my -heart," I answered readily; "I call myself fortunate to be able to serve -you, and you can rely on my obedience and fidelity." "I knew that," said -he; "may God protect you and strengthen your faith; you will no doubt be -of much use to both the Mahdi and myself." - -Soon afterwards, the Emir Hassan Hussein came in; the Khalifa had -summoned him, and now recommended to his care Said Guma, who promised he -would do all he could for him. He also instructed him to send for Said -Bey's family, which had been left behind at Kobbé; and the latter, -taking a grateful leave of the Khalifa, proceeded, in company of a -mulazem, to Ahmed Wad Suleiman, who had been authorised to supply him -with forty dollars and a female slave. - -Once more I was alone with the Khalifa, and again he repeated how -gratified he was to have me in his service, and always beside him; at -the same time he warned me not to associate with his near relatives, -whose jealous feelings might lead to an estrangement between us. He also -gave orders for some straw huts to be erected in the zariba next his -own, belonging to Abu Anga, who was now absent, fighting against the -Nubas; meanwhile he said I was to stay in the rekuba, and without fail -attend the Mahdi's noon-day and evening prayers. Thanking him profusely -for all these favours, I promised to do my utmost to please him and -continue in his good graces. - -At supper the same evening, the Khalifa told me with delight that -Hussein Khalifa had arrived, and was to be presented the next day. -Consequently, at noon, the Khalifa received him with his relatives, in -ashes and sheba, just as he had received Sheikh Hamed en Nil. Knowing -what his feelings were as regards the Mahdists, I realised it must have -been a terrible humiliation for him to come in this way; but some of his -old friends who were now in high favour with the Mahdi, advised him to -do so, and he had consented. The Khalifa had the sheba and ashes -removed, pardoned him, and then presented me to him, and asked me to be -seated. Being a mulazem of the Khalifa, I was practically in the -position of a sort of servant, and as such I always stood up behind him, -and of course did my best to carry out my new rôle satisfactorily. -Abdullahi began the conversation by inquiring after the health of the -late Governor of Berber; and, receiving the usual replies, he then -turned to the situation on the river, and Hussein described the whole -country between Berber and Fashoda as being entirely with the Mahdi, and -communication between Egypt and the Sudan quite interrupted, whilst -Khartum, which was defended by Gordon, was invested by the Gezira -tribes. He naturally coloured the situation in the way which he knew -would be most acceptable to the Mahdi; and that he was favourably -impressing the Khalifa, was evident from the expressions of satisfaction -which escaped the latter as the narrative proceeded. Abdullahi promised -that at noon-day prayers he would present Hussein Khalifa to the Mahdi, -of whose forgiveness he might rest assured; in the meantime he was to -rest in the rekuba. - -The Khalifa, having something to do, now left us together; but as there -were several of his relatives there whom I did not know, we could only -talk about our personal concerns, and congratulate each other on our -good fortune in becoming followers of the Mahdi. At noon, the Khalifa -returned, and took dinner with Hussein Khalifa, I also being invited to -partake of the meal. In the course of conversation, the Khalifa asked, -"Did you happen to see Mohammed Sherif, the former Sheikh of the Mahdi; -you must have passed his house on your way here? Is he still possessed -of that evil spirit which urges him to fight against the will of God, -and to refuse to acknowledge the Mahdi as his lord and master?" - -"I spent a night at his house," replied Hussein Khalifa; "he has now -repented of his infidelity to God, and it is illness alone that prevents -him from coming here. Most of his former followers have joined those -besieging Khartum." - -"It is better for him to serve the Mahdi," said Abdullahi; "now get -ready, and I shall present you to him." - -Before prayers began, the Khalifa conducted him, as he had conducted me -a few days before, to the mosque, and bade him be seated; but I, being a -mulazem, now took up my position in the second line. On the Mahdi -approaching, the Khalifa and his guest stood up; and the latter, on -being presented, craved his pardon for the blindness of heart which had -hitherto prevented him from becoming one of his faithful adherents. He -was pardoned, and, on taking the oath of allegiance, was enjoined to -uphold faithfully the new doctrine, and attend prayers without fail. The -Mahdi, seeing me in the second line, directed me to come forward and -take up my position beside the Khalifa. "Drink of the river of my -words," said he, "and that will be of inestimable benefit to you." I -excused myself by saying that as mulazem of the Khalifa I did not think -it my place to stand beside my master, and had therefore joined the -second line. I was now praised for this act of self-abnegation; the -Mahdi added, however, that in future this should always be my position, -"For in the place of worship we are all alike." - -After prayers, the Khalifa disappeared as usual, whilst Hussein Khalifa -and I remained in the mosque till sunset. My uncomfortable posture -brought more curses than prayers to my lips; but I had to put as good a -face as I could on the matter. That evening, we supped with the Khalifa, -and talked on general subjects, being continually warned to be honest -and sincere. To my great delight, Hussein Khalifa was directed to spend -that night in the rekuba; but his relatives were allowed to go home. The -Khalifa had left us, and the servants had retired, so we were quite -alone, and took this long-looked-for occasion to greet each other most -heartily, and to mutually bemoan the sad fate which brought us together -to this wretched position. "Hussein Pasha," said I, "I trust you and -yours may rest assured of my silence. Tell me what is the present -condition of Khartum, and what are the population doing?" "Alas!" he -replied, "it is exactly as I have already described it to the Khalifa. -Gordon's reading at Metemmeh of the proclamation abandoning the Sudan, -upset the situation entirely, and was indirectly the cause of the fall -of Berber. No doubt, it would have been lost later on; but this action -of Gordon's greatly precipitated it. At Berber, I stopped him from -taking this fatal step; and I cannot think what induced him to disregard -my advice almost immediately afterwards." We talked so long about the -situation and the various events that Hussein Pasha, who was old and -tired, fell asleep; but this conversation had banished all sleep from my -eyes. So this is to be the end, I thought, of all Gordon's efforts to -settle the country; and is all the blood and treasure expended in past -years to go for nothing? Now the Government wanted to abandon this great -country which, though hitherto it had not proved a financial benefit to -Egypt, was a land of great prospects, and could at least produce -thousands of splendid Black recruits with whom to fill the ranks of its -army. So the Government was to leave this country to its own people, and -yet to remain on friendly terms with it; it was to withdraw the -garrisons and war _matériel_, and to establish a form of local -Government, when a form of such Government had already sprung into -existence by the most violent of means,--namely, by the wholesale -overturning of every vestige of the authority which it was to replace, -and the massacre or capture of almost every individual representative of -the ousted ruling power. - -To carry out this plan, they had sent Gordon in the hope that his -personal influence with the people, and their regard for him,--which he -was inclined to estimate somewhat highly,--would enable him to succeed -in this herculean task. Gordon, it is true, was popular with some of the -Western and Equatorial tribes, whom he had won over by his munificence -and his benevolent nature. During his stay in these districts, he had -constantly travelled about; and his noted courage and fearlessness in -action had won him the sympathy of those tribes whose greatest pride it -is to possess such qualities. Yes, there is no doubt he had been popular -with the Western Arabs: but they had now a Mahdi whom they adored; they -had almost forgotten Gordon. The Sudanese, it must be remembered, are -not Europeans; they are Arabs and Blacks, and are little given over to -sentimental feelings. But, in this particular case of the reading of the -proclamation, the people concerned were river tribes; and, of all -others, the Jaalin were perhaps the most hostile to Gordon, for they had -not forgotten the eviction of the Gellabas. - -The mere fact that Gordon had come to Khartum without a force at his -back, proved to these people that he depended on his personal influence -to carry out his task; but, to those who understood the situation, it -was abundantly clear that personal influence at this stage was as a drop -in the ocean. Then what could have induced him to read that fatal -notice, proclaiming far and wide that the Government intended to abandon -the Sudan? At Hussein Pasha's advice, he had not read it at Berber; but -at Metemmeh, he had proclaimed it before all the people. Had Gordon -never been informed of the Mahdi's proclamations, sent to all the tribes -after the fall of El Obeid? Was he not aware that these proclamations -enjoined all the people to unite in a religious war against the -Government authority, and that those who disobeyed the summons, and were -found giving assistance to the hated Turk, were guilty of betraying the -faith, and as such would not only lose their money and property, but -their wives and children would become the slaves of the Mahdi and his -followers? Gordon's idea was to obtain the assistance of these tribes, -in order to facilitate the withdrawal of the garrisons; and he would -have come to terms with them to effect this object: but how could he -expect them to help him, when, in the words of that fatal proclamation, -it was decreed they were to be abandoned to their fate, and what would, -in this eventuality, have been their fate? Could they have opposed the -Mahdi, his forty thousand rifles, and his hosts of wild fanatics panting -for blood and plunder? No, indeed, these tribes were sensible enough to -understand that assistance given to Gordon to retreat, meant the -annihilation of themselves and the enslavement of their families; why -should they commit this self-sacrifice? How could Gordon's personal -influence avail him for an instant against the personal interests of -every man, woman, and child in the now abandoned Sudan? - -If, for political or other reasons, it was impossible for the Government -to maintain the Sudan, or to re-conquer it by degrees, it was an equally -useless step to have sent Gordon there to sacrifice him. It did not -require a person of any special military capacity to remove the -garrisons and war _matériel_ by the steamers to Berber, under pretext of -relieving that town, and thus the whole or a considerable portion of the -Sudan garrisons might have been successfully withdrawn, though it would -have been necessary to do this without delay, and it could not have been -feasible after the fall of Berber; but Berber, it must be remembered, -did not fall till the 19th of May,--three months after Gordon's arrival -in Khartum. However, under any circumstances, the reading of that fatal -proclamation precipitated matters to an alarming extent; the intention -of the Government was openly declared to the Sudanese, and they -naturally, from that moment, looked to their own immediate interests, -which were now directly opposed to those of the Government so hopelessly -overturned by their victorious compatriot the Mahdi. - -How could Gordon's qualities of personal bravery and energy, great as -they undoubtedly were, arrest the progress of events after that most -grave political error? - -Perplexed and worried with such thoughts as these, I was tossing about -on my angareb, whilst Hussein Khalifa was snoring. There was no small -advantage in being a fatalist; but as yet I was too European to have -arrived at this stage, though gradually I learnt to look at such matters -with more equanimity, and my experiences in the Sudan have undoubtedly -taught me to practise that great virtue--patience. - -The next morning, the Khalifa honoured us with a visit, and asked me why -my eyes were so red; I answered that, owing to a severe attack of fever, -I had passed a sleepless night, on which he advised me to take care of -myself and not to go into the sun; and he also excused me from attending -the Mahdi's prayers. However, when prayer-time came, I performed them -under the shade of the rekuba, and in the sight of the servants; as it -was my object to appear to them as devout as possible, well-knowing they -would report my every action to their master. The following day my huts -were ready, and, with the Khalifa's permission, I entered into -occupation. Hussein Khalifa had already been allowed to live with one of -his relatives; and he made a point of going through all five prayers -daily, in order to secure the good-will of the Mahdi and Khalifa, hoping -in this way to obtain their leave to go back to his own country. I -decided to remain as near the Khalifa as possible, and to only go -occasionally to the Mahdi when he recommended me to do so. - -A few days afterwards, a rumour was spread through the camp that Abu -Girga had been attacked by Gordon, and had been wounded; his forces, -which were then investing Khartum, were reported to have been repulsed, -and the siege raised. This news filled my heart with delight, though -openly, I was obliged to appear quite unconcerned. - -Saleh Wad el Mek now arrived in the camp; he had been obliged to submit -at Fedasi, and had been sent on by Abu Girga. He received the pardon of -the Khalifa and Mahdi, and confirmed the above news; he also privately -gave me much interesting information about Gordon. That evening, the -Khalifa summoned me to supper with him; and no sooner had we set to work -to tear the huge piece of meat before us, than he asked, "Have you heard -the news to-day about Hajji Mohammed Abu Girga?" "No," I replied, -hypocritically, "I did not leave your door the whole day, and have met -no one." - -"Gordon," continued the Khalifa, "made a sudden attack on Hajji Mohammed -from both the river and the land, when the Blue Nile was in flood; and -he has built structures on the steamers which stop the bullets of our -faithful Ansar. The unbeliever is a cunning man; but he will reap God's -punishment. Hajji Mohammed's men, who have suffered, have been obliged -to retire before superior force. Gordon is now rejoicing in his victory; -but he is deceived. God will grant victory only to those who believe in -Him; and, in a few days, God's vengeance will fall upon him suddenly. -Hajji Mohammed is not man enough to conquer the country; the Mahdi is -therefore sending Abderrahman Wad en Nejumi to besiege Khartum." - -"I hope," said I, "that Hajji Mohammed has not suffered serious loss?" -meaning in my heart exactly the reverse. - -"Battles cannot be fought without loss," said the Khalifa, with some -truth; "but I have not heard the full details yet." He was anything but -affable to-day. Gordon's victory had thoroughly upset him; and he -evidently anticipated that the effect would be serious. When I returned -to my hut, I sent my servant to ask Saleh Wad el Mek if he could come -and see me secretly; he was only a few huts off, and arrived some -minutes afterwards. I told him the Khalifa's corroboration of the news; -but he had already heard it from his relatives; and we continued talking -over past and present till a late hour. This victory had raised my -spirits enormously, and I found myself chatting quite hopefully of the -future; but Saleh looked on the success as only temporary, and his -reasons for this view were, I felt, fully justifiable. - -He explained that, very soon after Gordon's arrival at Khartum, the -effect of the fatal proclamation began to be felt, and his difficulties -increased. The Jaalin had begun to collect, and had chosen as their -chief, Haj Ali Wad Saad, who soon had at his disposal a considerable -force; but, for personal reasons, he was secretly inclined to the -Government, and therefore delayed actually fighting as long as possible. -The Consuls of the various nationalities at Khartum, seeing the -situation getting worse, had applied to Gordon to send them to Berber; -but it was doubtful if it would have been safe to let them go, and, at -Gordon's suggestion, they decided to remain. The inhabitants of Khartum -had themselves begun to look with mistrust on Gordon; for they realised, -from the proclamation of which they had heard, that Gordon had only come -to withdraw the garrison, though, later on, they thoroughly understood -that Gordon himself had come to conquer with them or to die. The Sheikh -El Obeid, one of the great religious Sheikhs of the Sudan, had collected -together his followers at Halfaya to besiege Khartum. Gordon had sent -troops under Hassan Pasha and Said Pasha Hussein, who had been formerly -Governor of Shakka, to drive the rebels out of their position; and, -watching the operations through a telescope from the top of the Palace, -he had seen his trusted officers endeavouring to make over his troops to -the enemy, whilst they themselves were retreating to Khartum. He had -tried these traitorous officers by general court-martial, and had had -them shot. In spite of this disaster, he had succeeded in relieving the -Shaigias, who were loyal to Government, and had brought them, under -their commander Sanjak Abdel Hamid Wad Mohammed, to Khartum. - -Saleh Wad el Mek, himself invested by the rebels at Fedasi, had begged -Gordon to relieve him; but it was impossible to do so, and he had been -obliged to surrender with one thousand four hundred irregulars and -cavalry, with all their arms. In consequence of this success, Hajji -Mohammed Abu Girga had collected all the inhabitants of the Gezira to -besiege Khartum. Whilst these events were happening in the neighbourhood -of that town, the Mahdi's former teacher, Sheikh Mohammed el Kheir -(formerly Mohammed ed Diker), had come to the river, and had been -appointed by his early pupil Emir of Berber; he had placed all the -tribes in the province under his orders, and the latter, collecting -adherents from his own tribe, the Jaalin, and reinforced by the Barabra, -Bisharia, and other Arabs, had laid siege to Berber, which had fallen in -a few days. - -The province of Dongola had hitherto held out, owing principally to its -crafty Mudir, Mustafa Bey Yawer, who had twice written to the Mahdi, -offering him his submission; but the latter, fearing to trust one of the -hated Turks, had sent his relative, Sayed Mahmud Ali, to join the -Shaigia Emir Sheikh el Heddai, who had already headed a disturbance in -the province, to take possession. But Mustafa Bey, secretly learning -that he was not acceptable, had fallen suddenly on Heddai at Debba, and, -encouraged by the presence of a British officer[11] in his province, had -followed up this success by inflicting a crushing defeat on the Mahdists -at Korti, in which both the Emirs Mahmud and Heddai were killed. - -At Sennar, matters were not so satisfactory; it was closely invested, -but had large reserve supplies of corn. Communication with the outside -was, however, completely stopped, though Nur Bey, the brave commander, -had made a successful sortie which had driven off the rebels to some -distance, and enabled the town to breathe again. - -Appeals now reached the Mahdi, from all parts, to come down to the -river; but he was in no particular hurry, for he knew that the country -was securely in his hands, and that it would require a large Egyptian or -foreign army to re-conquer it from him. Every Friday, he held a review -of his troops, at which he himself was always present. His force was -divided into three portions, each under the command of a Khalifa, -though, in addition, Khalifa Abdullahi was entitled "Reis el Gesh" -(Commander-in-chief of the Army). His own special division was known as -the Raya ez Zarga, or blue flag, and his brother Yakub represented him -as its commander. The Raya el Khadra, or green flag, was under the -command of the Khalifa Ali Wad Helu; while the red flag, the Raya el -Ashraf (flag of the nobles), was placed under Khalifa Mohammed Sherif. -Under each principal flag were grouped the flags of the various Emirs. - -When the reviews took place, the Emirs of the Raya ez Zarga deployed -into line with their banners facing east; those of the green flag were -drawn up opposite to them, facing west; and, connecting these two lines, -and facing north, were the Emirs and flags of the Ashraf. The numbers of -the Mahdi's followers being now enormous, an immense square was thus -formed, open on one side; and the Mahdi and his staff, advancing to the -centre, would receive the salute, and would then ride along the lines, -welcoming his faithful adherents with the words, "Allah yebarek fikum!" -(May God bless you!) - -During these Friday reviews, called Arda or Tarr, extraordinary -occurrences were said to take place. One would assert that he saw the -Prophet riding beside the Mahdi, and talking with him; others would say -they heard voices from Heaven, shouting blessings on the Ansar, and -promises of victory. They would even affirm that a passing cloud was -formed by angels' wings in order to give shade and refreshment to the -faithful. - -About three days after the news had been received of Abu Girga's defeat, -an Italian named Joseph Cuzzi arrived at Rahad from Khartum; he had been -residing in Berber at the time of its fall, having been left behind by -A. Marquet, the agent of Debourg and Company, to wind up some of their -affairs. Mohammed el Kheir had sent him, as a prisoner, to Abu Girga, -and he had despatched him with a letter to Gordon; but the latter had -refused to see him, and had sent him back to the enemy's post, on the -east bank of the Blue Nile, opposite Khartum. The Mahdi now sent Cuzzi -back in company with a Greek named George Calamatino, with letters to -Gordon summoning him to submit. By the hands of this Greek, I also sent -secretly a few lines to Gordon Pasha. The Greek was permitted to enter -the lines; but Cuzzi was kept at a place some distance off, as, on the -first occasion on which he had come, he was reported by the officers to -have personally summoned them to surrender. - -When the fast of Ramadan was over, Abu Anga and his entire fighting -force were recalled from Jebel Daïr; and the Mahdi then publicly -announced that the Prophet had directed him to proceed to Khartum and -lay siege to it. Every Emir was enjoined to collect his men, and order -them to prepare for the march; whilst any who remained behind were -declared lawful prey, and liable to total confiscation of all they -possessed. However, there was no hanging back on the part of the people, -whose fanaticism knew no bounds, and who were well aware that treasure -and plunder generally fell to the share of the faithful followers. The -consequence was that the Mahdi's summons brought about a wholesale -immigration of the entire population, such as had never before been seen -in the Sudan. - -We left Rahad on 22nd August, the Mahdist forces marching by three -separate roads: the northern one, _via_ Khursi, Helba, and Tura el -Hadra, was selected by the camel-owning tribes; the central road, _via_ -Tayara, Sherkéla, Shatt, and Duem, was taken by the Mahdi, Khalifas, and -the majority of the Emirs; whilst the Baggaras and cattle-owning tribes -adopted the southern route, which was well supplied with water, owing to -the frequent rain pools which served as drinking places for the cattle. -I, of course, in my capacity as mulazem of the Khalifa, followed my -master; but, as a rule, when halted in camp, I used to send my horses -and servants to Saleh Wad el Mek, who had joined the Mahdi's suite. The -Khalifa, however, for some unknown reason, had a particular aversion to -him, and ordered me in future to remain with my servants near him, and -charged his cousin, Osman Wad Adam, to look after me. Nevertheless, -every now and then, I used to see Saleh Wad el Mek, who was kept -informed of all that was happening in the Nile districts. - -Just before arriving at Sherkéla, strange rumours were spread about -that an Egyptian who was a Christian had arrived at El Obeid, and was -now on his way to overtake the Mahdi. Some believed him to be the -Emperor of France; others affirmed that he was closely related to the -Queen of England. However, there was no doubt a European was coming, and -I was naturally most anxious to know who he could be. That evening, the -Khalifa told me a Frenchman had arrived at El Obeid, and that he had -sent orders for him to be brought to the Mahdi. "Do you belong to the -French race?" said he to me, "or are there different tribes in your -country, as there are here with us in the Sudan?"--he had not, of -course, the slightest knowledge of Europe and the European nations, and -I enlightened him as far as I thought necessary. "But what should a -Frenchman want with us, that he should come all that long distance?" -asked the Khalifa, inquiringly; "possibly God has converted him, and has -led him to the right way." "Perhaps," said I, "he is seeking your and -the Mahdi's friendship." The Khalifa looked at me incredulously, and -said curtly, "We shall see." - -At length, we reached Sherkéla; and, scarcely had we halted, when my -master sent for me, and said, "Abdel Kader, the French traveller has -arrived; I have now ordered him to be brought before me. You had better -wait and listen to what he has to say; I may want you--" Almost -immediately afterwards, Hussein Pasha came in, and he too had evidently -been summoned by the Khalifa. After waiting some little time longer, a -mulazem announced that the stranger was waiting outside the hut; and he -was at once admitted. He was a tall, young-looking man, about thirty -years of age, I should say, and his face was much bronzed by the sun; he -had a fair beard and moustache, and wore a jibba and turban. He greeted -the Khalifa with "Salam aleikum;" and the latter, who did not rise from -his angareb, merely motioned him to be seated. "Why have you come here; -and what do you want from us?" were the Khalifa's first words to him; he -replied, in such broken Arabic that it was difficult to understand, -that he was a Frenchman, and had come from France. "Speak in your own -language with Abdel Kader," interrupted the Khalifa, "and he will -explain to me what you want." The stranger now turned and looked at me -distrustfully, saying, in English, "Good day, sir." "Do you speak -French?" said I, "my name is Slatin. Stick to business entirely now, -and, later on, we can speak privately." "What are you talking about -together," muttered the Khalifa, in an annoyed tone, "I wish to know -what he wants." - -"I only told him my name," said I, "and urged him to speak openly to -you, as both you and the Mahdi are men to whom God has granted the power -to read the thoughts of others." Hussein Khalifa, who was sitting beside -me, now broke in, "That is true, indeed! May God prolong the Khalifa's -life;" and then, turning to me, he said, "you did well to call this -stranger's attention to the fact." The Khalifa, appeased and flattered, -now said, "Well, try and find out the truth." - -"My name is Olivier Pain," said the stranger, whom I had now told to -talk in French, "and I am a Frenchman. Since I was quite a boy I was -interested in the Sudan, and sympathised with its people; it is not only -I, but all my compatriots, who feel the same. In Europe there are -nations with whom we are at feud; one of these is the English nation -which has now settled in Egypt, and one of whose generals, Gordon, is -now commanding in Khartum. I have therefore come to offer you my -assistance, and that of my nation." - -"What assistance?" interrupted the Khalifa, to whom I was translating -word for word Olivier Pain's statement. - -"I can only offer you advice," said Pain; "but my nation, which is -anxious to gain your friendship, is ready to help you practically with -arms and money, under certain conditions." - -"Are you a Mohammedan?" asked the Khalifa, as if he had not heard what -he had said. - -"Yes, certainly," said he; "I have been of this faith for a long time, -and at El Obeid I openly acknowledged it." - -"Well," said the Khalifa, "you and Hussein can stay here with the -Frenchman, whilst I will go and let the Mahdi know, and I shall then -come back to you." - -When the Khalifa had gone, I shook hands with Olivier Pain, and -introduced him to Hussein Khalifa; but I confess to feeling considerably -prejudiced against him by his offer to assist our enemies. However, I -urged him to be most careful, and to say that he had been induced to -come here rather out of love for religion than for political motives. -Even Hussein Pasha, who was evidently very much annoyed, said in Arabic -to me, "Is that what you call politics,--to offer money and arms to -people whose only object is to kill others, rob them of their property, -and enslave their wives and daughters? Yet if one of us, no matter how -poor he may be, buys a Black slave who is really little better than an -animal, except that he can till the ground, you call it wicked and -cruel, and punish us most severely." - -"Malaish!" (Never mind!) said I, "he who lives long sees much." - -We were now occupied with our own thoughts, whilst waiting for the -Khalifa's return; and at length he arrived, ordered us to make our -ablutions and prepare to attend the Mahdi's prayers. Having done so, the -Khalifa leading, we went to the place of worship, where there was an -immense concourse of people who, having heard of Olivier Pain's arrival, -were indulging in the wildest speculations about him. After we had taken -our places, Pain was directed to the second row, and the Mahdi now -arrived. He was dressed in his speckless and beautifully perfumed jibba; -his turban was more carefully folded than usual, and his eyes were well -painted with antimony, which gave them a more fiery expression. He had -evidently done his utmost to appear to the greatest possible advantage. -No doubt he was pleased and flattered that a man should have come from -so far to offer him assistance. He now sat himself down on his -prayer-carpet, and, calling up Olivier Pain before him, greeted him -with a very beaming smile, but did not shake hands with him, and, using -me as an interpreter, asked him to explain why he had come here. - -Pain reiterated the same story as before, which the Mahdi told me to -repeat in a sufficiently loud voice for every one to hear; and, when I -had finished, he said, in an equally loud tone, "I have heard your -intentions, and have understood them; but I do not count on human -support, I rely on God and His Prophet. Your nation are unbelievers, and -I shall never ally myself with them. With God's help, I shall defeat my -enemies through my brave Ansar, and the hosts of angels sent to me by -the Prophet." Shouts of acclamation from thousands upon thousands of -throats greeted this speech; and, when order had been restored, the -Mahdi said to Pain, "You affirm that you love our faith, and acknowledge -that it is the true one; are you a Mohammedan?" - -"Certainly," answered he, repeating the creed, "La ilaha illallah, -Mohammed Rasul Allah," in a loud voice. The Mahdi after this gave him -his hand to kiss, but did not administer the oath of allegiance. - -We now took up our positions in the ranks of the faithful, and repeated -prayers with the Mahdi; and, that over, the Divine Master gave us one of -his usual sermons on salvation and renunciation. We then departed with -the Khalifa, who directed me to take Olivier Pain to my tent, and there -await further instructions. - -Once alone with Pain in my tent, I could talk to him without fear of -interruption. I had the strongest aversion to his mission; but I pitied -the man who, if he thought to succeed in such an enterprise in this -country, was the victim of so absurd a delusion. I again greeted him -heartily, saying, "Now, my dear Mr. Olivier Pain, we shall be quite -undisturbed for a few minutes; let us speak frankly. Although I do not -agree with your mission, I assure you, on my word as an officer, I will -do all in my power to secure your personal safety. I have now been for -years an exile from the civilised world; tell me something about outside -affairs." - -"I trust you thoroughly," he replied; "I know you well by name, and have -often heard of you, and I thank my good fortune which has brought me to -you. There is a great deal to tell you; but for the present I will -confine myself to Egypt, which must interest us most." - -"Tell me then," said I, "all about the revolt of Ahmed Arabi Pasha, -about the massacres, about the intervention of the Powers, and about -England, which has just occupied Egypt." - -"I," said he, "am working for the 'Indépendence' with Rochefort, of whom -you must have heard. England and France are politically antagonistic; -and we do what we can to put as many difficulties as possible in -England's way. I have not come here as a representative of my nation, -but as a private individual with, however, the knowledge and concurrence -of my nation. The English authorities, discovering my intentions, issued -a warrant of arrest against me, and I was sent back from Wadi Halfa; but -on my way down the river at Esna I agreed secretly with some Alighat -Arabs to bring me here by the road running west of Dongola, through El -Kaab, to El Obeid. To-day the Mahdi has received me most kindly, and I -hope for the best." - -"Do you think that your proposal will be accepted?" said I. - -"Should my proposal be refused," he answered, "I still hope the Mahdi -will be induced to enter into friendly relations with France; for the -present that will be quite sufficient, and, as I have come here of my -own free will, I trust the Mahdi will not make my return impossible." - -"That is very questionable," said I; "but have you left a family at -home?" - -"Oh, yes," answered Pain, "I have left my wife and two children in -Paris; I often think of them, and hope to see them soon again. But tell -me, sir, frankly, why should I be detained?" - -"My dear sir," I replied, "as far as I know these people, I do not think -you need at present have any fear for your own safety; but when and how -you are going to get away from them, it is beyond my power to say. What -I sincerely hope is, that your proposals, which may be advantageous to -the enemy,--and I admit these Mahdists are my most bitter enemies,--will -not be accepted, and I also hope they will allow you to return -unmolested to your wife and children, who must be anxiously awaiting -you." - -Meanwhile I had told my servants to get us something to eat; and I had -sent for Gustav Klootz, O'Donovan's former servant, to share our meal -with us. We had scarcely begun, when two of the Khalifa's mulazemin -entered, and told Olivier Pain to follow them. He was much taken aback -at being called off alone, and, in a whisper, commended himself to me. -It also struck me as curious, for Pain's Arabic was quite -unintelligible. I was talking about this to Mustafa (Klootz), when I -also received a summons, and, on entering the Khalifa's hut, I found him -quite alone; he motioned to me to be seated, and I sat on the ground -beside him. - -"Abdel Kader," said he, confidentially, "I look on you as one of us; -tell me what do you think of this Frenchman?" - -"I believe he is sincere and means well," said I; "but he did not know -the Mahdi nor you; he did not understand that you trusted only in God, -and sought no support from other powers, and that this is the cause of -your continual victories, because God is with those who put their trust -in Him!" - -"You heard the Mahdi's words," continued the Khalifa, "when he said to -the Frenchman that he wished to have nothing to do with unbelievers, and -that he could defeat his enemies without their help?" - -"Most certainly I did," I replied; "and therefore the man is useless -here, and may as well return to his nation, and tell them about the -victories of the Mahdi and his commander-in-chief, the Khalifa." - -"Perhaps later," said the Khalifa; "for the present, I have ordered him -to stay with Zeki Tummal, who will take all care of him, and attend to -his wants." - -"But it will be very difficult for him to make himself understood in -Arabic," I pleaded; "he is by no means a good Arabic scholar yet." - -"He has been able to get here without an interpreter," answered the -Khalifa; "however, you have my permission to visit him." He then talked -about other things, and showed me the horses Zogal had sent him from -Darfur, some of which I knew very well. After leaving my master, I went -in search of Pain, whom I found sitting under the shade of a very -battered old tent, his head resting on his hands, and evidently in deep -thought; when he saw me, he at once rose, saying, "I don't know what to -think about it all. I have been ordered to stay here; my baggage has -been brought, and I am told that a certain Zeki has been ordered to look -after me. Why don't they let me stay with you?" - -"It is the Mahdi's nature; and the Khalifa is even worse in working his -will in contrariety to every human being under the sun. You are going -through a course of what they call 'putting one to the test in patience, -submission, and faith,'" said I, by way of sympathy; "but you need have -no fear. The Khalifa suspects us both, and is anxious to keep us apart, -so that we should not criticise his actions. Here comes Zeki Tummal. He -was with me in many a fight; I will strongly commend you to him." I had -now advanced to meet Zeki, who shook hands with me, and asked how I was. -"My friend," said I to him, "this is a stranger and your guest. I -recommend him to your kind care; be forbearing with him for old -acquaintance sake." - -"I shall let him want for nothing as far as it is in my power to do so," -he replied; and then, more slowly, he said, "but the Khalifa has told me -not to let him have any intercourse with others, and I therefore beg you -will come here only very occasionally." - -"These orders do not apply to me," said I; "just this moment I left our -master's hut, and he has given me special permission to visit your -guest. So again I beg you to treat this poor man with all -consideration." - -I then returned to Pain and tried to cheer him up, telling him that the -Khalifa had given orders he was not to be allowed to see other people; -but this, I said, was no disadvantage, for they would probably have used -the occasion to intrigue against him, and so put him in danger. As -regards myself, however, I said I would come to see him as often as -possible. - -The next morning, the Khalifa's great war-drum, called "El Mansura" (the -victorious), was beaten; this was the signal for the march to begin -again, and off we started. We generally marched from early morning till -noon only, and thus our progress was not rapid. When we halted at -midday, I went to look for Pain, and found him sitting under his tent as -before; he appeared in good health, but complained about the bad food. -Zeki, who was present whilst we were speaking, said that he had twice -sent him some asida, but he would not touch it. I explained that he was -not, of course, accustomed to native food yet, and that therefore I -proposed getting my servant to prepare some food specially for him; and, -returning at once, I ordered him to make some soup and boil some rice, -and take it to Olivier Pain. That evening the Khalifa asked me if I had -seen him. I told him I had; but that, as he was not accustomed yet to -native food, I had ordered my servant to prepare something else. I -explained that if he were forced to eat the native food he might get -ill; and that therefore, with his permission, I proposed sending him, -every now and then, something special. The Khalifa assented. "But," said -he, "you eat of our food; it would therefore be better he should get -used to it as soon as possible. By-the-bye where is Mustafa? I have not -seen him since we left Rahad?" - -"He is staying with me, and helps my servants to look after the horses -and camels," said I. - -"Then send for him," said the Khalifa. I did so; and in a few minutes he -entered and stood before us. "Where have you been? I have not seen you -for weeks," said the Khalifa, angrily. "Have you forgotten that I am -your master?" - -"With your permission I went to Abdel Kader, whom I help in his work. -You do not care for me now, and have left me alone," replied Klootz, in -an annoyed tone. - -"Then I will take good care of you in the future," cried the Khalifa, -still more angrily; and, calling in a mulazem, he ordered him to take -Mustafa to his clerk, Ben Naga, who should put him in chains. Mustafa, -without uttering a word, followed his guard. - -"Mustafa and you," continued the Khalifa, "have servants enough; and you -can quite well do without him. I took him for myself; but he left me -without any cause. I then ordered that he should serve my brother Yakub; -but he complained and left him too; and now that he is with you, he -thinks he can dispense with us altogether." - -"Pardon him," said I, "he is merciful who forgives. Let him stay with -your brother; perhaps he will improve." - -"He must remain a few days in chains," he answered, "so that he may know -I am his master; he is not the same as you, who come every day to my -door;" this he evidently said to quiet me, as he thought I was getting -annoyed. He then ordered supper to be brought in; and I ate more than -usual, so that he should not imagine I was doing anything contrary to -his orders. He talked very little during the meal, and seemed out of -spirits. After supper he made an attempt to say something kind; but I -felt that his words belied him. We then separated, and, as I returned to -my tent, I thought over the situation. I had resolved to remain on as -good terms as I could with the Khalifa, until the hour of my deliverance -should come; but his imperious character, want of consideration, and -immense self-conceit made my task a most difficult one. I had daily -before my eyes the examples of several mulazemin whom he had thrown into -chains, flogged, and deprived of their property (known as "tegrid") on -the slightest provocation. He judged very quickly, being actuated -entirely by his feelings at the moment, and loved to show that he was -master. I will now give an example of the sort of man I had to deal -with. - -Abu Anga, the commander of the Black troops (Jehadia), and his brother, -Fadl Maula, who was his assistant, were both sons of a liberated slave -who had borne them to one of the Khalifa's relatives. Fadl Maula had a -great friend and adviser in Ahmed Wad Yunes of the Shaigia tribe, and -these two presented themselves before the Khalifa one day, when Fadl -Maula asked his master's permission for Yunes to marry a certain girl, -and give him his blessing. It happened, however, that the Khalifa was in -a bad humour, and wished to show his authority; so he immediately -ordered the girl's father to be brought before him, and asked him, in -the presence of the others, if he wished to give his daughter in -marriage to Yunes; and, on the man answering in the affirmative, the -Khalifa said, "I have decided, and consider it to the girl's advantage -that she should marry Fadl Maula. Have you any objection?" Of course the -girl's father had to assent, and, without a moment's hesitation, the -Khalifa, turning to his attendants, ordered them to read the marriage -"Fatha," or form of prayer and blessing on marriage. This was done, and -dates were partaken of. The Khalifa then dismissed all those present, -and Fadl Maula departed one wife to the good, whilst Yunes was one hope -the poorer; but what the girl said about the new arrangement, I cannot -tell. - -With a master of this character, one had to be very careful. - -After five days' march, we reached Shatt, where most of the wells were -filled up, and had to be reopened, and several straw huts erected; for -the Mahdi had decided to halt here for some days. During the march, I -frequently visited Pain, who daily grew more and more disheartened about -the situation. He knew very little Arabic, and was not permitted to talk -to any one but the slaves charged with looking after him. In a few -days, the object of his mission had vanished from his mind, and he -thought now only of his wife and children. I urged him to look more -hopefully on the future, and not to give way to depressing thoughts -which would only make him more miserable. The Khalifa seemed to have -almost forgotten his existence, and scarcely ever asked for him. - -The day after our arrival at Shatt, the Mahdi's former Sheikh, Mohammed -Sherif, who had been expected for so long, at length arrived. He also -had been forced by his friends, and by fear, to come to the Mahdi as a -penitent; but the latter received him most honourably, and himself led -him to the tents he had specially pitched for him, and also presented -him with two exceptionally pretty Abyssinian girls, horses, etc. By this -generous treatment, the Mahdi attracted to himself almost all Mohammed -Sherif's secret adherents. - -In the course of time, the Khalifa forgave Mustafa, allowed him to live -with his clerk Ben Naga, and permitted him to talk to me. - -Just at the time we left Sherkéla, news arrived that Gordon's troops had -suffered a severe reverse; and now in Shatt we received the detailed -accounts of the overthrow of Mohammed Ali Pasha at Om Debban by the -Sheikh El Obeid. - -It appeared that when Gordon had defeated the Halfaya rebels at Buri, he -despatched Mohammed Ali with two thousand men to disperse the Mahdists -collected at Om Debban, the village of the Sheikh El Obeid. Mohammed -Ali's career had been very rapid: at his own request he had left me in -Darfur with the rank of adjutant-major; Gordon had promoted him to -major; and, during the siege, he had risen to the rank of colonel, and -soon afterwards to that of general. The force which he commanded against -the Sheikh El Obeid was composed mostly of irregulars, and he was -accompanied by crowds of women and slaves seeking for plunder. When on -the march between El Eilafun and Om Debban, he was attacked suddenly -from all sides, and his force was almost entirely annihilated; only a -few escaped to bring the sad news to Khartum, where the grief was -intense, and to Gordon it must have indeed been a terrible blow. - -This success had encouraged the rebels to press the siege more closely; -and now, reinforced as they were by Wad en Nejumi and his hosts, Gordon -found himself not strong enough to make a successful attack on the -Mahdists. - -From Shatt we now advanced to Duem, where the Mahdi held an enormous -review; and, pointing to the Nile, he said, "God has created this river; -He will give you its waters to drink, and you shall become the -possessors of all the lands along its banks." This speech was greeted -with shouts of joy by these wild fanatics, who at once believed that the -wonderful land of Egypt was to be their prey. - -From Duem we proceeded to Tura el Hadra, where we spent the Feast of -Great Bairam; Olivier Pain was suffering from fever, and was growing -more and more depressed. "I have tried many ventures in my life," said -he, "without thinking much beforehand of the consequences; but my coming -here was a fatal mistake. It would have been very much better for me if -the English had succeeded in preventing me from carrying out my design." -I did my best to comfort him, but he only shook his head. - -At the Feast of Bairam, the Mahdi repeated prayers in an unusually loud -voice; and when he read the "Khutba," he wept long and bitterly. We -unbelievers well knew that this weeping was hypocrisy, and boded no -good; but it had the desired effect on the fanatical crowds who had -flocked to his banners from the river tribes, and who were roused by -this touching sermon to the highest pitch of enthusiasm. - -After a halt of two days, we again moved on, creeping forward like a -great tortoise, so swelled were we by the thousands upon thousands who -were now joining daily from every part of the Sudan. Poor Olivier had -grown considerably worse; his fever had turned to typhus. He begged me -to induce the Mahdi to let him have some money, as he was so pestered by -the begging appeals of his attendants. I went to him, and explained -Pain's condition; and the Mahdi at once sent to the Beit el Mal for £5, -and wished the sick man a speedy recovery. I had also told the Khalifa -of Pain's serious illness, and that the Mahdi had given him £5; but he -blamed me for having asked for it without his permission, adding, "If he -dies here, he is a happy man. God in His goodness and omnipotence has -converted him from an unbeliever to a believer." - -Early in the morning, at the end of the first week in October, I was -sent for by Pain, and found him so weak that he could not stand up. For -two days he had not touched the food I had sent him; and, placing his -hand in mine, he said, "My last hour has come; I thank you for your -great kindness and care of me. The last favour I have to ask of you is -this: when you escape from the hands of these barbarous people, and you -happen to go to Paris, tell my unfortunate wife and children my dying -thoughts were for them." As he said these words, tears rolled down the -poor man's hollow and sunken cheeks. Again I tried to comfort him, -saying that it was too soon to give up hope; and as the war-drum was -beating for the advance, I had to hurry away and leave him. It was the -last time I saw him alive. I left behind with him one of my servants -named "Atrun" (Natron), and during the march I told the Khalifa of -Pain's condition, urging him to leave the poor man behind at some -village where he might have a few days' rest; he told me to remind him -of it that evening. The evening came, but no sick man arrived; Atrun -came alone. "Where is Yusef?" (this was Pain's Mohammedan name), said I, -for the boy seemed much agitated. "My master is dead," he answered; "and -that is the reason we are so late." "Dead!" said I. "Yes, dead and -buried," replied Atrun. - -"Tell me at once what has happened," I asked. "My master Yusef was so -weak," said he, "that he could not ride; but we had to go on marching. -Every now and then he lost consciousness; then he would come to again -and talk words we could not understand. So we tied an angareb on to the -saddle, and laid him on it; but he was too weak to hold on, and he fell -down suddenly and very heavily. After this he did not come to again, and -he was soon dead; so we wrapped him up in his farda [cotton shawl], and -buried him, and all his effects were taken to Zeki by his slaves." - -Olivier Pain was undoubtedly very seriously ill; but the fall was -probably the immediate cause of his sudden death. Poor man! with what a -high sounding mission he had come; and now this was the end of it all! I -immediately went to the Khalifa, and reported his death to him. "He is a -happy man," was his curt remark; he then despatched a mulazem to warn -Zeki to have all his effects carefully kept, and he sent me to the Mahdi -to apprise him of his end. The latter took it to heart much more than -the Khalifa, said several sympathetic words, and repeated the prayers -for the dead. - -After three days, we reached the neighbourhood of Khartum, and halted at -a place about one day's journey from the city. On our way, we had seen -Gordon's steamers in the distance; they had come up evidently to watch -our movements, and had returned again without firing. - -It was evening, and we had just finished pitching camp, when a mulazem -of the Mahdi arrived, and directed me to follow him; I went at once, and -found him sitting with Abdel Kader Wad Om Mariam, formerly Kadi of -Kalakla, and a man who exercised a great influence on the people of the -White Nile. Hussein Khalifa was also there; and I formed the fourth of -the party. - -"I have sent for you," said the Mahdi, "to tell you to write to Gordon -to save himself from certain defeat. Tell him that I am the true Mahdi, -and that he ought to surrender with his garrison, and thus save himself -and his soul. Tell him also, that if he refuses to obey, we shall every -one of us fight against him. Say that you yourself will fight against -him with your own hands. Say that victory will be ours, and that you -merely tell him this in order to avoid useless bloodshed." - -I remained silent till Hussein Khalifa called on me to answer. "O -Mahdi!" said I, "listen, I beg of you, to my words. I will be honest and -faithful; and I pray you to forgive me, if what I say is not pleasing to -you. If I write to Gordon that you are the true Mahdi, he will not -believe me; and if I threaten to fight against him with my own hands, he -will not be afraid of that. Now as you desire, under any circumstances, -to avoid shedding blood, I shall simply summon him to surrender. I shall -say that he is not strong enough to attempt to fight against you who are -ever-victorious, as he has no hope of help from outside; and, finally, I -shall say that I will be the intermediary between you and him." - -"I accept your sincere proposal," said the Mahdi; "go now and write the -letters, and to-morrow they shall be despatched to Gordon." - -I now returned to my quarters. My tent, owing to the difficulties of -transport, had been torn to shreds, and I had made a present of the rags -to some one; I had in place of it stretched some strips of cloth on -sticks, and thus provided a slight shade for myself during the daytime, -whilst at night I slept in the open. Searching about for a lantern, I -wrote the letters seated on an angareb under the open sky. First I wrote -a few lines to Gordon in French, explaining that I was writing to him -fully in German because, my French Dictionary having been burnt by the -Mahdists, who thought it was a Prayer Book, I did not feel capable of -expressing myself as I wished in that language. I said that I hoped I -should soon have an opportunity of joining him; and I prayed God that he -might be successful. I also mentioned that some of the Shaigias who had -recently joined the Mahdi did so to save their wives and children, and -not because they entertained any feelings of hostility towards Gordon. - -I then wrote a long letter to him in German, saying that I had learnt -through George Calamatino that he was annoyed at my capitulation, and -that therefore I took the liberty of placing the facts of the case -before him, begging him to form his opinion accordingly. I began by -recalling my campaigns against Sultan Harun and Dud Benga, and -explaining how, on the outbreak of the Mahdi revolt, the few officers -left, believing that Arabi Pasha had succeeded in driving the Europeans -out of the country, had spread reports that my recent defeats lay in the -fact that I was a Christian; how I had stifled the injurious effects of -these intrigues by giving out that I was a Mohammedan; and how I had, by -this means, been subsequently successful until the annihilation of -Hicks' army had cut off all hope of relief. I told him how my constant -fights had reduced my available force to some seven hundred men; that my -stock of ammunition was well-nigh exhausted; that both officers and men -desired capitulation: and what therefore could I do--a European and -alone--but submit. I told him how this surrender had been one of the -hardest acts of my life; but that as an Austrian officer I felt that I -had not acted in a dishonourable manner. I then went on to say that by -obedient and submissive behaviour I had in some measure gained the -confidence of the Mahdi and the Khalifa, and had obtained their -permission to write to him, on the pretext that I was asking him to -surrender; but that, instead, I availed myself of this opportunity to -offer him my services in order to assure him that I was ready to -conquer, or die with him, if God willed, an honourable death. Should he -agree to be an accessory to my escape to Khartum, I begged him to write -me a few lines in French to that effect; but, in order to carry through -the ruse, I suggested that he should also write me a few lines in -Arabic, asking me to obtain the Mahdi's permission to come to Omdurman, -in order to discuss with him the conditions of surrender. I went on to -tell him that Saleh Bey and several of the Sheikhs wished to express -their loyalty and devotion to him; but that, under the circumstances, -it was impossible for them to come to him, as, by so doing, they would -necessarily sacrifice their wives and children. - -I now wrote a third letter, in German, to Consul Hansal, asking him to -do his utmost to arrange that I should re-enter Khartum, as, being -thoroughly cognisant of the Mahdi's plans, intentions, strength, etc., I -believed I could be of great service to General Gordon; but, at the same -time, as rumours had been in circulation in the Mahdi's camp that, if -relief should not soon come, Gordon intended to surrender the town, and -as at that time I was quite ignorant of Gordon's prospects of relief, I -begged Consul Hansal to inform me of this, as, in the event of the town -being surrendered subsequent to my having entered Khartum, I should -naturally be the Mahdi's lawful victim on which to vent all his anger at -my escape and my efforts to aid his enemies. - -It seemed to me that it was quite reasonable on my part to seek some -such assurance. At the same time, rumours being current in the camp that -the Khartum garrison were much out of heart and wished to surrender, I -strongly urged Hansal in my letter not to feel discouraged, pointing out -that the Mahdi's forces were not so numerous as he imagined, and that it -only required energy and perseverance on the part of the Egyptian troops -to be eventually successful, and I urged that they should wait at least -six weeks, or two months, longer before submitting, so as to give the -relief expedition a chance of saving them.[12] - -I also told him there was a rumour in camp that the small steamer which -had been sent to Dongola had been wrecked at Wadi Gamr; but that I was -not at present in a position to say whether it was true or not. - -Early the next morning, the 15th October, I took these letters to the -Mahdi and he told me to send them by one of my boys to Omdurman. I at -once went and fetched Morgan Fur, a boy of about fifteen years of age, -and handed him the letters in the Mahdi's presence; and the latter -ordered Wad Suleiman to give him a donkey and some money. Before sending -him off, I gave him the most strict injunctions to speak to no one in -Khartum except to Gordon Pasha and Consul Hansal, and to assure them -that I wished to come to them. - -At midday, some horsemen arrived from Berber, confirming the news of the -wreck of the steamer, and of the murder of Colonel Stewart, and those -with him. The men brought with them all the papers and documents found -on board; and I was ordered by the Khalifa to examine those written in -European languages in Ahmed Wad Suleiman's office. Amongst them, I found -several private letters from people in Khartum, as well as official -documents and records. The most important of these was, of course, the -military report describing the daily occurrences in Khartum; it was -unsigned, but I had no doubt it was General Gordon's. A portion only of -the correspondence, etc., was shown to me; and before I had had time to -peruse it fully, I was again summoned before the Mahdi, who asked me -what the contents were. I replied, that most of them were private -letters, and that there was a military report, which I did not -understand. Unfortunately amongst the captured correspondence were -numbers of Arabic letters and reports, from which the Mahdi and the -Khalifa were able to thoroughly grasp the situation in Khartum. There -was also a half-cyphered Arabic telegram from General Gordon to His -Highness the Khedive, which Abdel Halim Effendi, formerly head clerk in -Kordofan, was able to decypher. Amongst the consular reports, I found a -notice of the death in Khartum of my old friend Ernst Marno, who had -succumbed to fever. - -The Mahdi now discussed, in my presence, what papers should be sent to -Gordon, in order to convince him that the steamer had been wrecked, and -Colonel Stewart and the others killed, thinking that this would force -Gordon to surrender. I pointed out that the only document likely to -convince Gordon, was his military report, which I suggested should be -returned; and, after a long discussion, it was decided to send it. - -The crowds accompanying the Mahdi were now complaining greatly of the -want of corn and dhurra; the price of an ardeb had risen to eighteen -medjidie dollars, which were then equivalent to about nine pounds -sterling. This extraordinary rate of exchange had been brought about by -the scarcity of dollars, in consequence of which the treasurer had -ordered the money captured at Berber--some £70,000 to £80,000 in -gold--to be sent to the Mahdi's camp; and this had been distributed. At -times, a sovereign valued even as little as a dollar and a half. Though -dhurra was so expensive, the prices of sheep and cattle were unusually -low,--a good ox or cow could be purchased for a dollar and a half or two -dollars, and a calf for half a dollar. This arose from the fact that an -immense number of cattle-owning Arabs had immigrated with the Mahdi from -the west, and had brought their flocks and herds with them to the river; -here the pasturage was quite insufficient for such quantities of -animals. The Mahdi had therefore preached a sermon to the herdsmen, to -the effect that tending flocks and herds, at the present time, was a -useless occupation, and that all their attention should now be centred -on fighting the religious war; consequently these ignorant people -followed his advice, and sold their cattle at these absurdly low rates. - -The next evening, my boy Morgan returned from his mission, but brought -no reply. When I inquired how this was, he said, he had reached Omdurman -fort, had delivered his letters, and, after waiting for a short time, -the commandant had told him to return, as there was no answer. I at once -took the boy to the Mahdi, to whom he repeated what had occurred; and -afterwards I went and informed the Khalifa. That same evening, the Mahdi -again summoned me, and ordered me to write another letter, which he said -Gordon would be sure to answer, when he heard of the loss of the -steamer. I at once expressed myself ready to carry out his wishes; and -he directed that my boy Morgan should again act as messenger. Once more -I betook myself to my angareb, and, by the flickering light of an old -lantern, scribbled another letter, reporting the loss of the steamer, -the death of Stewart, and repeating much of what I had said in my first -letters, adding that if, in his opinion, I had done anything contrary to -the honour of an officer, and if that had hindered him from writing to -me, I begged he would give me a chance of defending myself, and thus -give himself an opportunity of coming to a correct judgment. - -Early the next morning, I went again with Morgan to the Mahdi; the -latter ordered Ahmed Wad Suleiman to supply him with a donkey, and, -taking my letter, he went off, returning the following morning with a -reply from Consul Hansal, written in German, with an Arabic translation; -it ran as follows:-- - - DEAR FRIEND SLATIN BEY,--Your letters have been duly received, - and I request you will come to Tabia Ragheb Bey [Omdurman fort]. - I wish to speak to you about the steps to be taken for our - rescue; you may then return unmolested to your friend. - - Yours very truly, - (Signed) HANSAL. - -This letter puzzled me somewhat; I could not be sure if it was written -with the object merely of deceiving the Mahdi, in which case the Arabic -was amply sufficient for the purpose; but I thought he might have -written more clearly in German, though perhaps he conceived there might -have been some one else with the Mahdi who understood that language, and -I might have been thereby endangered. Then, taking the letter literally, -he seemed to hint at joining us himself,--indeed we had already heard -rumours that he, becoming alarmed at the probable fall of the town, -wished to submit with the other Austrian subjects to the Mahdi; but it -was of course quite impossible to say if he meant this or not. Then -again, as regards my joining Gordon in Khartum, could he really mean -that the latter had refused to listen to my request, or was his -expression that I "may then return unmolested to my friend" merely meant -as a blind to the Mahdi?--I confess I was utterly perplexed; my -suspense, however, was not of long duration. - -I at once took the letter to the Mahdi, and explained to him that the -Arabic text exactly corresponded with the German original. When he had -finished reading it, he asked me if I wished to go, and I replied that I -was ready to comply with his orders, and that my services were always at -his disposal. - -"I am rather afraid," said he, "that if you go to Omdurman to speak to -your Consul, Gordon may arrest or kill you. Why did he not write to you -himself, if he thinks well of you?" - -"I do not know why he is so silent," said I; "perhaps it is contrary to -his orders to enter into communication with us; however, when I meet -Hansal I may be able to arrange matters. You say you are afraid Gordon -might arrest me; but I am not, and even if he did I am quite sure you -could release me; but as to his killing me, that is altogether out of -the question." - -"Well," said the Mahdi, "get yourself ready to go, and I will let you -know." - -On my way to the Mahdi's hut, I had heard of Lupton Bey's arrival from -Bahr el Ghazal; and now, on my way back, I went in search of him, and -found him outside the Khalifa's door waiting to be received. Although it -was against rules to speak to any one before he had received the Mahdi's -pardon, I could not resist greeting him heartily, and, in a few words, -told him about the letters; and he said he earnestly hoped I might be -allowed to go to Khartum. He told me he had left his servants and the -rest of his people at some hours' distance, and he asked me to obtain -the Khalifa's permission for them to come in. A few minutes afterwards, -he was summoned before the Khalifa, obtained his pardon, was told that -he might go and bring in his people, and that he would be presented to -the Mahdi on his return. - -Meanwhile, I went back to my quarters, and lay on my angareb impatiently -awaiting my orders to be allowed to go to Omdurman; or had the Mahdi, -perhaps, changed his mind, and decided not to let me go? At length, one -of my boys came and told me that a mulazem of the Khalifa's wished to -see me, and, getting up, he told me to follow him to Yakub's camp, where -his master was waiting for me. Without a moment's delay, I bound my -turban round my head, put on my hizam (belt), and followed. At Yakub's -camp, we were told that the Khalifa had gone on to Abu Anga's zariba, -where he was waiting for us. I was beginning to get suspicious; all this -wandering about at night was very unusual. I knew how deceitful these -people were, and I was therefore prepared for any eventuality. Arrived -at Abu Anga's zariba, we were admitted by the sentry. It was an immense -enclosure filled with little shelters made of strips of cotton fixed on -poles, and separated from each other by small dhurra-stalk fences. We -were directed to one of these shelters, and there, by the dim light of a -lantern, I saw Yakub, Abu Anga, Fadl el Maula, Zeki Tummal, and Hajji -Zubeir seated round in a circle talking earnestly; behind them stood -several armed men; but no trace was to be seen of the Khalifa who, I had -been told, had sent for me. I was now almost certain in my own mind that -foul play was intended. The mulazem advanced and spoke to Yakub, and I -was then summoned to enter, and to place myself between Hajji Zubeir and -Fadl el Maula, while opposite to me sat Abu Anga. - -"Abdel Kader," began Abu Anga, "you have promised to be faithful to the -Mahdi; and it is your duty to keep your word; it is also your duty to -obey orders, even should you suffer thereby. Is not this so?" - -"Certainly," said I, "and you, Abu Anga, if you give me any orders from -the Mahdi or the Khalifa, you will see that I know how to obey them." - -"I received orders to make you a prisoner; but I do not know the -reason," said he; and, as he spoke, Hajji Zubeir snatched away my sword, -which, as was customary, I had laid across my knees whilst speaking, -and, handing it to Zeki Tummal, he seized my right arm with both hands. - -"I did not come here to fight," said I to Hajji Zubeir; "why should you -seize my arm; but you, Abu Anga, of course you must do as you are -bidden." - -What I had often inflicted on others, I was now about to undergo myself. -Abu Anga then stood up, and also Hajji Zubeir and myself, when the -latter let go my arm. - -"Go to that tent," said Abu Anga, pointing to a shelter which, in the -dark, I could scarcely see, "and you, Hajji Zubeir and the rest, go with -him." - -Accompanied by my gaoler, and some eight others, I went to the tent, -where I was directed to sit on the ground, and chains were now brought -out. Two large iron rings, bound together by a thick iron bar, were -slipped over my feet, and then hammered close; an iron ring was placed -round my neck, and to this was attached a long iron chain with the links -so arranged that I had the greatest difficulty in moving my head. I -endured all this in perfect silence; Hajji Zubeir then left, and I was -told, by the two soldiers who were guarding me, to lie down on the -palm-mat close by. - -Left to myself, I had now time to collect my thoughts; and, first of -all, I bitterly regretted not having attempted to escape on my horse to -Khartum; but who could tell if Gordon would have received me? Now, in -accordance with the Mahdi's orders, I was out of harm's way; but what -was to be my fate? Was it to be that of Mohammed Pasha Said and Ali Bey -Sherif? I was not in the habit of worrying about my personal concerns, -and making life miserable. What had Madibbo told me, "Be obedient and -patient; for he who lives long sees much." I had been obedient; it was -now my turn to practise patience; and as for a long life, that was -entirely in God's hands. - -About an hour later, during which, as may be imagined, I had not slept, -I saw several mulazemin approaching, carrying lanterns, and, as they -neared the tent, I made out Khalifa Abdullahi walking in the middle. I -stood up and waited for him. - -"Abdel Kader," said he, when he saw me standing in front of him, "are -you submitting with resignation to your fate?" - -"Since my childhood," I replied quietly, "I have been accustomed to be -obedient; now I must be obedient whether I like it or no." - -"Your friendship with Saleh Wad el Mek," said he, "and your -correspondence with Gordon, have cast suspicion on you, and we doubt if -your heart is still inclined to us; that is the reason I have ordered -you to be forcibly directed in the right way." - -"I made no secret of my friendship with Saleh Wad el Mek," said I; "he -is a friend of mine, and I believe he is loyal to you. As regards my -correspondence with Gordon, the Mahdi ordered me to write the letters." - -"Did he also order you to write what you did?" interrupted the Khalifa. -"I think I wrote what the Mahdi required," I replied; "and no one knows -the contents except myself and the person who received the letters. All -I require, sire, is justice; and I beg that you will pay no heed to -lying intriguers." - -I was again alone, and tried to sleep, but was too excited. All sorts of -strange thoughts and ideas coursed through my brain; the iron round my -feet and neck too pained me considerably, and I could get no rest. I -scarcely got a wink of sleep that night; and, at sunrise, Abu Anga came, -followed by servants carrying some dishes of food. Seating himself -beside me on the palm-mat, the food was placed before us; it was quite a -feast, composed of meal, chickens, rice and milk, honey, roast meat and -asida. But when I told him I had absolutely no appetite, he said, "I -think, Abdel Kader, you are afraid; and that is why you do not eat." - -"No," I replied, "it is not fear, but want of appetite. However, to -please you, I will try and eat something;" and I managed to swallow a -few mouthfuls, whilst Abu Anga did all he could to show that I was his -honoured guest. - -"The Khalifa," said he, "was rather disappointed yesterday, when he saw -you were not humbled; and remarked you were strong-headed, and that, he -supposed, was the reason you were not afraid." - -"How could I throw myself at his feet," said I, "and crave his pardon -for a crime I never committed? I am in his hands, and he can do as he -likes with me." - -"To-morrow, we shall advance," said Abu Anga, "and draw nearer to -Khartum; we shall press the siege more closely, and then make a sudden -attack. I shall ask the Khalifa to let you stay with me; that will be -less hard for you than going to the common prison." - -I thanked him for his kindness, and he then left. - -All that day, I was quite alone, but went through my prayers most -carefully in the sight of the bystanders, holding in my hand the rosary -which all good Mohammedans carry; but in reality I was repeating over -and over again the Lord's prayer. In the far distance, near Abu Anga's -tent, I caught sight of my servants and horses and the little baggage I -had. One of my boys also came and told me he had been ordered to attach -himself to Abu Anga. - -Early the next morning, the great war-drum sounded the advance; tents -were struck, baggage packed and loaded on camels, and the whole camp was -in movement. The weight of iron on my feet prevented me from walking, so -they brought me a donkey; the long neck-chain--the number of -figure-of-eight links of which I had amused myself in counting, and -which amounted to eighty-three, each about a span long--I wrapped round -and round my body, and in this iron casing I was lifted on to the -donkey, and held in position by a man on each side, otherwise my weight -would have made me overbalance and fall. On the march, several of my old -friends passed, but dared do nothing but pity me in silence. We halted -on some rising ground in the afternoon, and from here I could see the -palm-trees in Khartum; how I longed, as one of its garrison, to join in -its defence! - -The order was now given to make a temporary camp in this position, under -Khalifa Abdullahi, whilst the principal Emirs went forward to select the -site for a permanent camp. By this time, the pangs of hunger had seized -me, and I longed for some of the food which Abu Anga had offered me -yesterday; but the latter was now with the Khalifa, and had evidently -forgotten all about us. However, the wife of one of my guards found him -out, and brought him some stale dhurra-bread, which he shared with me. -Next morning, we were again ordered to advance, and halted about an hour -further on, at the spot selected for the main camp. As Abu Anga had -promised, it was now arranged that I should definitely remain under his -charge; a tattered old tent was pitched for me, and around it, close to -the tent ropes, a thorn zariba was made. I was put in here, and the -entrance, which was guarded by soldiers, was blocked by a large -thorn-bush. - -The Mahdi now ordered the siege to be vigorously pressed; that evening -several Emirs were sent over to the east bank of the White Nile to -reinforce Wad en Nejumi and Abu Girga; and all the local people were -summoned to join in the investment. Abu Anga and Fadl el Maula were told -off to besiege Omdurman fort, which was situated about five hundred -yards from the river, on the west bank, and was defended by Faragalla -Pasha,--a Sudanese officer who, in the space of one year, had been -promoted from the rank of captain to that of general officer, by Gordon. -Abu Anga succeeded in establishing himself between the fort and the -river; and, by digging deep trenches, he obtained sufficient shelter to -hold this advanced position in spite of the heavy fire from both the -fort and the steamers; one of the latter he succeeded in sinking by -shells fired from a gun he had placed in position; but the crew managed -to escape to Khartum.[13] - -During the siege, I was quite neglected; my guards were changed every -day, and my welfare entirely depended on their treatment of me. If they -happened to be slaves who had been captured, I was most carefully -watched, and permitted to have no intercourse with any one; but if they -happened to be old soldiers who knew me, I was not so closely -restrained, and they often did me little services, though they prevented -me from speaking to any one. My food was of the very worst description; -and, Abu Anga being always occupied in the siege, I was left to the -tender mercies of his wives, to whom he had given orders to feed me. - -On one occasion, one of my former soldiers happened to be on guard over -me, and I sent him with a message to Abu Anga's chief wife, complaining -that I had been kept without food for two days; and I got back the -answer, "Well, does Abdel Kader think we are going to fatten him up -here, whilst his uncle, Gordon Pasha, does nothing but fire shells all -day at our master, whose life is always in danger through his fault? If -he had made his uncle submit, he would not now be in chains." From her -own standpoint, the woman's views were perfectly justifiable. - -Occasionally, some of the Greeks were allowed to come and see me, and -they used to tell me the news. - -On the day we arrived here, poor Lupton Bey was also thrown into chains, -as he was suspected of attempting to join Gordon; besides, when his -effects were searched, a document was found, signed by all the officers -of his regular troops, stating that he had been forced to surrender his -province. His wife and little daughter of five years old were sent to -live at the Beit el Mal. The former had been brought up as a Black -servant girl in the house of Rosset, formerly German Consul at Khartum, -and, on his being appointed Governor of Darfur, she had accompanied him -there; on his death at El Fasher, she went with Lupton to Equatoria and -Bahr el Ghazal. By the Khalifa's orders, all Lupton's property was -confiscated; but he allowed his wife and child the services of a Black -female slave to help them in their daily work. - -One day, George Calamatino brought me the news that the English army, -under Lord Wolseley, was advancing slowly, and had reached Dongola; but -they had delayed too long in Upper Egypt, and now that Khartum was in -the greatest danger, their advanced guard was no further south than -Dongola: under these circumstances, when could their main body arrive? - -Some time after the proclamation of the abandonment of the Sudan had -been made known, Gordon had given the Khartum people to understand that -an English army was coming up to relieve them; and he had thus inspired -the garrison and inhabitants with hope and courage. They had been, so to -speak, given a new lease of life, and all eyes were anxiously turned to -the north, from whence the expected help was to come. Would it come in -time?--that was the question. - -These days passed in my tattered tent were full of hopes and fears. It -was not that I was concerned about my own safety, but I could not help -anticipating coming events with the greatest anxiety; how would it all -end, and what was to be my future? - -Poor Lupton, in company with some Dervishes, was forced to work a gun -which had been placed in position opposite Tuti Island. He had been -promised that, in recompense for this work, the condition of his wife -and child would be improved, and they would be given better means of -subsistence. - -Abdalla Wad Ibrahim also came to me, and said it was the Mahdi's earnest -wish that I should take charge of a gun; and, if I worked it faithfully, -he would give me my liberty. I replied that I was too ill and weak to -work laden with these chains; and, besides, I had no idea how guns were -worked; and that therefore it was impossible for me to buy my liberty at -this price. - -"Perhaps," said Wad Ibrahim, "you are unwilling to fire on Gordon, who -is said to be your uncle, and that is your reason for making these -excuses?" - -"I have neither uncle nor any other relatives in Khartum," said I; "and -my shells alone would certainly not force Khartum to surrender; however, -my present state of health will not admit of my undertaking this work." - -Abdalla rose and left me; and, a few hours later, some of the Khalifa's -mulazemin came and forged on to my ankles another set of iron rings and -a bar,--to humble me I suppose; but as the weight I already bore -prevented me from standing upright, and I was obliged to remain lying -down day and night, an iron more or less did not make much difference. - -The next few days passed without anything noteworthy occurring. -Occasionally I heard the crack of the rifles and the booming of the guns -of besieger and besieged; but the Greeks were not allowed to come and -see me now, and I was in complete ignorance of what was going on. - -One night about four hours after sunset, when blessed sleep, which makes -one forget all one's troubles, was gradually stealing over me, I was -suddenly roused by the sentry, and ordered to get up at once; as I did -so, I saw one of the Khalifa's mulazemin, who announced that his master -was just coming; and, as he spoke, I saw men approaching carrying -lanterns. What could the Khalifa want of me at such an hour? I asked -myself in great perplexity. - -"Abdel Kader," said he, in a kindly tone, as he approached, "sit down;" -and, his servants having stretched out his sheepskin, he sat on it -beside me. "I have here," he continued, "a piece of paper; and I want -you to tell me what is written on it, and so prove to me your fidelity." - -"Certainly, if I can do so," said I, taking the paper. It was about half -the size of a cigarette paper, and there was plain writing in black ink -on both sides of it. I at once recognised Gordon's handwriting and -signature; I held the paper close to the lantern, and saw the following -words written in French:-- - - I have about 10,000 men; can hold Khartum at the outside till - the end of January. Elias Pasha wrote to me; he was forced to do - so. He is old and incapable; I forgive him. Try Hajji Mohammed - Abu Girga, or sing another song. GORDON. - -There was nothing to show for whom it was intended. I was certain there -was no one in the camp who knew French, and that was the reason the -Khalifa had come to me. - -"Now, then," said the Khalifa, impatiently, "have you made out what it -means?" - -"The note is from Gordon," said I, "and it is written with his own hand, -in French cypher language, which I cannot understand." - -"What do you say?" said the Khalifa, now evidently much agitated; -"explain yourself better." - -"There are some words written here the sense of which I cannot make -out," said I; "every word has its own special meaning, and can only be -understood by those accustomed to the use of cyphers; if you ask any of -the old officials, they will confirm what I say." - -"I was told that the names of Elias Pasha and Hajji Mohammed Abu Girga -are mentioned; is this so?" roared the Khalifa, now thoroughly angry. - -"The man who said that told you the truth, and I also can read their -names; but it is impossible for me to understand the reference. Perhaps -the man who told you their names were there can make out the rest of the -letter," said I, somewhat ironically; "besides I can also make out -10,000 in figures; but whether it means soldiers, or something else, it -is quite impossible for me to say." - -He now seized the paper from my hand, and stood up. - -"Pardon me," said I, "I would with pleasure have proved my fidelity to -you, and have thus regained your gracious favour; but it is out of my -power. I think your clerks understand about cyphers better than I do." - -"Even if I do not know what this paper contains," said the Khalifa, -"still Gordon shall fall, and Khartum will be ours;" and then he -departed, leaving me alone with my guards. - -Gordon had said in his little note that he could hold Khartum at the -outside till the end of January; we were now nearly at the end of -December. Could the rescuing army possibly arrive in time? But why -should I worry myself with such thoughts? Here am I in chains, and -utterly useless to any one, and nothing I can do can change the course -of things. - -The next morning, I had a visit from a Greek, now called Abdullahi, who -had been appointed Emir of the Muslimania (Christians who had become -Moslems.) Without letting him know that the Khalifa had come to me the -previous night, I asked him what was the news, and whether anything was -known of the English expedition. He told me that the advanced guard had -reached Debbeh, and was about to advance to Metemmeh; that the Mahdi -knew all about this, and had ordered all the Barabra and Jaalin to -collect at Metemmeh under Mohammed el Kheir, and await the enemy. He -told me that the siege was drawn more closely round Khartum, and that, -the previous day, the garrison had attempted to make a sortie, but had -been forced back; that Sanjak Mohammed Kafr Jod, the brother of the -imprisoned Saleh Wad el Mek, had been killed, that his head had been cut -off and sent to the Khalifa, who had ordered it to be thrown at the feet -of Saleh, who was gazing at the ground. Recognising instantly his -brother's head, but without the slightest change of countenance, Saleh -said, "Di gizahu, di kismathu" (This is his punishment, this is his -fate); then, turning to the saier (commander of the prison), he said to -him, "Did you mean by this to startle me, or inspire me with fear?" What -nerves and self-control the man must have had! - -The next day, one of my guards told me that Mohammed Khaled had sent -reinforcements of men and some ammunition from Darfur to the Mahdi; also -that some of the Emirs of Khalifa Ali Wad Helu's flag had received -orders to leave for Metemmeh, under the command of his brother, Musa Wad -Helu. No doubt there was something in the wind. - -It was now the beginning of January, and Gordon had said he could hold -out till the end of the month; so the decisive moment was drawing closer -and closer. - -During the next few days, there was very heavy firing between the -Dervishes and Omdurman fort. Faragalla Pasha was doing his utmost; and, -in spite of the small number of his men, he attempted a sortie, but was -driven back. The supplies in the fort were finished, and negotiations -were now going on for its surrender. Faragalla had signalled to Gordon -for instructions; but the latter, being unable to support him, had told -him to capitulate. The entire garrison received the Mahdi's pardon. The -men had nothing but the clothes in which they stood, and their wives and -children were all in Khartum. As they marched out, the Mahdists marched -in, but were almost immediately driven out again by the artillery fire -from Khartum; in the fort itself there were two breech-loading guns, but -their range did not extend as far as the town. The surrender took place -on 15th January, 1885. - -Although Omdurman had now fallen, the Mahdi did not send any -reinforcements to the besiegers south and east of Khartum; he well knew -that the number of his followers collected there was quite sufficient -for the purpose. Both he and the garrison of Khartum now looked, with -the most intense anxiety, towards the north from whence the final -decision must be awaited. - -Gordon Pasha had sent five steamers to Metemmeh some time ago, under -Khashm el Mus and Abdel Hamid Wad Mohammed, in order to await the -arrival of the English, and bring some of them, with the necessary -supplies, to Khartum as soon as possible. No doubt he was expecting -their arrival with the greatest anxiety. He had staked everything on -this; and no one knew what had become of them. - -At the beginning of the month, Gordon had allowed several of the -families to leave Khartum. Up to that time, he could not bear to -forcibly drive them out of the town; and, in consequence, he had been -obliged to make a daily distribution of hundreds of okes of biscuit and -dhurra amongst these destitute people; and for that he had, no doubt, -God's reward, but he thereby ruined himself and his valuable men. Every -one was crying out for bread, and the stores were almost empty! He now -did all he could to induce the people to leave the town. Had he only -done so two or three months earlier, there would have been ample -supplies to last the troops a long time; but Gordon, thinking that help -was coming so soon to him, to the troops, and to the inhabitants, did -not provide for possible detentions. Did he think that it was out of the -question for an English expedition to be delayed? - -Six days after the fall of Omdurman, loud weeping and wailing filled our -camp; since I had left Darfur I had not heard anything like it. The -Mahdi's doctrine forbade the display of sorrow and grief for those who -died, or were killed, because they had entered into the joys of -Paradise. Something very unusual must therefore have happened to make -the people dare to transgress the Mahdi's regulations. My guards, who -were old soldiers, were so curious to know the cause that they left me -to make inquiries, and, in a few minutes, brought back the startling -news, that the English advanced guard had met the combined force of -Barabra, Jaalin, Degheim, and Kenana, under Musa Wad Helu at Abu Teleh -(Abu Klea), and had utterly defeated them; thousands had fallen, and the -few who had survived had returned, many of them wounded. The Degheim and -Kenana had been almost annihilated; Musa Wad Helu, and most of the -Emirs, had fallen. - -What news!--my heart was literally thumping with joyous excitement. -After all these long years, a crowning victory at last! The Mahdi and -Khalifa at once gave orders that all this noise should cease; but for -hours the weeping and wailing of the women continued. Instructions were -now given to Nur Angara to start off with troops towards Metemmeh; but -what good would this do, even if he had had the will, which he had not, -what could he do with a few troops when thousands and thousands of wild -fanatics had failed? Within the next two or three days, came the news of -other defeats at Abu Kru and Kubba (Gubat), and of the erection of a -fort on the Nile close to Metemmeh. The Mahdi and his principal Emirs -now held a consultation. All the wonderful victories they had gained up -to the present were at stake; for those besieging Khartum were terrified -and had retired. It was now the question of a few days only, and the -Mahdi was done. They must risk everything. Consequently, orders were -sent out to the besiegers to collect and make all preparations. Why did -the long expected steamers with the English troops not come? Did their -commanders not know Khartum, and the lives of all in it, were hanging by -a thread? In vain did I, and thousands of others, wait for the shrill -whistle of the steamer, and for the booming of the guns announcing that -the English had arrived, and were passing the entrenchments made by the -Dervishes to oppose them. Yes, in vain! The delay was inexplicable; what -could it mean? Had new difficulties arisen? - -It was now Sunday, the 25th of January,--a day I shall never forget as -long as I live. That evening, when it was dark, the Mahdi and his -Khalifas crossed over in a boat to where their warriors were all -collected ready for the fight. It was known during the day that Khartum -would be attacked the next morning; and the Mahdi had now gone to brace -up his followers for the fray by preaching to them the glories of Jehad, -and urging them to fight till death. Pray Heaven Gordon may have got the -news, and made his preparations to resist in time! - -On this occasion, the Mahdi and his Khalifas had most strictly enjoined -their followers to restrain their feelings, and receive the last -injunctions in silence, instead of with the usual shouts and -acclamations, which might awaken the suspicions of the exhausted and -hungry garrison. His solemn harangue over, the Mahdi recrossed, and -returned to the camp at dawn, leaving with the storming party only -Khalifa Sherif, who had begged to be allowed to join in the holy battle. - -That night was for me the most excitingly anxious one in my life. If -only the attack were repulsed, Khartum would be saved; otherwise, all -would be lost. Utterly exhausted, I was just dropping off to sleep at -early dawn, when I was startled by the deafening discharge of thousands -of rifles and guns; this lasted for a few minutes, then only occasional -rifle-shots were heard, and now all was quiet again. It was scarcely -light, and I could barely distinguish objects. Could this possibly be -the great attack on Khartum? A wild discharge of fire-arms and cannon, -and in a few minutes complete stillness? - -The sun was now rising red over the horizon; what would this day bring -forth? Excited and agitated, I awaited the result with intense -impatience. Soon shouts of rejoicing and victory were heard in the -distance; and my guards ran off to find out the news. In a few minutes, -they were back again, excitedly relating how Khartum had been taken by -storm, and was now in the hands of the Mahdists. Was it possible the -news was false? I crawled out of my tent, and scanned the camp; a great -crowd had collected before the quarters of the Mahdi and Khalifa, which -were not far off; then there was a movement in the direction of my tent; -and I could see plainly they were coming towards me. In front, marched -three Black soldiers; one named Shatta, formerly belonging to Ahmed Bey -Dafalla's slave body-guard, carried in his hands a bloody cloth in which -something was wrapped up, and behind him followed a crowd of people -weeping. The slaves had now approached my tent, and stood before me with -insulting gestures; Shatta undid the cloth and showed me the head of -General Gordon! - -The blood rushed to my head, and my heart seemed to stop beating; but, -with a tremendous effort of self-control, I gazed silently at this -ghastly spectacle. His blue eyes were half-opened; the mouth was -perfectly natural; the hair of his head, and his short whiskers, were -almost quite white. - -"Is not this the head of your uncle the unbeliever?" said Shatta, -holding the head up before me. - -"What of it?" said I, quietly. "A brave soldier who fell at his post; -happy is he to have fallen; his sufferings are over." - -[Illustration: Bringing Gordon's Head to Slatin.] - -"Ha, ha!" said Shatta, "so you still praise the unbeliever; but you will -soon see the result;" and, leaving me, he went off to the Mahdi, bearing -his terrible token of victory; behind him followed the crowd, still -weeping. - -I re-entered my tent. I was now utterly broken-hearted: Khartum fallen, -and Gordon dead! And this was the end of the brave soldier who had -fallen at his post,--the end of a man whose courage and utter disregard -of fear were remarkable, and whose personal characteristics had given -him a celebrity in the world which was quite exceptional. - -Of what use was the English army now? How fatal had been the delay at -Metemmeh! The English advanced guard had reached Gubat on the Nile, on -the 20th of January, at 10 A. M.; on the 21st, Gordon's four steamers -had arrived. Then why did they not send some Englishmen on board, no -matter how few, and despatch them instantly to Khartum? If they could -only have been seen in the town, the garrison would have taken fresh -hope, and would have fought tooth and nail against the enemy; whilst the -inhabitants, who had lost all confidence in Gordon's promises, would -have joined most heartily in resisting the Dervish attack, knowing that -the relief expedition was now certain to reach them. Gordon, of course, -had done his utmost to hold the town: he had announced that an English -army was coming; he had made a paper currency; had distributed -decorations and honours almost daily, in order to keep up the hearts of -the garrison; and, as the position had become more desperate, he had -made almost superhuman efforts to induce the troops to hold out; but -despair had taken possession of them. What was the use of all these -decorations now; what good were all their ranks and honours? And as for -the paper money, perhaps there were one or two still hopeful people who -would buy a pound note for a couple of piastres,[14] on the chance that, -by some stroke of luck, the Government might yet be victorious; but -gradually even these slender hopes disappeared. Gordon's promises were -no longer credited; if but one steamer with a few English officers had -reached the town, to bring the news that they had won a victory, and had -reached the Nile, the troops and inhabitants would have doubted no -longer, and they would have been convinced that Gordon's words were -true. An English officer would at once have noticed that part of the -lines which had been damaged by the overflow of the White Nile, and -could have ordered its repair. But what could Gordon do single-handed, -and without the assistance of any European officers; it was impossible -for him to look to everything, nor had he the means of seeing that his -orders were carried out to his satisfaction. How was it possible for a -commander who could not give his troops food, to expect these starving -men to carry out with precision and energy the instructions he issued? - -On the unfortunate night of the 25th of January, Gordon was told that -the Mahdists had decided to make an attack; and he had issued his orders -accordingly. Perhaps he himself doubted if they would attack so early in -the morning. At the time the Mahdi was crossing the river, Gordon, to -stimulate his followers, had made a display of fireworks in the town; -various coloured rockets were fired, and the band played, with the -object of reviving the flagging spirits of the famished garrison. The -display was over, the music had ceased, and Khartum was asleep, whilst -the enemy crept cautiously and silently forward to the attack. They knew -all the weak and strong points of the lines of defence; they knew also -that the regulars were stationed at the strong points, and that the -broken-down parapet and tumbled-in ditch near the White Nile were weakly -defended by the feeble inhabitants. This particular part of the lines -was sadly out of repair; it had never been actually completed, and, when -damaged by the water, no steps had been taken to re-make it. Every day -the Nile became lower, and every day exposed a broader strip of -undefended wet mud, which the hungry and hopeless people merely made a -show of defending. It was opposite to this open space that, at early -dawn, the bulk of the attacking force had collected, whilst the other -portion of the Mahdist army faced the main position. At a given signal, -the attack began. Those holding the White Nile flank, after firing a few -shots, fled precipitately; and, while the troops were occupied in -repelling the storming parties in their immediate front, thousands and -thousands of wild Arabs, dashing through the mud and water which was -only up to their knees, poured into the town, and, to their dismay, the -defenders on the lines found themselves attacked from the rear. Very -slight resistance was made, and most of the troops laid down their arms. -Numbers of the Egyptians were massacred; but, of the Blacks, few were -killed, whilst the enemy's losses within the lines did not exceed eighty -to one hundred men. Soon afterwards, the gates were opened by the -Dervishes, and the troops were permitted to march out to the Mahdist -camp. - -Once the line of the White Nile was crossed, the great mass of the enemy -rushed towards the town. "Lil Saraya! lil Kenisa!" (To the Palace! to -the Church!) was the cry; for it was here they expected to find the -treasure and Gordon, who had so long defended the city against them, and -had up to that day defied all their efforts. Amongst the leaders in the -attack on the Palace were the followers of Makin Wad en Nur, who was -afterwards killed at the battle of Toski, and belonged to the Arakin -tribe; Makin's brother Abdalla Wad en Nur, their beloved leader, had -been killed during the siege, and they were now seeking to avenge his -death. Many of Abu Girga's men were also forward in the rush to the -Palace; they wanted to wipe out the defeat they had suffered when Gordon -had driven them out of Burri. The Palace servants who lived in the -basement were instantly massacred; and Gordon himself, standing on the -top of the steps leading to the divan, awaited the approach of the -Arabs. Taking no notice of his question, "Where is your master the -Mahdi?" the first man up the steps plunged his huge spear into his body; -he fell forward on his face, without uttering a word. His murderers -dragged him down the steps to the Palace entrance; and here his head -was cut off, and at once sent over to the Mahdi at Omdurman, whilst his -body was left to the mercy of those wild fanatics. Thousands of these -inhuman creatures pressed forward merely to stain their swords and -spears with his blood; and soon all that remained was a heap of mangled -flesh. For a long time, stains of blood marked the spot where this -atrocity took place; and the steps, from top to bottom, for weeks bore -the same sad traces, until they were at last washed off when the Khalifa -decided to make the Palace an abode for his former and his future wives. - -When Gordon's head was brought to the Mahdi, he remarked he would have -been better pleased had they taken him alive; for it was his intention -to convert him, and then hand him over to the English Government in -exchange for Ahmed Arabi Pasha, as he had hoped that the latter would -have been of assistance to him in helping him to conquer Egypt. My own -opinion, however, is that this regret on the part of the Mahdi was -merely assumed; for had he expressed any wish that Gordon's life should -be spared, no one would have dared to disobey his orders. - -Gordon had done his utmost to save the lives of the Europeans who were -with him. Colonel Stewart, with some of the Consuls and many of the -Europeans, he had allowed to go to Dongola; but unfortunately the -incapable and disaffected crew of their steamer, the "Abbas," had run -her on to a rock in the cataracts, and had thus given up him and his -companions to the treacherous death which had been prepared for them. On -the pretext that the Greeks were good men on boats, Gordon had offered -them a steamer, on which it was arranged they should make a visit of -inspection on the White Nile, thus intending to give them an opportunity -to escape south to join Emin Pasha; but they had refused to accept. -Being much concerned as to their safety, Gordon now made another -proposal: he ordered all roads leading towards the Blue Nile to be -placed out of bounds after ten o'clock at night; and he charged the -Greeks with watching them, so that they might have a chance of escaping -to a steamer moored close by, in which it was arranged they should -escape; but, owing to a disagreement between themselves as to the -details of the plan, it fell through. I have little doubt in my own mind -that these Greeks did not really wish to leave the town. In their own -homes and in Egypt most of them had been very poor, and had held merely -subordinate positions; but here in the Sudan many had made their -fortunes, and were therefore by no means anxious to quit a country from -which they had reaped so great advantages. - -Gordon seemed anxious about the safety of every one but himself. Why did -he neglect to make a redoubt, or keep within the fortifications, the -central point of which might well have been the Palace? From a military -point of view I think this is a fair criticism; but probably Gordon did -not do so, lest he should be suspected of being concerned for his own -safety; and it was probably a similar idea which influenced him in his -decision not to have a strong guard at the Palace. He might well have -employed a company of soldiers for this purpose; and who would have -thought of questioning the advantage of protecting himself? With a guard -of this strength, he could easily have reached the steamer "Ismaïlia," -which was lying close to the Palace, scarcely three hundred yards from -the gate. Fagarli, the captain, saw the enemy rushing to the Palace. In -vain he waited for Gordon; and it was only when the latter was killed, -and he saw the Dervishes making for his boat, that he steamed off into -mid-stream, and moved backwards and forwards along the front of the town -until he received a message from the Mahdi offering him pardon. As his -wife and family and some of his crew were in the city, he accepted the -offer and landed; but how sadly had he been deluded. Rushing to his -home, he found his son--a boy of ten years old--lying dead on the -doorstep, whilst his wife, in her agony, had thrown herself on her -child's body, and lay pierced with several lances. - -The cruelties and atrocities perpetrated in the terrible massacre which -followed Gordon's death are beyond description. Male and female slaves, -and young, good-looking women of the free tribes, alone were spared; and -if some others succeeded in escaping, they had only to thank a lucky -chance which saved them from the merciless bloodshed of that awful day. -Not a few resolved to put an end to their own lives; amongst these was -Mohammed Pasha Hussein, the head of the Finance, who, standing beside -the dead bodies of his only daughter and her husband, was urged by some -friends to fly with them, and let them save him; but he refused. They -tried to take him by force; but, in a loud voice, he heaped curses on -the Mahdi and his followers, and some fanatics passing by soon -despatched him. Several people were killed by their former servants and -slaves, who, having previously joined the enemy, now acted as guides to -the wild hordes thirsting for blood, plunder, and rapine. - -Fathalla Gehami, a wealthy Syrian (whose wife was the daughter of the -wholesale French dealer Contarini, and to whom, on her father's death -some years ago, I had given a lodging with her little child in my -house), had buried all his money in a corner of his house, with the -assistance of his servant, a Dongola boy whom he had brought up from -quite a child. None but he, his wife Lisa, and his boy knew the secret -hiding-place; and when the situation became so serious in the town, he -called up the lad and, in his wife's presence, said to him, "Mohammed, I -have taken care of you since you were quite a child, and I trust you; -you know where the money is hidden. Our condition is gradually growing -worse. You have relatives with the Mahdi; you can go to them, and if the -Government is victorious you can return to me without fear of -punishment. But should the Mahdi conquer, then you can repay me for my -kindness to you." Obedient to his master's wishes, the boy left the -town, and, on the morning of the attack, he, with some of his relatives, -rushed to his employer's house. "Open, open!" he shouted at the top of -his voice; "I am your child, your servant Mohammed." Fathalla Gehami -joyfully opened the great iron gate which had been so strengthened and -barred that it defied entry; and in an instant his faithless servant had -plunged his spear into his body. Dashing with his friends over his -master's prostrate form, he made for the hiding-place of the money, and -instantly seized it; on his way out of the house, he rushed at -Fathalla's wife, who had seen the whole proceedings of this ungrateful -young bloodhound, and would have killed her too, but she threw herself -on the body of her husband, who was in his death-agony; and Mohammed's -friends with difficulty drew him off before he had time to plunge his -knife into the poor woman who had been his kind protectress for so many -years. - -The Greek Consul Leontides was called out of his house by a crowd of -fanatics who had been worked up into a state of excitement by a man who -owed him money; and, on his appearance, he was instantly killed. Consul -Hansal was murdered by one of his own kavasses, who afterwards tied his -hands together, dragged the body out of the house, poured spirits over -it, heaped on it all the tobacco he could find, set it on fire, and, -when it was reduced to cinders, threw the remains into the river. Butros -Bulos, a clerk in the finance office, was perhaps the only man who came -well out of that awful day. He lived in a detached house, and had -collected round him his relatives; for some time they defended -themselves most successfully against all comers, and killed a number of -them. When summoned at last to surrender, he said he would only do so if -he were promised the Mahdi's pardon, and a guarantee that he should not -be separated from his family; as it was impossible to turn him out -without bringing up guns to bombard the house, Khalifa Sherif gave him -the pardon he required, which, curiously enough, was subsequently -ratified by the Mahdi. - -The Shaigia post on Tuti Island surrendered after Khartum had fallen; -and the garrison were brought across to Omdurman in boats. - -One could fill a volume with the details of the terrible atrocities -committed on that memorable day; yet I doubt if the fate of the -survivors was very much better. When all the houses were occupied, the -search for treasure began, and no excuse or denial was accepted; whoever -was suspected of having concealed money (and the majority of the -inhabitants had done so) was tortured until the secret was disclosed, or -until he succeeded in convincing his tormentors that he had nothing. -There was no sparing of the lash; the unfortunate people were flogged -until their flesh hung down in shreds from their bodies. Another torture -was to tie men up by their thumbs to a beam, and leave them dangling in -the air till they became unconscious; or two small pliant slips of -bamboo were tied horizontally to their temples, and the two ends, before -and behind, being joined together and twisted as tightly as possible, -were struck with vibrating sticks which produced agony inexpressible. -Even women of an advanced age were tormented in this way; and the -most sensitive parts of their bodies were subjected to a species of -torture which it is impossible for me to describe here. Suffice it to -say that the most appalling methods were resorted to in order to -discover hidden treasure. Young women and girls only were exempted from -these abominable tortures, for no other reason than that such atrocities -might interfere in some manner with the object for which they had been -reserved. All such were put aside for the harem of the Mahdi, who, on -the actual day of the conquest, made his selections, and turned over the -rejected ones to his Khalifas and principal Emirs. This picking and -choosing continued for weeks together, until the households of these -libidinous and inhuman scoundrels were stocked to overflowing with all -the unfortunate youth and beauty of the fallen city. - -The next day, a general amnesty was given to all, with the exception of -the Shaigia, who were still considered outlaws; but, in spite of this, -murders and atrocities continued for many days subsequent to the fall of -Khartum. - -The Emir Abu Girga made every effort to discover the hiding-place of the -sons of Saleh Wad el Mek; but for three days he was unsuccessful. They -were at last found, brought before him, and instantly beheaded. It -behoved also all Egyptians to look to themselves during these days of -massacre; for, if met alone by these fanatics, they were mercilessly -slaughtered. A merchant was making inquiries one day about the bazaar -prices in Omdurman, and asked what were at present the cheapest articles -and the greatest drug in the market; the man questioned, being evidently -a wag, answered: "The yellow-skinned Egyptian, the Shaigia, and the -dog," which, being considered an impure animal, was always killed when -found. This saying obtained great notoriety amongst the Dervishes, and -gives a very fair idea of the estimation in which they held the former -ruling class. - -The plunder taken in Khartum was carried off to the Beit el Mal; but of -course large quantities were made away with. The principal houses were -distributed amongst the Emirs; and, on the day after the town fell, the -Mahdi and Khalifa Abdullahi crossed over from Omdurman in the steamer -"Ismaïlia" to view the scene of their bloody victory and massacre; -without a sign of pity or regret, they occupied the houses selected for -them, and, addressing their followers, described the disaster which had -overtaken Khartum as the just judgment of Heaven on the godless -inhabitants of the city, who had repeatedly rejected the Mahdi's summons -to them to surrender and become his faithful followers in the true -religion. - -The first few days were spent in the wildest debauchery and excesses; -and it was not until the Mahdi and his followers had to some extent -satiated their vicious passions, that they turned their attention to the -dangers which threatened them from without. To oppose the English -expedition, the renowned Emir Abderrahman Wad Nejumi was ordered to -collect a large force and proceed forthwith to Metemmeh, to drive out -the infidels, who were known to have reached the Nile near this town. - -On Wednesday morning, two days after Khartum had fallen, at about eleven -o'clock, the thunder of guns and the sharp crack of rifles were heard -in the direction of the north end of Tuti Island; and soon two steamers -came in view,--these were the "Telahawia" and "Bordein," carrying Sir -Charles Wilson and some English officers and men who had come up to -assist General Gordon. Sanjak Kashm el Mus and Abdel Hamid Mohammed, -whom Gordon had despatched in command of the Shaigias, were also on -board; they had already heard of Gordon's death, and of the cruel fate -which had overtaken the town and its inhabitants. Although those on the -steamer had little doubt of the accuracy of the sad news, they wished to -see with their own eyes, and reached a point midway between Tuti Island -and the left bank of the White Nile; here they were heavily fired on by -the Dervishes from an entrenched position, situated northeast of -Omdurman Fort, and having seen Khartum in the distance, and been -convinced, they turned about and steamed away. - -I subsequently heard from some of the crew of these steamers, that both -they and the Englishmen on board were deeply affected by the fall of the -city; they now knew that the entire Sudan was in the Mahdi's hands. It -was the talk on board, they said, that the English expedition had only -come up to save Gordon; and, now that he was killed, the object of the -expedition had failed, and they naturally concluded that it would retire -to Dongola, and that they would be called upon to accompany it. -Consequently the chief pilot of the "Telahawia" and the captain Abdel -Hamid agreed together to run the steamer on to a rock, and then escape -during the night. This plan was successfully carried out; and the -steamer stuck so hard and fast that the cargo had to be at once -transferred to the "Bordein." During the confusion, these two -conspirators escaped; and, through the intermediary of their friends, -they succeeded in securing the Mahdi's pardon, and returned subsequently -to Khartum. Here they were well received and publicly commended by the -Mahdi for having inflicted loss on their enemies, the British; Abdel -Hamid, in spite of being a hated Shaigia, and a relative of Saleh Wad -el Mek, was presented by the Mahdi with his own jibba, as a mark of -honour, and, moreover, several of his female relatives who, after the -sack of the town, had been distributed amongst the Emirs, were given -back to him. - -Meanwhile, the "Bordein," on its return journey towards Metemmeh, struck -on a sand-bank, and, being heavily laden, could not be floated off. Sir -Charles Wilson's position was now very critical; with his small force he -could not have attempted to land on the west bank and attack the enemy, -which was entrenched at Wad Habeshi, between him and the British camp at -Gubat. It is true that the courage of this body of Dervishes had been -considerably shaken by the defeat at Abu Klea; but the fall of Khartum, -and the knowledge that Wad en Nejumi with a large force was advancing -north to their support, now transformed them into a formidable enemy. A -third steamer, the "Safia," was still at Gubat. Sir Charles Wilson -therefore sent an officer down stream in a small boat to ask for help; -the appeal was promptly responded to, the "Safia" starting, without -delay, to the relief of the "Bordein." The enemy hearing of this, at -once threw up entrenchments to oppose its progress, and, on its -approach, poured on the unfortunate steamer a perfect hail of rifle and -cannon shot; but those on board, determined to relieve their comrades in -distress, fought most bravely until a shot, penetrating the boiler, -disabled the steamer and placed it in the greatest danger. Undismayed, -however, the commander set to work, under a heavy fire, to repair the -damage; the work was continued during the night, and early the next -morning the "Safia" was able to continue her running fight with the -Dervishes, eventually succeeding in silencing the guns, and killing the -principal Emir, Ahmed Wad Faid, and a considerable number of subordinate -Emirs and men. The passage was forced; and Sir Charles Wilson and his -men relieved. - -This daring exploit, which resulted in the rescue of the little band of -Englishmen who had ventured to Khartum, also had a very important, -though indirect, effect on the subsequent fate of the small British -column near Metemmeh. The advance of Nejumi, which, under any -circumstances, was not rapid, owing to the difficulty of collecting the -men, was still further delayed by the news of the death of Ahmed Wad -Faid, and the defeat of the strong body of Dervishes at Wad Habeshi by -one steamer. I was informed that on hearing of the success of the -"Safia" (whose able commander I learnt on my return to Egypt was Lord -Charles Beresford), Nejumi addressed his men, and pointed out to them, -that if the English advanced with the intention of taking the Sudan, -they must of course oppose them; but if, on the other hand, they retired -towards Dongola, then he and his men would be able to occupy the country -they had abandoned without the risk of further fighting. And it was this -latter course which he eventually took. Delaying his advance, he reached -Metemmeh only after the British had retired from Gubat; and, although he -pursued them as far as Abu Klea, he hesitated somewhat to attack unless -quite assured of success. - -It was only when the Mahdi learnt of the final retirement of the British -advanced guard that he was convinced the Sudan had at last been -completely won; and now his delight knew no bounds. He announced the -news in the mosque and drew a striking picture of the flight of the -unbelievers, embellishing it further by a revelation from the Prophet to -the effect that their water-skins had all been pierced, through Divine -intervention, and that all those who had taken part in the expedition -had died of thirst. - -On the fifth day after the fall of Khartum, a small band of soldiers -suddenly appeared in my tattered tent; and, placing me, still shackled -and bound, on a donkey, they carried me off to the general prison, where -they hammered on to my ankles a third and exceptionally heavy iron bar -and rings (nicknamed the Hajji Fatma); it weighed about eighteen pounds, -and was only put on those who were considered exceptionally obstinate or -dangerous prisoners. I was quite ignorant of the reasons which caused me -to fall still lower in the Khalifa's disfavour; but I found out later -that Gordon, when he had ascertained from my letters to him that the -Mahdist force advancing on Khartum was not a strong one, that many of -the Mahdi's adherents were discontented, and that there was considerable -scarcity of ammunition, had written to this effect to several of the -principal officers on the lines; one of his letters containing this -information was discovered in the loot handed over to Ahmed Wad Suleiman -in the Beit el Mal, by whom it had been passed to the Mahdi and Khalifa. -Thus were their suspicions regarding my behaviour confirmed, and my -schemes to escape and join Gordon laid bare. - -I was deposited in one corner of the immense zariba, where I was ordered -to stay, and to hold no converse with any one without permission, on -pain of instant flogging. At sunset, I, a number of slaves who were -under sentence for having murdered their masters, and other gentlemen of -this description were bound together by a long chain passing round our -feet and fastened to the trunk of a tree; and at sunrise the next -morning, we were unfastened, and I was sent back to my corner again. I -could just see Lupton, in the distance, in another corner of the -enclosure. He had been in here for some time, and had become used to it; -he had permission to speak to others, but was under strict orders of the -saier, or gaoler, not, on any account, to speak to me. On the day that I -had been brought to the prison, Saleh Wad el Mek had been discharged; -his brother, sons, and almost all his relatives had been killed, and he -was now allowed to go and search for the survivors. As regards food, I -now fared considerably worse; I had, in this respect, fallen out of the -frying pan into the fire. I used to complain of being occasionally -hungry; but now I received only uncooked dhurra, getting the same share -as the slaves, and a very small share it was. Fortunately, the wife of -one of my warders, a Darfur woman, took pity upon me, and used to take -the corn away, boil it, and bring it back to me; but she was not allowed -to bring me any other food, as her husband feared the principal gaoler -might find out, and he, in his turn, was afraid of incurring the -Khalifa's displeasure. I lay on the bare ground, with a stone for my -pillow, the hardness of which gave me a continual headache; but, one day -whilst we were being driven to the river--one hundred and fifty yards -distant--to wash, I picked up the lining of a donkey saddle, which the -owner had evidently thrown away as old and useless; and, hiding it under -my arm, I bore it off in triumph, and that night I slept like a king on -his pillow of down. - -Gradually, my position improved somewhat. The principal gaoler, who was -not really disinclined towards me, allowed me to converse occasionally -with the other prisoners, and removed my lightest foot-irons; but the -Hajji Fatma and her sister still remained, and I cannot say this pair of -worthies conduced much to my personal comfort during those long and -weary months of imprisonment. - -One day, a Black woman came in with her child--a nice little girl--to -visit her poor husband and the child's father, Lupton. The poor little -thing wept bitterly, for, young as she was, she was old enough to -understand the miserable plight of her father, who, before they left, -sent them to say a few words to me. The poor woman looked at me for a -few moments, and then, taking my hand, wept aloud. I remembered I had -often seen her before; and, between her sobs, she reminded me that she -had come to Khartum as a young girl, and had been brought up in -Frederick Rosset's house, where, during my first journey to the Sudan, I -had stayed for some weeks. Poor Zenoba! she reminded me of many little -incidents which had happened in the old days; and, as she related them, -she often broke down, comparing her former happiness with her present -misery. I tried to console her, urging her to keep up hope, and that -perhaps everything would end well. "Besides," I said, "it was never -intended that human beings should always live well and comfortably." -Little Fatma, whom we called Fanny, flung herself into my arms, calling -me, ammi (my uncle); and it seemed as if her heart told her -instinctively that, amongst all this crowd, I was next to her father in -her affections. I then begged the poor woman to leave me, as I feared -taking advantage of the gaoler's patience. - -At this time, there was some difficulty in supplying food to the Black -soldiers under Abu Anga, whose number had been further increased by the -Khartum garrison. As there was no immediate fear of any movement on the -part of the Government towards Khartum, it was decided to despatch Abu -Anga to Southern Kordofan on a punitive expedition against the Nubas, -and to procure slaves and send them to Omdurman. Shortly after the fall -of Khartum, the Mahdi had moved his camp north; and the fort known as -Tabia Ragheb Bey, and the ground in the vicinity, had been told off for -Abu Anga's camp. When he was ordered off, and his place taken by his -brother, Fadl el Maula, all my servants, male and female, left with him; -and, although the latter were not permitted to visit me, I felt that, -with Abu Anga's departure, yet another link was severed. - -I now received news of the other servants I had left behind at El -Fasher. On my arrival at Rahad, I had told the Khalifa I had left behind -two horses, which were almost the best in Darfur, and which I hinted he -might have if he wished; but, it being summer, and as they would -probably have suffered from the long and hot journey, I had not brought -them with me. Subsequently, I had requested him to give orders that not -only the horses, but also my male and female servants who had been left -behind, should also be sent on. He consequently had written to Mohammed -Khaled to this effect; but, on the day on which I had been made a -prisoner, he had written to Sayed Mahmud of El Obeid to seize my people -as soon as they came from Darfur, but to send on the two horses. The -latter had now arrived in Omdurman; and the soldier who had been in -charge came to tell me that the Khalifa was much pleased with them, -having taken one for himself and given the other to his brother Yakub. - -A few days later, there was considerable commotion amongst the warders; -and the saier told me privately that the Khalifa was coming to visit the -prison. I asked him to advise me how I should behave; and he recommended -me to answer all questions promptly, on no account to make any -complaints, and to remain submissively in my corner. About midday, the -Khalifa arrived, accompanied by his brothers and mulazemin, and began to -walk round and view these victims of his justice. It seemed that the -saier had given the same advice to all the prisoners that he had given -to me, for they all behaved quietly; some were ordered to have their -chains removed, and to be discharged. At length, the Khalifa approached -my corner, and, with a friendly nod, said, "Abdel Kader, enta tayeb?" -(Abdel Kader, are you well?). To which I replied, "Ana tayeb, Sidi" (I -am well, sire); and with that he moved on. Yunes Wad Dekeim, the present -Emir of Dongola, and a near relative of the Khalifa, pressed my hand, -and whispered, "Keep up your spirits; don't be downhearted; everything -will come right." - -From that day my condition distinctly improved. Zenoba, the mother of -Fanny, was allowed every now and then to send me a little food. I was -also allowed to spend the day with a former head-Sheikh of the Hawara -Arabs, who was suspected of having been friendly with the Turks, and had -been thrown into chains; as our hatred for the Mahdists was mutual, we -spent most of our time in talking about them, and criticising their -rules and ordinances. Sheikh Mohammed Wad et Taka, for such was his -name, was fed by his elderly wife, who, for his sake, had remained in -Omdurman, and used to bring us meals. She may have had some good -qualities, but she was a veritable Xantippe who by her sharp tongue made -bitter every mouthful her husband swallowed. Carrying a large dish of -baked dhurra-bread and some mulakh (a sort of sauce made with milk and -other ingredients), she would place it before us, and then, sitting on -the ground beside us, she would begin the battle. "Yes, indeed," she -would say, "old women are quite good enough to cook, and do all the hard -work; but when men have their freedom, they can do as they like; and -then they always turn their eyes to the young and pretty girls." The -Sheikh had the fortune, or rather the temporary misfortune, of having -two young wives as well as this old one; but they stayed in the country -with the herds; and this fact greatly annoyed the old lady, who -exercised her ingenuity in making these sallies against her good man, -who, famished by hunger, silently consumed the food she had prepared for -him. She frequently related some piquant family details in which her -husband's conduct in relation to herself, as compared with his more -youthful helpmeets, was invariably open to severe criticism. I used to -greatly enjoy these skirmishes, and generally took upon myself the task -of mediator, telling her that when she was away, her husband had nothing -but good words for her. This used to appease her; and she would affirm -that she was doing her utmost to alleviate our condition. I thoroughly -appreciated how valuable she was to me, and how her homely meals -lessened my long hours of enforced fasting. All my efforts were -therefore directed to pacifying her husband, who, goaded by her sharp -tongue, would heap curses on her devoted head. His nature was very -changeable: when he was hungry, and saw his old wife coming along -carrying his food, no words of praise were sufficient for her; but once -satisfied, and stung to the quick by her sarcasm, he would heap insults -on her, and some such expressions as, "You who neither fear God nor man, -leave me, and let me starve. Some women, as they grow old, instead of -becoming more intelligent, gradually get silly; this is the case with -you, I think you are possessed of the devil. Get away, and never come -near me again; I never want to see you more." Then off she would go; but -the next day, when he was famished, he would long to have his old wife -back again. Not the least alarmed, she would almost invariably return -with her dish full of food; he would be pacified, eat a hearty meal, and -then the insults would begin again. - -Thus the days slowly passed away. Small-pox had broken out in Omdurman, -and every day the disease swept off hundreds,--indeed, whole families -disappeared; and I believe that the loss from this disease was greater -than that suffered in many battles. Curiously enough, almost all the -nomad Arabs were attacked; and several of our own warders went down, and -not a few of them died. We prisoners, however, entirely escaped; and, -during the whole period of my imprisonment, I do not recollect having -seen one of us unfortunates attacked, though most of us were much -alarmed. Perhaps God in His mercy thought our punishment already more -than we could bear, and spared us a further visitation. - -I had now many opportunities of talking to Lupton, who daily grew more -and more impatient; indeed, so furious was he at times, that I used to -get alarmed, for he would complain most bitterly, and in a loud tone, of -our miserable treatment. I did all in my power to pacify him; but the -wretched life we were living had affected him to such a degree that I -seriously feared for his health. Through constantly speaking to him, I -succeeded to some extent in quieting him; but, although scarcely thirty -years of age, the hair of his head and beard had, during our -imprisonment, grown almost white. Nature, however, had treated me more -kindly. I submitted to my fate with a better grace; and the thoroughly -practical lesson I had received from my old friend Madibbo, entirely -suited my character. I was still young; and, except for occasional -slight ailments, I was endowed with a strong and healthy constitution. -My fate was a cruel one it is true; but I felt I could gather from it -many a useful experience. I kept on hoping against hope, that, sooner or -later, I should return to the civilised world, though, when I thought -over my chances of escape, the time seemed very far away. - -In order to occupy the prisoners, the saier employed them in building a -square house for their own habitation; they were therefore ordered to -fetch stones which were found near the river; and Lupton and I were the -only prisoners who were permitted to pass the day without work. Every -now and then, however, we used to accompany them to the place where -they got the stones; but my heavy ankle-irons, and my long neck-chain, -impeded my progress so much when walking, that I preferred to act as the -architect of the building, which now rapidly advanced towards -completion. The walls were very thick, and about thirty feet square, -and, in the centre, a pillar was erected which served as a support to -the crossbeams. - -This house was intended for the incarceration of the most dangerous -prisoners; and the wood required for the roofing was brought from the -now ruined houses of Khartum. - -It was about this time that an old friend of mine named Esh Sheikh, a -relative of Ismail Wad Shaggar el Kheiri, and who was in the Mahdi's -favour, informed me confidentially that both the Mahdi and the Khalifa -were friendly-minded towards myself and Lupton, and that in a few days -we should probably be liberated. He added that should the Khalifa speak -to me, I should not humble myself very much, but merely be careful not -to oppose anything he said; then, recommending me to God, he went away. -I instantly went off to share this good news with Lupton, who at that -time happened to be in one of his most dangerous moods; but I begged him -to believe that it was true, and to do nothing which might compromise -matters. - -A few days later, it was rumoured that the Khalifa was coming. I had -carefully prepared my speech, and Lupton had done the same; but it was -more than likely he would speak to me first. At length the critical -moment came: the Khalifa, entering the prisoners' yard, instead of, as -was his usual custom, sending for the prisoners one by one, ordered an -angareb to be brought and placed in the shade; he then directed all the -prisoners to be led out, and to sit down before him in a semi-circle. He -spoke to several, set a few free who had been imprisoned by his own -personal orders, and promised others, who complained against the -sentences pronounced by the Kadi, to inquire into their cases; of Lupton -and myself, however, he appeared to have taken no notice. Lupton -glanced at me, and shook his head; but I put my finger to my lips to -warn him against doing anything foolish. "Have I anything else to do?" -asked the Khalifa of the saier who was standing behind his angareb. -"Sire! I am at your service," replied the head gaoler; and the Khalifa -sat down again. He now turned his eyes on me, and repeated the same -words he had used on the previous occasion. "Abdel Kader," said he, "are -you well?" "Sire," said I, "if you will allow me to speak, I shall tell -you of my condition." He was then sitting at his ease, and he gave me -the required permission. - -"Master," I began, "I belong to a foreign tribe; I came to you seeking -protection, and you gave it to me. It is natural for man to err, and to -sin against God and against each other. I have sinned; but I now repent, -and regret all my misdeeds. I repent before God and His Prophet. Behold -me in irons before you! See! I am naked and hungry; and I lie here -patiently on the bare ground waiting for the time to come when I may -receive pardon. Master, should you think it well to let me continue in -this sad plight, then I pray God for strength to enable me to bear His -will; but now I beg of you to give me my freedom." - -I had studied this speech very carefully, and had delivered it as -effectively as I could; and I saw that it had made a favourable -impression on the Khalifa. Turning then to Lupton, he said, "And you, -Abdullahi?" "I can add nothing to what Abdel Kader has said," replied -Lupton. "Pardon me, and grant me liberty." - -The Khalifa now turned to me, and said, "Well, from the day you came -from Darfur, I have done everything I possibly could for you; but your -heart has been far from us: you wanted to join Gordon the infidel, and -fight against us. As you are a foreigner, I spared your life; otherwise -you would not be alive now. However, if your repentance is real and -true, I will pardon both you and Abdullahi. Saier, take off their -irons." - -We were then removed by the warders, who, after long and hard work, and -by making use of ropes, at last succeeded in opening my foot-irons. We -were then again brought before the Khalifa, who was patiently sitting on -his angareb waiting for us. He ordered the saier to bring the Kuran, -which he laid on a furwa (sheepskin), and called on us to swear eternal -allegiance to him. Placing our hands on the Kuran, we swore to serve him -honestly in the future. He then rose and directed us to follow him; and -we, almost beside ourselves with delight at our release after this long -imprisonment, joyfully followed in his footsteps. - -My friend the Sheikh of the Hawara was also liberated at the same time. -The Khalifa, having been assisted on to his donkey by his servants, -ordered us to walk by his side; but we could scarcely keep up with him, -for our eight months' imprisonment in chains had so cramped our legs and -feet that we found we had lost the habit of stepping out. When we -reached his house, he directed us to wait in a rekuba in one of the -outside enclosures, and left us. He returned again a few minutes later, -and, seating himself beside us, warned us most seriously to adhere to -all his orders. He then went on to say that he had received letters from -the Commander of the Army in Egypt, stating that he had seized and -imprisoned all the Mahdi's relatives in Dongola, and that he demanded in -exchange all the captives who had formerly been Christians. "We have -decided to reply," said he, "that you are now all Mohammedans, that you -are one with us, and that you are not willing to be exchanged for people -who, though the relatives of the Mahdi, are far from us in thought and -deed; and that they can do as they like with their captives; or," added -he, "perhaps you would like to go back to the Christians?" With these -words he ended his speech. - -Lupton and I assured him that we should never leave him of our own -free-will; that all the pleasures of the world would never tear us from -his side; and that it was only by being constantly in his presence that -we learnt to act in such a way as would lead to our salvation. -Thoroughly taken in by our mendacity, he promised to present us to the -Mahdi, who had arranged to come to the Khalifa's house that afternoon, -and then he left us. - -The rekuba being in one of the outer enclosures, into which people were -admitted, several friends who had heard of our release came to -congratulate us, amongst them Dimitri Zigada, but this time without his -usual quid of tobacco. My friend Esh Sheikh also came; and when I told -him that we were to be presented to the Mahdi, he again gave me the -benefit of his good advice, and instructed me how to behave when the -momentous occasion arrived. It was almost evening when the Khalifa came; -and, directing us to follow him, he led us to an inner enclosure, where -we saw the Mahdi sitting on an angareb. He had become so stout that I -scarcely knew him. Kneeling down, we repeatedly kissed the hand he held -out to us. He now assured us that his only wish was for our good, that -when men are placed in chains, it exercises a lasting and beneficial -influence on them; by this he meant to say that when a man is timid, -this punishment makes him avoid committing offences in the future. He -then turned the conversation to his relatives who had been captured by -the British, and about the exchange they had proposed, but which he had -refused, adding, with a hypocritical smile, "I love you better than my -own brethren; and therefore I refused to exchange." In reply, I assured -him of our love and sincerity to him, saying, "Sire, the man who does -not love you more than himself, how can his love proceed truly from his -heart." (This was a paraphrase of the Prophet's own words which my -friend the Sheikh had suggested I should repeat.) "Say that again," said -the Mahdi; and, turning to the Khalifa, he said, "Listen." When I -repeated the words, he took my hand in his and said, "You have spoken -the truth; love me more than yourself." Summoning Lupton as well, he -took his hand, and made us repeat the oath of allegiance, saying, that -as we had proved unfaithful to our first oath, it must be renewed. This -over, the Khalifa signed to us to retire; and, again kissing the Mahdi's -hand, we thanked him for his beneficence, and returned to our rekuba to -await his further instructions. - -It was some time before the Khalifa returned; and when he did, he -permitted Lupton, without further ado, to join his family, who were -still located in a tent in the Beit el Mal, and, sending with him a -mulazem to show the way, assured him that he would take every care of -him. I was now alone with the Khalifa. "And you," said he, "where do you -wish to go; have you any one to take care of you?" And I felt him gazing -at me, whilst I cast my eyes to the ground, knowing that was what he -wished me to do. "Besides God and yourself," I replied, "I have no one, -sire; deal with me as you think best for my future." - -"I had hoped and expected this answer from you," said the Khalifa; "from -this day you may consider yourself a member of my household. I shall -care for you, and shall never allow you to want for anything; and you -will have the benefit of being brought up under my eye, on condition -that, from this day forth, you absolutely sever your connection with all -your former friends and acquaintances, and associate only with my -relatives and servants; you must, moreover, obey implicitly every order -you receive from me. During the day, your duty will be to stay with the -mulazemin employed on my personal service at the door of my house; and -at night, when I retire, you will be permitted to go to the house which -I shall assign to you. When I go out, you must always accompany me: if I -ride, you must walk beside me, until the time comes when, should I see -fit, I will provide you with an animal to ride. Do you agree to these -conditions, and do you promise to put them into full effect?" - -"Master," I replied, "I agree with pleasure to your conditions. In me, -you will find a willing and obedient servant; and I hope I may have -strength to enter upon my new duties." - -"God will strengthen you," he replied, "and bring you to all good." He -then rose, and added, "Sleep here to-night; may God protect you till I -see you again to-morrow." - -I was now quite alone. So I had gone from one prison to another! I fully -grasped the Khalifa's intentions: he had no real wish for my services, -for he had not the slightest confidence in me; nor did he wish to -utilise me against the Government and against the civilised world. He -merely wanted to keep me always under control; probably it flattered his -vanity to know he could point to me, his slave, once a high official of -the Government, who had commanded his own tribe, which was now the -foundation on which his power rested, and show them and the other -western tribes that I was now his humble servant. Nevertheless, said I -to myself, I shall take good care not to displease him, or give him a -chance of putting his evil purposes into effect. I thoroughly understood -my master; his smiles and friendly looks were not worth a jot, indeed -one day he had told me as much himself. "Abdel Kader," he had said to me -in the course of conversation, "a man who wants to command must neither -betray his purpose by gesture, nor by his countenance; otherwise his -enemies or his subjects will discover some means of frustrating his -designs." - -The next morning, he came to me, and, summoning his brother Yakub, he -directed him to show me some spot in the neighbourhood where I might -build my huts, adding that it must be as near his house as possible. As, -however, most of the vacant spots in the vicinity had been already -occupied by the Khalifa's relatives, a piece of ground, about six -hundred yards from the Khalifa's house, and not far from Yakub's -residence, was given to me. - -The Khalifa now summoned his secretary, and showed me a document -addressed to the commander of the English army, to the effect, that all -the European prisoners had, of their own free-will, become Mohammedans, -and that they had no wish to return to their countries. This document he -desired me to sign. - -All my servants, horses, and baggage had been taken off by Abu Anga, -with the exception of an old lame Nubawi who, when he heard of my -release, came to see me from Fadl el Maula's house. I at once informed -the Khalifa, and obtained permission to take this man back into my -service. I also spoke to him about Abu Anga and my servants; and he -asked if the effects were going to be returned to me,--a strange -question indeed! When one's possessions have been seized by violence and -carried off, are they likely to be given back? I replied much in the -same style, that I was sure, that as now I belonged to his household, I -could well do without these little trifles, and that I thought it quite -unnecessary for him to write to his field-marshal about so trivial a -matter. What was I to do with horses, when I was not allowed to ride -them? Had not my education with the Khalifa begun by being forced to -walk barefoot! - -All the same, I was really very anxious to have my old servants back -again, though I did not actually require their services very much; but I -knew, that had I attempted to claim them, I should only have aroused the -Khalifa's opposition. The latter was, therefore, greatly pleased with my -reply, and began chatting to me about Abu Anga. He then asked me, -abruptly, "Are you not a Mohammedan; where then did you leave your -wives?" This was, indeed, an ugly question. "Master," said I, "I have -only one, and I left her in Darfur; and I am told that she was arrested -with all my other servants by Said Mahmud, and is now in the Beit el Mal -at El Obeid." - -"Is your wife of your own race?" asked the Khalifa, inquiringly. "No," I -replied, "she is a Darfurian; and her parents and relatives were killed -in the battle with Sultan Harun. She and several others had been -captured by my men; and I gave most of them to my servants and soldiers -to marry. This orphan alone was left; and she is now my wife." - -"Have you any children?" asked he; and, when I replied in the negative, -he said, "A man without offspring is like a thorn-tree without fruit; -as you now belong to my household, I shall give you some wives, so that -you may live happily." - -I thanked him for his kindness, but begged that he would postpone his -present until I had at least erected my huts; because, I remarked, this -exceptional mark of his favour must not be exposed to the public gaze. -To recompense me for my property which had been taken by Abu Anga, the -Khalifa instructed Fadl el Maula to hand over the effects of the -unfortunate Olivier Pain, which were at once sent to me. They consisted -of an old jibba, a well-worn Arab cloak, and a Kuran printed in the -French language. Fadl el Maula had sent word to me that, during the time -which had elapsed, his other effects had been lost. At the same time, -the Khalifa directed that the money which had been taken from me when I -was imprisoned, and had been deposited in the Beit el Mal, should be -returned to me. It amounted to £40, a few sequins, and a few gold -nose-rings which I had collected as curios; all these were handed back -to me by Ahmed Wad Suleiman. - -I was now able to set to work to build my huts; but whilst they were -being put up I lived in the Khalifa's house. I entrusted my old servant -Saadalla, the Nubawi, who was the most competent of all my attendants, -with the construction of my residence, which was to consist for the -present of three huts and a fence. I myself, from early morning till -late at night, was always in attendance at the door of my master. -Whenever he went for a short walk or a long ride, I was always obliged -to accompany him, barefooted. During the first few days, as my feet got -cut and bruised, he allowed me to have some light Arabic sandals made, -which, though they gave me some protection against the stones, were so -hard and rough that they rubbed off all the skin. Occasionally, the -Khalifa used to call me in to eat with him, and frequently sent for what -was over of his own food to be consumed by the principal mulazemin, of -whom I was now reckoned as one. When he retired at night, I was at -liberty to return to my huts; and there, stretching my weary limbs on an -angareb, I slept till early dawn, when I was again obliged to await the -Khalifa at his door, and accompany him to morning prayers. - -Meanwhile, the Khalifa had been informed that my huts were erected, and, -returning home late one night, my old servant Saadalla informed me that -a female slave, closely muffled up, had been brought to my house, and -was now installed within. Directing Saadalla to light a lantern and show -the way, I followed, and found the poor thing huddled up on a palm-mat. -When I spoke to her about her past life, she answered, in a deep voice -which did not presage well for the future, that she was a Nubawi, and -had formerly belonged to an Arab tribe in Southern Kordofan, but had -been captured, and sent to the Beit el Mal, from whence she had just -been despatched to me by Ahmed Wad Suleiman. Whilst speaking, she -removed her scented white drapery from her head, as slaves always do -when talking to their masters, and exposed her bare shoulders and part -of her bosom. I signed to Saadalla to bring the light nearer; and then I -had to summon all my presence of mind so as not to be terrified and fall -off my angareb. Out of her ugly black face, peered two little eyes; a -great flat nose, below which were two enormous blubber-shaped lips -which, when she laughed, were in danger of coming in contact with her -ears, completed one of the most unpleasant physiognomies I had ever -beheld. Her head was joined to her enormously fat body by a -bull-dog-like neck; and this creature had the audacity to call herself -Maryam (Mary). I at once directed Saadalla to remove his compatriot to -another hut, and give her an angareb. - -So this was the Khalifa's first gift to me: he had not given me a horse, -a donkey, or even a little money, which would have been of some use to -me, but had presented me with a female slave, for whom, even had she -been fair, he knew well I should not have cared, as, let alone her -disagreeable presence, her food and dress were items of expense which I -by no means relished. When he saw me the next day, after morning -prayers, he asked me if Ahmed Wad Suleiman had satisfactorily carried -out his wishes. I replied, "Yes; your order was most promptly carried -out," and then gave him an exact description of my new acquisition. The -Khalifa was furious with Ahmed Wad Suleiman, who, he asserted, not only -did not comply with his order, but had made him unfaithful to the -Mahdi's ordinances. My candour in describing exactly the class of slave -given me, re-acted somewhat unpleasantly on my head; for, the following -evening, a young and somewhat less ugly girl, selected by the Khalifa -himself, was sent to me, and her also I handed over to the tender -mercies of the faithful Saadalla. - -The Mahdi, his Khalifas, and their relatives, having now no longer any -fear from external enemies, began to build houses suitable to their new -positions and requirements. The numbers of young women and girls who had -been seized and distributed on the fall of Khartum were now hurried off -into the seclusion of these new residences; and their masters, no longer -disturbed by the jealous and envious looks of their friends, were able -to enjoy their pleasures undisturbed. - -Naturally, the Mahdi, the Khalifas, and, more especially, the relatives -of the former were most anxious that it should not be known that the -greater part of the loot taken in Khartum was in their own hands; it was -a striking contradiction of the doctrine of the Divine master, who -forever preached renunciation and abandonment of the pleasures of life. -They set to work to enlarge their habitations and enclosures, -anticipating that they would fill them still further with the rich spoil -which was expected from the provinces that still remained to be -conquered. - -But the Mahdi fell suddenly ill; for a few days he did not appear at the -mosque for prayers. No particular attention, however, was paid to his -absence at first, for he had asserted, over and over again, that the -Prophet had revealed to him that he should conquer Mecca, Medina, and -Jerusalem, and, after a long and glorious life, should expire at Kufa. -But the Mahdi was attacked by no ordinary indisposition: the fatal -typhus fever had fallen upon him; and, six days after he had sickened, -his relatives in attendance began to despair of saving his life. My -master, the Khalifa, was, of course, watching with the most intense -interest the outcome of the disease, and did not leave the Mahdi's -bedside day or night, whilst I and the other members of the body-guard -aimlessly waited for our master at his door. On the evening of the sixth -day, the multitudes collected before the Mahdi's house, and in the -mosque, were commanded to join together in prayer for the recovery of -the Divine patient, who was now in the greatest danger; and this was the -first occasion on which the malignant disease from which the Mahdi was -suffering was announced to the public. On the morning of the seventh -day, he was reported to be worse; and there was now little doubt that he -was dying. In the early stages, he had been treated by his wives and by -Sudanese quacks with the usual domestic remedies; and it was only at the -last moment that Hassan Zeki, one of the detested Egyptians, formerly -medical officer of the Khartum hospital, who, by a lucky chance, had -been saved on the day of the attack, was called in. Asked to prescribe, -he affirmed that the complaint had now reached such a stage that it was -not advisable to use any medicines, and that the only hope lay in the -resistance of his powerful constitution, which, with God's help, might -drive out this terribly malignant disease. Hassan Zeki, indisposed as he -was to render any assistance, was perfectly well aware that the Mahdi -was now beyond the reach of medicines; he also knew that if he had -prescribed, and the Mahdi had subsequently died, he would undoubtedly -have been credited with the cause of his death, and his life would have -been in the greatest danger. From all these considerations, he therefore -wisely refrained from interference. - -The disease had now reached its crisis. By the Mahdi's angareb stood the -three Khalifas, his near relations, Ahmed Wad Suleiman, Mohammed Wad -Beshir (one of the principal employés of the Beit el Mal in charge of -the Mahdi's household), Osman Wad Ahmed, Said el Mekki (formerly one of -the most renowned religious Sheikhs of Kordofan), and a few of his -principal and most faithful adherents, to whom special permission had -been granted to enter the sick-room. From time to time, he lost -consciousness; and, feeling that his end was drawing near, he said, in a -low voice, to those around him, "Khalifa Abdullahi Khalifat es Sadik has -been appointed by the Prophet as my successor. He is of me and I am of -him; as you have obeyed me and have carried out my orders, so should you -deal with him. May God have mercy upon me!" Then gathering up all his -strength, with one final effort, he repeated a few times the Mohammedan -creed (La Illaha illallah, Mohammed Rasul Allah), crossed his hands over -his chest, stretched out his limbs, and passed away. - -Around the body, which was not yet cold, the late Mahdi's adherents -swore fidelity to Khalifa Abdullahi, Said el Mekki being the first to -take the Khalifa's hand, own his allegiance, and praise his name. His -example was immediately followed by the two Khalifas and the remainder -of those assembled. It was impossible to keep the Mahdi's death secret; -and the crowds waiting outside were informed about it: but, at the same -time, strict injunctions were given that no weeping and lamentation -should be made; and it was further announced that the Khalifa -(successor) of the Mahdi should demand the oath of allegiance from the -entire populace. The Mahdi's principal wife, named Sittina Aisha Um el -Muminin (Our Lady Aisha, Mother of the Believers), who lay huddled up -and closely veiled in a corner, and who had been a witness of the death -of her master and husband, now arose and proceeded to the Mahdi's house, -bearing to the other wives the sad news of his death. Her office was to -comfort them, and prevent them from making loud lamentation. Most of -these good women rejoiced secretly in their hearts at the death of their -husband and master, who had brought such terrible distress upon the -land, and whom, even before he had fully enjoyed the fruits of his -success, Almighty God had summoned to appear before the Supreme Seat of -Judgment. - -In spite of the strict and oft-repeated injunctions against loud -lamentation, weeping and wailing arose from almost every house on the -death of the Mahdi el Muntazer, who, it was reported, had voluntarily -departed from his earthly abode to God, his master whom he longed to -see. - -Some of those now present began to wash the body, and then wrap it in -several linen cloths; whilst others dug the grave in the room in which -he had died, and which, after two hour's hard work, was finished. The -three Khalifas, together with Ahmed Wad Suleiman and Wad Beshir, now -placed the body in the grave, built it over with bricks, and then filled -it up with earth, on which they poured water. This over, lifting up -their hands, they recited the prayers for the dead; then, leaving the -room, they proceeded to pacify the impatient crowd awaiting the news -without. - -We mulazemin were the first to be summoned before the new ruler, who, -henceforth, was called Khalifat el Mahdi (successor of the Mahdi); and -he gave us the oath of allegiance, directing us at the same time to move -the Mahdi's pulpit to the entrance door of the mosque, and to inform the -populace that he was about to appear before them. Informed that this had -been completed, he left his late master's grave, and, for the first -time, ascended the pulpit as ruler. He was in a state of intense -excitement. Great tears rolled down his cheeks as, with a trembling -voice, he began to address the multitude. "Friends of the Mahdi," he -shouted, "God's will cannot be changed. The Mahdi has left us, and has -entered into heaven, where everlasting joys await him. It is for us to -obey his precepts, and to support one another, just as the stones and -walls of a house go to make a building. The good things of this life are -not lasting. Seize, therefore, with both hands the good fortune which is -yours, of having been the friends and adherents of the Mahdi, and never -deviate in the slightest degree from the path which he has shown you. -You are the friends of the Mahdi, and I am his Khalifa. Swear that you -will be faithful to me." - -This short address over, all those present now repeated the well-known -oath of allegiance; but the Khalifa altered the first sentence of it as -follows: "Bayana Allah wa Rasulahu wa Mahdina wa bayanaka ala -tauhidillahi, etc." - -As only a certain number could take the oath of allegiance at one time, -those who had finished made way for others; and the crowd was so -enormous that many were in danger of being trodden to death. The -ceremony went on till nightfall. The Khalifa had now long since ceased -weeping, and was rejoiced to see the crowds who thronged to him to swear -him eternal allegiance. From continual talking, he had become quite -exhausted; and, descending from the pulpit, he took a draught of water -to moisten his parched throat. But the thought that he was now the -assured ruler of the enormous masses before him seemed to keep him up; -and it was only when darkness actually supervened that some of his -principal men urged him to desist, and leave the pulpit. Before doing -so, however, he summoned all the Emirs of the Black Flag, and called -upon them to take a special oath of allegiance, admonishing them to -adhere faithfully to him and to his brother Yakub, and calling their -attention to the fact that, being strangers and foreigners, they should -endeavour to live in harmony with each other as long as they were in the -valley of the Nile, for they would require union in order to -successfully oppose the intrigues of the local inhabitants; and once -again he impressed upon them the all-important necessity of adhering -most strictly to the doctrines of the Mahdi. By this time it was past -midnight; but it was out of the question to think of going home. Utterly -exhausted, I lay on the ground and heard the passers-by loud in their -praises of the late Mahdi, and assuring each other of their firm resolve -to support his successor in carrying out their late master's precepts. - -Now what had the Mahdi done, and wherein lay his power to revive a -religion which had become so debased? What was the nature of his -teachings? He had preached renunciation; he had inveighed against -earthly vanities and pleasures; he had broken down both social and -official ranks; he had made rich and poor alike; he had selected as -clothing a jibba, which became the universal dress of his adherents. As -a regenerator of religion, he had united the four distinct Moslem sects: -the Malaki, the Shafai, the Hanafi, and the Hambali, which differ from -each other only in minor details,--such as the method of performing -ablution, the method of standing or kneeling down in prayers, the manner -of conducting marriage ceremonies; and, by astutely making certain much -needed reforms, he had succeeded in combining these four great -divisions. He had made a collection of certain specially selected verses -from the Kuran, which he called the Rateb, and which he enjoined should -be recited by the entire congregation after morning and afternoon -prayers,--a ceremony which lasted at least forty minutes. He had -facilitated the method of performing prayer ablutions, and had strictly -forbidden the drinking bouts which were an invariable accompaniment of -marriage ceremonies in the Sudan; he had reduced the amount of the -"Mahr" (the present usually given by the bridegroom to the bride) to ten -dollars and two dresses for unmarried girls, and to five dollars and two -dresses for widows. Whoever sought for more or gave more was considered -to have performed an act of disobedience, and was punished by -deprivation of all property. A simple meal of dates and milk took the -place of the costly marriage feast. By these innovations, the Mahdi had -sought to facilitate the ceremony of matrimony, and had strictly -enjoined on parents and guardians to see that their daughters and wards -were married early. - -At the same time, he had forbidden dancing and playing, which he -classified as "earthly pleasures;" and those found disobeying this order -were punished by flogging and confiscation of all property. The use of -bad language was punished with eighty lashes for every insulting word -used, and seven days' imprisonment. The use of intoxicating drinks, such -as marissa or date wine, and smoking were most strictly prohibited. -Offences of this description were punishable by flogging, eight days' -imprisonment, and confiscation of goods. A thief suffered the severance -of his right hand; and should he be convicted of a second offence, he -lost his left foot also. As it was the general custom amongst the male -population of the Sudan, and especially amongst the nomad Arabs, to let -their hair grow, the Mahdi had directed that henceforth all heads should -be shaved. Wailing for the dead and feasts for the dead were punishable -by deprivation of property. - -In order, however, that the strength of his army should not be decreased -and endangered by desertion, owing to the severe mode of life he had -prescribed, and fearful that his doctrines which were considered -unorthodox should be made known in the various foreign countries by -which he was surrounded, he practically made a cordon round the -countries he had already conquered, and absolutely prohibited passage of -persons through these districts for the purpose of performing a -pilgrimage to Mecca. Should any one cast the slightest doubt on the -Divine nature of his mission, or should there be the slightest -hesitation to comply with his orders, on the evidence of two witnesses, -the delinquent was invariably punished by the loss of the right hand and -left foot. On some occasions, witnesses were dispensed with,--a -revelation from the Prophet was even more efficacious in proving the -guilt of the offender. - -As, however, most of these dispositions and ordinances were entirely at -variance with the Moslem law, he therefore issued most strict -injunctions that the study of theology and all public commentaries -thereon should cease, and ordered, moreover, that any books or -manuscripts dealing with these subjects should be instantly burnt or -thrown into the river. - -Such were the teachings of the expected Mahdi; and he had left no stone -unturned to carry into the fullest effect the ordinances he had made. -Openly, he showed himself a most strict observer of his own teachings; -but, within their houses, he, his Khalifas, and their relatives entered -into the wildest excesses, drunkenness, riotous living, and debauchery -of every sort, and they satisfied to their fullest extent the vicious -passions which are so prevalent amongst the Sudanese. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -EARLY RULE OF KHALIFA ABDULLAHI. - - Success of Khaled's Stratagem to entrap Darho--Execution of - Darho--Sieges of Sennar and Kassala--Fall of Ahmed Wad - Suleiman--The Khalifa and the Black Troops--Execution of the - Mudir of Kassala--My Journey to Abu Haraz--My Plans of Escape - impracticable--The Khalifa presents me with a Wife--Mutiny of - Black Soldiers at El Obeid--Death of the Emir Mahmud--Abu Anga - seizes Khaled and throws him into Chains--Campaign in the Nuba - Mountains--Lupton in Difficulties--He works in the Khartum - Dockyard--Revolt of the Kababish--Difficulties begin with - Abyssinia--Death of Klootz--Organisation of the Beit el Mal--The - Khalifa's System of Jurisdiction. - - -From the date of the Mahdi's departure from Rahad, up to the time of his -death, nothing of importance had happened in the various provinces of -the Sudan which could be calculated to change the course of events. - -Mohammed Khaled had settled in El Fasher, and had despatched his Emirs -in various directions. Instead of meeting with resistance, they were -received everywhere with open arms by the deluded inhabitants, who vied -with one another in their anxiety to become subjects of the Mahdi. The -western districts of Dar Gimr, Massalit, and Dar Tama, as far as the -frontier of Wadai, all sent in their submission, and a number of -valuable presents; Saleh Donkusa too, and his friends the Bedeyat, also -anxious not to expose themselves to new dangers, sent in a deputation -conveying their salutations and gifts. Mohammed Khaled had also sent one -of his friends, a merchant named Hajji Karar, from Kobbé, with presents -to Sultan Yusef, of Wadai. On his arrival, Sultan Yusef had received him -kindly, and had sent him back to Khaled with a present of several horses -and female slaves, and with the assurance that he might consider him an -adherent of the Mahdi, whose rules and ordinances he was at all times -ready to obey. - -Abdullahi Dudbenga, on the other hand, Sultan Harun's successor in Jebel -Marra, paid no heed to the summons calling him to El Fasher; he had a -personal quarrel with Khaled, and had no desire to put himself within -his reach. However, finally, when he received an ultimatum to either -come at once, or to risk a war, he submitted and came in; but a few days -later fled, fearing that he was about to be placed in chains, and his -money and property confiscated. Instead, however, of returning to the -Jebel Marra, he proceeded to Omdurman, where he was well received by -Khalifa Abdullahi, who gave orders that his family and effects should be -brought from Darfur to Omdurman. Meanwhile, Khaled, furious at his -flight, had him pursued as far as the Kordofan frontier, and ordered -that all villages which gave refuge to the fugitive should become the -property of the Government, and that the village Sheikhs should be shot. -He also despatched Omar Wad Darho with a considerable force to Jebel -Marra, with instructions to announce to the inhabitants that, having -hitherto failed to make their submission, or to give presents, they -should in consequence be considered "Ghanima" (booty). Omar Wad Darho, -anticipating quantities of loot, proceeded to his destination; whilst -Khaled thought the present occasion a fitting one to send some of his -best horses and his fairest women to the Mahdi and his Khalifas. Darho -met with little resistance in Jebel Marra. The villagers fled to the -hills; but, having procured good guides, he pursued them into the most -inaccessible places, and succeeded in putting numbers of them to the -sword. Their women and children he divided up amongst his men, selecting -and sending to Khaled all the best. His men, however, unused to this -continual hill marching, became exhausted, and his horses were, for the -most part, without shoes; nevertheless he succeeded in collecting a -quantity of loot, and returned to El Fasher on the actual day that the -terrible and unexpected news of the Mahdi's death had arrived there. - -Darho, anticipating important changes owing to this untoward event, did -not hesitate to take advantage of the situation; and, proceeding -forthwith to Kobbé, he declared himself independent, stating he would no -longer serve under Khaled's orders; indeed, he made preparations to -fight him, and make himself eventually ruler of Darfur. He went so far -as to propose to the Emirs who had accompanied him to Jebel Marra, that -he would divide amongst them the lands of Darfur; but the latter, -deeming Darho's action ill-considered, argued that they were not likely -to get more from him than they did from Khaled. They therefore urged him -to desist, declaring that in the event of his refusal, they would make -full report of the circumstances to Khaled. Darho's party daily -diminished in numbers; and it was not long before he recognised the -rashness of his act. Meanwhile, Khaled, alarmed by Darho's pluck and -resolution, determined to entrap his old friend by stratagem: he -despatched his acquaintance Ali Bey Khabir to him with a message to the -effect that he solemnly swore to do Darho no harm, should he return, and -that he would at once forget the matter which, after all, would never -have happened had it not been for the perfectly comprehensible -excitement occasioned by the Mahdi's sudden death. In order, however, to -satisfy public opinion, he enjoined that Darho should come to El Fasher -as a penitent, and publicly acknowledge his error, promising that -henceforth he would faithfully serve the Mahdi's successor. - -Ali Khabir succeeded in convincing Darho of Khaled's sincerity. At this -time the hostile party consisted only of a few soldiers, the Shaigia, -and some local tribesmen, and was quite incapable of any sustained -resistance; accompanied therefore by these, he proceeded to El Fasher, -and, before entering the town, they placed iron chains about their -necks, and followed Khabir to the meeting place designated by Khaled. On -their way, they were insulted by the populace, who had collected in -crowds to jeer at them; Darho was infuriated, and, on reaching Khaled's -presence, cried out that had he had any notion he was to be received in -this insulting manner, he would never have come. Khaled, seizing on -Darho's words as a pretext, instantly ordered him and his officers to be -arrested and thrown into chains; Darho, now losing all control of -himself, insulted Khaled in the most open manner, and, in consequence, -they were hurried off to the prison, their numbers being increased by -three former officials, _viz_., Ibrahim Seian and Hassan Sharkassi, both -Egyptian officers, and Yakub Ramzi, chief clerk of the Court of Justice, -who were accused of having been in secret correspondence with Darho. -These latter, pleading that they had been former Government officials, -and had not now sufficient to live upon, admitted that they had written -a letter to Darho, though only regarding the death of the Mahdi; but it -was affirmed that they had instigated him to revolt. In spite of their -undoubted innocence, Khaled ordered them, as well as Darho and his -friends, to be shot dead at sunrise the following morning; but this -sentence was not allowed to be publicly known. Khabir Ali, however, -learning what was intended, rushed to Khaled's house, and endeavoured to -dissuade him from his purpose; but this was not till the following -morning, and on his way he stumbled across the bodies of his decapitated -friends. Raising his voice, he declared before the bystanders that, had -he thought for a moment such measures would have been taken, nothing -would have induced him to act as a mediator; and he deplored most -bitterly the death of his old friends who had been slain in so -treacherous a manner. - -Abu Anga was now in Kordofan. This province had submitted entirely to -the Mahdi, with the exception of the southern mountainous regions, the -inhabitants of which were looked upon as slaves who had objected to pay -tribute, and who were consequently ordered to emigrate to Omdurman. As -they had refused to comply with these demands, Abu Anga had been -despatched south, with injunctions not only to enforce their subjection, -but also to quarter his enormous force of Jehadia on them, and to -procure plenty of slaves. After losing a considerable number of men, and -a quantity of ammunition, he succeeded in carrying out these orders to -some extent; but a large proportion of the inhabitants still continued -to defend themselves most bravely in their mountain fastnesses, and -remained independent. Thus, with the exception of this small proportion -of the natives, the entire Western Sudan, from the banks of the White -Nile to the frontiers of Wadai, acknowledged the sway of the Mahdi. - -In the eastern districts, however, the Governors of Sennar and Kassala -continued to defend their posts. Whilst Khartum was being besieged, -steamers had been sent under Subhi Pasha to Sennar, and, after -replenishing the posts, had returned to the capital. But when the local -tribes had been summoned by the Mahdi to join in the holy war, they, -collecting under their head Sheikh, Merdi Abu Rof of the Gehéna tribe, -laid siege to the town. Surrounded for several months, the brave but -famishing garrison at length made a sortie, drove off the besiegers, and -captured in their camp a quantity of stores and grain which lasted them -for some time. The Mahdi, believing that the local tribes were somewhat -lukewarm in their efforts, reinforced them by his cousin Abdel Kerim, -with a considerable force from Khartum. The latter, learning that the -garrison was now suffering severely from famine, determined to take the -town by storm; but he was forced back, and the garrison, making a -counter attack, drove him out of his position. In spite of this victory, -however, the condition of Sennar became hopeless; constant fighting, -famine, and the impossibility of relief began to tell at last. - -Meanwhile, Kassala had been closely besieged; and, although the garrison -had made several successful sorties, they had gained no really decisive -victory, and had not been able to replenish their store of provisions. - -The Egyptian Government, learning the critical situation of the -garrisons in the Eastern Sudan, now appealed to King John of Abyssinia -to co-operate in relieving the posts of Gallabat, Gira, Senhit, and -Kassala, and bring their garrisons to Massawa. The Governor of Kassala, -however, declared that as the garrison of the town was composed for the -most part of local people, he could not induce them to leave the -country. The Mahdi now sent Idris Wad Abder Rahim and El Hussein Wad -Sahra with reinforcements to hasten the fall of the town. Meanwhile, -King John had succeeded in relieving the garrisons of Senhit, Gira, and -Gallabat, and removing them to Massawa; thus all the Arab tribes lying -within the Suakin-Berber-Kassala triangle became fanatical adherents of -the Mahdi. Osman Digna had already been appointed Emir of this district; -whilst Mohammed Kheir was ordered to proceed from Berber with -instructions to occupy Dongola with the Jaalin and Barabra, after the -retirement of the British army. - -Such was briefly the situation in the Sudan when Khalifa Abdullahi -became its ruler. It was not, therefore, without reason that he summoned -the western Arab tribes to unite together, and seriously called their -attention to the fact that they were strangers and foreigners in the -Nile valley. It can be readily understood that the Aulad-Belad, or local -population, more especially the Barabra, Jaalin, and the inhabitants of -the Gezira, did not appreciate the advent of the Khalifa and his western -Arabs, from whom they entirely differed in ideas and character; they saw -with dread the new ruler seizing the reins of government, and relying -entirely for the execution of his orders on his western compatriots. One -of the Khalifa's first steps was to expel from his position Ahmed Wad -Suleiman, whom he detested, and whom he knew to have given a large share -of the booty to the Ashraf (Mahdi's relatives), who looked on him with -no friendly eye. The unfortunate Ahmed was ordered to give an account of -the funds which had passed through his hands during the previous year; -Abdullahi well knew that the Mahdi had trusted Ahmed entirely, and had -never called on him to keep full and accurate accounts, because the -money he issued was almost invariably given under the Mahdi's verbal -orders, and he held no receipts. It was, of course, impossible for Ahmed -to produce the account; and his expulsion from the Beit el Mal, and the -confiscation of his property, and that of several of his assistants, was -looked upon by the populace as an act of justice. The Khalifa appointed -in his place Ibrahim Wad Adlan, who was of the Kawahla tribe located on -the Blue Nile, but had spent many years of his life as a merchant in -Kordofan, and was in favour with the Khalifa. - -Adlan was now ordered to open ledgers showing the revenue and -expenditure, and to keep his books in such a manner that at any moment, -on the demand of the Khalifa, he should be able to give an exact -statement of the financial situation. He also ordered him to keep a -careful list of those to whom money was issued, or who were in receipt -of pensions. - -Almost simultaneously with the death of the Mahdi, came the news of the -failure of the attack on Sennar, and of the repulse of Abdel Kerim. The -Khalifa, therefore, at once despatched Abderrahman en Nejumi to take -supreme command; and, in August, 1885, the garrison surrendered to that -redoubtable warrior. As usual, the fall of the town was the signal for a -series of brutal atrocities and cruelties. A number of the inhabitants -were sent to the Khalifa, amongst them, all the good-looking young -girls, and the daughters of the former Government officials, of whom the -Khalifa kept some for himself, and distributed the remainder amongst his -Emirs. - -Abdullahi entertained a particular aversion for the Mahdi's cousin Abdel -Kerim, and he now summoned him and his followers to Omdurman. Abdel -Kerim, being Khalifa Sherif's assistant, had taken with him when he went -to Sennar the Black soldiers of Sherif's flag; it was rumoured at the -time, that he had said that, if supported by his own adherents, as well -as by those of Khalifa Sherif, he would be sufficiently powerful to -force Khalifa Abdullahi to hand over his authority to Sherif, who, being -a relative of the Mahdi, and a Khalifa, had every right to succeed. It -was not known if Abdel Kerim was really serious in his intentions, or if -these were mere idle tales; but Abdullahi prepared himself, and all his -relatives, and directed his brother Yakub to hold his men in readiness -when Abdel Kerim came. On the same day that he arrived in Khartum, his -men were ordered to be transferred to Omdurman, and he himself received -instructions to parade for the Khalifa's inspection. Accordingly, on the -following day, at the head of six hundred men, he took up his position -by the flag; and Abdullahi arrived accompanied by the force prepared by -his brother, and by several thousands of others. He heartily greeted -Abdel Kerim and his troops, praised them for their courage in the siege -of Sennar, and then dismissed them. On his return to his house, he -ordered the two Khalifas and all the Mahdi's relatives to come to his -residence immediately after evening prayers. - -At sunset, we mulazemin were ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to -introduce the expected visitors to the Khalifa. On their arrival, they -were taken to the inner part of the house, and directed to seat -themselves on the ground; the two Khalifas only were given sheepskins to -sit upon, while Abdullahi seated himself on a small angareb. From his -elevated position, the Khalifa now ordered his secretary to read the -document which had been written by the late Mahdi in his favour. This -done, he informed the assembled people that Abdel Kerim was unfaithful. -The latter of course denied it; nevertheless, he was found guilty, and -Khalifa Ali Wad Helu seized the occasion to declare, in the most -vehement terms, that he was a most faithful adherent of the Mahdi, and -Khalifa Abdullahi's slave. He based this declaration on the contents of -the statement just read, and on the Mahdi's last words as he lay on his -death-bed. Abdullahi, not wishing to appear too much concerned about -Abdel Kerim's conduct, gave him a full pardon, but ordered that his -Black soldiers should be at once handed over. Khalifa Sherif and his -relatives were obliged to accept this condition; and Ali Wad Helu, on a -wink from Abdullahi, suggested that they should all renew the oath of -allegiance. The proposal was accepted; the Holy Kuran was brought in; -and those present, placing their hands on the sacred volume, swore that -it was their duty to hand over to the Khalifa all their Black soldiers -and arms. By way of encouragement, Khalifa Ali was the first to swear, -and in this respect aided and abetted his master at a critical moment to -no inconsiderable extent. Khalifa Sherif and his relatives, however, -swore very unwillingly; and, after Abdullahi himself had administered -the oath, they were permitted to leave. This was the Khalifa's first -blow to his antagonists; and he thus crippled their power, and reduced -them to a harmless position. - -Now Mohammed Khaled alone was left; and, being one of the Mahdi's near -relatives, he had for long been a thorn in Abdullahi's side. - -That evening, I happened to be alone with the Khalifa, and he talked -over the events of the day, remarking that, "A regent cannot share -authority;" by this he inferred that the action of the two other -Khalifas had placed him in the position of an absolute ruler. - -On the following morning, Abdel Kerim and Ahmed Wad Suleiman, -representing Khalifa Sherif, handed over all their Black soldiers, arms, -and ammunition to the Khalifa's brother Yakub, who received them in the -open space in front of his house. Khalifa Ali also made over the -soldiers in his charge; and the united force of Blacks was now placed -under the command of Abu Anga's brother, Fadl el Maula, who, in order to -exercise control, took up his residence temporarily in the barracks. Not -content with these measures, Abdullahi now sent for the war-drums in -charge of the other Khalifas; and they were at once handed over, without -further ado, to his deputy. Still not satisfied, he ordered the flags, -which hitherto were always planted in front of the residences of the -respective Khalifas, to be collected and placed all together in front -of Yakub's residence. The previous day he had, by kind words, won over -Khalifa Ali to his side; and now the latter was the first to plant his -flags in their new positions. Khalifa Sherif was powerless to do -anything; all his Black soldiers, his flags, and his war-drums, which -are always known as signs of authority in the Sudan, were safely -deposited in Yakub's hands; and the populace were not slow to recognise -that Abdullahi meant to be the one and only ruler, and was resolved to -have his commands obeyed. - -Whilst all these important matters were transpiring in the capital, the -news arrived that Kassala had surrendered, and that Osman Digna was -fighting against the Abyssinians under the leadership of Ras Alula. -Although the Abyssinians had been victorious, and had driven Digna back -to Kassala, they did not pursue him, but returned to their own country. - -Osman Digna now accused the former Governor, Ahmed Bey Effat, of having -incited the Abyssinians to take up arms against him, and of having been -in communication with them. There were no grounds for this suspicion; -but, nevertheless, he and six former officials of Kassala had their -hands tied behind their backs like criminals, and were shot dead. - -Idris Wad Ibrahim, who, it will be remembered, had been despatched to -Kassala, was now ordered to return to Omdurman with all his men, -ammunition, loot, and women that he had captured, and to leave the -country in the hands of Osman Digna. - -Abdullahi fully realised that his action in regard to the other Khalifas -would naturally rouse the ire of the Mahdi's relatives, with whom he was -already on bad terms; but this was a matter of little concern to him. He -was determined, by all the means in his power, and, if necessary, by -recourse to violence, to enforce his commands, whatever they might be. -But, on the other hand, he did not wish to entirely alienate public -opinion, nor to give grounds to the numerous Mahdists, who, owing to -their love for the Mahdi, entertained a certain affection for his -relatives, for bringing against him accusations of injustice or -hostility; he therefore presented them with numbers of female slaves, -and to Khalifa Sherif he gave some very fine horses and mules, and -distributed quantities of slaves amongst his retainers. He took good -care to make these gifts widely known; and the populace, in their turn, -praised him for his magnanimity, and went so far as to extol his justice -and liberality in songs. Still bent on improving his position, he -despatched his relative and my friend, Yunes Wad ed Dekeim, and his -cousin Osman Wad Adam to Kordofan, and, in order to remove from Omdurman -the Black troops he had taken away from the Khalifas, he despatched them -also to the west. Yunes was instructed to bring into subjection the -Gimeh tribe, which was both rich and strong, but which had shown some -lukewarmness in obeying the Khalifa's summons to immigrate to Omdurman. -Osman Wad Adam was ordered to join Abu Anga, and await further -instructions. To both, however, he gave strict injunctions to collect as -many male and female slaves as possible, and instruct the former in the -use of fire-arms. Previous to the arrival of Yunes in Gimeh, the head -Sheikh, Asaker Wad Abu Kalam, had already been summoned to Omdurman, and -had been imprisoned there; but his cousin, unwilling to submit to the -rule of Yunes, had, while endeavouring to escape, been overtaken and -killed, while his tribe was now deprived of the greater part of its -property, and forced to proceed to Omdurman. Yunes, having crossed the -river at Goz Abu Guma, had established a settlement there, and now -returned to the Khalifa for further orders. He had already despatched -thousands of cattle to Khartum, and, in consequence, received a very -warm welcome. The Khalifa now instructed him to remove the tribe to Wad -el Abbas, opposite Sennar, where he would send him further orders. Yunes -had a considerable attachment for me, and asked the Khalifa's permission -to take me with him, in order to assist in the transport arrangements, -as the Gimeh people were peculiarly unmanageable. At first, the Khalifa -refused the request, but eventually acceded to Yunes's pressing demand. -I had already taken possession of my new quarters the previous month, -and my servant, with his three wives, who had been detained at El Obeid -when on his way from Darfur, was now brought here by the Khalifa's -orders. Three other male servants and their wives also arrived; but as -they did not appear anxious to remain in my service, I handed them over -to Fadl el Maula, who, in accordance with the Khalifa's orders, took -them into the ranks. My household now consisted of four male servants -with their wives; and I asked the Khalifa's permission to take three of -them with me to Sennar. "There is no necessity for you to take any of -your servants with you," said the Khalifa. "Leave them here, and I will -see that they are looked after; while Yunes will be responsible for your -comfort during the journey. I hope you will justify my confidence in -you. Carry out the orders of Yunes, and you will regain my regard; go -now to him, and tell him that I permit you to accompany him on his -journey." - -Yunes, delighted at the Khalifa's permission, said that he would do all -he could to make my journey pleasant, and talked so quickly and -incessantly that I scarcely understood half of what he said. I was -delighted at the thought of leaving Omdurman, and being away from the -tyrant whom I was obliged to serve day and night; I secretly cherished a -hope that during the journey I might find some occasion to escape from -the hands of my tormentors. - -One of the mulazemin now summoned me again to the Khalifa's presence. -"Did you inform Yunes," said he, "that you are going to accompany him?" -and when I replied in the affirmative, he ordered me to sit down, and -again began to give me the benefit of his advice. "I urge you," said he, -"to serve me faithfully; I look upon you as my son and my heart is -inclined toward you. God's holy word, the Kuran, promises rewards to the -faithful, but threatens the traitor with the Divine wrath. Yunes is your -well-wisher, and will attend to what you may say to him. Should he -attempt to undertake anything which is not likely to lead to his -advantage, you should warn him, for he is your master; but I have told -him that I look upon you as my son, and he will take heed of what you -say." "I will always endeavour," said I, "to act in accordance with your -instructions; but Yunes is my master, and will naturally do what he -thinks right. Do not therefore attribute ill-will to me; and I beg you -will not make me responsible for anything which may happen contrary to -your wishes." - -"You are only in a position to offer an opinion," said he; "but you have -no power to act. Should he pay heed to you, well and good; if not, it -will be his own lookout if matters go wrong." He then turned the -conversation to affairs in Darfur, and told me that he had written some -time ago to Mahmud Sherif to return with all available troops to -Kordofan, leaving in Darfur a commander who, in his opinion, would be -equal to the position. He had replied that amongst his relatives there -was no one capable of representing their interests; and he recommended -the selection of some one who could not only see after the public -affairs of the province, but also his private business as well. In -reply, the Khalifa had assured him of his favour, urged him not to -listen to intriguers, but to come as soon as possible to Kordofan, and -thence to Omdurman. The last news he had received was to the effect that -Mahmud was on the point of coming with all his forces, and that he was -already on the road. "Do you think," said the Khalifa, "that he will -comply implicitly with my orders, and will come? You know him better -than the others." - -"Undoubtedly he will come," I replied; "for he does not dare to act -contrary to your instructions." "I hope that this is so," replied he; "a -timid subject is always more easy to rule than one who is not afraid to -act disobediently." - -The conversation had already lasted some time; and I was about to ask -permission to retire, when he beckoned to one of his eunuchs who was -standing close by, and whispered a few words in his ear. I knew my -master well, and had a foreboding of ill. - -"I have already instructed you," said he, "to leave behind all the -members of your household; for, having only just arrived from a long -journey, they must be fatigued, and I do not wish to expose them -further. Yunes will give you a servant; but I am giving you a wife, so -that, in case of indisposition or illness, you may have some one to -attend on you. She is pretty, and not plain like the one Ahmed Wad -Suleiman sent you," he said with a smile; and now beckoning to the woman -who had just entered, to come nearer, the latter approached and threw -off her veil. I glanced at her, and, in spite of her dark colour, she -really was very pretty. "She was my wife," added the Khalifa; "she is -very good, and patient; but I have so many, I therefore gave her her -freedom; but you may now call her your own." - -I was much embarrassed, and all the time had been casting over in my -mind how I could refuse this gift without offending the giver. - -"Sir, allow me to speak candidly," said I. - -"Certainly," said he, "here you are at home. Speak!" - -"I am at home where I need fear nothing," I began, hastily; "this woman -was your wife, and has in consequence a right to be treated with -consideration for your sake; this of course is an easy matter. But, -sire, how can I, your servant, take your own wife for myself? Moreover, -you said yourself that you look upon me as your son." Having said this, -I dropped my head, and fixed my eyes on the ground, continuing, "I -cannot accept this gift;" and then I awaited his answer with anxiety. - -"Your words are good, and I pardon you," said he, signing to the woman, -who was standing near us, to withdraw. "Almas!" said he, to the eunuch, -"bring my white jibba!" and when the servant brought it, he handed it to -me, saying, "Take this jibba, which I have often worn myself, and which -was specially blessed by the Mahdi for me.[15] Hundreds and thousands -of people will envy you this; guard it carefully, for it will bring you -blessings." - -I was delighted with this present, and fervently kissed his hand, which -he extended to me; but inwardly I rejoiced to be rid of the woman, who -would have been a useless encumbrance to me, besides an additional -expense; and I thought the jibba an excellent exchange. I then begged -leave to withdraw, and carried off with me my valuable present. - -Yunes had fixed his departure for that day; but, before leaving, I was -summoned once more to the Khalifa, who, in the presence of Yunes, again -reminded me to be faithful and submissive. - -That evening, we left Omdurman on board the steamer "Bordein," which had -been floated off the place where it had gone aground; and, on the second -day, we reached Goz Abu Guma. In accordance with the Khalifa's -instructions, we were to hurry on the Gimeh people to Wad el Abbas as -quickly as possible; and we called on the Beni Hussein tribe to supply -us with camels to carry the water-skins. Yunes was specially kind and -considerate to me; he gave me one of his horses and three female slaves, -and instructed two old soldiers to wait on me as servants. His total -force numbered ten thousand combatants, of whom seven thousand belonged -to the Gimeh tribe, who were encumbered with a mass of women and -children. I distributed the camels and water-skins amongst them; and we -now prepared for the journey. Our road led through Sekedi Moya, across a -plain which, as I remarked before, had been named Tibki Teskut (You weep -and are silent); and as I crossed it, I recalled all the bloodshed and -fighting which had taken place in the Sudan. In the houses which lay -close to the track, we saw innumerable skeletons of the rebels who had -been driven away from the wells by Saleh, and had succumbed to thirst. - -On the third day, we reached the banks of the Blue Nile, and saw Sennar -in the distance; the Khalifa had issued strict orders that we should on -no account proceed to this city, which was now lying half ruined, and -which, as it had held out until after the Mahdi's death, the Khalifa -said, would bring us no luck. We found several boats in readiness, and -in them crossed the Blue Nile, which is here about four hundred yards -broad; but this operation took us several days. Just north of Wad el -Abbas, there is a strip of high sandy ground; and this was selected as -the position of the camp, because the land in the vicinity is low-lying, -and unfit for habitation during the rainy season. All my thoughts were -now bent on flight; but, as most of the people entirely sympathised with -the Khalifa's government, it required the greatest care on my part to -select any one in whom to place confidence. Very soon after our arrival -at Wad el Abbas, I received a letter from the Khalifa, which ran as -follows:-- - - "In the name of God, the All-bountiful and Merciful, from the - noble Sayed Abdullahi Ibn Sayed Mahmud, by the grace of God, - Khalifat el Mahdi, on whom be peace, to our brother in God, - Abdel Kader Saladin. - - "After this greeting of peace, this is to inform you that I have - not received any letter from you since your departure; but I - hope that, by the grace of God, you are in good health. You know - my instructions, and you have drunk from the river of my - eloquence; I have urged you to remain faithful, and I know that - you will uphold your promise. This day, I received a letter from - one of the Mahdi's friends, who tells me that your wife, coming - from the land of the unbelievers, has reached Korosko, and is at - this moment endeavouring to bribe people to induce them to fly - with you, in order to bring you to her; and I have been told - that you know all about this. I therefore again urge you to - adhere steadfastly to the faith of the Prophet, and to perform - with honesty the duties upon which you have entered; but I wish - to add that no doubt has entered into my heart of your fidelity. - I only wish you peace, and I greet you." - -At the same time, a letter arrived for Yunes to the effect--so his -secretary told me in confidence--that news had come from Berber, and -that a very strict watch was to be kept over me. Under these -circumstances, I could not conceive why the Khalifa had written to me. -Yunes did not tell me that he had received these instructions, and, -outwardly, was more friendly than ever with me; but I was guarded very -closely both by day and night, and when, a few days later, some hundreds -of the Gimeh Arabs were, in accordance with the Khalifa's orders, -embarked on a steamer to proceed to Omdurman, Yunes instructed me to -return with them in order, he said, to give the Khalifa a verbal account -of the situation. I perfectly understood what was meant, and realised -that he wished to avoid the responsibility of having me with him. - -When all the people were embarked, I went to say good-bye to Yunes, who -gave me orders to inform the Khalifa on a number of points. I said that -when this duty was over, I presumed I should return to him, to which he -replied, "Perhaps you wish to remain with our master the Khalifa, or -possibly he may require your presence in Omdurman. Had I better send the -horse I gave you after you, or shall I keep it here?" I assured him that -I looked upon the horse as his, and not mine; for I was well aware that -once back in Omdurman, I should again have to walk barefoot. As a token -of his friendship, Yunes gave me a hundred hides, and a letter of -recommendation to the Khalifa. The second day after leaving Wad el -Abbas, I reached Omdurman, handed over the Gimeh under my charge to -Yakub, and was then received by the Khalifa. He affected great surprise -at seeing me, saying that he thought I should have some difficulty in -leaving Yunes even for an hour. These were of course mere empty words; -for I knew perfectly well that this was a plan arranged between them to -get me back without my suspecting it. Meanwhile, he gave me permission -to go and visit my household, after which I was to return to him for -further orders. - -In the evening, we were once more alone, and he began to talk of the -letter which had come from Berber. I assured him that if the letter had -really come, it must have been written with an intention to do me harm, -or that there was some mistake; and, in proof of this, I told him that I -had never been married, and that, in consequence, there could be no -pining wife to come and look for me. Should any one, however, come to -Omdurman and try to induce me to fly, my first step would be at once to -inform the Khalifa. He assured me that he did not believe the rumour, -and then asked me if I preferred to stay with him or return to Yunes. -Guessing his intention, I told him that nothing in the world would -induce me to leave him again, and that I considered the time spent with -him as the happiest in my life. Although pleased at my flattering words, -he took occasion to remind me, in a very serious tone of voice, to be -faithful and true, and to have nothing whatever to do with people other -than his own household; and he then ordered me to take my place as usual -before the gate. - -On withdrawing from his presence, and thinking the matter over, I had no -doubt now that his suspicions against me had not only taken root, but -had begun to grow. - -At this time the force in El Obeid included about two hundred Blacks, -mostly old soldiers, whose numbers had been increased by the arrival of -a portion of the former garrison of Dara. Many of them were inhabitants -of Jebel Daïr, who were in constant enmity with the Mahdists, and who -had been captured by them and utilised as slaves to build their huts. -Indignant at this treatment, they resolved to regain freedom by force. -Fadl el Maula Bekhit, one of my servants who had been detained in El -Obeid, and Beshir, a former lieutenant, were the ringleaders of this -conspiracy; and it is always a wonder to me that the Mahdists did not -succeed in discovering the plot. Sayed Mahmud, it will be remembered, -had been summoned to Omdurman; and the mutineers now thought the -favourable moment had arrived to put their plans into execution. -Suddenly, at midday, the inhabitants of El Obeid were startled by the -firing of rifles; the soldiers had seized the isolated building which -was used as a storehouse for the arms and ammunition, and were firing on -the Dervishes, who had attacked them in this position. The latter were -driven back; and the former then succeeded in collecting their wives and -children. The Dervishes, having only a few fire-arms, had retreated to -the Government buildings, and had barricaded the doors. The soldiers, -encouraged by their success, now attempted to take these buildings by -storm; but were forced to retire. In this attack, Abder Rahman el -Borusi, formerly one of my best and bravest subalterns, was killed; -while the Dervishes lost Abdel Hashmi, Sayed Mahmud's representative, -who was greatly detested by the soldiers on account of his overbearing -ways. If the soldiers had only had a good leader, El Obeid would -certainly have fallen into their hands; but, under the circumstances, -they had no special desire to take this post, and were merely bent on -regaining their freedom. That night they spent in the powder magazine, -where they were joined by quantities of male and female slaves, who took -this opportunity to run away from their masters. Early the next morning, -the inhabitants and the Dervishes attempted an attack on the soldiers, -but were utterly defeated, and lost a large number in killed and -wounded. The soldiers, longing for freedom, now left El Obeid, and -marched in a southerly direction towards the Nuba mountains; but, before -leaving, they plundered a number of houses, and, seizing the women they -found there, made them their slaves. The Dervishes now attempted to -pursue them; but the soldiers, elated by their freedom, again utterly -routed them. Unfortunately, the Emir of the soldiers, a certain Wad -Abdulla, a native of Wad Medina, and who had also been one of my -officers at Dara, knew of the plot, but did not join in time, fearing -it might fail; he was now seized by the Gellabas, and, in spite of his -innocence, was beheaded. - -The news of this mutiny was at once sent to Sayed Mahmud in Omdurman; -and the Khalifa, no longer requiring his services there, permitted him -to return to El Obeid, with instructions to come back as soon as -possible to Omdurman with his family, and with all the other relatives -of the late Mahdi, but forbade him to pursue the mutineers. When, -however, he arrived at El Obeid, moved either by feelings of revenge, or -thinking perhaps that by killing the mutineers he should obtain favour, -he disregarded the Khalifa's orders, and, collecting all the able-bodied -inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood, advanced against the -soldiers. The latter had taken up a strong position in the Golfan and -Naïma hills, and had established there a sort of military republic, -nominating as their chief Beshir, who was formerly a sergeant. He gave -careful instructions that the ammunition was not to be wasted; and he -forbade the mention of the name of the Mahdi under pain of punishment. -They acknowledged the Khedive as their master, and swore in his name; -and the neighbourhood supplied them with abundant food. - -Sayed Mahmud, on his arrival at El Obeid, had despatched secret agents -to assure the mutineers that he loved them as his own children, and that -he would give them a full and free pardon should they submit to him. The -soldiers jeeringly replied, that he should first of all convince himself -of their affection for him. Thereupon, Mahmud resolved to storm the -mountain, and, carrying his own banner at the head of his troops, he was -shot dead while leading the assault. Several of his adherents who -attempted to recover his body met with a like fate, whilst the remainder -of his following dispersed, and fled in all directions, pursued by the -Nuba mountaineers, who inflicted heavy loss on them. - -Hamdan Abu Anga, who at this time was only a few days distant from the -scene of operations, at once reported this occurrence to the Khalifa, -and asked to be allowed to punish the victorious mutineers; but he was -instructed to take no further action, as his master had more important -duties for him to perform; he had now to deal with Mohammed Khaled. - -In Omdurman, however, the Khalifa declared publicly, that Sayed Mahmud -had been justly punished by God for his disobedience; and that instead -of coming to him as ordered, he had sought fame and revenge, in -attacking the rebels contrary to his wishes. - -For some time back, Khaled had received letters from the Khalifa, asking -him to come to Omdurman, and offering him a high position and honours. -The latter had made all preparations for his departure, and was on the -point of starting, when the news came of the action taken by the Khalifa -in regard to Khalifa Sherif, and the relatives of the late Mahdi. Khaled -now received further letters from Abdullahi, telling him how the action -of these relatives had forced him to take this unfortunate step; he -begged him, in consequence, to come with all speed, as he had no doubt -that his practical common sense would assist him in bringing about a -reconciliation with all parties. Khaled, believing in these assurances, -and anxious to be of assistance to his relative, hastened his journey -and camped at Bara. He had under his command a very considerable force, -which was augmented by a large number of the local population of Darfur -who had been unwillingly compelled to immigrate. He had at his disposal -upwards of a thousand cavalry, and three thousand rifles, whilst his -followers could not have numbered less than twenty thousand persons. - -Previous, however, to Khaled's arrival, Abu Anga, who had with him over -five thousand rifles, had received secret instructions to move to Bara, -and now advanced thither by forced marches. At sunrise one morning, -Khaled found his camp completely encircled by Abu Anga's troops, who -were prepared to carry out his instructions, should the slightest -opposition be made. Abu Anga now summoned Khaled to appear before him; -and the order was at once obeyed. On his arrival the Khalifa's -instructions were handed to him, which were to the effect that, as a -token of his submission and fidelity, he should at once make over to Abu -Anga all his soldiers and cavalry, as the latter was considered -commander-in-chief of the army; Khaled complied with this order without -demur, and, being detained by Abu Anga, who obliged him to give the -necessary instructions, in a short time the whole of the Darfur troops -were placed under the command of subordinates nominated by Abu Anga. -This over, Abu Anga now summoned all the Emirs who accompanied him from -Darfur, and read out to them a very flattering document from the -Khalifa, in which they were given the option of remaining with him, or -returning to Omdurman. - -Khaled and his relatives, however, were arrested; their property -confiscated; and all the treasure accumulated in the Beit el Mal was -taken possession of by Abu Anga. Said Bey Guma, who, for a considerable -time, had acted as chief of Abu Anga's artillery, also reaped -considerable benefit from this episode, by obtaining permission to -re-annex all his slaves, wives, and property which had been confiscated -in Darfur, and which Khaled had brought along with him. - -Khaled himself was placed in irons, and sent to El Obeid; where he had -leisure to think over the Khalifa's letter, and to recognise that there -is a wide difference between making a promise, and carrying that promise -into effect. - -The Khalifa, however, was completely satisfied with the result of his -plan. Once more he had inflicted a crushing blow on his opponents, who -had counted greatly on Khaled's return, but who now saw Abu Anga's army -augmented by the very men they had thought to utilise for their own -purposes. Abu Anga's force now numbered several thousands; he soon -acquired an influence over the Darfur Emirs and their subjects, whom he -considered his compatriots, and several of them proceeded to Omdurman, -where they were received by the Khalifa with the highest honours. Thus -were the fears of the inhabitants of the Nile valley increased, owing to -the growing prestige and power acquired by the western Arabs; and they -realised that for them a reign of despotic tyranny was approaching. - -Abu Anga now received instructions to attack and destroy the rebels in -the Golfan mountains, who, after the death of Mahmud, considered -themselves masters of the situation, and began to treat the inhabitants -of the district tyrannically, the result being that internal dissensions -arose amongst the various tribes, and they began to scatter and return -to their own homes. On the approach of Abu Anga, my old servant with his -wife, feeling that he could not count on success, went over to him, -saying he was tired of fighting, and was ready to submit to such -punishment as his crime merited, all he begged was permission to defend -himself. He represented that he had been my servant in Darfur, and that -he, with several others, had been forcibly prevented by Mahmud from -continuing his journey, that owing to the constant insults he had -received, he had become angry and disgusted, had joined the mutineers, -and had taken an active part in the fighting; but that now he had come -to beg forgiveness, and ask permission to join me, or suffer the -punishment to which he was justly entitled. Abu Anga, whose father had -been a slave, and who always had compassion on his own tribesmen, and -detested the Gellabas (a name which the western Arabs used generally for -all inhabitants of the Nile valley), knew perfectly well that the -soldiers had been driven into revolt by the unjust treatment they had -received, and, consequently, generously pardoned my servant for the -sake, he said, of his old friendship for me, and to do me honour in my -position as mulazem of the Khalifa. He thereupon gave him a letter to -me, announcing that he had great pleasure in returning to me my old -servant, and that he rejoiced we were again united. - -Beshir, who had refused the offer of submission, was attacked by Abu -Anga's troops the following day, and, after making a magnificent stand, -was killed, together with Fadl el Maula, and several soldiers who had -remained true to him to the end. On the night previous to this action, -several of his men had deserted secretly, and had hidden themselves in -various parts of the country; but one after the other they were forced -to surrender and accept the pardon offered them. Abu Anga himself, -however, took advantage of his success only in so far as to requisition -the inhabitants to supply his army with food, and to acquire male and -female slaves; whilst he left his cousin Osman Wad Adam as his -representative in El Obeid. An order now arrived that the latter should -take over the command of Darfur, where Sultan Yusef, a son of Sultan -Ibrahim, who had been killed in Zubeir's time, was in revolt. - -I ascertained, from a merchant who had recently arrived from Kordofan, -that my friend Joseph Ohrwalder had quitted El Obeid, and would shortly -arrive in Omdurman. Although I knew that I should have considerable -difficulty in meeting him, I rejoiced to think that one of my old -countrymen would be near me. I sat at my master's gate, ready at all -times to obey his orders. Occasionally, I was spoken to kindly, and -commanded to dine with him; at other times, without rhyme or reason as -far as I knew, I was taken no notice of for days, receiving from my -master only the blackest and most disdainful looks; but this was due to -the extraordinary changeability of his character, and I knew I must put -up with it. I suppose this was part of my education. To my comrades, I -showed myself absolutely callous to everything that happened in the -country, so that they should have no reason to increase the distrust -felt by the Khalifa, who, I knew, frequently inquired as to my conduct. -As a matter of fact, however, I watched all the occurrences as closely -as my position would allow, and endeavoured to impress them on my mind; -for I was, of course, prohibited from writing a single line. The Khalifa -contributed very little towards the support of my household, and only -occasionally gave orders for me to be supplied with a few ardebs of -dhurra, or a sheep, or a cow. - -Ibrahim Adlan, whom I had known in the time of the Government, used to -send me monthly from ten to twenty dollars; and a few of the officials -and merchants who were in better circumstances than myself, used -secretly to send me small sums of money. Thus, though by no means well -off, I did not lack the absolute necessaries of life, and only -occasionally felt the actual pinch of want; anyhow I was better off than -my friend Lupton, whom the Khalifa had promised to assist, but paid -absolutely no attention to his wants. Lupton, it is true, enjoyed a -certain amount of freedom: he was allowed to wander about in Omdurman, -and to talk to the people; nor was he obliged to attend the five prayers -daily at the mosque; but, in spite of this, life to him was full of -trouble and sorrow. I begged Ibrahim Adlan to interest himself in -Lupton, and to give a kind thought to him occasionally, by helping him -with small sums of money; but this was not sufficient to keep him, and, -though ignorant of any trade, he had perforce to earn a livelihood by -mending old arms. Having been an officer in the English merchant -service, I thought he might know something about machinery. Meeting him -one day in the mosque, he complained bitterly of his wretched position; -and I suggested to him that if he could secure an appointment in the -Khartum dock-yard, it might improve his condition. He jumped at the -idea; and I promised that I would do my best to help him. A few days -later, it happened that the Khalifa was in a good temper, and showed a -friendly disposition towards me, as Abu Anga had sent him a present of a -young horse, some money, and some of Khaled's slaves. I was commanded to -dine with him; and, in the course of conversation, succeeded in turning -the subject to the steamers and their machinery, which, up to that day, -had been an absolute mystery to him. "The steamers," said I, "require -competent men to look after them and repair damages. As most of the -workmen in the dock-yard were killed during the siege of Khartum, I -suppose you have had some difficulty in replacing them?" - -"But what is to be done?" said the Khalifa. "These steamers are of the -greatest value to me; and I must do all I can to preserve them." - -"Abdullahi Lupton," said I, "was formerly engineer on a steamer; if he -received a good monthly salary from the Beit el Mal, I believe he would -be really useful for this work." - -"Then will you speak to him," said he, apparently much pleased; "if he -undertook this work of his own free-will and accord, without being -forced into it, I believe he would be of some use in these matters, of -which, I admit, I know absolutely nothing. I will order Ibrahim Adlan to -pay him well." - -"I do not even know his whereabouts," said I. "I have not seen him for a -long time; but I will make inquiries. I feel confident that he will be -only too glad to serve you." - -The following day, I sent for Lupton, told him of the conversation, but -begged him to do as little as he possibly could for our enemies. - -He assured me that the steamers, of the machinery of which he had only a -superficial knowledge, would, under his charge, grow worse instead of -better, and that it was only his unfortunate circumstances which obliged -him to accept the position. The Khalifa had also spoken to Ibrahim -Adlan; and that evening, Lupton sent me word that he was now appointed -an employé in the arsenal, with pay at the rate of forty dollars a -month, which would be just sufficient to save him from absolute want. -The Khalifa took this occasion to dismiss from the arsenal a certain -Sayed Taher, an uncle of the Mahdi, by whom he had been appointed -director. He had been formerly a carpenter in Kordofan, was excessively -ignorant, but excelled in every description of dishonesty, and freely -sold iron and other material; he was replaced by an Egyptian who had -been born in London, and was of such a timorous nature that he did not -dare to be dishonest. - -The Khalifa now found that the Kababish, who inhabited the northern -portion of Kordofan as far as Dongola, and whose herds pastured down to -Omdurman, were not sufficiently submissive for his purpose; he therefore -gave instructions to Ibrahim Adlan to confiscate everything they had, -under the pretext that they had been frequently ordered to undertake a -pilgrimage, and that they had refused to comply. Ibrahim Adlan -accordingly sent off a a party, who confiscated the Kababish flocks. - -This tribe used to do all the carrying trade of gum from Kordofan, and -possessed considerable sums of money, which, in accordance with the -usual Arab custom, they buried in some out-of-the-way place in the -desert known only to themselves; they were now maltreated and tortured -in order to make them disgorge, with the result that large amounts -reached the Beit el Mal. The tribe as a whole submitted without much -fighting; but Saleh Bey, the head Sheikh, and a brother of Sheikh et -Tom, who had been beheaded by the Mahdi, collected his nearest -relatives, and, together with them, proceeded to the wells of Om Badr, -where nobody dared to follow them. The Khalifa thereupon despatched two -well-known Sheikhs, Wad Nubawi of the Beni Jerrar and Wad Atir of the -Maalia, to ask him to come to Omdurman, not only promising him full -pardon, but also his nomination as Emir of the Kababish. Saleh Bey -listened quietly to the proposition, and, to the astonishment of the -messengers, took some tobacco, which is detested by the Mahdists, and, -putting it into his mouth, said, "I have well understood what you have -said; the Khalifa forgives me entirely, and desires me to come to -Omdurman. Supposing now that on my arrival the Prophet should appear to -the Khalifa--for we all know that the Khalifa acts altogether on the -inspirations of the Prophet--and instructs him not to forgive me; what -then?" The messengers were not able to answer this question, and, each -having received a present of a camel, returned to the Khalifa and -related exactly what had occurred. Several of the Kababish who had been -deprived of their property, now deserted to Sheikh Saleh at Om Badr; -and, in a very short time, although not a very powerful enemy, he was -sufficiently so to prove of considerable annoyance to the Khalifa. - -In Omdurman, the Kababish camels and sheep were sold by auction in the -Beit el Mal, and the price of meat fell considerably in consequence, but -the price of grain rose in proportion: the reason of this being that -Yunes permitted his men in the Gezira to do just as they liked. These -districts were the granary of Omdurman; and Yunes, having introduced -into them thousands of the Gimeh tribe, with their wives and children, -who had been deprived of all they possessed, these now organised -themselves into bands of brigands who not only seized all the grain they -could lay their hands on, but terrorised the inhabitants who cultivated -the land. Thus the store of grain diminished daily; whilst the army of -Yunes, to his great delight, grew in numbers, being augmented by runaway -slaves and a large supply of independent individuals. It was the -Khalifa's intention to weaken the power of the Gezira people, who -belonged, for the most part, to Khalifa Sherif's party; but now the -paucity of grain somewhat alarmed him, and he therefore sent orders to -Yunes to return to Omdurman with his entire force. In accordance with -these instructions, this great mass of people swept towards Omdurman, -seizing everything they could lay their hands on; and Yunes entered the -capital, as it were, at the head of a conquering army laden with loot of -every description. He was ordered to take up a position towards the -south end of the city, near the forts; and to this day the place is -known as Dem Yunes. - -Shortly after his arrival, it was rumoured in Omdurman that the -Abyssinians intended attacking Gallabat. It was said that a certain -Hajji Ali Wad Salem, of the Kawahla, who resided in Gallabat, and who -had formerly had some trading transactions with the Abyssinians, was -travelling in their country, had been made an Emir of a portion of his -tribe, had invaded Abyssinian territory, and had destroyed the Church of -Gabta. - -A certain Takruri named Saleh Shanga, who had resided at Gallabat, and -had held a position of some importance under Government, had quitted -that town on its evacuation by the Egyptian troops, and had settled down -in Abyssinia; but his cousin Ahmed Wad Arbab had been made Dervish Emir -of the district. Ras Adal, Governor of the province of Amhara, now -called on Arbab to deliver up Hajji Ali, who had been disturbing the -peace; and as this demand was refused, he had collected a considerable -force, and had invaded Gallabat. Meanwhile, Arbab, who had received -warning of Ras Adal's approach, now collected his followers, amounting -to some six thousand men, and awaited his arrival outside the town. The -rush of the Abyssinian force, which was ten times as strong as that of -Arbab, was terrible: in a few minutes, the Mahdi's forces were -completely surrounded; Arbab himself killed, and almost all his troops -massacred, only a very few escaping. The Abyssinians mutilated the -bodies of all, except that of Arbab, which, out of consideration for -Saleh Shanga, was untouched. The Dervishes had stored their spare -ammunition in an isolated house, and had placed it in charge of an -Egyptian, who, being called upon after the battle to surrender, refused -to do so; and on the Abyssinians attempting to storm it, he blew it up, -thus destroying himself and his enemies. The wives and children of those -who had been killed, were now carried off into captivity by the -Abyssinians. Gallabat itself was burnt to the ground; and, for a long -time, its site was little else than a great open cemetery, the abode of -nothing save hyenas. - -When the news of the destruction of Wad Arbab's army reached the -Khalifa, he sent a letter to King John requesting him to release the -captive wives and children in exchange for a sum of money which he asked -him to fix; but, at the same time, he ordered Yunes to quit Omdurman -with his entire force, and proceed to Gallabat, where he was to await -further orders. On the departure of the army of Yunes, the Khalifa -himself, with a number of his followers, crossed to the west in a -steamer, and, after staying with them three days, he gave the warriors -his parting blessing, and then returned to Omdurman. - -Some time since, Gustav Klootz, who had failed to make a living in -Omdurman, had disappeared, and I thought he must have escaped out of the -country; but I now learnt, from some merchants who had just arrived from -Gedaref, that he had reached that place, but had succumbed to the -fatigues of the journey, and had died just before the Abyssinian -invasion. - -Nejumi and Abu Girga were now ordered, the former to Dongola, and the -latter to Kassala, with instructions to occupy the country with their -troops, whilst Osman Digna was appointed ruler of the Arab tribes -between Kassala and Suakin. The Khalifa, however, in order to keep -himself fully informed of the actions and intentions of Nejumi and Abu -Girga, who, with their men, originally belonged to the Nile valley, and -did not, in consequence, possess his entire confidence, nominated two of -his own relatives, Mussaid Wad Gaidum and Osman Wad Ali, as his -representatives, with instructions that they should on all occasions be -consulted. In this manner, not only did Mussaid and Ali obtain a certain -amount of control, but the arrangement also tended to give them a -species of authority amongst the Nile Arabs. Thus, gradually, he -extended his power over the entire Sudan, by lessening the authority of -the local inhabitants, and placing his own relatives and tribesmen in -positions of importance. He and his Emirs enlarged their households -almost daily, and their luxurious mode of life required the expenditure -of considerable sums of money; it was therefore necessary to acquire a -thorough hold over the revenues of the country. The number of his -personal followers, and especially his armed mulazemin, increased -rapidly, and it was necessary to arrange for their maintenance. Money -was required for them, as well as for those who were secretly hostile to -him, and whom he wished to gain over to his side without an open -rupture. - -Ibrahim Adlan was now called upon to regulate the finances. The revenues -consisted of fitra (poll-tax), which every living man was obliged to pay -at the end of the great fast of Ramadan; its payment was usually made in -grain,--approximately eight rotls,--but it might also be paid in cash. -No one was exempt from this obligation; and parents were compelled to -pay not only for their children under age, but even for their newly-born -babes. Another source of income was the zeka (or two-and-a-half-per-cent -"alms for the poor") which was paid in grain, cattle, or money in -accordance with the Moslem Law. The officials appointed to gather this -tax were nominated by Yakub and Ibrahim; and it was presented by them to -the Khalifa. They were obliged to keep a strict account of all receipts, -which they had to render to the Beit et Mal, supported by vouchers. - -An attempt was also made to regulate the expenditure, that is to say, -Ibrahim Adlan was forbidden to pay away money as he thought proper. Of -course, certain persons,--such as the Kadi, his clerks, the chiefs of -the mulazemin, etc.,--whose services were absolutely necessary to the -Khalifa, were granted certain specified sums, which were paid monthly, -but which were so small that they were scarcely sufficient to provide -for the bare necessaries of life; for instance, the chief Kadi, who bore -the title of Kadi Islam, received only forty dollars a month; the -Khalifa's secretary, thirty; and so on. Khalifa Sherif and his relatives -received a certain sum in accordance with the Khalifa's special orders; -but Khalifa Ali Wad Helu, owing to his submission and obedience, was in -the Khalifa's favour, and obtained a somewhat larger amount. The -principal share, however, of the Sudan revenue was absorbed by the -Khalifa and his relatives; and he and his brother Yakub utilised it in -satisfying the demands of the western tribes, whose adherence to his -cause was most necessary, and who, having left their own country, were -occasionally in considerable straits. - -Another means of increasing the revenue was by the hiring out of ferries -along the whole extent of the river; and Ibrahim Adlan also started a -soap-boiling establishment, which was made a Government monopoly. One -day, the Khalifa, riding through the city, entered a district which he -did not usually visit, and there his olfactory nerves were greeted with -an odour which he well knew; he at once ordered search to be made to -discover from whence it came, and, in a few minutes, a poor half-naked -individual was brought before him, holding in his hand a stewpan in -which he had been attempting to boil soap. The Khalifa at once gave -orders that he should be thrown into prison, and his property, -consisting of a stewpan and an angareb, should be confiscated. - -An immense stock of silver trinkets, captured in the various campaigns, -lay stored up in the Beit el Mal; and quantities of these had been sold -for much below their value and had been secretly taken, from time to -time, by dealers to Egypt. In order to put a stop to this, the Khalifa -now decided to make his own coinage. After the fall of Khartum, Ahmed -Wad Suleiman had attempted to coin silver dollars and gold guineas; but, -on the Mahdi's express wish, he had abandoned it. Ibrahim Adlan, -however, now began to strike half, quarter, and whole dollars; and it -was arranged that the new dollar, which weighed eight drachms, should -consist of six drachms of silver and two of copper, but should have the -same value as the Medjidi dollar. The merchants, however, refused to -accept these; and, as a punishment, the Khalifa confiscated their goods -and closed their shops. This brought them to reason; and, on agreeing to -accept them at their whole value, their property was restored; but they -were warned that, if they made any further difficulties, they would be -punished by the loss of the right hand and left foot. The natural -outcome of these arbitrary measures was an immediate rise of prices to -compensate for the difference in value between the new and old dollars; -of course, all the Khalifa knew was that the dollar had been accepted, -and with that he was satisfied. - -Another source of income realised by Ibrahim Adlan was the organisation -of the sale of slaves; it was now arranged that slaves of both sexes -should be sold at a certain specified place near the Beit el Mal. The -vendor was obliged to make out a bill, endorsed by the Beit el Mal, -admitting that the object of negotiation was absolutely and entirely the -property of the purchaser; and for this bill a tax was levied. - -The Beit el Mal was now arranged in the most comfortable manner -possible; it was removed from the vicinity of the mosque, and located in -a large walled enclosure near the river. Adlan had special buildings -erected for his own clerk, for counting-houses, and for drug-stores -where the old medicines which had escaped destruction in the sack of -Khartum, were now deposited; he also erected large grain stores. In -fact, Ibrahim Adlan was ambitious enough to endeavour to make his -position rank next to that of the Khalifa in importance; and, while -doing all he could to remain in his good graces, he did not forget that -the latter was also to a large extent in the hands of the Kadis, or -religious judges, of whom the chief was Ahmed Wad Ali, Kadi of Islam. - -All lawsuits and quarrels of a public or private nature, as well as -Government litigation, were brought before the Court of Kadis to be -decided; and, in accordance with the Khalifa's instructions, they were -supposed to execute judgment as laid down in the Sheria Mohammedia -(Religious Law), the Manshur el Mahdi (Instructions of the Mahdi), and -El Ishara (Signs and Commands of the Khalifa). The natural result of -this was, that, instead of upholding the law, they became the prime -abusers of it. It frequently happened that the "instructions" of the -Mahdi differed entirely with the religious law; and then, besides this, -the "signs and commands" of the Khalifa had also to be observed,--that -is to say, each case was judged in accordance with the Khalifa's wishes; -and it invariably happened that judgment was given in favour of the -Mahdi or Khalifa, even in private quarrels in which, in order to obtain -some personal advantage, the Khalifa frequently and most unjustifiably -interfered. In the Kadi el Islam, the Khalifa had a most faithful -servant, ever ready to obey his master's wishes to the letter, no matter -how grossly the law was misapplied. Human life was of no account; and -the Kadi and his colleagues would, without the smallest hesitation, give -a judgment utterly opposed to right and truth, and which would have the -most direful consequence on perfectly innocent persons. In order to -qualify the grossest miscarriages of justice, he would publicly announce -from his pulpit, that he himself would be perfectly prepared to submit -to this jurisdiction, and that should any one consider himself in the -smallest degree oppressed by the judgment just given, he had only to -appeal to the Court of Kadis. On one occasion, a dweller on the White -Nile, who had been recently, and very unjustly, dismissed from his -position as Emir, believing in the genuineness of the Khalifa's -statement, summoned him to appear before the Kadis. He complied with the -summons, and entered the mosque where the judges were sitting in an -attitude of complete submission; and, the news having got about that the -Khalifa had been invited to appear before a Court of Justice, an immense -crowd collected to hear the proceedings. The plaintiff, Abdel Minem, -stated that he had been wronged by the Khalifa, having been dismissed by -him from his position as Emir, which he had held during the whole period -of the Mahdi's rule, and that he was popular with his own tribe, who did -not wish him removed. The Khalifa, having dismissed him because he -suspected him of leanings to the party of Khalifa Sherif, defended -himself by saying that he had summoned him on several occasions, in -order to give him some important instructions, but that he was never to -be found either in his house or in a place of worship, which was a proof -that he was neglectful in matters of religion, and that it was on this -account he had dismissed him. Without the slightest hesitation, the -court gave judgment in favour of the Khalifa; and the plaintiff was -flogged until he bled, carried off to prison, and, on his way there, was -almost lynched by the mob. - -The whole country, however, rang with the praises of the Khalifat el -Mahdi and representative of the Prophet, who, so great was his sense of -justice, did not fear to appear in the court, side by side with his own -subjects, and submissively await the judgment of the Kadis. But in order -to delude the public with the idea that he was of a most kind and -forgiving nature, he released his antagonist the following day, and -presented him with a new jibba and a wife. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -EVENTS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE SUDAN. - - Karamalla's Expedition to the Bahr el Ghazal--Madibbo's Quarrel - with Karamalla--Affairs in Darfur--Execution of Madibbo--Defeat - and Death of Sheikh Saleh el Kabbashi--Capture of Charles - Neufeld--My Interview with Him--Arrival of Abu Anga's Army in - Omdurman--Destruction of the Gehéna Tribe--The Conspiracy of - "Saidna Isa"--Abu Anga's Campaign in Abyssinia--Sack of - Gondar--Terrible Fate of the Captives--Osman Wad Adam's Campaign - in Darfur--Death of Sultan Yusef--Instances of the Khalifa's - Tyranny--Building of the Mahdi's Tomb--Letters from Home--Death - of my Mother--Death of Lupton--Nejumi ordered to invade Egypt. - - -Mohammed Khaled had left Sultan Yusef, the son of Sultan Ibrahim, and -the legitimate successor, as chief Emir of Darfur. He was quite a young -man, and endeavoured to strengthen his position by soliciting the -good-will of Abu Anga and his assistant, Osman Wad Adam, who then -resided at El Obeid. Every now and then he sent them quantities of -horses and slaves; and they, in their turn, sent what they thought -advisable to the Khalifa. Khaled, on leaving Darfur, had taken with him -almost all the Mahdists who were inhabitants of the Nile valley; Yusef, -therefore, found himself governing the land of his forefathers -principally by means of his own subjects; and the latter, in their turn, -assuming that his government would be mild, fully appreciated the -change. - -Shortly after the Mahdi's death, the Khalifa had sent messengers to -Karamalla, in the Bahr el Ghazal, instructing him to leave the country, -and come, with all his troops, to Shakka. Karamalla, after Lupton had -surrendered the country, had taken possession of the province, and had -proceeded to Suda, and forced the mutinous Sultan Zemio to quit his -residence, which he had fortified under the directions of Dr. Junker. -Zemio had barely escaped with his life, and, taking with him some of his -wives, had left most of his treasures of ivory in Karamalla's hands. -After this success, Karamalla had moved in a southeasterly direction -into the Equatorial Provinces, which were then under the rule of Emin -Pasha, and was just approaching the Nile, when he received the orders to -turn back. - -Had it not been that he had the full support of his own countrymen, -Karamalla could not have obeyed the Khalifa's command; for it was an -operation of great difficulty to induce the Bazingers to leave their own -homes and go to Shakka. However, after the evacuation of the Bahr el -Ghazal, several of the Gellabas had hurried from Darfur and Kordofan to -join Karamalla, and procure ivory and slaves for themselves. In -consequence, the riverain element, consisting principally of Jaalin and -Danagla, represented a considerable portion of the force, and it was -impossible for the Bazingers to refuse to return. Thus, partly of his -own free-will, and partly from stress of circumstances, Karamalla -returned, bringing with him an immense number of female slaves, whom he -had kidnapped from the districts through which he passed. In spite of -all his precautions, several of his Bazingers managed to escape on the -march with their arms; but he had still at his disposal over three -thousand rifles on his arrival at Shakka, where he sold his enormous -quantities of male and female slaves to the dealers, who paid him in -ready money. - -Like a sensible man, he sent some of the money and the pick of the -slaves, by his brother Suleiman, to the Khalifa; and the latter, much -pleased with his present, ordered him to remain at Shakka. Both Abu -Anga, and Osman Wad Adam also came in for a fair share of the spoil. - -At Shakka, however, Karamalla conducted himself as if he were ruler of -the whole country, and perpetrated every description of tyranny and -extortion. Madibbo, the Emir and ruler of this part of these districts, -reproached him bitterly; but Karamalla, who had seized a number of -horses and slaves from the Rizighat Arabs, told him to mind his own -business. Several of the malcontents now rallied round Madibbo, and this -was exactly what Karamalla wanted. He sought an excuse for a quarrel; -and when Madibbo, who had been ordered to appear before him, refused to -obey the summons, he proceeded against him as a rebel. A fight took -place; Madibbo was defeated, and fled towards Darfur; while Karamalla -followed him up through Dara as far as the neighbourhood of El Fasher, -and had thus an opportunity of seeing for himself the richness of the -country. He now requested Sultan Yusef to follow up and capture Madibbo; -whilst he himself returned to Dara, where he settled down, much to the -annoyance and disgust of Sultan Yusef's officials. Madibbo was captured -by Zaguna at about two days' distance from Fasher, and was handed over -to Sultan Yusef; and the latter sent him, under escort, to Abu Anga in -Kordofan, and at the same time took occasion to complain of Karamalla's -conduct. The latter, however, had written direct to the Khalifa in -Omdurman, informing him that the Furs were trying to revive the dynasty, -and that Sultan Yusef was only a Mahdist in outward appearance. Abu Anga -had also forwarded the letters he had received from Sultan Yusef; and -now the Khalifa had to choose between Karamalla and Yusef; but, with his -usual astuteness, he did neither. - -Abdullahi rightly concluded that Yusef, being the direct descendant of -the old dynasty, would, if permitted to remain, endeavour to strengthen -his own position to such an extent that he might eventually struggle to -regain his independence. On the other hand, Karamalla, being a -Dongolawi, and a relative of the Mahdi, was undoubtedly a partisan of -Khalifa Sherif; moreover, most of the Bazingers belonged either to the -Danagla or Jaalin, and it was not to the interest of the Khalifa to -strengthen either of these parties, although they were at present openly -disposed towards him. He therefore wrote to Sultan Yusef that he was -lord of the country, that he did not entertain the slightest doubt as to -his fidelity, and many similar phrases; but instead of instructing -Karamalla to quit Dara, he sent orders for Abu Anga to officially occupy -the district. Yusef, imagining that the Khalifa had fully confirmed him -in his position, and finding that Karamalla was now in occupation of -Hillet Shieria and Toweisha, as well as Dara, determined to drive him -out of the country; an army was collected. His chief, Magdum Said Bros, -attacked the posts of Shieria and Toweisha, which were completely -destroyed; and Karamalla, after suffering very heavy losses, was forced -to retire on Shakka. In this engagement, Karamalla lost most of his best -fighting Sheikhs, amongst them Hassan Abu Taher, Ali Mohammed, and -others--all Danagla--who had fought under Yusef Shellali and Gessi Pasha -in the Bahr el Ghazal; but the Khalifa had so many enemies the less. - -Madibbo was brought to Kordofan, and handed over to Abu Anga, who had an -old account to settle with him. When serving under Suleiman Wad Zubeir, -he fell, on one occasion, into the hands of Madibbo, who was very -hostile to him, and forced him to carry a huge box of ammunition on his -head during several days' march, and, when he complained about it, -mercilessly flogged and abused him. When Madibbo was brought before Abu -Anga, he had little hope of his life; but he determined to try and -obtain justice, affirming that he had not fought against the Mahdi, but -had been forced to take up arms by Karamalla. But of what use were all -his excuses and proofs of innocence, or his fidelity?--the only answer -he received from Abu Anga was: "And yet I will kill you." Madibbo, now -convinced of the uselessness of his pleading, resigned himself to his -fate, and, despairing of his life, said, "It is not you who will kill -me, but God. I have not asked for mercy, but for justice; however, a -slave like you can never become noble. The traces of the lashes of my -whip, which may still be seen on your back, were well deserved. In -whatever form death may come upon me, it will always find me calm and a -man. I am Madibbo, and the tribes know me." Abu Anga ordered him to be -sent back to prison, but forbore to have him flogged; and, the -following morning, he had him executed in front of his whole army. -Madibbo was true to his word. Standing in an open space, with a chain -round his neck, he sneered at the soldiers who galloped up to him, -shaking their lances over his head. When told to kneel down to receive -the death-blow, he called on the people who stood round to report -faithfully after his death how he had borne himself; a moment afterwards -all was over. Thus ended Madibbo, one of the ablest Arab Sheikhs in the -Sudan. - -When his head was brought into Omdurman, there was general mourning -amongst the Rizighat Arabs, who had years before quitted their country -as pilgrims. Even the Khalifa himself regretted his death; but as the -deed had been done, he would not blame his greatest Emir. He therefore -concealed his indignation; but to me he remarked that had Abu Anga not -killed him, Madibbo might have done him many a valuable service. - -Yunes was now apparently quite happy. He had gone from Abu Haraz to -Gedaref and Gallabat, where he had settled down; and, as his authority -was an extended one, and the people over whom he ruled were turbulent, -he asked the Khalifa's permission to undertake a campaign against the -Abyssinians, and Abdullahi, having received no answer from King John to -his peaceful letters, gave his consent. His troops, under Arabi Dafalla, -now attacked the villages along the frontier, destroyed several of them, -killing the men and carrying off their wives and children as captives. -By the rapidity of their movements, committing wholesale robberies one -day, and making murderous raids twenty miles distant the next, they had -become a perfect scourge to the Abyssinians; but, in spite of all this, -the latter still continued their commercial relations with Yunes, who, -by his amicable treatment of them in Gallabat, had induced them to come -in larger numbers to sell the produce of their country, such as coffee, -honey, wax, tomatoes, ostriches, etc., as well as horses, mules, and -slaves. The market-place lay just beyond the town; and when one day an -exceptionally large caravan of merchants, consisting of Gebertas -(Abyssinian Moslems) and Makada (Abyssinian Christians) arrived at -Gallabat, the rapacity of Yunes could not be controlled, and, on the -pretext that they had come as spies of Ras Adal, he threw them into -chains, and seized all their goods. They were then sent under escort to -Omdurman, where the ignorant mob imagined them to be the spoil of a -great victory; while the Khalifa, ever ready to increase his and his -people's prestige, publicly dubbed Yunes "Afrit el Mushrikin" (The Devil -of the Polytheists), and Mismar ed Din (The Nail of the Faith). Yunes -had been careful to send him all the prettiest of the Abyssinian girls -taken in the various raids, as well as a number of horses and mules; -thus, greedy of more victories, he decided to unite the army of Yunes -and Abu Anga, and attack King John, who, by not answering his letters, -had mortally offended him. In the meantime Yunes was instructed to -remain strictly on the defensive. - -Abu Anga now received instructions to despatch fifteen hundred of his -men, all armed with Remington rifles, to Osman Wad Adam, who had been -appointed Emir of Kordofan and Darfur; but he himself was ordered to -come to Omdurman with the remainder of his troops. - -Latterly, Sheikh Saleh el Kabbashi had been left undisturbed at the -wells of Om Badr; but, knowing that he would be attacked sooner or -later, he despatched to Wadi Halfa fifty of his most faithful slaves -with letters begging the support of the Egyptian Government; and the -faithful Saleh's agent obtained two hundred Remington rifles, forty -boxes of ammunition, £200 in cash, and some beautifully embossed -revolvers. - -At this time, there resided at Assuan a German merchant named Charles -Neufeld, who had previously made the acquaintance of Dafalla Egail, a -brother of Elias Pasha who had recently escaped from the Sudan; from him -he learnt that in Northern Kordofan there was a large quantity of gum -which the merchants had been unable to dispose of, in consequence of the -rebellion, and which could easily be brought to Wadi Halfa with the -assistance of Sheikh Saleh. Enticed by this pleasant prospect of making -money, and filled with a love of adventure, he resolved to join Saleh's -people, in order to travel with them to their Sheikh. He had apparently -no difficulty in obtaining permission from the Government to proceed on -his journey, promising that he would send detailed accounts of the -situation in the Sudan; and, early in April, 1887, he left Wadi Halfa -with the caravan. - -Nejumi, who had full information of the departure of the caravan, now -had all the roads carefully watched; and, to add to their misfortunes, -their guide lost his way, and the caravan suffered considerably from -thirst. When, at length, they approached some wells near El Kab, they -found them in possession of a party of Dervishes who were on the lookout -for them. A fight ensued in which Saleh's people, exhausted and thirsty, -were utterly defeated; most of them were killed by rifle fire, and the -remainder, Neufeld amongst them, were captured. At the beginning of the -action, Neufeld had seized a rifle, and, with his Abyssinian female -attendant, had taken up a position a short distance from the caravan; -and here, on some rising ground, he had determined to sell his life -dearly; but he was not attacked. When the fighting was over, they -offered him pardon, which he accepted, and was then taken off to Nejumi -in Dongola. The latter had all the captives beheaded, with the exception -of Neufeld, who was spared in order that he might be sent to Omdurman. I -had heard privately that an European captive was about to arrive; and, -consequently, I was not surprised when, one day in May, 1887, I saw a -crowd of people approaching the Khalifa's house, and, in their midst, -under escort, rode an European on a camel. It was generally rumoured -that he was the Pasha of Wadi Halfa. At that period, the buildings in -Omdurman were not very far advanced, and between the wall of the -Khalifa's house and the wall of the mosque was a large rekuba built of -straw, which served as a house for the mulazemin; and into this -Neufeld, after dismounting, was ushered. I held aloof, as I well -understood the nature of my master and his spies; and I pretended to be -quite indifferent to what was going on. The Khalifa, on Neufeld's -arrival, had sent for the two Khalifas and the Kadis, Taher el Magzub, -the Emir Bekhit, and Nur Angara, who had just arrived in Omdurman from -Kordofan, where he had been fighting under Abu Anga; Yakub had also been -summoned. As they entered, I whispered to Nur Angara, "Do your utmost to -save the man." To my delight, the Khalifa now summoned me, and ordered -me to sit with his advisers. He informed us that the man had been -brought in as an English spy; and he instructed Sheik el Taher Magzub to -question him. I at once asked to be allowed to speak to him in European -language; and, the request being granted, I went with Taher into the -rekuba. - -When my name was mentioned, Neufeld shook my hand with great delight. I -at once drew his attention to the fact that he must address himself to -Sheikh Taher, who was the principal personage to judge him, and that he -should behave as submissively as possible. He spoke Arabic very well; -and his extreme readiness to talk made a bad impression on those -present, who ordered me to take him before the Khalifa, their general -opinion being, "He is a spy, and should be killed." Once in the presence -of the Khalifa, the latter said to me, "And what is your opinion?" "All -I know is," I replied, "that he is a German, and, consequently, belongs -to a nation which takes no interest in Egypt." I could see the Khalifa -watching me very carefully as he handed me some papers, and ordered me -to look through them: they included a list of medicines written in -German, and a letter to Neufeld in English, regarding news received in -the Sudan; also a long letter from General Stephenson, in which he was -granted permission to proceed to the Sudan with the caravan, and, at the -same time, requested to give the fullest accounts of the state of -affairs in the country. I translated this letter, but omitted the -general's request for information. "Sire," I said, "this letter shows -that he has asked permission of the Government to make this journey, and -that he is a merchant, as he told Sheikh Taher." Again the Khalifa -looked suspiciously at me, and then ordered us to withdraw and await his -further commands outside the house. An immense crowd had by this time -collected near the rekuba to see the English Pasha; and, in a few -moments, some of the Black mulazemin whom the Khalifa had summoned, came -out, and, having tied his wrists together, ordered Neufeld to leave the -rekuba. The Kadi, Nur Angara, and I had climbed up on a heap of bricks, -and from this position could see exactly what was going on. Neufeld, who -evidently thought his last hour had come, raised his eyes to heaven, and -knelt down, without having received any order to do so, and was at once -ordered to get up. Meanwhile, a man arrived, carrying an ombeÿa, and -began to make its melancholy notes resound over Neufeld's head; I was -delighted to see that this did not appear to disturb him in the least; -his poor servant, in her devotion to her master, now rushed out of the -rekuba, and begged to be killed with him; but she was at once driven -back. The Kadi and I quite realised that the Khalifa was playing with -Neufeld, just as a cat plays with a mouse; and, as sentence had not yet -been given, I endeavoured to signal to him; but he did not appear to -quite understand me. In a few moments, we were again summoned before the -Khalifa. "Then you are for having the man killed?" said the Khalifa to -Sheikh Taher, who replied in the affirmative. "And you?" he said, -turning to Nur Angara, who, in a few brief words, recalled Neufeld's -bravery, and begged to have him pardoned. "And now, Abdel Kader, what -have you to say?" he said, turning to me. "Sire," I replied, "the man -deserves to be killed, and any other ruler but yourself would have had -him killed; but, of your magnanimity and mercy, you will spare him; for -he says he has turned Mohammedan, and your mercy will strengthen his -faith." Kadi Ahmed was also for pardoning him; and now the Khalifa, -who, I saw from the first moment, had no intention of killing Neufeld, -ordered his fetters to be removed, and that he should be taken back to -the rekuba; but, that afternoon, he said to the Kadi, "Let him be shown -to the crowd beneath the scaffold, and then imprison him till further -orders; and as for you," he said, turning to me, "you will have no more -intercourse with him." We now all withdrew, but took occasion to tell -Neufeld that, although he had been pardoned, he was to be shown to the -populace that afternoon under the scaffold. The Kadi carried out his -instructions; and, to the delight of the mob, Neufeld's head was placed -in the noose by the saier. - -The following day, the Khalifa summoned me before him, and informed me -that Nejumi had reported that Neufeld had been induced by the Government -to go and join Sheikh Saleh el Kabbashi, and assist him in fighting the -Mahdists. I explained that this could not possibly be true, and that -Neufeld's papers were all in order. Moreover, I said that the Government -would never have taken upon itself to do such a thing. For the time -being, I think he credited my explanation; but he revenged himself by -showing the most marked mistrust and contempt for me for some time. - -A few days afterwards, the Khalifa held a great review; and Neufeld, -whose feet were in irons, was mounted on a camel, and taken to see it. -The Khalifa asked him what he thought of his troops; and he replied -that, although they were very numerous, they were not well trained, and -that the discipline in the Egyptian army was much better. The Khalifa, -who did not appreciate candid speaking, at once had him sent back to -prison. - -Osman Wad Adam, who had received the Khalifa's orders either to capture -or kill Saleh Kabbashi, now sent an expedition under Fadlalla Aglan; and -Greger, Sheikh of the Hamada Arabs, was given to him as a guide. The -latter was well known to be Saleh's mortal enemy. The Kababish had -quitted the wells of the Hamada, and had moved eastward into the desert, -in order to await the arrival of the caravan sent to Wadi Halfa; and -now, when the disaster which had overtaken it became known, several of -the tribesmen whom Saleh had collected dispersed, and many returned to -Omdurman. Saleh, now deprived of all hope of assistance from his own -countrymen, was no longer able to make any determined opposition. He -therefore fled, with his family and near relatives, but was overtaken at -a well and killed. On the approach of his enemies, he bowed to his -destiny; and, seated on a sheepskin which had been spread on the ground -for him by his slaves, he patiently awaited death. His enemy, Greger, -jumping off his horse, approached him, and blew out his brains with his -pistol. Thus ended the last of the Sheikhs faithful to Government. - -About the middle of June, news arrived that Abu Anga had reached the -Nile at Tura el Hadra with an army of between nine and ten thousand men, -all armed with rifles, and about an equal number of cavalry. It was -expected that he would be at Omdurman about the end of the month. The -Khalifa used frequently to ride out to the lines near Tabia Regeb Bey, -and employ himself pointing out the limits which the camp should occupy; -and, on these occasions, I used to accompany him on foot. During one of -these excursions, I cut my foot when walking by the Khalifa's side, and -could scarcely proceed. Seeing me limping, and my foot bleeding -profusely, he dismounted at Fadl el Maula's house, and called me up -before him, praised me for my perseverance, and gave me the horse which -Fadl el Maula himself had presented to him, telling me that in any -future rides I could mount it, and, as usual, remain near him. - -Towards the end of June, Abu Anga arrived, and, when about two hours -distant from Omdurman, pitched his camp. That night, the Khalifa -received him alone in his house, no witnesses being present. The -conference lasted till long past midnight; and then Abu Anga returned -to his camp. At dawn the next morning, the beating of war-drums and the -sound of the ombeÿa proclaimed that the Khalifa intended to be present -on the entry of Abu Anga's army into Omdurman. Just after sunrise, he -rode out, accompanied by all his Emirs and an immense crowd, to the -parade ground, at the east end of which a tent had been pitched. Khalifa -Abdullahi, the other Khalifas, and the Kadis now entered this tent; and, -soon after, the approach of Abu Anga and his army was heralded by the -sound of trumpets and drums. The entire force passed the Khalifa twice -in review; and he was delighted with the immense number of the troops. -Summoning the Emirs before him, he called down God's blessing on their -heads, and then ordered them to take their troops to the allotted -camping ground. Now followed a period of the wildest debauchery, in -which his soldiers and subjects squandered the booty taken in Kordofan -at weddings and banquets; in so doing, they deviated widely from the -stringent orders of the Mahdi in such matters; but this did not seem to -displease the Khalifa. - -Abu Anga himself, who had brought considerable sums of money, as well as -quantities of male and female slaves, for his master and his brother -Yakub, now distributed presents freely amongst his friends and -acquaintances. He sent me my old servant and his wife; but he did not -return my other servants, horses, and effects which had been taken from -me during my imprisonment. - -A few weeks afterwards, the Khalifa celebrated the Feast of Bairam on -the largest scale I have ever seen. Hundreds of thousands of the -faithful repeated prayers with the Khalifa on the parade ground; and he -then returned in state to his house, under the thunder of guns and the -wildest acclamations of his subjects, who crowded through the streets in -such numbers that several were killed and trampled under foot by the -horses. - -The Emir Merdi Abu Rof, of the Gehéna tribe, now received instructions -to come with all his tribe and cattle to Omdurman; but, having refused -to obey the summons, it was decided that he should be punished, and -made an example to others. A large portion of Abu Anga's army, under the -orders of Zeki Tummal, Abdalla Wad Ibrahim, and Ismail Delendok, was -ordered to march against them and destroy them. The Gehéna tribe, -generally called by the Arabs the Abu Rof, and celebrated for their -thoroughbred horses and camels, were also known to possess very fine -male and female slaves. The well known proverb, "Gehéna el Ol--Ashra fi -Sol" (There are ten Gehéna children to every man), faithfully -represented the tribe. In the fighting which ensued, their Emirs, Merdi -Abu Rof and Mohammed Wad Melek, fell, as well as their former Sheikh, -and the greater part of the tribe was annihilated. The finest of the -young women and children captured were selected and sent as presents to -the Khalifa; but the remainder were brought to Omdurman, where they eked -out a miserable existence by becoming water-carriers, or makers of straw -mats. Their great herds of cattle went for almost nothing in the -bazaars; and the price of an ox or a camel, which formerly varied -between forty and sixty dollars, fell to two or three dollars. - -After the destruction of this tribe, Abu Anga received orders to proceed -from Omdurman to Gallabat, and take the command of the troops there. -Collecting the forces from the southern districts at Abu Haraz, he -proceeded to his destination, and arrived just in time to save Yunes. - -One of Yunes's postmen had asserted that he was Saidna Isa (Jesus -Christ), and obtained a numerous following; many really believed in him, -whilst others were extremely dissatisfied with Yunes, who had become so -mercenary that he began to rob even his own people. Eleven of the -principal Emirs, amongst them the keeper of the ammunition stores, now -sided with Isa, and made a plot to assassinate Yunes; the day for -carrying it into execution had been actually arranged, when Abu Anga -suddenly arrived. His generous nature had given him many friends; and, -in a few days, he was fully informed of the whole affair, and instantly -arrested the conspirators. Yunes, utterly ignorant that any plot was -hatching, complained to Abu Anga about the arrest of his Emirs, and -asked for an explanation of his proceedings. "Because they intended to -murder you," was Abu Anga's simple reply. When the assassins were -brought before the Kadi, they did not deny their intentions; and their -leader declared most firmly that he was Jesus Christ, and that, in a -short time, this fact would be revealed to the world. - -Abu Anga now despatched a special messenger to Omdurman for orders; and -the Khalifa, greatly alarmed, wished to keep the whole matter secret. He -summoned Yakub and Kadi Ahmed to consult with him; and it was agreed -that all the conspirators should be executed. I heard all about the -matter from Mohammed Wad esh Shertier, who had been forbidden the -Khalifa's house, and had orders to leave the same day for Gallabat. The -following day, however, the Khalifa changed his mind, having realised -that of the eleven Emirs, ten belonged to the powerful western tribes; -and not only would their loss to him be considerable, but he feared -their relatives and friends might turn against him. He therefore sent -camel-men, in hot haste, with a reprieve, and with orders that the -prisoners should be brought to Omdurman under escort. The camel-men, -however, failed to overtake Shertier who had had two days' start; and -they arrived in Gallabat to find the eleven bodies hanging on the -scaffold; all had died faithful to their Jesus Christ. Yunes, being a -relative of the Khalifa, only submitted to Abu Anga owing to his -superior force, but always looked upon him as his slave, though, as a -matter of fact, he was infinitely braver and more courageous. Yunes now -reproached him for having been precipitate, and from this episode arose -an estrangement between the two men, which ended in Yunes being recalled -to Omdurman, where he was commanded to perform his devotions daily in -the front row in the mosque. - -[Illustration: An Abyssinian Scout.] - -Abu Anga now collected all his forces, in order to revenge the defeat -of Wad Arbab. He had at his disposal the largest force which had ever -been collected by Khalifa Abdullahi: according to the rolls brought in, -he had upwards of fifteen thousand rifles, forty-five thousand spearmen, -and eight hundred cavalry; and quitting Gallabat with this force, he -marched through the Mintik (pass) towards Ras Adal. Up to this day, I -have failed to understand why the Abyssinians did not attack their enemy -whilst crossing the narrow passes and deep valleys, in which it would -have been most difficult to use fire-arms with effect; if they had not -succeeded in checking the advance in this manner, they would have at -least inflicted very heavy losses on the Dervishes. I can only conceive -that the Abyssinians made certain of their ultimate success, and -purposely enticed their enemies far into the country, with the object of -cutting off their retreat, and utterly annihilating them. Fighting began -on the plain of Debra Sin. Ras Adal had about two thousand rifles, and -had taken up a position threatening Abu Anga's left; but the latter had -sufficient time to clear the hills, and arrange his troops in battle -array. Attacked over and over again by the Abyssinians, the Dervishes -drove them off with frightful loss; and Abu Anga, taking the offensive, -succeeded in gaining a complete victory. So sure were the Abyssinians of -gaining the day, that they had taken up a position in front of a river; -and now many of them, in their flight, were drowned while attempting to -cross it. For a short time, the Abyssinian cavalry was to some extent -successful; but, after suffering considerable loss, they fled with Ras -Adal. The entire Abyssinian camp, consisting of quantities of tents, -fell into the hands of Abu Anga, who captured Ras Adal's wife and -grown-up daughter, and in this victory practically conquered the whole -of the Amhara Province. He advanced without delay on Gondar, where he -expected to find great treasures, but was disappointed; for, with the -exception of some goods belonging to the Geberta, and some large stores -of coffee, honey, and wax, which were of no value to him, as he had no -means of transport, he got practically nothing. In the large and lofty -stone building said to have been erected by the Portuguese, they found -one poor old Coptic priest, who was thrown out of the highest story into -the street below. Staying here only one day, Abu Anga ordered the town -to be fired, and, on his way back, attacked and looted villages right -and left, killing the men and seizing the women and children as -captives; the Geberta, and some little boys alone, were spared and -carried off as booty. In this manner thousands of Abyssinian women and -girls were driven in front of the army, urged on by the lash. On arrival -at Gallabat, a fifth of the loot was sent to the Khalifa, and several -hundred women were despatched to the Beit el Mal in Omdurman, where they -were sold to the highest bidders. The road between Gallabat and Abu -Haraz was strewn with corpses, and amongst them the daughter and young -son of Ras Adal. - -Abu Anga, in accordance with the Khalifa's instructions, now began to -put Gallabat into a state of defence; for, in spite of the success just -gained, they knew that the Abyssinians would seek revenge. But he did -not long survive his victory; although only fifty-two years of age, he -suffered from constant illness, and was always trying to cure himself. -He had grown immensely stout, owing to the good living in which he -indulged, which contrasted greatly with what he had been formerly -accustomed to; he suffered much from indigestion, and used to treat -himself with a poisonous root which came from Dar Fertit. One day, -however, he took an overdose, and in the morning was found dead in his -bed. In him, the Khalifa lost his best Emir, who, though by descent a -slave, had, through his liberality and kindness, gained the affection of -all who knew him, as well as the esteem and regard of his subjects, who -admired his personal courage and sense of justice. He was mourned by his -entire force,--by Arabs as well as by Blacks,--who recognised in him a -strict though just master, and one who, though he punished very severely -any offences against his orders, was ever ready to help those in need. -He was buried in his red-brick house; and many of his servants and -slaves worshipped him as a saint. - -At the same time that Abu Anga had left Omdurman for Gallabat, Osman Wad -Adam had received instructions to move with his whole force towards -Shakka and Darfur. At this time, a garrison was not required in -Kordofan: for Sheikh Saleh had been killed, and the land of the Gimeh -was deserted; the Gowama had been ordered to immigrate to Omdurman; and -the resistance of the southern mountains had been broken down by Abu -Anga. Karamalla, after having been driven back to Shakka, had -persistently demanded tribute from the Rizighat Arabs, who, however, -recognising that he was not all-powerful, rose as one man in mutiny -against him, and with such success that at length both Kerkesawi and -Karamalla, who were in want of ammunition, were practically besieged at -Shakka and Injileila. They now begged the Khalifa's help; and though the -latter had originally intended not to assist them, he was by no means -anxious to lose all his armed slaves. This was the reason for Osman Wad -Adam's despatch to Shakka. On arrival, he wrote letters to the Rizighat, -who were fighting rather personally against Karamalla than against the -Mahdist rule, ordering them to suspend hostilities, and promising that -he would give them justice. Fearful of Osman's power, they reluctantly -complied; but Karamalla, under the pretext of making peace negotiations, -enticed their Sheikh into his zariba, and there executed him. Osman now -moved forward by forced marches, not only on account of Karamalla, but -in fear of a mutiny on the part of Sultan Yusef, who, for a long time, -had sent no consignments of horses and slaves, and was evidently -beginning to feel himself sufficiently powerful to overturn the -Khalifa's authority. - -Osman's arrival at Shakka relieved Karamalla and his garrison from a -very dangerous position; he then assured the Arabs, who were clamouring -for justice, that he would settle their case as soon as he had subdued -Darfur. His total force, including Karamalla's men, now numbered some -five thousand rifles, and with these he marched against Dara. He had -previously written to Sultan Yusef, ordering him to join him, and -informing him that in the event of his refusal, he would treat him as a -rebel. To this summons he received a reply that, as he had joined his -sworn enemy, Karamalla, it was impossible to come; at the same time, -news reached him that Sultan Yusef was concentrating his forces at -Fasher. On his arrival at Dara, Osman found the place deserted; but, on -the following day, he was attacked by Said Mudda, and only succeeded in -driving him off after a very closely contested fight. A week later, he -was again attacked by the Sultan's old vizir, Hussein Ibrahim, and Rahma -Gamo, who had collected Said Mudda's people, and had received -reinforcements as well; but these also were forced to retire. Osman now -marched on El Fasher. Had Sultan Yusef attacked him with his entire -force at Dara, he would in all probability have defeated him, and Darfur -would thus have been freed forever; but he had previously divided his -army, his vizirs were hated, and his own people had lost heart after -their recent defeats. A fight took place near Wad Berag, south of -Fasher; and Osman gained an easy victory. Sultan Yusef fled, but was -overtaken at Kebkebia and killed; whilst Fasher, in which all his wives -and relations had been collected, as well as a quantity of goods -belonging to Fezzan and Wadai merchants, also numbers of women and -children, fell into Osman's hands. Thus Darfur, which had been -practically lost to the Mahdists, was re-taken by them in the same month -(January, 1888), just at the time that Abu Anga had gained his great -victory over the Abyssinians. In this short campaign the Darfurians had -shown great fidelity to their native ruler; and Osman, fearing to expose -himself to continual difficulties by supporting their dynastic -sentiments, determined that all males of royal blood should either be -put in irons, executed, or sent to Omdurman, where they were placed -amongst the Khalifa's mulazemin, and treated as slaves. - -All female members of the royal family were declared to be "Khums" (a -fifth of the booty), and put at the Khalifa's disposal. Some of these he -took into his own harem; and the remainder he distributed as "Suria" -(concubines) amongst his followers. He liberated, however, the two old -sisters of Sultan Ibrahim, namely, Miriam Isa Basi and Miriam Bakhita; -the latter was the wife of Kadi Ali, who was then in Omdurman. - -Whilst these momentous events were transpiring in the east and west of -the Sudan Empire, the Khalifa governed the country at Omdurman in a most -tyrannical and despotic manner. He mistrusted every one. Numbers of -spies were employed by his brother Yakub; and their duty was to tell him -of everything that went on in the city. He was kept fully informed of -the general temper of the people; and should any persons express doubt -about the truth of the Mahdi's Divine mission, they were punished with -special severity. It happened, one day, that a sailor used some -irreverent expression regarding Mahdism, and was reported to the -Khalifa. The plaintiff, who was a fanatical Baggari, had, however, no -witnesses, those who were present at the time admitting to the Khalifa -that they were too far off to hear what passed; but the latter -determined to make an example. He therefore summoned the Kadi, and -ordered him to force a confession out of the accused, at the same time -advising him how to set about it. Two persons were then sent to the -prisoner, to apprise him that witnesses had been found; but that if he -made a confession of his own free-will, and admitted that he was sorry, -before the witnesses had been questioned, the Khalifa would mitigate his -sentence, and would probably pardon him. The poor man failed to see the -trap that had been laid for him, made a confession, and begged the -Khalifa's pardon. The confession was taken down in writing, and -submitted to Abdullahi, who ordered the sentence--which was -execution--to be carried out in accordance with the Mahdi's code. The -Khalifa, in giving sentence, said that had the insult been against his -own person, he would have forgiven him; but the prisoner, having sinned -against the Mahdi, he would be committing a crime if he mitigated it in -the slightest degree. - -That afternoon, the Khalifa gave orders for the ombeÿa to be sounded, -while the dull beats of the great Mansura (war-drum) boomed through the -city, and he himself rode with an immense escort to the parade ground. -On his arrival, his sheepskin was spread on the ground; and on this he -sat, facing the east, whilst the Kadi and others stood behind him in a -semi-circle. He then ordered the accused to be brought before him. -Already his hands had been tied behind his back; but he showed not the -slightest signs of fear. When within a hundred paces of the Khalifa, he -was decapitated by Ahmed Dalia, the chief executioner. - -Soon after this, a certain Fiki called Nur en Nebi (The Light of the -Prophet), who had collected a considerable number of disciples, preached -to them about the necessity for religious zeal, and urged them not to be -led away by innovations. Yakub reported this to the Khalifa, with the -result that the Fiki was at once arrested, and brought before the Kadi. -The necessary witnesses were procured; and the Fiki openly declared -before them that he was a good Mohammedan, but not a follower of the -Mahdi. By command of the Khalifa, the judges ordered him to be laden -with chains; his hands tied behind his back; and, under the deafening -shouts of the mob, he was dragged to the market-place, where he was -hanged on the scaffold erected there. I remember looking at the body, -whilst suspended from the gallows, and was struck by the calm and -smiling expression on the face of this man who had died for his -convictions. Several hundred houses, surrounding the abode of the -murdered man, were confiscated; their inmates arrested, bound, and -carried off to prison; but, through the intervention of Adlan, they were -subsequently liberated. The Khalifa now issued a proclamation to the -effect that all the inhabitants of the city were responsible for the -actions of their neighbours; and persons found involved in political or -religious intrigues were threatened with the most condign punishment. -On mere suspicion, several of the natives of the Nile valley were thrown -into chains, and deprived of all they possessed. Thus did he deal with -all suspected persons, and at the same time considerably enriched his -treasury. - -[Illustration: A Slave Dhow on the Nile.] - -On another occasion, he had a meeting of the Kadis, and told them, in -confidence, that, in his opinion, all vessels on the Nile were really -"Ghanima" (booty); for, as he truthfully remarked, whilst he was in -Kordofan, the owners had, in spite of his frequent appeals, invariably -refused to assist the Mahdi's cause. They had not only failed to attack -the Government steamers on the river, but had also frequently provided -the Government stations with grain and wood. Of course the Kadis fully -concurred in his opinion; and, the following morning, they received a -letter from Ibrahim Adlan, asking them whether all vessels were not -state property. The all-powerful judges replied in the affirmative, -supporting their answer by extracts from the Mahdi's code, according to -which the owners were to be considered Mukhalafin (obstinate persons). -This pamphlet was read publicly, in the presence of the Khalifa, who -remarked, in conclusion, that those vessels alone were exempt which did -not float, or which were not built of the wood of the forests, which -were all the property of the state. These vessels, numbering upwards of -nine hundred, of from twenty to five hundred ardebs carrying capacity, -now all passed into the possession of the Beit el Mal; and, as they were -almost without exception the property of Jaalin and Danagla, who lived -on the river, the means of support of these unfortunate people was -entirely gone. The boats were now utilised by Ibrahim Adlan to carry -cargoes of grain to the Beit el Mal; or they were hired out annually at -a high rate, to persons who were considered worthy of this confidence. - -In order to show his veneration for the Mahdi, the Khalifa decided to -erect a monument to him, as is the custom in Egypt; but this he did -rather to satisfy his own vanity, than out of respect for his late -master. A square building was erected, some thirty feet high, and -thirty-six feet each way; and the stone for this construction, of which -the walls were upwards of six feet thick, had to be brought all the way -from Khartum. Above this a hexagonal wall fifteen feet high was built, -from which rose a dome forty feet high. On the corners of the main -building were four smaller domes. This was called Kubbet el Mahdi -(Mahdi's dome). It was furnished with ten large arched windows, and two -doors; and in the hexagonal portion were six skylights. It was -whitewashed all over, and surrounded by a trellis-work fence; the -windows and doors were made by the workmen in the Khartum arsenal; while -directly beneath the dome, and over the Mahdi's grave, a wooden -sarcophagus was erected, covered with black cloth. On the sides of the -walls, candelabra were hung; while, suspended by a long chain from the -centre of the dome, was an immense chandelier taken from the Government -palace in Khartum. The sombre appearance of the inside of the building -was relieved by some gaudy painting on the walls. A few yards from the -building is a small cistern, built of red bricks cemented together; and -this is used by the visitors for their religious ablutions. The plans -for this building were devised by an old Government official who had -been formerly employed as an architect; but, of course, public opinion -dutifully attributed the design to the Khalifa. - -The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of this building was -conducted with great unction by the Khalifa, who "turned the first sod." -Accompanied by a crowd of upwards of thirty thousand people, he -proceeded to the river bank, where the stones were heaped up, and, -lifting one of them on his shoulder, carried it to the spot, his example -being followed by every individual person in this vast assemblage; the -noise and confusion were perfectly indescribable. Numbers of accidents -happened; but those injured thought it fortunate to suffer on such an -occasion. The building was not completed till the following year, and -entailed a considerable amount of labour, though little expense; and, -during its construction, the Khalifa frequently asserted that angels -lent their assistance. An Egyptian, hearing this, and aware that many of -his compatriots were masons, was constrained to remark to them, "You are -probably the Khalifa's angels, and require neither food, drink, nor -payment." Had the Khalifa heard this, he would undoubtedly have removed -this wag's head. - -[Illustration: The Mahdi's Tomb.] - -As usual, I was always in close attendance on the Khalifa; and, as a -token of his good-will, he presented me with one of the Abyssinian girls -sent by Abu Anga. Her mother and brother had been killed before her -eyes; and the poor creature had been torn from their bodies, and driven -into captivity at the end of the lash. Although not treated as a slave -by my people, who did all they could to lighten her sad lot, she never -seemed bright or happy; she continually brooded over her losses and her -home, until, at length, death released her from her sufferings. -Occasionally Father Ohrwalder used to visit me secretly; but, as the -Khalifa did not approve of our meeting, his visits were few and far -between. We used to talk of our home, and of our present wretched -existence; but we never lost hope that, sooner or later, our captivity -would come to an end. - -Abu Girga, who commanded at Kassala, was now ordered to proceed to Osman -Digna, and assist him in his fighting; leaving Ahmed Wad Ali as his -representative at Kassala, he was summoned to Omdurman to report to the -Khalifa on the state of the Arab tribes in the Eastern Sudan. He arrived -late one evening, and was at once received in long private audience by -the Khalifa; and, on withdrawing, hurriedly told me that he had given -him a letter from my family in Europe. A few minutes later, I was called -in, and informed that the Governor of Suakin has sent a letter to Osman -Digna, which was supposed to be from my family, and which he had sent -on. In handing me this letter, the Khalifa ordered me to open it at -once, and acquaint him with its contents. I glanced through it -hurriedly, and, to my intense grief and sorrow, saw that it was an -announcement from my brothers and sisters that my poor mother had died, -and that, on her death-bed, she had expressed an earnest hope that we -should all be re-united. The Khalifa, impatient that I took so long to -read it, again asked me who had written it, and what were its contents. -"It is from my brothers and sisters," I replied; "and I will translate -it to you." I had no reason to conceal its contents; it was merely a few -lines from distressed brothers and sisters to their distant brother. I -told him how disturbed they were about me; and how they were ready to -make any sacrifice in order that I should regain my liberty. When I came -to the part about my mother, it required all my self-control; I told him -that, owing to my absence, her death was not so peaceful as it might -have been, and that during her long illness, her constant prayer to God -had been that she might see me again. Her prayer, alas, had not been -answered; and now this letter had brought me her last greeting, and her -tender hopes for my welfare. My throat felt parched and dry, and had not -the Khalifa suddenly interrupted me, I must have broken down. "Your -mother was not aware that I honour you more than any one else," said he; -"otherwise she certainly would not have been in such trouble about you; -but I forbid you to mourn for her. She died as a Christian and an -unbeliever in the Prophet and the Mahdi, and cannot therefore expect -God's mercy." The blood rushed to my head; and, for a moment, I could -say nothing; but gradually regaining my self-control, I continued to -read on that my brother Henry was now married, and that Adolf and my -sisters were quite well. Finally, they begged me to let them know how I -could obtain my liberty, and urged me to write to them. "Write and tell -one at least of your brothers to come here," said the Khalifa, when I -had finished the letter. "I would honour him, and he should want for -nothing; but I will talk to you about this another time." He then signed -to me with his hand; and I withdrew. - -My comrades, who had already heard that a letter had arrived for me, -were very inquisitive, and asked me all manner of questions; but I -answered them only briefly, and, as soon as the Khalifa had retired to -rest, I went home. I flung myself down on my angareb, and my servants, -much concerned, asked me what was the matter; but I told them to leave -me. "Poor mother, then it was I who made your last hours so unhappy!" My -brothers and sisters had written her last words: "I am ready to die; but -I should have loved to see and embrace my Rudolf once more. The thought -that he is in the hands of his enemies makes my departure from this -world very difficult for me." How well I remembered her words when I -left for the Sudan: "My son, my Rudolf, your restless spirit drives you -out into the world! You are going to distant and almost unknown lands. A -time, perhaps, will come when you will long for us, and a quiet life." -How true had been her words,--poor mother! How much trouble I must have -given her! And then I cried and cried,--not about my position, but for -my dear mother, who could never be replaced. - -The next morning, the Khalifa sent for me, and again made me translate -the letter to him; and he ordered me to reply at once that I was -perfectly happy in my present position. I did as I was told, and wrote a -letter praising the Khalifa, and saying how happy I was to be near him; -but I put inverted commas against many words and sentences, and points -of exclamation, and wrote at the bottom of the letter that all words and -sentences thus marked should be read in exactly the opposite sense. At -the same time, I asked my brothers and sisters to write a letter of -thanks to the Khalifa in Arabic, and to send him a travelling-bag, and -to me two hundred pounds, and twelve common watches, suitable for -presents; as, on certain seasons of the year, the Emirs attended the -feasts in Omdurman, and would greatly appreciate them. I also asked them -to send me a translation of the Kuran in German, and advised them not to -worry for the present; but that I hoped to find some means of being -re-united to them. I told them to send the things, through the Austrian -Consul-General in Cairo, to the Governor of Suakin, by whom they would -be forwarded to Osman Digna. I handed this letter to the Khalifa, who -gave it to some postmen who were going to Osman Digna with instructions -to send it to Suakin. - -About a month before I received the sad news of my mother's death, I had -to deplore the loss of one of my comrades in captivity, Lupton. He had -been working in the dock-yard at Khartum until recently; but the feeble -state of his health had obliged him to ask to be relieved from this -position. He had then returned to Omdurman, and had suffered great want; -but, to his relief, Saleh Wad Haj Ali, with whom he was on very friendly -terms, returned from Cairo, and brought him some money which he had -received from Lupton's family. Haj Ali naturally tried to make as much -money out of the transaction as he could. He had advanced a sum of a -hundred dollars to Lupton as a loan, receiving from him, in return, a -bill on his brother for two hundred pounds, which had been cashed on his -arrival in Cairo; and, returning again to Omdurman, had paid Lupton two -hundred dollars, keeping the remainder, about eight hundred dollars, for -himself. In spite of this robbery, this small sum delighted poor Lupton, -and helped him, for a short period, to stave off the miseries of living -like a beggar. He also rejoiced that a medium of communication had been -found with his relatives, whereby he eventually hoped to regain his -freedom. These hopes, alas, were not to be realised. - -He had come home one Tuesday morning from the mosque with me, and was -consulting me as to whom he should entrust what remained of his two -hundred dollars, so as to obtain small sums when he required them, as it -was necessary for him to be most careful not to attract attention to -himself by spending large sums, and thus endanger his communication with -Egypt. We talked of home and of our present situation; and he seemed -more cheerful than usual, but complained of pains in his back, and of a -general feeling of indisposition. I left him about midday; and, on the -following Tuesday, he sent his servant to me, begging me to go and see -him, as he felt very ill. In reply to my question, the man told me that -his master was in a high fever, and had been in bed for three days. I -promised to come as quickly as possible, and, that evening, asked the -Khalifa's permission to go and see him. The next morning, having -obtained leave to spend that day with the invalid, I at once went to his -house, and found him in a dying condition. He was suffering from typhus -fever; and already the illness had reached such a stage that he scarcely -recognised me, and, in a few broken words, begged me to take care of his -daughter. He then said something about his father and mother; but he was -almost incoherent, and, at times, became quite unconscious. I -understood, however, that he was begging me to be the bearer of his -dying messages, should I ever succeed in escaping. On Wednesday, the 8th -May, 1888, he passed away at midday, without having recovered -consciousness. We washed him, wrapped him in a shroud, and, according to -the usual custom, carried him to the mosque, where the prayers for the -dead were recited; and then we buried him in a cemetery near the Beit el -Mal. Father Ohrwalder, the majority of the Greek colony, and a number of -natives who had learnt to love and respect his noble and unassuming -character, were present. - -I obtained the Khalifa's permission to see to his household, and handed -over his money to a Greek merchant to take charge of for his daughter -Fanny, and thus save her from want. I also succeeded in getting a -situation at the arsenal for one of his Black boys whom he had educated, -and who receives pay up to the present time. Fanny's mother, Zenoba, -married, two years later, an Egyptian doctor named Haasan Zeki; and, -although I made frequent efforts to send her daughter to Europe to be -educated, my plans were always frustrated by the reluctance of mother -and daughter to separate. Under such circumstances, it can readily be -understood that the girl fell into a thoroughly Sudanese mode of life, -adopting their ways and customs, and looking upon herself as a native. -Had she gone to Europe,--and she could only have been sent there by -force,--the effort to lead a life to which she was utterly unsuited, and -away from her Black mother, would have made her miserable. - -At this period of my narrative, the Khalifa was in a peculiarly good -humour. After the re-conquest of Darfur, he had given orders that -everything should be done to induce the Arab tribes to undertake -pilgrimages to Omdurman, and, if necessary, to force them to do so. -Osman Wad Adam had sent notice that the Khalifa's entire tribe,--the -Taaisha,--consisting of upwards of twenty-four thousand warriors, with -their wives and families, had decided to immigrate to Omdurman, and that -several of them had already reached El Fasher. Thus, at length, the -ardent wish of his heart--to gather his own tribe and relatives about -him, and make them masters of the situation--was accomplished. - -Nejumi was now in Dongola with instructions to undertake offensive -operations against Egypt; but the final orders to move forward with the -main body were frequently postponed. His army, however, was increased, -from time to time, by the arrival of Emirs whom the Khalifa was anxious -to remove from Omdurman; and thus a fairly considerable force was -gradually accumulating on the northern frontier of the Mahdist Empire. - -Osman Wad ed Dekeim, the brother of Yunes, was now sent to Berber, which -had hitherto been administered by a representative of the late Mohammed -Kheir; and, reinforced by six hundred cavalry, he took over the reins of -government. Thus another district fell under the sway of one of the -Khalifa's own relatives. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -THE ABYSSINIAN CAMPAIGN. - - Battle of Gallabat--Death of King John--The Revolt of Abu - Gemmaiza--Defeats of the Mahdists--Death of Abu - Gemmaiza--Preparations for the Invasion of Egypt--Execution of - Sixty-seven Batahin Arabs--More Letters from Home--My Family - send the Khalifa a Dressing-bag from Vienna--Immigration of the - Taaisha Tribe--They settle in the Nile Valley--Nejumi advances - into Egypt--Battle of Toski--Incidents during the Great - Famine--The Fall of Ibrahim Adlan--His Execution--The Khalifa - mistrusts me--I fall into Serious Danger--I become the Unwilling - Recipient of the Khalifa's Favours. - - -It was not, however, to be supposed that the Mahdist victories in the -east and west would remain entirely undisputed. King John, who had been -carrying on a war in the interior, now determined to avenge the attack -on Gondar, and therefore resolved to march against Gallabat, and utterly -destroy the enemies of his country and religion. On Abu Anga's death, -the Khalifa appointed one of his former subordinates, Zeki Tummal of the -Taaisha tribe, to take the command and to complete the fortifications of -Gallabat, which had already been begun. During Abu Anga's lifetime, his -army had been divided into five parts, under the respective commands of -Ahmed Wad Ali, Abdalla Ibrahim, Hamdan (one of Abu Anga's brothers), -while Zeki himself commanded some two thousand five hundred mulazemin. -The force of Yunes still remained under the command of Ibrahim Dafalla. - -King John now collected an immense army, and moved towards Gallabat. The -Dervishes were in great consternation, and did all they could to -strengthen their fortifications. King John's army was divided into two -portions: one division was made up of his own tribe, the Tigré, and -King Menelek's troops, under the command of Ras Alula; whilst the other -portion consisted of the Amhara legions under Ras Barambaras. Arriving -almost within range of Gallabat, they pitched their camp, and began the -attack the following morning. The lines of Gallabat, which were some -fifteen miles in circumference, were defended only at intervals by -Zeki's troops; and the Amhara leader, being well informed by spies, made -a determined attack on the western side, which was weakly held. After a -short resistance, they succeeded in penetrating; and the remainder of -the garrison were in the unpleasant position of having to defend -themselves from the outside, whilst, within, the enemy was pillaging the -town. Had the Amhara, instead of looting, attacked the garrison from the -rear, they would no doubt have succeeded in capturing the position; but -they concerned themselves only with pillaging and driving out of the -town thousands of women and children. King John, who was in his tent, -having received news that the Amhara, whom he had frequently accused of -cowardice, had succeeded in entering the lines, whilst his own tribe, -the Tigré, had failed, fell into a passion; and, ordering his followers -to carry him on his seat--a small gold angareb covered with cushions and -carpets--he was brought into the midst of the fighting line. The -defenders, noticing a crowd of followers clothed in velvet and gold, -directed their fire on them; and when King John had almost reached the -defences, he was struck by a bullet, which, breaking his right arm above -the elbow, entered his body. The courageous man, declaring that his -injury was of no consequence, continued urging on his men, but soon fell -back unconscious on his couch, and was carried to the rear by his -followers, who had suffered great loss. The news that he was wounded -spread amongst his troops like wildfire; and, though on the point of -success, they retired. On the evening of the 9th March, 1889, King John -expired in his tent. An effort was made to keep his death secret; but -the news gradually leaked out, and the Amhara, deserting the camp in -the night with all their loot, returned to their homes. - -Ras Alula, being the most important of the Tigré chiefs, nominated Hailo -Mariam as their temporary ruler; but fearing the possibility of -dissensions breaking out amongst his unruly troops, he thought he had -better return to his country, and therefore ordered a retreat. - -In fear and trembling, the Mahdists awaited the renewal of the -Abyssinian attack the next morning; but when the sun rose, they found, -to their surprise, that the white tents which had been visible the -previous day had disappeared. Zeki Tummal now sent out troops to -reconnoitre; and they returned with the joyful news that the Abyssinians -had retired. They had also learnt from the wounded that King John was -dead. A council was immediately held, and, as the enemy had carried off -a number of the Mahdist women and cattle,--amongst them much of the late -Abu Anga's property,--it was agreed that they should be pursued. The -Abyssinians had pitched their camp about half a day's journey from -Gallabat; already half the army was on the move; and Ras Alula, Hailo -Mariam, the temporary Negus, and other chiefs were on the point of -breaking up the camp, when they were suddenly attacked by the Dervishes. -Hailo Mariam was killed at the tent-door, within which lay King John's -body, already partly embalmed, in a wooden coffin. Ras Alula beat a -hurried retreat, leaving the camp in the hands of his enemies. The -Dervishes captured an immense amount of booty, including horses, mules, -arms, tents, coffee, etc.; they did not, however, succeed in -re-capturing the women, who had already been carried on ahead. In Hailo -Mariam's tent King John's crown was found. It is doubtful whether this -was the imperial Abyssinian crown, as it was made of silver gilt; his -sword also was taken, as well as a letter to him from Her Majesty the -Queen of England. - -Neither the attack on Gallabat, nor the Dervish defeat of the rear-guard -the following day, had by any means broken the Abyssinian army; but, -owing to the accidental death of their king, the Dervish victory had -been most complete. The country now fell into a state of internecine -warfare; there were several aspirants for the throne, and dissensions -and quarrels put a stop to combined action. The Italians had been in -occupation of Massawa since the beginning of 1885, and had occupied some -of the adjacent country. This fact re-acted satisfactorily on the -Dervish occupation of Gallabat; for they were well aware that the -Abyssinians would be fully occupied with their European enemies; and -once more they began raiding the Amhara frontier. - -Whilst the garrison of Gallabat was in danger of destruction at the -hands of King John, Osman Wad Adam was in considerable peril in the -west. On the death of Sultan Yusef, his troops raided the country in all -directions, and his Emirs were guilty of the greatest oppression and -cruelty. Thousands of women and children were declared to be ghanima -(booty), and dragged to Fasher by main force. The people were in -despair; and the distress and anguish extended to the limits of Dar -Tama. Here a youth resided who hailed from Omdurman, and probably -belonged to one of the riverain tribes, but had been driven from his own -home, and, under the shade of a wide spreading Gemmaiza (wild fig) tree, -sat and read the Kuran. He had intended proceeding to Bornu and the -Fellata country,--as far away as possible from the tyrannical -Sudan,--when some of the unfortunate people who had been robbed of all -they possessed, came and told him of their misfortunes. A party of -Dervishes, they said, had arrived at the neighbouring village, had -seized their cattle, and were about to carry them off, together with the -women and girls of the village, under the pretext that they had been -ordered to undertake a pilgrimage to Fasher, and had not done so. "If -you do not wish to fight for your wives and children, for what then will -you fight?" asked the young man. "Do you not know that he who falls -fighting for his women and children goes straight to Paradise?" The -effect of these words on the people resembled a spark falling into a -barrel of gunpowder. Hastening back to their village, they demanded the -instant liberation of their families; and when this was refused, they -fought for it. The Mahdists were annihilated; and the infuriated -villagers mutilated their bodies. Their example was followed by other -villages with equal success; and, in a few days, Dar Tama had shaken -itself free from its enemies. But who was the originator of this -movement which had already been so successful? It was the young man -under the Gemmaiza tree, who lived there as a hermit, subsisting only on -some dry bread and a little grain. A pilgrimage to see him was at once -organised; the people called him Abu Gemmaiza, adored him as a saint, -and looked upon him as the liberator of the fatherland. - -The Emir Abdel Kader Wad Delil, who was then residing at Kebkebia, and -had heard of the massacre of his men, now advanced on Dar Tama, -determined to avenge it; but he was defeated, and barely escaped with -his life. Khatem Musa, on his way from Fasher, suffered a like fate. -Osman Wad Adam, furious at the losses he had sustained, resolved to -annihilate his enemies, and, with this object in view, despatched his -assistant, Mohammed Wad Bishara, and a large number of his mulazemin to -Kebkebia, to unite with Wad Delil and Khatem; but scarcely had he -arrived, when he was attacked by the hosts of Abu Gemmaiza, who were -marching on Fasher. Defeated with great loss, he fell back on that town. -Adam now fully realised the seriousness of the situation, and summoned a -council; several of the Emirs were for evacuating the province at once, -when the news suddenly arrived that Abu Gemmaiza was dead. As a matter -of fact, to the great good fortune of Fasher, he had been taken -seriously ill of small-pox at Kebkebia. The excited multitudes refused -either to return or disperse; and, electing his assistant as his -successor, they continued their advance on Fasher; but, in spite of -their former victories, their belief in their leader's success had waned -when he had fallen ill, and when he died, it vanished altogether. - -Osman Wad Adam had taken up a position in the south end of the city; and -when the rebels advanced to the attack, they were driven back to Rahad -Tendelti with fearful loss. Abu Gemmaiza's successor was killed, and his -troops, dispersing in all directions, were pursued and slaughtered. The -whole country seemed covered with dead bodies; but Fasher and Darfur -were saved. There is a curious coincidence in the dates of these -momentous occurrences in the East and West Sudan: the previous year, -both armies had advanced--the one to Darfur and the other to Abyssinia; -both had been attacked by their enemies in their fortifications--the one -by King John, and the other by Abu Gemmaiza, in the same month; and both -had been unexpectedly successful. - -Previous, however, to these occurrences, the Khalifa had again directed -his attention towards Egypt. He had questioned several persons regarding -the country; and they had excited in him an avaricious longing for the -grand palaces, large gardens, and immense harems of white women (he -himself had Black in abundance). Of course the most suitable man to -undertake operations against Egypt was Nejumi. He was an exceptionally -brave man, and, when a simple merchant, had travelled a great deal, knew -the country well, and, moreover, was an ardent devotee to the cause of -Mahdism, to which he had won over great numbers. The greater part of his -force consisted of tribesmen of the Nile valley; many had seen Egypt, -and had until recently much intercourse with the frontier tribes of -Upper Egypt. Such were the outward and visible reasons which the Khalifa -brought forward when selecting the chief; but, in reality, he was well -aware that a campaign against Egypt was a serious undertaking; and, on -this account, he was anxious not to involve in it his own relatives, and -the western tribes who were his special adherents. Nejumi, therefore, -with his Jaalin and Danagla, and a proportion of Baggaras, formed the -expedition; but the two former, being followers of the Khalifa Sherif, -Abdullahi always looked upon as his secret enemies. Should the campaign -be successful,--and he never for a moment doubted the capacity and -devotion of its leader,--then so much the better, he would have -conquered a new country; but should the Egyptian troops succeed in -repelling the invasion, then the remnant of his defeated forces would -retire on Dongola, with heavy loss, and would be so far weakened as to -be unworthy of further consideration. - -He therefore despatched Yunes Wad ed Dekeim as Emir of the Dongola -Province, and to hold the country, whilst Nejumi was to receive his -orders from Yunes, and proceed with the advanced troops. The Dongola -Province, at this period, it must be remembered, was entirely under -Baggara domination. Amongst the reinforcements despatched thence were -Ahmed Wad Gar en Nebbi and some of the Batahin tribesmen, who came from -the country north of the Blue Nile, between the Shukria district and the -river. Many of this tribe had been previously despatched to Dongola and -Berber; and now the few who were left refused to comply with the -Khalifa's orders, in consequence of which Gar en Nebbi had deserted, -and, being pursued, had wounded one of the Khalifa's men. Abdullahi, -indignant at this disregard of his orders, had despatched Abdel Baki, -accompanied by Taher Wad el Obeid, to seize by force all the Batahin; -the latter now fled in all directions, but, with the exception of a very -few, were captured. During the pursuit Abdel Baki, guided by Wad el -Obeid, suffered severely from thirst; and this he imputed to the -ill-will of the latter, who, in consequence, was deprived of his -position and thrown into chains at Omdurman. Abdel Baki now brought in -sixty-seven men of the Batahin, with their wives and children. This -tribe was celebrated for its bravery during the Government days; and now -the Khalifa, who had already privately given his views on the matter to -the judges, ordered them to be summoned before the Court. It was -unanimously decided that the Batahin were mukhalefin (disobedient). "And -what is the punishment for disobedience?" asked the Khalifa. "Death," -was the reply of the judges. They were sent back to prison, and the -Khalifa busied himself with carrying the sentence into execution. In -accordance with his orders, three scaffolds were immediately erected in -the market-place, and, after midday prayers, the ombeÿa was sounded and -the great war-drum was beaten, summoning all the Khalifa's subjects to -follow him. Riding to the parade ground, he dismounted and seated -himself on a small angareb, whilst his followers collected around him, -some sitting and some standing. The sixty-seven Batahin were now brought -before him, with their hands tied behind their backs, escorted by Abdel -Baki's men, whilst their unfortunate wives and children ran after them -crying and screaming. The Khalifa gave instructions that the women and -children were to be separated from the men, and, summoning Ahmed ed -Dalia, Taher Wad el Jaali, and Hassan Wad Khabir, consulted them in an -undertone; the latter then went forward to the Batahin, and instructed -the escort and prisoners to follow them to the market-place. After a -delay of a quarter of an hour, the Khalifa got up, and we all walked on -behind him. Arrived at the market-place, a terrible scene awaited us. - -The unfortunate Batahin had been divided into three parties, one of -which had been hanged, a second had been decapitated, and a third had -lost their right hands and left feet. The Khalifa himself stopped in -front of the three scaffolds, which were almost broken by the weights of -the bodies, whilst close at hand lay a heap of mutilated people, their -hands and feet lying scattered on the ground; it was a shocking -spectacle. They did not utter a sound, but gazed in front of them, and -tried to hide from the eyes of the crowd the terrible sufferings they -were enduring. The Khalifa now summoned Osman Wad Ahmed, one of the -Kadis, who was an intimate friend of Khalifa Ali, and a member of the -Batahin tribe; and pointing to the mutilated bodies, he said to Osman, -"You may now take what remains of your tribe home with you." The poor -man was too shocked and horrified to be able to answer. - -[Illustration: The Execution of the "Batahin."] - -After riding round the scaffolds, the Khalifa proceeded along the street -leading to the mosque; and here Ahmed ed Dalia had been continuing his -bloody work; twenty-three decapitated bodies lay stretched along the -roadside; these unfortunates had calmly met their death, submitting to -the inevitable. Several of them, as is the custom amongst the Arabs, had -given proof of their courage by uttering a few sentences, such as: -"Death is ordained for every one." "See! to-day is my holy day." "He who -has not seen a brave man die, let him come and look here." Each one of -these sixty-seven men had met his death heroically. The Khalifa's work -was done; he was satisfied with it, and rode home. On his arrival there, -by way of an act of clemency, he sent one of his orderlies with -instructions that the women and children of the murdered men should be -set free; he might just as well have distributed them as slaves. - -In spite of all these horrors, I was secretly rejoicing, for I had heard -that letters from home were on their way; not only were there letters, -but I had also been told, confidentially, by some merchants who had come -from Berber, that there were two boxes of money for me. I scarcely dared -think about it, and to wait patiently was no easy matter. One morning, -whilst I was sitting at the door, a camel laden with two boxes was -brought up; and the man asked to be taken before the Khalifa, saying -that he had arrived with letters and goods from Osman Digna. The -Khalifa, being apprised of this, ordered the boxes to be sent to the -Beit el Mal, and the letters to be given to his clerks. I was wild with -impatience; but it was the Khalifa's pleasure not to summon me till -after sunset, and then he handed me the letters. They were, as I -expected, from my brothers and sisters, expressing their great delight -at having at last received news direct from me. One letter was written -in Arabic, and addressed to the Khalifa, and contained profuse thanks to -him for his kindness to me, recommending me to him for further -assurances of his good-will, for which they sent many expressions of -gratitude. This letter, which had been written by Professor Dahrmund, -was composed in such flattering terms that the Khalifa had it read aloud -the same evening in the mosque; and so gratified was he, that he ordered -the boxes to be made over to me. Meanwhile, I translated to him my -letters, which contained only private and personal information, and in -which my brothers and sisters told me they had sent a travelling-bag for -the Khalifa in token of their devotion to him, begging him to accept -this trifling present, which was quite unworthy of his exalted position. -He expressed his readiness to accept it, and ordered me to bring it to -him the next morning. He then sent two of his people, so that the boxes -might be opened in their presence; and, late that night, we went to the -Beit el Mal, and there opened them. They contained £200, twelve ordinary -watches, some razors and looking-glasses, some newspapers, a German -translation of the Kuran, and the Khalifa's present. These things were -all handed over to me; and, having read my letters once again, I -literally devoured the newspapers. News from home! - -There were only a few numbers of the "Neue Freie Presse," but quite -sufficient to afford me, who had had no news for six years, the pleasure -of reading at night-time for months. I gradually got to know them by -heart, from the political leader down to the last advertisement, in -which an elderly maiden lady advertised that she was anxious to find a -kindred spirit with a view to matrimony. Father Ohrwalder came to me -secretly by night to borrow the papers, and studied them just as -conscientiously as I did,--only I do not suppose that he paid quite so -much attention to the last advertisement! - -Early the next morning, taking the present with me, I went to the -Khalifa; he told me to open it, and when he saw all the little crystal -boxes, silver-topped bottles, brushes, razors, scissors, etc., etc., he -was greatly surprised. I had to explain to him their various uses; and -he then sent for the Kadis, who, in duty bound, were obliged to express -even greater astonishment than he, though I had no doubt that several of -them had seen such things before. Then, without any further delay, he -sent for his clerk, and ordered him to write a letter to my brothers and -sisters, in which he himself informed them of the honourable position I -held in his service; he invited them to come to Omdurman and visit me, -and gave them the assurance that they would be free to return. He also -ordered me to write in the same strain; and, although I knew perfectly -well that my people would never avail themselves of such an invitation, -which was merely a spontaneous outburst of delight, I took good care to -warn them fully against thinking of it for an instant. The letters were -then returned by the man who had been sent by Osman Digna; and the -latter was instructed by letter to forward them. The real reason, -however, for the Khalifa's good-humour lay in the fact that his own -tribe, the Taaisha, had arrived in Omdurman. They had marched through -Kordofan to the White Nile at Tura el Hadra. The Khalifa had written to -them that they should come to take possession of the countries which the -Lord their God had ordained to be theirs; and on their arrival they -certainly behaved as if they were sole masters. They appropriated -everything they could lay their hands on: camels, cows, and donkeys were -forcibly carried off from their owners; men and women who had the -misfortune to cross their path, were robbed of their clothing and -jewellery; and the populations of the countries through which they -passed bitterly rued the day which had made a western Arab their ruler. -For their convenience, the Khalifa erected immense grain depôts all -along the roads by which they travelled; and, on their arrival at the -river, ships and steamers were ready to transport them to Omdurman. But, -before they reached the city, the Khalifa ordered them to halt on the -right bank of the river; and, dividing them into two sections, he had -all the men and women freshly clothed at the expense of the Beit el Mal; -and they then were brought in detachments, at intervals of two or three -days, to Omdurman. In order to make the populace thoroughly understand -that the new masters of the country had arrived, Abdullahi drove out of -their houses all the inhabitants of that portion of the city lying -between the mosque and Omdurman Fort, and handed it over to the Taaisha -as their residence. Other ground was allotted to those who had been -forced to give up their houses, and they were promised assistance from -the Beit el Mal in order to rebuild; but, of course, this was mere empty -form, and resulted in their having to shift entirely for themselves. - -In order to facilitate the maintenance of his tribe, and as grain began -to rise in price, the Khalifa issued an order for all grain stored in -the houses to be taken to the meshra el minarata (grain docks), under -pain of confiscation; and, having obtained the services of some of his -own myrmidons, he ordered them to sell this grain at the lowest possible -rate to the Taaisha; and the money thus obtained he divided amongst the -original owners, who, in their turn, were obliged to re-purchase at the -high rates from other sources. This wholesale robbery can be better -understood, when I explain that the money paid by the Taaisha for ten -ardebs of grain would scarcely pay for two ardebs purchased in the -ordinary manner. - -When the supply of grain at Omdurman was diminishing, he despatched -messengers to the Gezira to confiscate what was still there; and, in -this manner, by publicly showing his preference for his own tribe, he -completely estranged himself from his former followers. This, however, -was a matter of little concern to him, as, by the advent of the Taaisha -Arabs, he had acquired a reinforcement of several thousands of warriors. - -After the Mahdi's death, the Khalifa had sent four messengers to Cairo -with letters addressed to Her Majesty the Queen of England, His Majesty -the Sultan, and His Highness the Khedive, in which he summoned them to -submit to his rule and to adopt Mahdism. The messengers returned from -Cairo, where due note had been made of this insolent demand, without any -answer; and the Khalifa was greatly offended. Early in 1889, however, -when he had decided to send Nejumi to invade Egypt, he again despatched -four messengers to Egypt, conveying his final warning; but these were -kept for a time at Assuan, and again sent back without any answer. - -The campaigns in the east and west having been successfully concluded, -the revolt of Abu Gemmaiza having been suppressed, and King John of -Abyssinia having been killed, and his head despatched with others to -Omdurman, the Khalifa now sent it to Yunes at Dongola to be forwarded by -him to Wadi Halfa, as a warning, and as a proof of his victory over all -those who refused to believe in the Mahdi. Having overcome his -difficulties, and being strengthened by the arrival of fresh contingents -of Arabs, the Khalifa now considered that the time had come when he -might venture an attack on Egypt, and conquer it. Consequently, Nejumi -received special instructions to start forthwith, with all under his -command; and, avoiding Wadi Halfa, to capture Assuan, and there await -further orders. In addition to his own followers, Nejumi had been -reinforced by the Batahin, the Homr, and other Arabs of whom the Khalifa -was anxious to rid himself; and with these he quitted Dongola early in -May, 1889. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Government had been kept well -informed of the advance of this ill-equipped force, and had taken all -precautions; whilst Nejumi, instead of material support, received -continual orders from Yunes to hurry on; and it was not till he had -arrived within the Egyptian frontier that some reinforcements of Jaalin, -under Haj Ali, reached him. At the village of Argin, a portion of his -troops, contrary to his orders, had descended from the desert high -ground to the river, and, coming in contact with the troops of the Wadi -Halfa garrison under Wodehouse Pasha, sustained considerable loss. - -Meanwhile, Grenfell Pasha, Sirdar of the Egyptian Army, having started -with a force from Assuan, wrote a letter to Nejumi, in which he pointed -out the danger of the situation, and how impossible it was for him to -hope to be successful. He therefore summoned him to surrender; but this -Nejumi stubbornly refused to do; and a battle ensued at Toski, in which -General Grenfell and the Egyptian army utterly annihilated the Mahdists. -Nejumi and almost all of his Emirs were killed; thousands were taken -prisoners; and only a very few succeeded in escaping back to Dongola. - -The Khalifa had ridden to the Beit el Mal, and was praying on the banks -of the Nile, when mounted men arrived in hot haste from Dongola, and -handed letters to his secretary, who, for the moment, suppressed the -news, and only read it to him when he returned home. The letters -described the death of Nejumi and the destruction of his army; and the -effect on the Khalifa was terrible. He had no great confidence, it is -true, in the tribes who had gone forward to invade Egypt; but, at the -same time, their annihilation was a frightful blow to him. He had hoped -that they would either have been victorious, or would have beaten a safe -retreat; but now he had lost upwards of sixteen thousand of his men; and -he at once thought the Government would advance and re-occupy Dongola. -For three days he did not go near his harem; and, day and night, I was -obliged to stay at his door and pretend to sympathise with him in these -occurrences, though secretly I was rejoicing. He at once despatched -reinforcements to Yunes; but, at the same time, sent him instructions -that, should the Government advance, he should not attempt to oppose the -army, but was to retreat with his entire force to Sannum, in Dar -Shaigia. - -But disasters never come singly: grain rose daily in price. No rain had -fallen the previous year, and the crops in consequence had been very -bad; the parties who had been sent to the Gezira had orders to procure -grain by force at the rate fixed by the Khalifa. Of course those who had -any at once hid it, and denied having anything; but in truth there was -really very little in the land. Famine first broke out in the Province -of Berber, which was entirely dependent on the Gezira for supplies; and -here Osman Wad ed Dekeim was obliged to disperse his men and horses -throughout various parts of the country. - -The irrigation of this province is carried on by water-wheels at -intervals along the river banks; and even in prosperous times the supply -of grain is scarcely sufficient to meet the wants of the local -inhabitants; there was therefore now considerable difficulty in -maintaining all Osman's people as well. Several of the inhabitants -wandered to Omdurman, which was already over-populated; and here the -situation became most critical: the price of grain rose at first to -forty dollars, and subsequently to sixty dollars, the ardeb. The rich -could purchase grain; but the poor died wholesale. Those were terrible -months at the close of 1889; the people had become so thin that they -scarcely resembled human beings,--they were veritably but skin and bone. -These poor wretches would eat anything, no matter how disgusting,--skins -of animals which had long since dried and become decayed, were roasted -and eaten; the strips of leather which form the angareb (native -bedstead) were cut off, boiled, and made into soup. Those who had any -strength left went out and robbed; like hawks they pounced down on the -bakers and butchers, and cared nothing for the blows of the kurbash, -which invariably fell on their attenuated backs. - -On one occasion, I remember seeing a man who had seized a piece of -tallow, and had crammed it into his mouth before its owner could stop -him. The latter jumped at his throat, closed his hands round it, and -pressed it till the man's eyes protruded; but he kept his mouth tightly -closed until he fell down insensible. In the market-places, the -incessant cry was heard of "Gayekum! Gayekum!" (He is coming to you!), -which meant that famished creatures were stealthily creeping round the -places where the women had their few articles for sale, to protect which -they were frequently obliged to lie upon them, and defend them with -their hands and feet. The space between the Khalifa's and Yakub's houses -was generally crowded at night with these wretched people, who cried -aloud most piteously for bread. I dreaded going home; for I was -generally followed by several of these famished beggars, who often -attempted to forcibly enter my house; and at that time I had scarcely -enough for my own slender wants, besides having to help my own household -and my friends, who had now become wretchedly poor. - -One night,--it was full moon,--I was going home at about twelve o'clock, -when, near the Beit el Amana (ammunition and arms stores), I saw -something moving on the ground, and went near to see what it was. As I -approached, I saw three almost naked women, with their long tangled hair -hanging about their shoulders; they were squatting round a quite young -donkey, which was lying on the ground, and had probably strayed from its -mother, or been stolen by them. They had torn open its body with their -teeth, and were devouring its intestines, whilst the poor animal was -still breathing. I shuddered at this terrible sight, whilst the poor -women, infuriated by hunger, gazed at me like maniacs. The beggars by -whom I was followed, now fell upon them, and attempted to wrest from -them their prey; and I fled from this uncanny spectacle. - -On another occasion, I saw a poor woman who must formerly have been -beautiful, but on whose emaciated face the death-struggle was visible, -lying on her back in the street, whilst her little baby, scarcely a year -old, was vainly trying to get some nourishment from its mother's already -cold breasts. Another woman, passing by, took compassion on the little -orphan, and carried it off. - -One day, a woman of the Jaalin, who are perhaps the most moral tribe in -the Sudan, accompanied by her only daughter, a lovely young girl, -dragged herself wearily to my house; both were at death's door from -starvation, and begged me to help them. I gave them what little I could; -and the woman then said, "Take this, my only daughter, as your slave; -save her from death by starvation!" and, as she said this, the tears -streamed down her poor wan cheeks, whilst in her weak, scarcely audible -voice, she continued, "Do not fear that I shall molest you any further; -only save her; do not let her perish!" I gave them all I could spare, -and then asked them to leave me, telling them to return when they were -in great want; but I never saw them again,--perhaps some charitable -person took pity on them. Another woman was actually accused of eating -her own child, and was brought to the police station for trial; but of -what use was this?--in two days the poor creature died, a raving maniac! - -[Illustration: Famine Stricken.] - -Several sold their own children, both boys and girls, pretending they -were their slaves,--this they did not to obtain money, but simply to -save their lives; and, when this year of misery was over, some parents -bought them back again at even higher prices. The dead lay in the -streets in hundreds; and none could be found to bury them. The Khalifa -issued orders that people were responsible for burying those who were -found dead near their houses; and that, should they refuse to do so, -their property would be confiscated. This had some effect; but, to save -themselves trouble, they used to drag the bodies near their neighbours' -houses; and this gave rise to frequent quarrels and brawls. Every day, -the waters of the Blue and White Niles swept past Omdurman, carrying -along hundreds of bodies of the wretched peasantry who had died along -the banks,--a terrible proof of the awful condition of the country. - -In Omdurman itself, the majority of those who died belonged rather to -the moving population, than to the actual inhabitants of the town; for -the latter had managed to secrete a certain amount of grain, and the -different tribes invariably assisted each other; but, in other parts of -the Sudan, the state of affairs was considerably worse. I think the -Jaalin, who are most independent, as well as the proudest tribe in the -Sudan, suffered more severely than the rest; several fathers of -families, seeing that escape from death was impossible, bricked up the -doors of their houses, and, united with their children, patiently -awaited death. I have no hesitation in saying that in this way entire -villages died out. - -The inhabitants of Dongola, though they suffered considerably, were -somewhat better off; and for this they had to thank Nejumi, whose -departure had considerably reduced the population of the province. -Between Abu Haraz, Gedaref, and Gallabat, the situation was worst of -all. Zeki Tummal, at the commencement of the famine, had given orders to -some of his myrmidons to forcibly collect all the grain in the -neighbourhood; and this he stored for his soldiers, thus saving the bulk -of his force, with the result that an immense proportion of the local -inhabitants died of starvation. After a time, no one dared to go out -into the streets without an escort; for they feared being attacked and -eaten up; the inhabitants had become animals,--cannibals! One of the -Emirs of the Homr tribe,--who, in spite of the terrible year, still -preserved a fairly healthy appearance,--notwithstanding constant -warning, insisted on going to visit a friend after sunset; but he never -reached his friend, nor returned to his abode; the next morning, his -head was found outside the city, and I presume his body had already been -consumed. - -The Hassania, Shukria, Aggaliun, Hammada, and other tribes had -completely died out; and the once thickly populated country had become a -desert waste. Zeki Tummal sent a detachment of his force to the southern -districts of the Blue Nile, towards the Tabi, Begreg, Kukeli, -Kashankero, and Beni Shangul mountains, the inhabitants of which, -although they paid tribute to the Khalifa, refused to make a pilgrimage -or provide warlike contingents. This he had done not so much with the -idea of military operations, as to provide some means of maintaining his -troops; but the commander, Abder Rasul, succeeded in capturing a number -of slaves, as well as a quantity of money. - -The situation in Darfur was little better than that in Gedaref and -Gallabat; the western provinces, such as Dar Gimr, Dar Tama, and -Massalit, had no need of grain; but not being in complete subjection, -they prevented its export to Fasher. Indeed, it seemed as if this famine -had come as Heaven's punishment on all districts owning subjection to -the Khalifa, whilst the neighbouring countries, which had had sufficient -rest to cultivate their fields, had acquired enough grain for their -maintenance. A few Omdurman merchants hired some vessels, and proceeded -to Fashoda, where they exchanged beads, copper rods, and money for -dhurra; the undertaking succeeded, and now crowds of others followed -their example, proceeding sometimes as far as the Sobat, whence they -imported quantities of grain, thus enriching themselves, and saving -their fellow-countrymen from terrible want. Had the King of Fashoda, who -was not then subject to the Khalifa, forbidden the export, half Omdurman -would have perished. At length, the rain fell; the thirsty land was -refreshed; the crops sprang up; harvest was near; and the whole country -once more rejoiced at the prospect of help and deliverance. But now the -atmosphere became obscure with swarms of locusts of an unusual size, and -the prospect of a rich harvest vanished; everything, however, was not -destroyed by this plague, which, from that date, has become one of -annual occurrence. The Khalifa, anxious for the welfare of his own -tribe, now forced the natives to sell the little grain they had -collected, at an absurdly low price, to his agents; but small as this -was, in comparison with the price he ought to have paid, he determined -to still further economise, and, consequently, ordered Ibrahim Adlan to -proceed personally to the Gezira, and induce the inhabitants to give up -their dhurra of their own free-will, and without payment. Adlan, who -thoroughly disapproved of this measure, now left; and his enemies, -seizing the occasion of his absence, did all they could to bring about -his fall. This able official had, by his thoroughness and sagacity, -risen high in the Khalifa's favour; but ambition induced him to strive -for the first place. He frequently made use of his position to upset the -plans of others; but, in reality, Abdullahi sought nobody's advice, and -discussed state affairs with his brother Yakub only, whose animosity -Adlan had incurred, though Yakub was too clever to show it. - -As natives go, Adlan's character was good: he did not care to lend -himself to evil designs, and, far from oppressing people, was often the -means of lightening the burdens of others; he was most liberal and -well-disposed to those who were submissive to his will; but he was -bitterly hostile to those he suspected of finding fault with his -actions, or who endeavoured to obtain appointments and positions without -his intervention. Like all Sudanese, he was bent on making money by fair -means or foul; and as he was head of the Beit el Mal, through whose -hands all the taxes passed, this was not a matter of difficulty. He was -suspected, and not without reason, of having made an immense fortune, -and of this the Khalifa was not ignorant; consequently, during his -absence, Yakub and several of his confidants informed the Khalifa that -Adlan's influence in the country was almost as great as his own, and -that he had frequently spoken disparagingly of his master and his system -of government; they even went as far as to say that Adlan had attributed -the famine entirely to the Khalifa's treatment of his own tribe. - -Adlan, who was somewhat slow in carrying out the Khalifa's instructions -in the Gezira, and against whom the Taaisha were clamouring bitterly, -was recalled by the Khalifa, who, for the first few days after his -arrival, did not show his hand; but when the Taaisha, instigated by -Yakub, continued clamouring, the Khalifa summoned him, and accused him -in harsh terms of infidelity and abuse of confidence. Furious at this -treatment, and trusting to the confidential nature of his position, -Adlan, for a moment, forgot that after all he was merely the Khalifa's -slave, and retorted in equally sharp terms, "You reproach me now," said -he,--"I who have served you all these years; and now I do not fear to -speak my mind to you. Through preference for your own tribe, and your -love of evil-doing, you have estranged the hearts of all those who have -hitherto been faithful to you. I have ever been mindful of your -interests; but as you now listen to my enemies, and to your brother -Yakub, who is ill-disposed towards me, I cannot serve you any longer." - -The Khalifa, alarmed and shocked by such language, which no one had -ever dared before to use in his presence, was furious. If Adlan had not -had such power in the country, he would never have dared to speak like -this; and if he had not accumulated considerable wealth, he would never -have risked giving up so lucrative a position. Abdullahi, however, -controlled himself, and replied, "I have taken note of what you have -said, and will think it over; leave me now, and I will give you an -answer to-morrow." He went out; but ere he had reached the door the -Khalifa had made up his mind. After sunset the next day, the two -Khalifas, all the Kadis, and Yakub were summoned to a council; and, -shortly afterwards, Adlan was called before them. In a few words, -similar to those he had used the previous day, the Khalifa spoke to him -about his attitude, adding, "You spoke against Yakub, and said that I -had estranged myself from the hearts of my partisans; do you not know -that my brother Yakub is my eye and my right hand? It is you who have -estranged the hearts of my friends from me; and now you dare to do the -same with my brother; but the Almighty God is righteous, and you shall -not escape your punishment." He then made a sign to the mulazemin, who -had been kept in readiness, to seize him and carry him off to prison. -Without uttering a word of reproach, with a firm step, and holding his -head high in the air, he submitted to his fate, determined that his -enemies should not have the satisfaction of seeing him downhearted or -afraid. - -The Khalifa at once gave instructions that Adlan's house should be -confiscated, and the Beit el Mal property seized. A careful search of -the former was ordered; and the employés of the latter were instructed -to render immediate and complete accounts. In Adlan's pocket was found a -piece of paper inscribed all over with mysterious writing, in which the -name of the Khalifa frequently appeared; it had been written with a -solution of saffron, which is supposed to possess some secret power; and -the unfortunate Adlan was not less superstitious than the majority of -the Sudanese. The paper was declared to be sorcery, which is punishable -most severely; Adlan was pronounced to be mukhalef (disobedient) in not -carrying out his orders, and a traitor, because he had attempted to sow -dissension between the Khalifa and his brother Yakub, and, in the -endeavour to effect this, had been guilty of the use of sorcery. The -verdict was mutilation, or death, and he was allowed to make his choice; -he selected the latter. - -With his hands tied across his chest, and to the strains of the -melancholy ombeÿa, he was led forth to the market-place, accompanied by -an immense crowd. Calmly mounting the angareb beneath the scaffold, he -himself placed his head in the noose, and, refusing to drink the water -offered to him, told the hangman to complete his work; the rope was -pulled taut, the angareb was removed, and there Ibrahim swung like a -marble statue, until his soul left his body, the outstretched index -finger alone indicating that he died in the true faith of Islam. In -spite of the interdiction, wails of sorrow filled the city; but the -Khalifa rejoiced that he had rid himself of so dangerous an enemy, and -refrained from punishing this disobedience to his orders. He sent his -brother Yakub to the funeral, as if to show to the world that Adlan had -merely been punished in accordance with the law, and that the well-known -animosity between the two had nothing to do with the matter. - -His successor as Emin Beit el Mal was a certain Nur Wad Ibrahim whose -grandfather was a Takruri. He did not, therefore, belong to the tribes -of the Nile valley, and thus had a greater claim on the Khalifa's -confidence and consideration. - -As regards myself, the Khalifa seemed to grow daily more suspicious. -Previous to Ibrahim Adlan's departure for the Gezira, the answer to my -letter, which had been sent to my family through Osman Digna, had -arrived. It contained only news of a private nature, and expressed the -great delight of my family that they had succeeded in at last getting -into communication with me. At the same time, they wrote to the Khalifa -in submissive words, expressing their gratitude for the kind and -honourable treatment which I received at his hands. They also assured -him of their great devotion to him, and thanked him for the high honour -he had conferred upon them by inviting them to come to Omdurman; but my -brother regretted his inability to accept, as he was at that time a -secretary in the office of the High Chamberlain of His Majesty the -Emperor of Austria, whilst the other brother was a lawyer and lieutenant -in the Artillery Reserve; they were therefore both unable, in virtue of -their positions, to undertake so long a journey. My master had called me -up, and, on handing me the letters, had ordered me to translate them to -him; then, considering for a few moments, he said to me, "It was my -intention to induce one of your brothers to come here and see me; and I -did what I had never done before,--wrote a letter to them. As they make -excuses and refuse to come, and as they now know that you are well, I -forbid you to have any more correspondence with them. Further -communications would only make you unhappy. Do you understand what I -mean?" "Certainly," I replied, "your orders shall be obeyed; and I also -think that further communication with my relatives is not necessary." -"Where is the Gospel that has been sent to you?" asked he, looking at me -fixedly. "I am a Moslem," I answered, for I was now on my guard; "and I -have no Gospel in my house. They sent me a translation of the Kuran, the -Holy Book, which your secretary saw when the box was opened, and which -is still in my possession." "Then bring it to me to-morrow," he said, -and signed to me to withdraw. - -It was perfectly clear to me that he no longer trusted me; and I knew -that after Nejumi's defeat he had several times spoken in this sense to -the Kadis. I had already spent almost all the money I had received in -gifts amongst my comrades; and now some of these began to murmur, and -were disappointed that the sum was so small; and I knew that they were -intriguing against me. Who could have induced him to believe that the -Kuran which had been sent to me was the Gospel? The next day, I gave it -to him. The translation was by Ullman. He examined it carefully, and -then said: "You say that this is the Kuran; it is in the language of -unbelievers, and perhaps they have made alterations." "It is a literal -translation into my own language," I replied, calmly, "and its object is -to make me understand the Holy Book which has come from God, and was -made known to mankind by the Prophet, in the Arabic language. If you -wish, you can send it to Neufeld, who is in captivity in the prison, and -with whom I have no intercourse; and you can ascertain from him if my -assertion is correct." "I do not mistrust you, and I believe what you -say," he replied, in a somewhat more amiable tone; "but people have -spoken to me about it, and you had better destroy the book." When I had -told him that I was perfectly willing to do this, he continued, "Also I -wish you to return the present your brothers and sisters sent me; I can -make no use of it, and it will be a proof to them that I place no value -on worldly possessions." - -He now had his secretary summoned, and ordered him to write a letter in -my name to my family, to the effect that it was not necessary to -correspond any more; and, after I had signed it, it was sent, together -with the travelling-bag, to the Beit el Mal, to be despatched to Suakin. -From that day, I was more careful than ever to do nothing to increase -the mistrust which I saw had sprung up in Abdullahi's mind. After -Adlan's death, however, he thought it necessary to warn me again, and -cautioned me most seriously against becoming mixed up in any sort of -conspiracy. Assembling all his mulazemin, he asserted, in the most -forcible language, that I was suspected of being a spy; that he had been -told I invariably questioned the camel postmen who arrived, about the -situation; that I received visitors in my house at night who were known -to be out of favour with him; and that I had gone so far as to inquire -in what part of his house his bedroom was situated. "I am afraid," he -continued, "that if you do not change your line of conduct, you will -follow in the footsteps of my old enemy Adlan." - -This was rather a blow to me; but I knew that now, more than ever, I had -need of being calm and collected. "Sire!" said I, in a loud voice, "I -cannot defend myself against unknown enemies; but I am perfectly -innocent of all they have told you. I leave my detractors in the hands -of God. For more than six years, in sunshine and rain, I have stood at -your door, ever ready to receive and carry out your orders. At your -command, I have given up all my old friends, and have no communication -with any one. I have even given up all connection with my relatives, and -that without the slightest remonstrance. Such a thing as conspiracy has -never even entered my heart. During all these long years, I have never -made a complaint. Sire, what have I done? All that I do is not done out -of fear of you, but out of love for you; and I cannot do more. Should -God still have further trials in store for me, I shall calmly and -willingly submit to my fate; but I have full reliance in your sense of -justice." - -"What have you to say to his words?" he said to the assembled mulazemin, -after a moment's silence. All, without exception, admitted that they had -never noticed anything in my behaviour which could give rise to such a -suspicion; my enemies also--and I well knew who they were, and who were -responsible for getting me into this dangerous position--were obliged to -admit this. "I forgive you," said he; "but avoid for the future giving -further cause for complaint," and, holding out his hand for me to kiss, -he signed to me to withdraw. He must have felt that he had wronged me; -for the next day he summoned me, spoke to me kindly, and warned me -against my enemies, who, he said, were as a thorn in my flesh. I -professed affection and confidence in him; and he then said, in quite a -confidential tone, "Do not make enemies, for you know that Mahdia is -conducted in accordance with the Moslem law: should you be accused -before the Kadi of treason, and two witnesses make good the accusation, -you are lost; for I cannot go against the law to save you." - -What an existence in a country where one's very life hung on the -evidence of two witnesses! Thanking him for his advice, I promised to -follow it, and said I would, of course, do all in my power to deserve -his confidence. When I returned home at midnight, tired and worn out by -this constant strain, my devoted Saadalla informed me, to my great -annoyance, that, only a few minutes before, one of the Khalifa's eunuchs -had brought a closely-veiled female, who was now in my house. - -I ought to have been greatly pleased about this, for it was a proof that -the Khalifa had forgiven me; but my first thought was, how to rid myself -of this present without creating suspicion. Saadalla and I now entered -the house; and, to my horror, I found that underneath the veil was an -Egyptian who had been born at Khartum, and who was, consequently, from a -Sudanese point of view, a lady of a comparatively fair complexion. She -was seated on the carpet; and, after we had exchanged greetings, she -replied to my query as to her nationality with such rapidity of speech -that I, who spoke Arabic fairly well, had the greatest difficulty in -following the romantic history of her life. - -She was the daughter, she said, of an Egyptian officer who, I afterwards -learnt, had only been a private soldier, and who had fallen in the fight -against the Shilluks, under Yusef Bey. As this had taken place upwards -of twenty years before, I could, without any great effort of -calculation, estimate fairly accurately that this good lady was well out -of her teens; and as she admitted that her first husband had been killed -during the capture of Khartum, that her mother was an Abyssinian who had -been educated in Khartum, and was still alive, and that she had an -enormous number of relatives, I really believe that, had my head not -been clean-shaven, my hair would veritably have stood on end. This -far-travelled and widely-experienced lady informed me that she had been -one of the many hundreds of Abu Anga's wives, and I had now been chosen -as the happy successor of this old slave. After his death, she had been -captured, with several of her rivals, by the Abyssinians, when King John -attacked Gallabat, but had been subsequently liberated by Zeki Tummal; -and she knew so many details of all the fights in this neighbourhood, -that, had my memory been only capable of retaining them, they would have -now been of great interest to my readers. A short time ago, the Khalifa -had ordered Abu Anga's remaining widows to be brought to Omdurman, for -distribution amongst his followers; she then went on to say that the -Khalifa himself had specially selected her as my wife, and she added, in -a subdued tone, that she rejoiced to have fallen into the hands of a -fellow-countryman. I explained to her that I was not an Egyptian, but an -European. As, however, my skin was somewhat tanned, and the -circumstances in which I lived gave her a pretext for claiming me as a -compatriot, I was obliged to say that I would provide as far as possible -for her maintenance and comfort; and, as the night was well advanced, I -bade her follow my servant Saadalla, who would make arrangements for -her. - -Such were the Khalifa's presents: instead of allocating a small sum of -money from the Beit el Mal, by means of which I could have procured for -myself a few comforts, he kept on sending me wives, who were not only a -source of considerable expense to me, but also a cause of much anxiety -and worry, inasmuch as I was continually struggling to free myself from -their unwelcome presence. The next morning, the Khalifa laughingly asked -me if I had received his present, and if I liked it. With the lesson of -two days ago still fresh in my mind, I assured him that I was only too -happy to receive this fresh proof of his affection, and that, please -God, I should always live in the enjoyment of his favour. When I -returned to my house before midday prayer, I found it full of females, -who, notwithstanding the remonstrances of Saadalla, and jeering at his -wrath, had entered by main force, and now introduced themselves to me -as the nearest relatives of Fatma el Beida (The White Fatma), as the -Khalifa's present was called. - -A decrepid old Abyssinian lady introduced herself as my future -mother-in-law; from her loquacity, I should instantly have recognised -her as the mother of Fatma el Beida; and I could not help wondering how -so small and fragile a body could contain so noisy and voluble a tongue. -She assured me of her pleasure that her daughter had been confided to my -care, adding that she was convinced that I would accord to her her -rightful position in my household. Here was I, the slave of a tyrant, -and obliged to submit to the most wretched of circumstances; and now she -talked to me of the position due to her daughter! I assured her that I -would of course treat her daughter well; and, apologising that my time -was so fully occupied, I fled. Before leaving, however, I ordered -Saadalla to entertain them as well as he could, according to the custom -of the country, and then to turn them all out, neck and crop, and, if -necessary, to call the other servants to his assistance. - -A few days afterwards, the Khalifa again inquired about Fatma; and as I -knew that he was most anxious that I should lead as quiet and secluded a -life as possible, I told him that, for the present, I had no objection -to her person; but as her numerous relatives might possibly come in -contact with people whose acquaintance neither he, my master, nor I -should consider desirable, and that as in my efforts to prevent this I -frequently came into collision with both sides, it was naturally my -earnest wish to prevent such disturbances. And I then went on to say -that, should she not submit to my arrangements, I proposed surrendering -Fatma entirely to her relatives; and with this proposition the Khalifa -appeared perfectly satisfied. - -There was, however, no truth in this statement, for since Saadalla had -entertained and turned out his visitors I had seen no one; fearing to -betray my intentions to the Khalifa, I waited some time longer, and then -sent Fatma el Beida to her mother, whose whereabouts Saadalla had at -length discovered, and I instructed the lady to stay with her mother -until I should send for her. A few days afterwards, I sent a few clothes -to mother and daughter, and a small sum of money, with a message that -she was free, and no longer under any obligations to me. Of course I -told the Khalifa what I had done, reiterating that I was most anxious to -have nothing to do with people who were strangers to him and to me; and -in this he saw an additional proof of my anxiety to obey his orders. -About a month later, the mother came to see me, and asked my permission -to marry her daughter to one of her relatives. I agreed to this -proposition with the greatest alacrity; and I left Fatma el Beida the -mother of a happy family in Omdurman. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -MAHDIST OCCUPATION OF THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES. - - The Mahdist Expedition to Equatoria--The Fate of the Remnant of - Emin's Garrison--The Campaign against the Shilluks--Tokar - re-captured--Death of Osman Wad Adam--Dissensions in - Dongola--The Fall of Khaled. - - -Karamalla, from whom Osman Wad Adam had taken away all his Bazingers and -female slaves, and who was now in a state of poverty in Omdurman, had, -whilst Emir of the Bahr el Ghazal Province, advanced to the vicinity of -the White Nile, and had worried Emin Pasha. Fortunately for the latter, -Karamalla had been recalled; and the Bahr el Ghazal Province having been -abandoned, no news had been received from Equatoria for a long time, and -those merchants who were engaged in the grain trade brought little -information from any of the countries south of Fashoda. The Khalifa, who -was always turning over in his mind how he could increase his revenue, -had heard of the richness of these countries in ivory and slaves, and, -in consequence, had decided to organise an expedition to attack and take -possession of them; but, as the undertaking was a risky one and success -doubtful, he hesitated to involve in it his relatives or his tribe; he -therefore nominated Omar Saleh, who had been educated amongst the -Taaisha tribe, as chief of the expedition, which was composed for the -most part of tribes of the Nile valley,--Jaalin and Danagla. Three -steamers were now manned, as well as eight sailing-vessels filled with -cargo, consisting principally of Manchester goods, beads, etc.; and Omar -Saleh was given a force of some rifles and five hundred spearmen. The -Khalifa sent letters to Emin Pasha, including one which I was obliged to -sign, in which I called upon him to surrender; George Stambuli, who had -formerly been Emin Pasha's private agent in Khartum, was also obliged to -write a letter. At this time, the Shilluks were in considerable force; -and as they did not owe allegiance to the Khalifa, Omar Saleh was -instructed to pass by Fashoda as quickly as possible, and only to defend -himself in case of attack. The expedition quitted Omdurman in July, -1890, passed Fashoda without difficulty; and after that Omar had no -further opportunity of reporting on his position. It was not till a year -had elapsed, and the Khalifa was beginning to get uneasy, and was -considering how he could procure information, that a steamer arrived -with some ivory and a quantity of slaves, the captain of which gave a -full account of the progress and position of the expedition. The -Egyptian garrison of Reggaf had surrendered, and some of the officers of -that place had been sent to Duffilé, with orders to seize Emin Pasha, -whose soldiers had mutinied, and hand him over to Omar Saleh. After the -departure of the party from Reggaf, a rumour had been circulated amongst -the Mahdists that they had been deceived by the officers, and that it -was the intention of the latter, on their arrival at Duffilé, to join -with the garrison of that place and attack Omar Saleh; he therefore -seized the officers and men who had remained behind, threw them into -chains, and distributed their property and slaves amongst his followers. -The officers who had gone to Duffilé had really intended to capture -Emin, who had in the meantime left with Stanley; and, hearing of what -had happened to their wives and property, they now collected the -soldiers who, on Emin's departure had created a sort of military -republic, and with them marched towards Reggaf. The Mahdists, getting -information of this, met them on the road; and a fight ensued, in which -Omar Saleh was victorious. The officers were killed; but most of the men -succeeded in beating a retreat towards Duffilé followed by the Mahdists, -who attacked the position, but were driven off and forced to retire. In -spite of this victory, great dissensions prevailed amongst the men; -and, eventually, they dispersed in bands throughout the province, in -order to gain their own livelihood. The Khalifa, rejoicing at Omar -Saleh's success, and his cupidity excited by the exaggerated accounts of -Wad Badai, who had arrived on the steamer, now gave instructions for -another expedition to be equipped, with which he despatched Hassib Wad -Ahmed and Elias Wad Kanuna, and took advantage of the occasion to rid -himself of many characters which were obnoxious to him. From that date, -Reggaf became a colony for the deportation of convicts, and of persons -whose presence in Omdurman was considered dangerous to the state. -Several persons who had been accused of theft, and incarcerated in the -Saier, were handed over to Wad Kanuna, who, at the same time, had all -persons suspected of leading an immoral life seized, thrown into chains, -and sent up to Reggaf; the opportunity was made the most of by several -of the Emirs and other influential people to rid themselves of any -persons whom they thought dangerous or disagreeable to them. The two -chiefs also took advantage of the occasion to visit all the villages on -the river bank between Omdurman and Kawa, and ruthlessly seize the -people, under the pretext that they belonged to this category, and had -been sentenced by the Khalifa to transportation; they could only regain -their freedom by the payment of a considerable sum of money to the two -Emirs, who continued their depredations until they reached the Shilluk -and Dinka country, the inhabitants of which they feared too much to -attempt such outrages on them. - -From merchants who had gone to Fashoda in the years 1889 and 1890 to -obtain grain, we had heard a good deal about the people who lived in -these countries. The districts in close proximity to the river were -mostly inhabited by the Shilluks and Dinkas, who, untrammelled by the -despotic tyranny of the Khalifa, lived a quiet and undisturbed life in -the midst of their families. They were ruled over by a descendant of the -Mek (King) of the old Shilluk royal family, who had certain restrictive -rights over his subjects, and, with his own interest always to the -fore, permitted commercial relations with the Mahdists, avoiding at the -same time any actual allegiance to the Khalifa, to whom he did not pay -tribute. Wad Badai, who had had sufficient opportunities of seeing the -wealth of the country between Fashoda and Reggaf, now gave it as his -opinion that the Khalifa would considerably profit by its acquisition. -At this time, Zeki Tummal was at Gallabat with his army, which, owing to -famine, had considerably decreased in numbers, though he had done his -best to maintain it at the expense of the local population; he had, -moreover, made constant raids on the Amhara country. But now the -condition of the district had become so poor that he had great -difficulties in finding sufficient supplies for his men, with whom he -was unusually strict, punishing them most rigorously for the most -trivial offences; and on this account he was not only unpopular amongst -them, but also amongst his Emirs. He now received instructions from the -Khalifa to proceed to the Shilluk country; and, marching to Kawa, where -he embarked, he went direct to Fashoda. The King of the Shilluks, being -under the impression that Zeki's steamers were on their way to Reggaf, -was much surprised when the Emir suddenly landed; the Mek fled, was -pursued, captured, and, having refused to disclose the hiding-place of -the money he had received in exchange for the grain, was promptly -executed. The Shilluks, however, who are the finest and bravest of the -Sudanese Black tribes, collected both north and south of Fashoda, and -defended their liberty and their homes with magnificent courage and -resolution; but Zeki's men, used to constant fighting, and armed with -Remington rifles, were almost invariably victorious. It was not, -however, until after many bloody fights, in which the Shilluks, armed -only with their lances, frequently broke the squares and inflicted -considerable loss on the soldiers, that they had at last to admit they -were beaten. They dispersed, with their families, throughout the -country, but were pursued in all directions by Zeki, who captured large -numbers of them. The men he invariably put to the sword; but the women, -young girls, and children were embarked on the steamers, and despatched -to Omdurman. Here the Khalifa ordered the young boys to be taken charge -of by his mulazemin, by whom they were to be brought up, whilst most of -the girls he kept for himself, or distributed amongst his followers and -special adherents. The remainder were sent to the Beit el Mal, where -they were publicly sold; but thousands of these poor creatures succumbed -to fatigue, want, and the change of climate. Unused to life in this -squalid city, these wild Blacks were huddled together in wretched -quarters, and eventually found homes amongst the poorest class of the -population. It was no uncommon occurrence for a girl to be sold as a -slave at the rate of from eight to twenty dollars (Omdurman currency). - -When Zeki left Gallabat, the Emir Ahmed Wad Ali took his place, and his -brother Hamed Wad Ali was nominated Emir of Kassala. Avaricious to a -degree, he mercilessly robbed the people of their property and cattle, -with the result that the eastern Arab tribes, such as the Hadendoa, -Halenga, Beni Amer, etc., who had really captured Kassala for the Mahdi, -now revolted, and, wandering eastwards in the direction of Massawa, -placed themselves under the protection of the Italians. Thus it was that -this once thickly populated country became almost denuded of -inhabitants. Amongst others, the once powerful Shukria tribe, which had -suffered terribly during the famine year, was now almost extinct; whilst -the fertile district of Kassala was almost completely deserted, and the -garrison there had the greatest difficulty in maintaining itself. - -The Khalifa, alarmed at the progress of the Italians from Massawa, now -looked upon Kassala as the mainstay of his authority in these districts. -He was furious with his cousin, Hamed Wad Ali, whom he accused of having -ruined the country, and recalled him to Omdurman, where he was ordered -to attend prayers in the mosque five times daily; and he replaced him at -Kassala by Abu Girga, who had hitherto been with Osman Digna. - -Osman Digna, who had been made responsible for the government of the -Eastern Sudan, had been successful in subjugating most of the Arab -tribes; and, through them, he had for several years been a menace to -Suakin. He had had several engagements with the Government troops; and, -on one occasion, Sir Herbert Kitchener, the present Sirdar of the -Egyptian Army, had been severely wounded whilst making an attack on his -camp at Handub. Eventually, the Government sent an expedition which -drove him out of the position he had taken up to besiege Suakin; and he -now made his headquarters at Tokar, where he remained for some years, -making constant incursions in the vicinity of Suakin, and harrying the -friendly tribes of which the Amarar was the principal; but, tired of -this constant fighting, and irritated by Osman's undue severity, the -local tribes began to desert the cause, and not a few of them became -actually hostile to the Khalifa's authority. Informed of this state of -things Abdullahi, more anxious to defend his newly acquired realm than -to occupy himself in propagating the Mahdist doctrine, instructed Osman -Digna not to go too far, and sent Mohammed Wad Khaled to him with this -message. The latter, after the confiscation of his property at Bara, had -been kept for more than a year in chains in Kordofan; he had then been -brought to Omdurman, had received the Khalifa's pardon, and had received -back a small portion of his property. For years, he had said his prayers -daily in the mosque under the Khalifa's eye, and had apparently broken -off all relations with his relatives, whom he accused of unfairness and -ingratitude; but, as usual, his astuteness had not failed him: he was -well aware of the Khalifa's hostility to all the Mahdi's relatives, and -that was the reason he so studiously avoided all contact with them; -hence his nomination as the Khalifa's personal representative with Osman -Digna. In this mission he was most successful; and, having completed it, -he was instructed to proceed to Abu Hamed, and report on the general -condition of the Ababda tribes, who were subject to the Egyptian -Government, but who were at the same time in close relationship with -the Mahdist tribes of the Berber Province. Khaled's mission, however, -did not have any lasting effect on Osman Digna; for, a few weeks after -his departure, the Egyptian troops, under Holled Smith Pasha, attacked -Tokar, and utterly routed Osman, who fled to the Atbara. The Khalifa, -who had been informed by Osman that he was about to be attacked, awaited -the result with the greatest anxiety; but he openly declared to his -followers that he had not the slightest doubt that victory was insured; -when, therefore, the news came of Osman's utter defeat and flight, he -was greatly upset. Councils of war were at once held, for it was feared -the Government troops would advance towards Kassala and Berber, both of -which places were only weakly held; consequently, instructions were -issued to the commanders of these places that, should the troops -advance, they should fall back on Metemmeh, where it was his intention -to make a fortified camp. Great, however, was his relief when he -received news that the Government had contented itself with the -re-capture of Tokar. The loss of this district was undoubtedly a very -heavy blow to him, and left open to the tribes friendly to the -Government the roads leading to both Kassala and Berber. A few months -later, Osman Digna, who had taken up a position on the high ground south -of Berber, with the remnant of his force, suffered greatly from want of -food, and was obliged to disperse his men over the country; he therefore -received orders to proceed to Berber with his Emirs, and, having -obtained new clothing, he and the newly nominated Emir of Berber, Zeki -Osman, were summoned to Omdurman. Here he was received in a friendly -manner by the Khalifa, who, convinced of his fidelity and -trustworthiness, consoled him about his defeat, and, after treating him -honourably for a few weeks, sent him back with some horses, camels, and -women to the Atbara, where he was instructed to make a camp and -agricultural settlement, and collect his scattered forces. - -At this time, only Eastern Darfur remained subject to Osman Wad Adam. -The country had been almost depopulated by famine, and this Emir now -decided to advance against Dar Tama and Massalit; but, on the frontier, -he encountered such severe opposition that he began to think the -undertaking too dangerous. He was attacked in his zariba by the natives, -who, armed only with small spears, forced their way in; and he had to -thank his Remington rifles and the Sheikhs who were with him, for a -dearly earned victory; had he been attacked on the line of march, he -would almost certainly have been annihilated. His heavy losses -considerably delayed his march; and, ere he could obtain reinforcements, -a severe epidemic of typhoid fever broke out amongst his men, and he was -forced to retire; falling ill himself on the march, he died two days -after his arrival at Fasher. His loss was a great blow to the Khalifa, -who looked on his young cousin (he was barely twenty years of age) as a -courageous leader who paid careful attention to the wants of his men, -and had done much to increase the strength and number of the Mahdist -forces; he invariably sent to the Khalifa the fair share of the booty, -and disinterestedly divided the remainder amongst his people, keeping -only for himself what sufficed for his immediate wants. He was a -magnificent rider, was most popular with every one, and avoided leading -an effeminate and enervating existence; for long after his death he was -looked upon as a fine example of a bold and courageous Arab. He was -succeeded in the command of Darfur by another of the Khalifa's youthful -relatives, Mahmud Wad Ahmed, who was a great contrast to his -predecessor: he thought only of enriching himself; his sole pleasure -consisted in leading a life of debauchery with women of evil repute, -dancers, and singers, and he took a special delight in all their -unseemly ways. A mutiny soon broke out amongst his men, which was -suppressed with the utmost severity, and resulted in a considerable -weakening of his forces. - -Yunes, who, since his despatch to Dongola, had always been considered -Nejumi's superior, now attached to his councils Arabi Wad Dafalla and -Mussaid; but, as each one was bent entirely on enriching himself as -rapidly as possible, differences soon broke out, for the country was -quite unable to sustain the strain of overburdened taxation. Mussaid and -Arabi complained to the Khalifa that Yunes allowed his Emirs to govern -the country entirely according to their own ideas, with the result that -prices were continually rising; and, in consequence of this report, he -was recalled from Dongola. - -This province being adjacent to the Egyptian frontier, large numbers of -the inhabitants had emigrated to Egypt; and, as the Egyptian garrison at -Wadi Haifa was being constantly reinforced, the Khalifa, dreading an -attack, insisted on a more lenient treatment of the people. He therefore -appointed Khaled as Yunes's successor, as he was convinced that his -character and capabilities exactly suited him for this post, and -instructed him that he should tax the people in accordance with the -number of the sakias (water-wheels) and date-palms; but not being -entirely without suspicion of Khaled's behaviour, he ordered a -detachment of his own men, armed with rifles, to be placed under Arabi -Wad Dafalla, whilst the spearmen of his own tribe were made over to -Mussaid. - -The natural outcome of these arrangements was renewed dissension. -Khaled, anxious to increase the revenue of the country without -augmenting taxation, began filling up vacant posts with men of his own -choice, whilst Arabi and Mussaid did their utmost to nominate their own -relatives and friends; failing to arrange matters with Khaled, they now -began to make the most exorbitant demands, with which he could not -possibly comply, and, from dissensions, they came to insults, and very -nearly to blows, the two parties being actually drawn up facing each -other with arms in their hands. Khaled's party was composed principally -of inhabitants of the Nile valley,--Jaalin and Danagla,--whilst that of -Arabi and Mussaid was composed of Jehadia and western Arabs. Message -after message was despatched to the Khalifa by both sides, whilst -actual conflict was prevented by intermediaries and peacefully disposed -persons. Abdullahi immediately sent Yunes to take the place of Arabi and -Mussaid, who were recalled; and, immediately after they had arrived, he -sent instructions to Khaled to appear before him in Omdurman, to be -present, he said, at the punishment of Arabi and Mussaid; but no sooner -had he reached the capital than he was arraigned in court with his -antagonists. The judges consisted of the Khalifa as President, and a -number of Kadis and devoted Emirs as members; Khaled was accused of -having spoken disparagingly of his master and relatives, by saying that -they had been the cause of the ruin of the country. The Khalifa's -brother Yakub was as usual at the bottom of this intrigue, and there is -no doubt the Khalifa himself regretted having given Khaled so -influential a position; he therefore gladly seized this opportunity of -getting rid of him. During the proceedings a letter arrived from Yunes -(who had beforehand received Yakub's private instructions) to the effect -that whilst the parties were mediating, Khaled had clandestinely -concealed six boxes of ammunition, which he intended to send to his -relatives in Omdurman. Before the arraignment, the Khalifa had privately -arranged the verdict, and of course no one dared to take the part of the -accused; he was found guilty, sentenced to imprisonment for an -indefinite period, and was hurried off to the Saier, where he was kept -in solitary confinement. Curiously enough, an explanation of the -Khalifa's action appeared in an Arabic newspaper published in Cairo, in -which an extract from the Italian paper "La Riforma" had been published -to the effect that Khaled had been in communication with the Egyptian -Government for the surrender of the province with which he had been -entrusted. In consequence of this, the Khalifa again assembled the -judges, showed them the newspaper as a proof of Khaled's treachery; and -he was at once condemned to be executed. The Khalifa, however, declared -that he was most anxious not to cause the death of one of the Mahdi's -relatives and a descendant of the Prophet, he therefore commuted the -sentence to imprisonment for life. His magnanimity on this occasion was -of course praised on all sides, whilst he himself rejoiced that he had -for ever ridden himself of the only one of the Mahdi's relatives of -whose knowledge and astuteness he was justly in considerable awe. He now -used Khaled's treachery as a handle by which to irritate the Ashraf in -general; and lost no opportunity of doing all he could to weaken their -cause, and reduce them to a position of impotence, with the result that -an insurrection eventually broke out in Omdurman, which ended in the -complete success of the plans which Abdullahi had long since prepared. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -DISSENSION AND DISCORD. - - The Revolt of the Ashraf--Flight of Father Ohrwalder and the Two - Sisters--The Khalifa revenges himself on the Ashraf--The Seizure - and Execution of the Mahdi's Uncles--Zeki Tummal's return to - Omdurman laden with Booty--Khalifa Sherif Arrested--"Where there - is no Fire, there is no Smoke"--I change my Quarters--Sad News - from Austria--The Khalifa falls Ill--The Story of the - Bird-messenger--The Fall of Zeki Tummal--The Battle of - Agordat--The Capture of Kassala--The Fate of Kadi Ahmed--The - Congo Free State in Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal--I refuse to - marry the Khalifa's Cousin. - - -The Khalifa Mohammed Sherif, in conjunction with two of the Mahdi's -sons, who were scarcely twenty years of age, and many of his relatives, -now agreed amongst themselves to shake off the hated yoke of Khalifa -Abdullahi and seize the reins of government. They secretly elaborated -their plans in Omdurman, and gradually took into their confidence -several of their friends and fellow-tribesmen. They also despatched -letters to the Danagla living in the Gezira, whom they invited to come -to Omdurman and join them; but one of the Jaalin Emirs betrayed them. He -had been bound over by an oath to tell only his brother or best friends; -and he at once informed the Khalifa, saying that he considered him his -best friend. Apprised of the conspiracy, Abdullahi at once made counter -arrangements; but the Ashraf, warned by their spies of the Khalifa's -secret orders and doings, realised that their plot had been discovered, -and immediately collected in that part of the town just north of the -Khalifa's house, prepared for the fray. All the Ashraf and Danagla in -Omdurman assembled in the houses in the vicinity of the Mahdi's tomb; -and the sailors and most of the boats' crews joined them, saying that -they were ready to fight and conquer for the sake of the religion which -the Khalifa had abused. The arms which had been secretly hidden were now -brought out and distributed. They numbered scarcely a hundred Remington -rifles, a small quantity of ammunition, and a few elephant guns. Ahmed -Wad Suleiman behaved like one demented. He declared that he had seen the -Prophet and the Mahdi, who assured him of the victory of his party; and -he urged forward the commencement of hostilities. Even the Mahdi's -widows, who, after his death, had been kept strictly locked up in their -houses by the Khalifa, were not allowed to see any one, and were given -scarcely sufficient food to keep them alive, longed for the conflict, -hoping that their position would be ameliorated. Indeed the Um el -Muminin (The Mother of the Believers), the Mahdi's principal widow, -girded a sword round her waist, with the intention of taking a part in -this Holy War. Whilst all this was going on at night, and within -scarcely a hundred yards of the Khalifa's house, he himself was quietly -taking his precautions. - -It was on a Monday evening, after prayers, that the Khalifa summoned his -special mulazemin, and, in a few words, informed us of the intentions of -the Ashraf. He instructed us to arm ourselves as best we could, and on -no account to quit our posts in front of the gate. Ammunition was served -out to the Black mulazemin Jehadia, and they were ordered to take up -positions in the streets leading to the houses of the rebels, and cut -off any reinforcements which might attempt to join them. Upwards of a -thousand rifles were distributed amongst the Taaisha Arabs, who were -posted in the open space between the Mahdi's tomb and the Khalifa's -house, and also along the enclosure of the latter. The Black troops, -under the command of Ahmed Fedil, took up a position in the middle of -the mosque, and there awaited further orders; and here also were posted -the infantry spearmen and cavalry under the command of Yakub. Khalifa -Ali, whose people were suspected of sympathising with the rebels, was -ordered to occupy the northern portion of the city, and cut off all -communication in that direction. - -When the sun arose, the mutineers were completely surrounded; and they -had now to choose between fighting and surrendering. Before, however, -any blows were exchanged, the Khalifa despatched his Kadi, accompanied -by Sayed Mekki, to Khalifa Sherif and the Mahdi's sons, reminding them -of their late father's proclamation, and of the words he had spoken -before his death. At the same time, he instructed the Kadi to inquire -into their grievances, which he promised to rectify, if it was possible -for him to do so. The curt answer to the Khalifa was that they preferred -to fight. Abdullahi had given strict injunctions to all his Emirs to -abstain, as far as possible, from blows, and only to defend themselves -in the event of a sudden attack. He was most anxious to quell the -insurrection by conciliatory measures, as he fully realised that, if a -fight ensued in which there was little doubt he would be victorious, -Omdurman would almost certainly be sacked and ruined. He was well aware -that the western Arab tribes would gladly seize the occasion to satisfy -their ruling passion for murder and plunder; their one desire would be -to obtain all the loot they could, and to this end to spare neither -friend nor foe, with the result that, in all probability, they would -fight amongst themselves, and then go off to their own country, which -they had quitted with considerable reluctance. Once more he sent the -Kadi to the insurgents, who returned with a similar reply. - -Personally, I longed for the fight, for I had only my life to lose, and -that was in daily peril. I had before me the example of Ibrahim Adlan; -and I knew that Abdullahi had no regard for the lives of his best and -truest friends. Internal fighting must result in the weakening of my -enemies, and that alone would have been a source of satisfaction to me; -moreover, in the confusion which must arise, I might find an occasion to -regain my liberty, and possibly I might be able to exercise some -influence over the former Government troops, who I knew were much -dissatisfied with their present treatment. Under such abnormal -circumstances, it was impossible to frame any distinct plan of action. -My desire was that a fight should take place, and that I should make as -much capital out of it as I could for my own personal benefit. - -Some of the most excited of the mutineers now began firing, and some of -those on our side, contrary to orders, replied; but it was by no means a -fight,--merely a few stray shots. The insurgents did not seem to know -what they wanted; their party was undecided, their weapons were bad and -out of repair, and so also was the courage of the Ashraf and their -followers. After a short time, the firing ceased, and on our side the -total loss was five killed. Again the Khalifa sent out a proclamation, -which was borne this time by Khalifa Ali Wad Helu, and to this summons -the reply was more favourable; they wished to know, they said, the -conditions of reconciliation; and they were then told to name their -proposals. The negotiations continued all that day and far into the -night. They began again the following day, and, to my great regret, a -clear understanding was arrived at, and was agreed to by the Khalifa -under a solemn oath: he promised complete forgiveness to all who had -taken part in the insurrection, to give to Khalifa Mohammed Sherif a -position worthy of his dignity, and a seat in Council, to allow him to -again take possession of the standards which, after Nejumi's death, had -been laid aside, and to collect volunteers under them, and promised -pecuniary support from the Beit el Mal to the Mahdi's relatives, in -accordance with Sherif's proposals. In return for these concessions, the -insurgents agreed to give up all their arms, and submit unconditionally -to the Khalifa's orders. The agreement was now ratified, and the terms -of peace concluded by the delegates on both sides; but somehow no one -seemed in any hurry to execute them. On the following Friday morning, -the leaders of the insurgents came themselves before the Khalifa, and -obtained a renewal of the promises he had made, in return for which they -gave fresh attestations of loyalty; and, on the same afternoon, Khalifa -Sherif and the Mahdi's sons approached Abdullahi. Peace was now fully -concluded, and the cavalry and infantry, which had been with us day and -night since the disturbances began, were permitted to leave the mosque -and return to their quarters; but, as the arms had not yet been handed -over, the jehadia and mulazemin were ordered to remain at their posts. - -On Sunday afternoon, I had sent one of my servants to the Missionary -Father, Joseph Ohrwalder, to inquire after him, and he had found his -door closed; I had thoughtlessly made inquiries about him of his -neighbours, the Greeks and some of the former merchants who, as my -servant told me, had made a most careful search for him, but had been -unable to trace him or the Missionary Sisters who had been with him. It -at once flashed through my mind that possibly, during the disturbances, -he might have found some trusty persons who had undertaken to effect his -escape; and so it eventually transpired. Before evening prayer, the Emir -of the Muslemania (Europeans who had been forcibly made to adopt -Mohammedanism), and the Syrian George Stambuli anxiously came and asked -to be taken before the Khalifa, as they had something of considerable -importance to tell him. The Khalifa, fully occupied with matters which -he considered of great importance, ordered them to wait at the mosque; -and, after night prayers, he asked them what they wanted. With trembling -voices, they informed him that Yusef el Gasis (Joseph the Priest) was -missing since yesterday, also the women who were with him. Very much -annoyed, the Khalifa at once summoned Nur el Gereifawi, the Emin Beit el -Mal, and Mohammed Wahbi, the Prefect of the Police, and commanded them -to do all in their power to overtake the fugitives and bring them back -to Omdurman, dead or alive. It was fortunate for the poor Greeks that -the Khalifa was so much occupied with other matters or he would--as -Ohrwalder had lived amongst them--have arrested many and confiscated -their property. Luckily, however, on the day of the outbreak, all the -camels had been sent into the districts in order to bring in the troops; -and Gereifawi and Wahbi could only procure three camels for the pursuit -of Ohrwalder, who knew that the success of his flight depended on its -rapidity. From the depth of my heart I hoped he might succeed. He had -suffered a great deal, and had borne it with Christian fortitude and -patience. I now felt completely deserted; he was the only man with whom -I was intellectually on a par, and with whom I could--though very -rarely--talk a few words in my mother tongue. - -The following day, I was summoned before the Khalifa, who angrily -reproached me for Ohrwalder's flight. "He is one of your own race, and -is in communication with you; why did you not draw my attention to its -possibility, so that I might have taken precautions? I am positive you -knew of his intention to escape," said he. "Sire, pardon me!" said I; -"how could I know of his intention to escape, and how could I tell you -that he had done so? Since the outbreak of the revolt attempted by your -God-forsaken enemies, and which, thanks to the Almighty, you have now -defeated by your wisdom, I have not moved day or night from my post. Had -I known that he was a traitor, I should have at once told you of it." To -this he angrily replied, "No doubt your Consul arranged for him to be -taken away from here." - -Amongst the last letters which I had received, was one written in Arabic -from the Austro-Hungarian Consul-General, Von Rosty, to the Khalifa, in -which he thanked him for the kind treatment of the members of the former -Catholic Mission, and, at the same time, asked his permission to send -them a messenger, for whom he begged a free pass, as they were under -Austrian protection, and as His Majesty the Emperor had a special regard -for them. The Khalifa had shown me the letter, which he had left -unanswered; but from that day he had looked upon the members of the -Mission as my compatriots, and was now convinced that they had been -assisted to escape by the aid of the Consul-General. I now remarked to -the Khalifa that possibly merchants belonging to the frontier tribes, -and who often came to Omdurman, might have taken advantage of the -disturbances in order to help Ohrwalder and the Sisters to escape, so as -to obtain some pecuniary reward for themselves. Abdullahi, who was still -much pre-occupied with the revolt, came round to my opinion; and, after -admonishing me to remain perfectly loyal, he dismissed me. - -In spite of the reluctance of the Ashraf to surrender their arms, they -were gradually obliged to give them all up; and, having achieved this -much, the Khalifa now set to work to mature his scheme of revenge. -Twenty days perhaps had passed since the beginning of the outbreak, but -we were still kept in constant readiness, watching day and night over -our master. He now summoned the two Khalifas, the Kadis, and the chiefs -of the Ashraf and Danagla to a meeting. He reproached the latter -severely, saying, that in spite of his previous pardon, they had shown -great reluctance in obeying his orders, they seldom attended prayers, -and were scarcely ever present at the Friday morning parades; he also -had the Mahdi's proclamation read out to them. Then, true to the system -adopted by his predecessor, of acting entirely in accordance with -prophetic inspiration, he announced to the meeting that the Prophet had -appeared to him, and had commanded him to mete out punishment to the -disobedient, whom he had mentioned by name. Thirteen persons in all were -included in this category: Ahmed Wad Suleiman, whom he detested, headed -the list; then followed Shenudi, one of the Khalifa's secretaries, a -Dongolawi who was under suspicion of sympathising with the rebels and -giving them information of the Khalifa's plans. One by one, as each name -was called, the unfortunate wretches had their hands tied behind their -backs, were carried off to the prison, and thrown into chains; a few -days later, the Khalifa sent them by boat, under a strong escort, to -Fashoda, where Zeki Tummal had them closely confined for eight days in a -zariba with scarcely any food or water, giving them only just -sufficient to keep them alive; then, in accordance with the secret -instructions he had received, he had them beaten to death with freshly -cut sticks from thorny trees. The execution took place in front of the -whole army, and, before this cruel operation began, their clothing was -ruthlessly torn from their emaciated bodies. - -Immediately the insurrection was over, the Khalifa despatched two of his -relatives, Ibrahim Wad Melek and Saleh Hamedo,--the former to the Blue -and the latter to the White Nile,--to arrest all the followers and -relatives of the Ashraf, who, being absent, were not included in the -general amnesty. In compliance with these orders, upwards of a thousand -men were sent in shebas to Omdurman, where they were accused by the -Khalifa of having taken part in the conspiracy. For many days, they were -kept in close confinement, huddled together in the prison-yard, and in -hourly dread of execution; but at length the Khalifa pardoned them, on -condition that they should share all they possessed with him; and of -course the poor wretches had to agree to these conditions. Orders were -issued to carry out the distribution in accordance with the curious -arithmetical rules instituted by the Khalifa, who, of course, received -the lion's share; on their return to their villages, they found -themselves divested of almost everything they possessed. Those who had -been well off were left with a mere pittance; and the poorer members had -nothing, whilst they found their daughters had been dishonoured, and -their wives abused. Deprived of all their arms, they had to submit to -the inevitable; but in their hearts they longed for some opportunity of -revenge. The Khalifa, after having taken all he required of their -property for himself and his brother, distributed the remainder amongst -the western Arabs, and of these, the Jubarat section, to which he -belonged, was given the largest share. This roused the discontent of the -other tribes, to whom the Taaisha had for some considerable time been a -constant source of annoyance; not only were they given the preference in -almost every case; but they were over-bearingly insolent, and whenever -complaints were made to the Khalifa or Yakub, the petitioners were -invariably sharply rebuked. During all these disturbances, the natives -in the provinces and the various garrisons had remained quiet; and their -commanders had received secret instructions to gradually disarm the -Danagla, of whose disloyalty there was no longer any doubt. - -Abdullahi now turned his attention to the Mahdi's two uncles, Mohammed -Abdel Kerim and Abdel Kader Wad Sati Ali. He affirmed he had received -information that they were indignant about his actions, and had been -guilty of instigating others against him; they utterly denied the -charge, but were sentenced by Kadi Ali to imprisonment. The Khalifa -ordered them to be put in chains, and sent on to Zeki Tummal, who, as -usual, was provided with secret instructions. - -Zeki's forces had dispersed all the Shilluk gatherings throughout the -country, and destroyed their villages; but, an epidemic of typhus having -broken out amongst the men, the Khalifa ordered him to quit Fashoda and -come with his entire army to Omdurman, but, before doing so, to raid the -Dinka tribe, who had already made their submission without fighting, -seize their cattle and enslave their wives and children. These -unsuspecting Blacks were summoned together under the pretext of a great -feast; and, when all had assembled, they were massacred almost to a man, -and their wives, children, and cattle carried off. Whilst on this -expedition he met, near Gebel Ahmed Agha, the boat conveying the Mahdi's -uncles; and, having perused the letters from Omdurman, he ordered the -prisoners to be landed after sunset. The wretched captives, knowing the -fate that was in store for them, besought pardon, but were only jeered -at by Zeki Tummal; they were taken inland, and their heads were split -open with the small axes which are used in the Sudan for lopping off -branches of trees. - -Zeki Tummal now returned to Omdurman laden with booty; he brought with -him thousands of female slaves, and immense herds of cattle, the sale -of which brought in a large sum of ready money. Most of Zeki's Emirs -indignantly complained of his tyranny, and even asserted to the Khalifa -that, if he could obtain sufficient followers, he would not hesitate to -make himself independent; but the latter, by making rich presents of -female slaves, money, and cattle to the Khalifa and his brother, -succeeded in remaining in their good graces. - -Whilst Zeki Tummal was in Omdurman, the Khalifa carried out a series of -manoeuvres between his forces and those quartered in Omdurman, and -personally took the command; but as he had absolutely no idea of -military science, and as the thirty thousand troops of whom he disposed -were entirely without discipline, the manoeuvres resulted in the most -hopeless confusion and disorder; and the blame for this invariably fell -on my devoted head, for the Khalifa employed me as a sort of -aide-de-camp, and when he became inextricably muddled up he hurled abuse -at me, and said I had purposely perverted his orders to make mischief. -Of course, I did not dare remonstrate with him, and quietly continued to -carry out his orders. At length he declared the exercises over, ordered -Zeki Tummal off to Gallabat, and, as was usually the case, commended me -for my services, and presented me with two Black young ladies as a proof -of his good-will. - -Meanwhile, Khalifa Sherif had heard of the murder of his two relatives, -and openly protested against this tyrannical proceeding; thus giving -Abdullahi an opportunity of taking the revenge for which he had so -patiently waited. He declared him to be guilty of disobedience to the -instructions which the Mahdi had so strictly enforced, and of -inattention to the Divine inspiration of the Prophet. He therefore -ordered Khalifa Ali and the Kadis to take him to task for the manner in -which he had expressed himself, and to point out to him that the -entirely false impression he had of his own rights as Khalifa had -brought about the death of his own relatives and followers. Promptly -assembling all the Kadis and principal Emirs, they decided that Khalifa -Sherif should be immediately arrested; on the following day, the -mulazemin being formed up in square on the open space between -Abdullahi's house and the Mahdi's tomb, they went in a body to him, -informed him that he was to be arrested, counselled submission, and -advised him to come with them of his own free-will. Too late, he now -realised what he had brought upon himself by his careless and -ill-considered talking. Going outside, he was received by the mulazemin -under the command of Arabi Dafalla; when he asked for his shoes, they -were refused him; and, on coming out of the mosque, he was driven and -pushed along at such a rate that he twice fell to the ground from pure -exhaustion, arriving at length at the Saier in a deplorable condition. -Here six irons were hammered on to his legs, so that he could scarcely -move; and a small straw hut was allotted to him as his abode. Cut off -from all intercourse with his fellow-creatures, and with only the bare -ground to lie upon, he had ample time to realise that the sacred -promises given by a Khalifa were of no avail when it was a question of -upholding his authority, or satisfying his thirst for vengeance. The -Mahdi's two young sons were sent to their grandfather, Ahmed Sharfi, who -was ordered to keep them closely locked up in his house, and allow no -one to see them. This Ahmed was an old man, and had made an immense -fortune by robbery; fearing to lose it, he was as submissive as a slave -to the Khalifa, and had thus to some extent gained his affection. - -Soon after this occurrence, I passed through a period of considerable -excitement. Yunes had sent on a man from Dongola to the Khalifa; he had -come from Cairo, and was charged with important information from the -Government. He was received personally by the Khalifa in the presence of -all the Kadis. I had a foreboding that the man's arrival was somehow -connected with me, and I endeavoured to discover from one of the Kadis, -who was a friend of mine, what had happened; he hurriedly told me that I -had nothing to fear, and advised me not to show the slightest interest -in the matter, lest I might be suspected. After prayers, the Kadis and -the messenger were again summoned before the Khalifa, and, to my great -relief, I saw the man soon afterwards tied hand and foot and carried off -to prison. My comrades were quarrelling amongst themselves as to the -cause of the man's imprisonment; but, mindful of the advice I had -received, I was careful to abstain from any interference. The following -day, when I had gone to my house for a short time, I was suddenly -summoned by the Khalifa, and found several of the Kadis with him. In -compliance with his orders, I seated myself down with them, and he began -to speak. Turning to the assembly, he informed them that he had -continually urged me to be loyal, that he cared for me as a father cared -for his son, and that he had steadily refused to believe the numerous -accusations which were, from time to time, brought up against me; and -then, turning to me, he completed his speech with the Arabic proverb, -"Where there is no fire, there is no smoke," adding, "but with you there -is a great deal of smoke. The messenger said yesterday that you are a -Government spy, and that your monthly salary is paid to your -representative in Cairo, who forwards it to you here. He affirms that he -has seen your signature in the Government office in Egypt, and that you -assisted Yusef el Gasis to escape; he adds, moreover, that you are -pledged to the English, in the event of an attack on Omdurman, to seize -the powder and ammunition stores, which they know are situated opposite -to your house. We have at once had the man imprisoned, for he formerly -escaped from here; what have you to say in your defence?" - -"Sire!" I replied, "God is merciful, and you are just. I am no spy: I -have never had any communication with the Government; and it is -absolutely untrue that I receive a salary which is forwarded to me here. -My brothers, your mulazemin, who go in and out of my house, know that I -am often in the greatest want, and it is only my deep respect for you -which prevents me from complaining; but if he states that he has seen my -signature, then he is guilty of a second lie, for I am certain that he -is quite unable to read any European language. I will, if you wish, -write on a paper several names, and amongst them my own; if he can -discover it, then it will be a proof that he can read our language; but -that will not necessarily prove that I am a spy." "And what else have -you against the man?" asked the Khalifa. "What service has the man -rendered to Government," I continued; "that, supposing I am a spy, I -should trust this fugitive with my secrets. As far as Yusef el Gasis is -concerned, you, my master, well know that he escaped at a time when it -was absolutely impossible for me to have any communication with him. I, -who am always near you, have no intercourse with people who assist -others to fly; and even supposing I had, and that I were a traitor, it -would certainly be much more natural that I should have escaped myself. -It is quite possible the English may know that my house is opposite to -the powder magazine; for the man who, with your kind permission, brought -me the letters from my brothers and sisters knew it, and, in all -probability, told them about it. It is also possible that my relatives -with whom, at your express command, I have ceased to have any -communication, should make inquiries about my welfare through the -Government clerks and merchants who sometimes go from here to Cairo, and -who probably know the position of my house; but the assertion that, in -case of war, I had engaged myself to seize your ammunition stores, is -quite ridiculous. As far as I can judge, the Government would never dare -to attack you, who are the ever victorious and unconquerable Khalifa, in -your own country; and if this well-nigh impossible event should take -place, how do I know that I shall be in my present house at that time? -Moreover, at such a critical period, my hope and desire is to stand in -the front rank of your victorious troops, and there seek an opportunity -of proving my loyalty and devotion by shedding my blood in your cause. -Sire, I rely upon your justice, which is well known to all; will you -sacrifice one who has been for so many years your devoted servant, to -the whim of a Dongolawi who is one of your enemies?" "How do you know -that the man who has given evidence against you is a Dongolawi?" asked -the Khalifa, quickly. "Some time ago I saw the man at your gate with -Abderrahman Wad en Nejumi esh Shahid ("the martyr," as he was called -after his death),[16] and owing to his forwardness and impudence I had -to call on your mulazemin to remove him by main force; no doubt he now -wishes to revenge himself, and at the same time curry favour with you, -by casting suspicion on me. You to whom God has given wisdom to govern -your subjects, will also judge me righteously and fairly." - -"I have summoned you here," said the Khalifa, after a long pause, "not -to judge you, but to show you that, in spite of the frequent attempts to -cast suspicion on you, I have in no way withdrawn my confidence in you. -Had I believed what the man said, I should not have imprisoned him; no -doubt you have enemies here, and there are probably envious people who -are jealous of your being near me. But beware! where there is no fire, -there is no smoke." He then signed to me to withdraw, and soon -afterwards the assembly broke up. - -That night I asked one of my comrades whom I knew I could trust, to tell -me what the Khalifa had said after I had left. He told me that Abdullahi -admitted the man was a liar, but that there might be some truth in his -statement; he had also said I might possibly have enemies in Cairo who -were intriguing against me. This had also occurred to me whilst I was -speaking, but I did not mention it, as I hesitated to throw down all my -cards; now that he had thought of it himself, my silence had stood me in -good stead, for I could bring forward this argument in my defence, -should some fresh accusation be brought against me. But how long was I -to continue in this wretched position? How long was I to keep up this -constant strain of always standing on the defensive; how much longer -could my present relations with the Khalifa last? I knew he was only -waiting for an opportunity to make me harmless, for he was perfectly -well aware that I was at heart his enemy; but in truth I thanked God -most fervently that he treated me with greater leniency than he did the -rest. How difficult it was to carry out Madibbo's advice; but how true -it was that he who lives long sees much! - -The following morning, after prayers, as I was on my way home, I was -overtaken by Gereifawi, who had succeeded Adlan and was on friendly -terms with me. "You are a rare visitor," said I, shaking hands with him; -"please God you have good reasons for it!" "Yes," said he; "but I am -come to disturb you. I require your house; and I must ask you to leave -it to-day. I will give you one in place of it which lies to the -southeast of the mosque, and in which the Khalifa's guests are usually -housed; it is somewhat smaller than your own, but you have only the road -between it and the mosque, and this will thoroughly suit a pious man -like you!" "All right," said I; "but tell me privately who sent you -here, the Khalifa or Yakub?" "Ah, that is a secret!" said he, laughing; -"but after your conversation yesterday with the Khalifa, you can surely -understand the reason; probably," he continued ironically, "our master, -out of his great love for you, wishes to have you in close proximity to -himself; your house is scarcely two hundred paces from his own. When may -I come and take over your old house?" "I shall have finished moving by -the evening," said I; "it will take me some little time to remove the -fodder for my horse and mule. Is the house I am to have uninhabited?" -"Of course it is. I have given orders for it to be cleaned, and will now -return to make the necessary arrangements; but you had better begin -moving at once, and I hope your new house will bring better luck than -your old one," said Gereifawi, leaving me. - -Undoubtedly this was a very clear case of want of confidence in me on -the Khalifa's part. He was anxious to remove me from the neighbourhood -of the ammunition stores and powder magazine, which, in case of war, I -was supposed to seize. I now called together my household, and told them -to begin moving at once. They cursed the Khalifa freely, and called down -all the punishments of Heaven on his head. Little by little, year by -year, they had gone on building. They had dug wells fifty feet deep, had -planted lemon and pomegranate trees, which were just about to bear -fruit, and had, so to speak, made themselves comfortable. For me, the -move was quite immaterial. How I had prayed to leave this house, though -not in this way! However, as Gereifawi had said, perhaps the new house -would bring me better luck; and I was by no means the only man who had -been turned out of his abode at short notice. The whole portion of the -city lying north of the Khalifa's house had been vacated at a moment's -notice by the Ashraf and their relatives; and they had not even been -allowed to remove their furniture, nor had they received the smallest -compensation. They had been given a patch of stony ground to the west of -the town, where they had been ordered to build fresh houses. After all, -I was better off than they. Recent events had depressed me considerably, -and I saw that the situation was now becoming almost unbearable; but -more trouble was in store for me which was to throw completely into the -background that of which I now complained. - -One of my acquaintances, a Darfur merchant who had frequently travelled -backwards and forwards to Egypt, Alexandria, and Syria, and who had -gradually understood the various nationalities, realised that I was an -Austrian. He had surmised correctly that, although a captive for many -years, and shut off from all communication with my own people, I still -took an intense interest in all that concerned my native land. He spoke -to me in the mosque, told me hurriedly about affairs in Egypt, and then -handed me an Egyptian newspaper of old date which, he said, had -accidentally come into his hands in Alexandria, and which contained an -article about Austrian affairs. Hurrying home, I opened the paper, and -found, to my dismay, the news of the death of our Crown Prince Rudolf. I -cannot describe the distress which this news caused me. I had served in -his regiment; and I had never given up hope that some day I should -return home, and have the pleasure of assuring him that, under all the -strange and sad circumstances of my eventful life, I had always -endeavoured to uphold the honour of an officer belonging to the Imperial -regiment. But what were the trials and troubles of one obscure -individual in comparison with this great national calamity,--nothing! - -Again and again my mind turned to the grief of our beloved Emperor, to -whom we Austrians look up as to a father. What must he have felt and -suffered! - -Here in the midst of this unsympathetic crowd my mind was filled with -these sad thoughts; but I did not dare show that I was affected. It -required all my self-control to hide from the rude gaze of the Mahdists -the expressions of distress which came over my face when I thought of my -beloved home; and, in the internal struggle which was going on almost -continuously, I sometimes longed for the time when an end should be put -to my wretched existence. To-day all the old sores had broken out -afresh. The man would have done me a far greater service had he kept -back the newspaper. It had only brought fresh trouble upon me, and -depressed me more than ever. My comrades at the Khalifa's door--ignorant -of the real cause of my sorrow--advised me to appear as cheerful as -possible, and to show no displeasure about my enforced removal to -another house, as the Khalifa was sure to have instructed his spies to -watch me carefully, and see how I took his unwelcome order. I therefore -tried to look as unconcerned as possible, and, to account for my -depression, I pretended to be unwell,--what a life of dissimulation! -Fortunately the Khalifa was busied with other matters. A letter had -reached him from Ahmed Wad Ali at Gallabat, complaining of the treatment -he received at the hands of his superior, Zeki Tummal; and, a few days -afterwards, he arrived, in order to make his complaint personally. He -said that in his own name, and in the name of all the other Emirs, he -refused to put up with the continual insults and arbitrary confiscation -of property on the part of Zeki, whom he also accused of conspiring to -make himself independent. The Khalifa knew perfectly well that most of -these complaints arose from Zeki's unpopularity with his assistants. He -therefore wrote to him to at once refund all the confiscated property, -and to accord to his Emirs the treatment to which their position -entitled them. At the same time, he instructed Ahmed Wad Ali to return -forthwith to Gallabat, and gave him secret orders to watch closely his -chief's movements, and personally report to him. - -Abu Girga, who by this time had been recalled from Kassala, and had been -replaced there by Mussaid, being a Dongolawi, was considered by the -Khalifa to be a source of danger in Omdurman. Under the pretext, -therefore, of sending reinforcements to Reggaf, he despatched him with -two steamers up the White Nile, and, at the same time, Omar Saleh was -recalled to give a report of affairs in Equatoria. Abu Girga was -nominated Emir of the whole country, and commander of all the rifle and -spear men; but, at the same time, Mukhtar Wad Abaker, one of the -Khalifa's relatives, was appointed to superintend him. - -A few days after the steamers had left, the Khalifa fell seriously ill -with an attack of typhus fever. All Omdurman watched the course of the -illness with the most intense anxiety, for his death would have been the -signal for a complete change in the administration of the country. -Khalifa Ali Wad Helu, who, according to Mahdist law, should be the -successor, watched the illness with almost breathless interest; and his -followers and tribe showed such deep concern that they fell under the -suspicion of wishing to seize the reins of government. The Khalifa's -powerful constitution, however, got the better of the malady; and it -seemed as if the wretched inhabitants of the Sudan had not been -sufficiently punished, and that God did not yet intend to remove from -them this terrible scourge. After an illness of about three weeks, -Abdullahi took the first possible opportunity of appearing before his -followers, who greeted him with frantic acclamations,--the outcome, in -the majority of cases, of a desire merely to make a noise. Only his own -relatives and some of the western Arabs really rejoiced at his recovery. -But the Khalifa had no delusions about the imaginary sentiment to which -his followers had given vent during his illness. He knew perfectly well -that in showing the preference to his own tribe, he had given umbrage to -many of the western Arabs, who, being strangers in the land, it was most -necessary to retain on his side. The inhabitants of the Nile valley and -of the Gezira, the majority of whom were Jaalin and Danagla, were his -enemies; but, disarmed, and their property confiscated, he had made them -powerless, and every now and then he sent considerable detachments of -them to reinforce Darfur, Gallabat, and Reggaf. He did not hide from -himself that Khalifa Ali and his followers were anxious to step into his -shoes; but he knew that they would never be foolish enough to attempt to -carry out their plans by main force, as the Ashraf had done. - -Now that I had my abode close to him, he was more suspicious than ever -of me. He continually inquired of my comrades if this strict supervision -did not make me indignant, and he did all he could to find fault with my -conduct; but, fortunately, the mulazemin were on friendly terms with me, -and always reported favourably of me. At the same time, they secretly -warned me that the Khalifa's dislike of me was increasing, and that I -must be most careful. - -One day, in the month of December, 1892, when I had just left the -Khalifa's door to take a short rest, one of the mulazemin summoned me to -the Khalifa's presence. I found him in the reception room, surrounded by -his Kadis, and the threats and reprimands which I had received on the -occasion of Taib Haj Ali's calumny were still fresh in my mind. I was -therefore considerably dismayed when the Khalifa, without returning my -salute, ordered me to take my seat amongst the judges. "Take this -thing," said he, after a short pause, and in a very severe tone, "and -see what it contains." I at once arose and took in both hands the object -he gave me, and then sat down again. It consisted of a brass ring of -about four centimetres in diameter, attached to which was a small metal -case about the size and shape of a revolver cartridge. An attempt had -been made to open it, and I could plainly see that it contained a paper. -This was indeed an anxious moment for me. Could it be a letter from my -relations, or from the Egyptian Government; and had the messenger who -brought it been captured? Whilst I was engaged in opening the case with -the knife which had been given me, I turned over in my mind how I should -act, and what I should say; and, as good luck would have it, I had not -on this occasion to have recourse to dissimulation. Pulling out two -small papers, and opening them, I found inscribed on them, in minute but -legible handwriting, in German, French, English, and Russian languages -the following:-- - - This crane has been bred and brought up on my estate at Ascania - Nova, in the Province of Tauride, in South Russia. Whoever - catches or kills this bird is requested to communicate with me, - and inform me where it occurred. - - (Signed) F. R. FALZ-FEIN. - September, 1892. - -I now raised my head, which hitherto I had kept closely bent down; and -the Khalifa asked, "Well, what do the papers contain?" "Sire," I -replied, "this case must have been fastened to the neck of a bird which -has been killed. Its owner, who lives in Europe, has requested that any -one who finds the bird should let him know where it was caught or -killed." "You have spoken the truth," said the Khalifa, in a somewhat -more amiable tone; "the bird was killed by a Shaigi near Dongola, and -the cartridge case was found attached to its neck. He took it to the -Emir Yunes, whose secretary was unable to decipher the writing of the -Christian, and he therefore forwarded it to me. Tell me now what is -written on the paper?" I translated the message, word for word, and, at -the Khalifa's command also tried to describe the geographical position -of the country from which the bird had come, and the distance it had -travelled before it was killed. "This is one of the many devilries of -those unbelievers," he said, at last, "who waste their time in such -useless nonsense. A Mohammedan would never have attempted to do such a -thing." - -He then ordered me to hand over the case to his secretary, and signed to -me to withdraw; but I managed to take one more hurried glance at the -paper,--Ascania Nova, Tauride, South Russia, I repeated over and over -again to imprint it on my memory. The mulazemin at the door anxiously -awaited my return; and when I came out from the presence of my -tyrannical master with a placid countenance, they seemed greatly -pleased. On my way to my house, I continued to repeat to myself the name -of the writer and his residence, and determined, that should Providence -ever grant me my freedom, I should not fail to let him know what had -happened to his bird. - -In accordance with orders, Mahmud Ahmed now returned to Omdurman with -all his available troops (about five thousand) from Darfur, leaving -there only sufficient men for the garrison. He pitched his camp at Dem -Yunes on the south side of the city. - -Once more I underwent a period of considerable trial. The Khalifa again -instituted a series of military manoeuvres for all the troops in -Omdurman; and, as usual, they resulted in the wildest confusion. I had -to perform the duties of aide-de-camp, and invariably had to bear the -blame for everything that went wrong; but all things come to an end, and -at last Mahmud Ahmed was ordered back to Gallabat, after his troops had -renewed their oath of allegiance, in return for which they received some -new jibbas. - -The Khalifa now turned his attention to the Equatorial regions, where -Abu Girga resided as nominal Governor, and despatched two steamers with -three hundred men, under the command of his relative Arabi Dafalla, to -Reggaf with instructions to depose Abu Girga, and throw him into chains. -It was abundantly clear that the latter had only been sent to Reggaf to -get him out of the way. Dafalla's departure was also taken advantage of -to exile Khaled, who had been lying heavily chained in the Saier. - -Dafalla was instructed to extend the Mahdist territory as far as -possible in all directions, and to send back to Omdurman as many slaves -and as much ivory as he could obtain. Whilst the expedition was being -got ready, the Khalifa, under the pretext of giving Zeki Tummal special -verbal instructions regarding an intended campaign against the Italians, -recalled him to Omdurman. Ahmed Wad Ali had faithfully carried out his -secret instructions, which had resulted in the recall of his chief. A -few days after the steamers had left, Zeki arrived at Omdurman -accompanied by some of the Emirs whom he looked upon as friendly. During -his absence, he had nominated Ahmed Wad Ali as his representative, and -had ordered him to await his return at Gedaref. The Khalifa, to all -outward appearance, received Zeki in the most friendly manner possible; -and, a few days after his arrival, in spite of their orders, Ahmed Wad -Ali and the other Emirs arrived at Omdurman, and were frequently -received in secret audience by Abdullahi. They brought proofs of Zeki's -duplicity and disobedience to the Khalifa's commands in not restoring -the property which he had confiscated; and they showed how he had -subverted his instructions by inducing his men to become participators -in a conspiracy by which he should become independent. The Khalifa and -his brother Yakub took counsel together, and agreed to make him harmless -once and for all. They thought that if they merely removed him from his -position, dissensions might arise amongst his men. On the following -morning, therefore, the unsuspecting Zeki, relying on the former -services he had rendered, and anticipating merely a reprimand, was -enticed into Yakub's house, where he was immediately seized from behind -by four men, his sword wrenched from him, and his hands tied behind his -back. He had frequently spoken disrespectfully of Yakub and Kadi Ahmed, -saying that, in comparison with a brave warrior like himself, they were -little better than women, and were only happy in receiving presents and -leading comfortable and voluptuous lives. Disarmed and bound, he was now -brought, a miserable captive, before his master, who awaited him in an -adjoining court. - -"Well, my fine hero, where is your courage now?" said Yakub. "You owed -your promotion to me," said Kadi Ahmed, who, when Zeki had been -nominated to the supreme command, had conveyed the news to him in -Gallabat; "and now you have to thank me for your present humiliation. -Praise be to God, who has preserved me to this day in order that I may -see you standing thus before me." - -Livid with rage, and grinding his teeth, Zeki answered, "I have been -surprised and betrayed. Were I in an open field, not a hundred men like -you would terrify me. I know I am lost; but after my death you will try -to find men like me to take my place, and you will not find them." At a -signal from Yakub, he was hurried off to the general prison, where his -body was covered with as much weight of iron as it could possibly bear. -He was then removed to a small detached stone hut, deprived of all -communication with others, and not even allowed sufficient bread and -water to sustain life, and consequently, after an imprisonment of twenty -days, he succumbed to hunger and thirst. - -On his arrest, his house was sequestrated, and in it were found fifty -thousand Maria Theresa and Medjidi dollars, and quantities of gold rings -and other jewellery looted from the Abyssinians. Some of the Black -soldiers who were devoted to him, and had accompanied him from Gallabat, -were also thrown into chains and died of starvation. - -Ahmed Wad Ali now succeeded Zeki in the supreme command, and at once -returned to Gedaref, whither, in the meantime, the entire army had moved -from Gallabat. In accordance with the Khalifa's instructions, he -confiscated the whole of his predecessor's property, consisting of -horses, camels, cattle, and slaves, which he despatched, together with -all his wives (numbering one hundred and sixty-four), and twenty-seven -children, to Omdurman. The Khalifa kept the cattle and slaves for -himself, and distributed the childless widows amongst his followers; but -he married the mothers to his slaves, so that the children, whose father -had been a slave, should be brought up as slaves. Seven of Zeki's -brothers and near relatives were cruelly murdered by Ahmed Wad Ali; and -one of his sisters was flogged to death on the pretext that she had -concealed money. - -Wad Ali, now in supreme command, was anxious to refute any idea of -timidity, and sought to gain military renown. He obtained the Khalifa's -permission to undertake operations against the Arab tribes living -between Kassala and the Red Sea, who were subject to the Italians; but -he received distinct orders not to attack any troops quartered in forts. -He was allowed to utilise the services of the Kassala garrison under -Mussaid Gaidum, and now made all preparations for a campaign. Leaving -Gedaref with his army, early in November, 1893, he joined the Kassala -troops, and his force numbered in all some four thousand five hundred -riflemen, four thousand spearmen, and two hundred and fifty horsemen, -and advanced against the eastern Arab tribes,--the Beni Amer, Hadendoa, -and others. The latter, apprised of his intention, drove off their -cattle and retired before him; but at Agordat he came up with the -Italian troops, who were in an entrenched position. As they were in such -small numbers, he resolved, in spite of the Khalifa's instructions, to -attack them; but he was heavily defeated, and himself killed, together -with his two principal leaders, Abdalla Wad Ibrahim and Abder Rasul, and -a number of Emirs. The loss in killed and missing was estimated at -about two thousand, and these belonged, almost without exception, to the -Gedaref force, because Mussaid and the Kassala troops did not come to -Ahmed Wad Ali's assistance. Had the Italian troops been in a position to -pursue the Mahdists, who were retreating in wild disorder on Kassala, -there is little doubt the latter would have been almost entirely -annihilated. - -The news of the defeat and death of Ahmed Wad Ali caused the greatest -consternation in Omdurman, though in public the Khalifa tried to appear -unconcerned. He affirmed that the losses sustained by the Italians were -infinitely greater than those suffered by his troops, and that he -thanked God, Ahmed Wad Ali and some of his leaders had died the death of -martyrs on the field of battle, fighting against the cursed Christians. -In reality, however, he spent many sleepless nights; for he feared that -the Italians, encouraged by their victory, would be induced to advance -on Kassala, and he fully realised that, in view of the panic which -prevailed, they would have no difficulty in seizing and occupying it. It -was not till some days had elapsed, and he had received news that the -enemy had not quitted its position, that he calmed down somewhat, and -began to consider whom he should nominate as Wad Ali's successor. The -army of the latter had been dispersed throughout the Gedaref districts; -and it was necessary to despatch reinforcements without delay. The -inhabitants of Omdurman, however, saw in the defeat of Wad Ali, Heaven's -just retribution for the death of Zeki Tummal, who, though he had been -guilty of cruelty and oppression, had been the victim of intrigue and -false evidence. They were justly enraged against the Khalifa, who in his -vengeance had not been satisfied with Zeki Tummal's murder, but had also -massacred his relatives and seized his women and children. - -The Khalifa now nominated his cousin Ahmed Fedil as commander of the -Gedaref army, and gave him strict injunctions to remain entirely on the -defensive. He proceeded to his post by way of Kassala, in order to -collect the scattered troops, who, after the defeat at Agordat, had -forced themselves on the villagers, and were harrying the country for -food. Once again the Khalifa's equanimity was upset by a rumour that the -Italians now intended advancing on Kassala; but this news was followed -soon afterwards by a contradiction, and he became pacified. Indeed, he -had publicly announced his intention of avenging Ahmed Wad Ali's defeat, -though in reality he had not the slightest idea of doing so; but, in his -ignorance, he believed that these false threats would prevent his -enemies from assuming the offensive. He also sent small detachments of -horse and spear men to Gedaref. - -A few months had elapsed since this catastrophe, when one day, just -after morning prayers, three men presented themselves at the door of the -Khalifa's house, and urgently demanded to be taken before him. I at once -recognised them as Baggara Emirs, who had been stationed at Kassala, and -from the expression of their faces I could see that the news they -brought would not be welcome to the Khalifa. In a few minutes, they were -admitted, and soon afterwards a considerable disturbance took place -round the Khalifa's door. Khalifa Ali Wad Helu, Yakub, as well as all -the Kadis, received a sudden summons to attend at a council. The -Khalifa's suspicions had been verified, and Kassala, after a short -fight, had been captured by the Italians. - -[Illustration: The Khalifa inciting his troops to attack Kassala.] - -It was impossible to withhold this news from the public. The ombeija -was sounded, the great war-drums were beaten, the horses were saddled, -and the Khalifa, accompanied by all his mulazemin and an immense number -of horse and spear men, solemnly rode down to the banks of the Nile. -Arrived here, he forced his horse into the river till the water reached -its knees; and, drawing out his sword, and pointing towards the east, he -shouted out in a loud voice, "Allahu akbar! Allahu akbar!" (God is most -great!). Each time the cry was taken up by the immense crowd; but the -majority were inwardly rejoicing at the Khalifa's discomfiture. They -longed for him to receive fresh humiliation, thinking thereby to lighten -the terrible yoke they bore. After this display, the Khalifa turned his -horse about, came back to the river bank, dismounted, and sat down on -his sheepskin. A great crowd now collected round him; and he informed -them of the fall of Kassala, declaring that his followers had been taken -unawares by enormous numbers of the enemy, just after morning prayers, -and had been forced to retire. He stated, however, that all the war -material, women, and children had been saved, that the losses had been -insignificant, whilst the enemy had suffered so heavily that they now -bitterly regretted having taken the town. Even his most devoted -adherents well knew that these words were a mere pretext for covering a -disgraceful defeat. Almost immediately after the three Emirs had arrived -in Omdurman, it was known far and wide that the garrison had been -surprised, that partly from fear, and partly owing to the unpopularity -of Mussaid, they had refused to fight; and, almost without offering any -resistance, they had retired towards Goz Regeb. The Khalifa now realised -that his capital was more fully exposed than ever to a successful -advance on the part of his enemies; but he had not yet learnt all; and -when it eventually came to his ears that his faithful followers, instead -of gladly laying down their lives for the cause, had lost the fanatical -spirit which had for so many years made them the terror of their -enemies, he understood that not only in Kassala had public opinion -changed, but that throughout the whole country his popularity had waned. -He now took occasion to announce publicly that Kassala was merely a -minor position of no special importance; but that in a short time he -meant to retake it, as well as the entire country up to the shores of -the Red Sea. He returned home late that evening, and held a council with -his brother Yakub and the Kadis, regarding the precautions which should -now be taken. He must have bitterly regretted the absence of his chief -Kadi, Ahmed Wad Ali, who, though he neither sought nor took his advice, -had been his faithful friend and servant for the last ten years. As -chief judge, he had acquired an immense influence in the country; and, -considering the circumstances, he had during that time collected very -considerable wealth. Upwards of a thousand slaves worked on his immense -estates. He employed merchants to take the produce, such as India-rubber -and ostrich feathers, to Egypt. He possessed immense herds of cattle, -and quantities of camels and magnificent horses; but his most coveted -possession was his harem, in which were collected a large number of -lovely women and female slaves. All this had roused the cupidity of -Yakub and of the Khalifa's young son. The former was intensely irritated -against Ahmed, as he seldom paid the smallest attention to his opinions -or proposals. Even the Khalifa had become jealous of his influence, and -lent a willing ear to Yakub's insinuations that he abused his power, and -made use of his position to increase his own wealth. Under the pretext -that Ahmed had acted contrary to the instructions which the Khalifa had -specially laid down, he himself, as President of the Court of Kadis, had -sentenced him to perpetual imprisonment. Thus a just retribution had at -length fallen on the head of this unscrupulous judge, who had ruthlessly -condemned numbers of innocent persons, had robbed them of all they -possessed, had turned wives and children into widows and orphans, and -had perpetrated every description of injustice. He had been seized by -the Black soldiers, thrown into prison, and lost all his wealth, whilst -the Khalifa, his son, and his brother Yakub had rifled his harem of the -best and prettiest women, and distributed the remainder amongst their -followers. - -The Khalifa knew perfectly well the difficulties of re-capturing -Kassala; but, in order to make a show of doing something, he sent -instructions to Osman Digna, who was at Adarama on the Atbara, some -three days' march from Berber, to join Mussaid at Goz Regeb with all his -available forces. At the same time, he ordered Ahmed Fedil to make a -military post of a thousand rifles at El Fasher on the Atbara, about one -and a half days' journey from Kassala. He also sent detachments of -troops from Omdurman to Asubri on the Atbara, midway between El Fasher -and Goz Regeb. He continued to assert most resolutely that he intended -shortly to advance on Kassala; but all these arrangements were made -entirely with a view to establishing a series of defensive posts along -the line of the Atbara, whilst the troops he was constantly collecting -were intended to oppose the advance of the enemy towards Omdurman. - -In the midst of all this disturbance and excitement, the satisfactory -news arrived that a messenger sent by Arabi from Reggaf had arrived at -Omdurman from Katena, a town on the White Nile. Two steamers soon -followed, bringing cargoes of ivory and slaves; and, in a day or two, -four hundred male slaves were marched with great pomp and ceremony -through the city, as proof of Dafalla's successes in the Equatorial -regions. As a matter of fact, the latter had attacked and defeated a -detachment of Emin Pasha's troops who had separated from the main body, -and had been living independently, and at their own risk, in a track of -country governed by Fadl el Maula, one of Emin's subalterns. On the -Pasha's departure, this man had entered into communication with the -advanced agents of the Congo Free State, and had agreed with them that, -if they should assist him to re-occupy the Equatorial Province, he would -enter their service. His real intentions, however, were to remain -independent, and though nominally a servant of the Congo Free State, to -derive from them as much profit as he could for his own personal -benefit. Misled by false information, Fadl el Maula had ventured close -to the station of Reggaf, which he believed to be only lightly held by -the Mahdists; but he discovered his mistake too late. He beat a rapid -retreat, but was followed up and overtaken, after several days' march, -by Arabi Dafalla, who surprised his camp whilst most of the men were out -on a foray. Fadl el Maula himself was killed, with most of the men in -camp, whilst defending their wives and children; and Arabi captured a -quantity of loot, all the women and children, and a number of rifles. -Amongst the trophies he sent to Omdurman were four Congo Free State -flags made of blue bunting, with a five-pointed yellow star in the -centre, also two suits of black uniform with buttons, on which the words -"Travail et Progrès" were engraved. This was the first time I had seen -the badge of the Congo Free State, of the existence of which I had -heard; but I had no notion of its size or the extent of its boundaries. -Several European letters had also been found in Fadl el Maula's camp; -but the Khalifa did not show them to me. He preferred to remain in -ignorance of their contents, rather than that I should gain some insight -into affairs in those regions. The brilliance of this last success of -his arms was, however, considerably dimmed by the news which came soon -afterwards, that Christian agents from the south and west were advancing -towards the Equatorial Provinces. Arabi had received information that a -force was in Uganda, and that Christian troops were advancing from the -western districts of Central Africa; and he appealed for instructions as -to how to act. A reinforcement of four hundred men was at once -despatched to Reggaf; and orders were sent to him to withdraw all -outlying posts, should he be threatened, but under no circumstances to -abandon Reggaf. - -When the expedition had been sent against Emin Pasha, it was the -Khalifa's intention not to acquire more territory in this direction, but -to make a station from which raids could be made on the Black countries, -in order to procure ivory and slaves. - -After the steamer had left with reinforcements, the Khalifa again turned -his attention to affairs in the east. He ordered all the Jaalin in -Omdurman to proceed to Asubri, and nominated Hamed Wad Ali, the brother -of Ahmed Wad Ali, to the command of this post. He subsequently -despatched thither the Danagla, as well as a number of Arab horsemen to -Gedaref; and the camel-owning Arabs were instructed to supply three -thousand camels, of which a thousand were incorporated with the mounted -corps at Gedaref, whilst the remainder were used to transport grain from -Rufaa and Abu Haraz on the Blue Nile to Asubri, which, having been -abandoned by its former inhabitants, was now left entirely uncultivated; -and in consequence the troops there were suffering great privations. By -these measures, the Khalifa imagined that he had turned the line of the -Atbara into a sort of wall, by which he hoped to block the enemy's -advance; but it seemed as if he were likely to have no rest this year. - -Mahmud Ahmed now reported that Christians had entered the Bahr el Ghazal -districts, and were attempting to win over the native tribes, with whom -they had already made treaties. They had arrived, he said, at Hofret en -Nahas (the copper mines near Kalaka on the southwestern Darfur -frontier). This news was of the greatest importance; and the Khalifa had -every reason to feel alarmed and uneasy. - -When Egypt governed the Sudan, it was from the Bahr el Ghazal Provinces -that they recruited the men for the Sudanese battalions, who had come -either of their own free-will or had been forcibly impressed. Owing to -the climate and plenteous rainfall, the country is more highly -cultivated than any portion of the Nile valley lying between Kowa and -Reggaf. Besides, the majority of the tribes who inhabit these districts -are, owing to internal dissensions, incapable of uniting, and would thus -rather facilitate than retard the advance of any foreign power wishing -to make itself master of the province. For the Khalifa, however, the -possession of this country is of vital importance. Its ruler, he knows, -virtually holds the Sudan in his hands. These various Black tribes have -no love for the Arab slave-hunters, and would aid any power which would -guarantee their protection. The recruitment of four or five thousand -local levies, possessing fighting qualities of a high order, would, for -such a power, be a matter of no difficulty; and in the space of four or -five years an army of from fifteen to twenty thousand men might be -raised, by which not only Darfur and Kordofan, but indeed the whole -Sudan, could be conquered. - -Abdullahi, therefore, was not slow to realise the situation; and he at -once gave orders to Mahmud Ahmed to despatch a force from Southern -Darfur into these districts, and drive out the strangers who had dared -to penetrate the Bahr el Ghazal Province. - -In compliance with these instructions, the Emir Khatem Musa, with a -considerable force, was sent south from Shakka into the northern Bahr el -Ghazal districts, and the Faroghé, Kâra, Bongo, and other frontier -tribes with whom the Europeans had made treaties, being left without -support, at once submitted to the Mahdists who occupied their countries. - -One day, I was summoned before the Khalifa, who handed to me several -documents written in French, which he ordered me to translate. They -included two letters from Lieutenant de La Kéthulle to his assistants, -containing various orders and instructions. They had been originally in -the hands of the Sheikh of Faroghé, who had handed them over to Khatem -Musa. In addition to these, the Khalifa showed me a treaty which had -been drawn up between Sultan Hamed Wad Musa of the Faroghé and the -representative of the Congo Free State, which was to the effect that,-- - -1. Sultan Hamed Wad Musa, chief of the Faroghé tribe, acknowledged the -suzerainty of the Congo Free State, and placed himself under its -protection. - -2. Sultan Hamed Wad Musa bound himself to enter into commercial -relations with the Congo Free State, and establish intercourse between -it and the Darfur frontier districts, and agreed to give protection to -all officials of that State travelling in his country. - -3. The Congo Free State bound itself to assist Sultan Hamed Wad Musa in -all his undertakings, and uphold his authority in the country. - -This treaty was signed in August, 1894, by Hamed Wad Musa and the -representative of the Congo Free State; and was witnessed by Sultan -Zemio and the Sultan of Tiga, the names of the two latter being written -in European characters. - -I hurriedly translated these papers verbally to the Khalifa, and was -much interested in seeing how, on this occasion, his curiosity got the -better of his suspicions; though he did all he could to prevent me from -noticing this. - -"I did not summon you," he said, "merely to translate these letters, -which, after all, are of not the smallest importance to me, though I -have instructed Mahmud Ahmed to drive out these Christians, who are only -travellers, and in small numbers, from the Bahr el Ghazal Province; but -I have also a proposal to make to you. I look upon you as one of us,--as -my friend and faithful adherent,--and I have decided to publicly make -known this fact by giving to you as a wife one of my cousins,--one of my -next of kin. What have you to say to this?" This offer did not greatly -surprise me; for he had several times hinted as much. I was perfectly -well aware that his object was not to publicly show appreciation of me, -but to have me carefully watched in my own house. He wished to place me -under surveillance in order to discover if I had any secret relations -with outside countries. Through trusty friends, I had ascertained that -he earnestly sought some plausible grounds for making me, as he called -it, "harmless;" but in doing so he wished to justify his action before -the public, by showing me more consideration as a foreigner than if I -had been a native. I knew too well, however, that a man of his -unscrupulous determination, who had not spared his best friends, such as -Ibrahim Adlan and Kadi Ahmed, would not hesitate to take full advantage -of the slightest proof of my disloyalty in order to rid himself of me. - -"Sire," I replied, "may God bless you, and give you victory over all -your enemies. I feel highly honoured by your magnanimous offer; but hear -of me, I pray you, the truth. Your relative is not merely descended -from royalty, but from the Prophet himself. She therefore deserves to -be treated with every consideration. Unfortunately, I have a very quick -temper, and at times have great difficulty in controlling myself. -Domestic quarrels would undoubtedly arise, which might be the cause of -estrangement between you, my master, and myself. My only desire is to -remain in your greatest favour. I pray God this may ever be so; for I -dread the occurrence of anything which might cause me to fall into -disfavour." - -"I have known you now intimately for ten years," said the Khalifa; "and -I have never known you to be thoughtless or quick-tempered. I have often -presented you with wives, and they have never complained to me of -domestic quarrels. It is true, however, that I have heard you have -either made presents of them to your servants, or have given them their -liberty. It seems to me that although you pretend to be one of us, you -really wish to adhere to the manners and customs of your tribe. [He did -not refer to religion, as I suppose he thought that might hurt my -feelings.] I mean that you wish to have only one wife." - -"Sire," I replied, "you have often honoured me with presents of slaves; -but you surely do not wish me to be their slave. If I have married them -to my servants, or sent them away, it is because they have been -disobedient, or have behaved badly. You have been misinformed, if you -think that I wish to adhere to the custom of my country to have only one -wife; for I have already three." - -"Very well," he said, "I believe you; and so you refuse to marry my -cousin?" - -"Sire," I replied, "I do not refuse; but I merely inform you of my -uncertain temper, so that I may prevent unpleasantness in the future. -Indeed, I am highly honoured by your kind offer; and I beg you to try -and see if I am worthy of it." He understood perfectly well that what I -had said was tantamount to a refusal; and he closed the conversation by -making a sign to me to withdraw. This offer had placed me in a most -difficult position. I thoroughly understood the Khalifa. By not joyfully -accepting his offer, I had hurt his pride; and now I longed more than -ever for liberty. Some months before, I had sent a Sudanese merchant to -Cairo, and had begged the Austrian Consul-General to place, through him, -the necessary means at my disposal to effect my escape. But how often -had I attempted negotiations of this sort through merchants and others, -and how often had I been doomed to disappointment and failure. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS. - - The Person and Characteristics of Khalifa Abdullahi--The Fate of - the Mahdist Chronicler--The Princesses of Darfur--The Khalifa's - Family Life--His Harem--The Organisation of his - Body-guard--Enforced Attendance at the Mosque--The Postal - System--Military Parades--Elevation of the Western Arabs and - Oppression of the River Tribes--The Military Situation and - Strength--Guns and Ammunition--Revenue and Expenditure--Courage. - - -I will now say a few words regarding the Khalifa's person and his -characteristics. - -Sayed Abdullahi Ibn Sayed Mohammed belongs to the Taaisha section of the -Baggaras (as all cattle-owning nomad Arabs are called). This section -inhabits the country in the southwestern portion of Darfur; and the -Khalifa himself is descended from the Aulad Om Sura of the Jubarat -family. I have already referred to Abdullahi's early life, and how he -had established a connection with the slave-hunting Arabs, when still -quite a youth. He joined the Mahdi at the age of thirty-five, and was -then a slim and active, though powerfully built man; but latterly he has -become very stout, and his lightness of gait has long since disappeared. -He is now forty-nine years of age, but looks considerably older; and the -hair of his beard is almost white. At times, the expression of his face -is one of charming amiability, but more generally it is one of dark -sternness, in which tyranny and unscrupulous resolution are unmistakably -visible. He is rash and quick-tempered, acting often without a moment's -consideration; and when in this mood, even his own brother dares not -approach him. His nature is suspicious to a degree to every one, his -nearest relatives and members of his household included. He admits that -loyalty and fidelity are rare qualities, and that those who have to deal -with him invariably conceal their real feelings in order to gain their -own ends. He is most susceptible to flattery, and consequently receives -an inordinate amount from every one. No one dares to speak to him -without referring, in the most fulsome terms, to his wisdom, power, -justice, courage, generosity, and truthfulness. He accepts this absurd -adulation with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction; but woe to him -who in the slightest degree offends his dignity. - -The following episode will give the reader a fair idea of his arbitrary -nature:-- - -A certain Kadi named Ismail Wad Abdel Kader, who had been well educated -in Cairo, had gained great favour with the Mahdi by having written a -laudatory account of his early victories. This had so fully gratified -the great religious reformer that he instructed Abdel Kader to continue -to chronicle the various important events as they happened, and further -instructed his principal Emirs to forward to him detailed histories of -all that occurred within their respective commands. In time, these -chronicles grew into an elaborate historical and inflated statement of -Mahdist rule in the Sudan; and, after the Mahdi's death, the Khalifa, -who had installed Abdel Kader as state chronicler, ordered the -continuance of the work. One day, however, during a pleasure-party, the -historian had been overheard to say that present affairs in the Sudan, -as compared with those in Egypt, might be described by the following -simile: The Khalifa might be considered as the Khedive Ismail Pasha, -whilst, in the same proportion, he, Abdel Kader, might be likened to -Ismail Pasha el Mofettish, who had been the Viceroy's principal adviser -and friend. This thoughtless statement was immediately reported to -Abdullahi, who, furious at such a comparison, at once ordered the judges -to assemble and make a full inquiry into the matter; and if Abdel Kader -had actually made such a statement, he should be at once condemned. To -the Kadis, he argued thus: "The Mahdi is the representative of the -Prophet Mohammed, and I am his successor. Who, therefore, in the whole -world holds so high a position as I? Who can be nobler than the direct -descendant of the Prophet?" The inquiry proved the guilt of Abdel Kader, -who, at the Khalifa's command, was thrown into chains and transported to -Reggaf. "What business has he to compare affairs here with those of -Egypt?" said the pompous Khalifa. "If he wishes to compare himself to a -Pasha, then I, the descendant of the Prophet, will never demean myself -to be put on a par with the Khedive,--a mere Turk." I suppose by these -assertions he thought to impress the populace. The stupid man too, in -his offended dignity, did not stop here. He at once ordered all the -chronicles (of which several copies had been made) to be instantly -burnt; but I heard privately that his secretary, who was being -frequently referred to by the Khalifa on the subject of the early events -of his reign, secreted one copy for private reference; and if these -strange chronicles could only be procured and translated into European -languages, they would expose to the civilised world the methods of -Mahdism in all its barefaced mendacity. - -Abdullahi's pride and confidence in his own powers are indescribable. He -firmly believes that he is capable of doing anything and everything; and -as he pretends to act under Divine inspiration, he never hesitates to -appropriate the merits of others as his own. For example, he stated that -the Mahdi's tomb, which had been built with immense labour and trouble -by the former Government architect Ismail, had been designed by himself -entirely in accordance with Divinely inspired plans. He ascribed Osman -Wad Adam's victory over Abu Gemmaiza, as well as Zeki Tummal's over King -John of Abyssinia, to the inspired orders which he pretended he had -issued. His character is a strange mixture of malice and cruelty. He -delights to annoy and cause disappointment; and he is never happier than -when he has brought people to complete destitution by confiscating -their property, throwing them into chains, robbing families wholesale, -seizing and executing all persons of tribal influence and authority, and -reducing entire races to a condition of powerless impotence. - -During the Mahdi's lifetime, he was entirely responsible for the -severity of the proceedings enacted in his name, and for the merciless -manner in which he treated his defeated enemies. It was Abdullahi who -gave the order for no quarter at the storming of Khartum; and it was he -who subsequently authorised the wholesale massacre of the men, women, -and children. After the fall of that city, it was he who, for the period -of four days, declared the whole Shaigia tribe to be outlaws. When -distributing the captured women and children, he was utterly regardless -of their feelings. To separate children from their mothers, and to make -their re-union practically impossible by scattering them amongst -different tribes, was his principal delight. When Osman Wad Adam sent to -Omdurman the sisters of the late Sultan of Darfur, the Princesses Miriam -Isa Basi and Miriam Bakhita, he gave them their liberty, but took most -of their female relatives into his own harem, and distributed the -remainder amongst his followers; and, hearing that some Darfur people -who were residing in Omdurman had called on the Princesses, and offered -them presents, he had the latter arrested and made over as slaves to his -two Emirs, Hassib and Kanuna, who were on the point of starting for -Reggaf. In vain poor Bakhita's blind mother implored to be allowed to -accompany her daughter; but she was forcibly prevented by the Khalifa's -special orders, and died a few days later of a broken heart. Her -daughter threw herself into the river as the boat started. She was -saved, but subsequently died on the journey from fatigue and misery. -Ahmed Gurab, an Egyptian born in Khartum, who had quitted the city as a -merchant before the destruction of Hicks Pasha's army, had left behind -him his wife, who was a Sudanese, and his daughter. He eventually -returned to see them; and, on the day he arrived in Omdurman, he was -brought before the Khalifa, to whom he explained the reasons of his -return, and expressed a wish to enter his service. "I accept your -offer," said the Khalifa. "You will at once proceed to Reggaf, and fight -in the Holy Cause against the heathen." In vain the unfortunate man -begged and implored to remain with his wife and daughter, or at least to -be allowed to see them; but the Khalifa ordered his mulazemin to take -him at once on board the steamer, and guard him carefully, and on no -account permit him to see his family. With a smile of fiendish delight, -he said: "His fellow-passengers are Isa Basi and Bakhita. He may enjoy -their society as much as he likes, if their masters will allow him." - -Without the smallest rhyme or reason, he has caused the death of -thousands of innocent people. He had the right hand and left foot of a -certain Omar publicly cut off in the market-place, because he had failed -to make lead, which he had said he could do, and for which purpose he -had received a small sum of money in advance. During the horrible -execution and mutilation of the Batahin, he had been present, and had -looked with pleasure on the slaughter of his victims. I have described -how his best friends and most faithful servants were victimised through -his caprice, and how he had ruthlessly seized for himself their wives -and daughters. Then what could be more cruel than his punishment of the -Ashraf? No doubt they were guilty of mutiny; but he might have exiled or -imprisoned them, instead of killing them with clubs and axes as if they -had been dogs; and yet these were the near relatives of his former lord -and master, the Mahdi. - -In all intercourse with him, he demands the most complete humility and -submission. Persons entering his presence stand in front of him with -their hands crossed over their breasts and their eyes lowered to the -ground, awaiting his permission to be seated. In his audience chamber, -he is generally seated on an angareb, over which a palm-mat is spread, -and his sheepskin stretched out on it, whilst he leans against a large -roll of cotton cloth which forms a pillow. When those brought before -him are allowed to be seated, they take up a position as in prayers, -with their eyes fixed on the ground; and in this posture they answer the -questions put to them, and dare not move until permission is given them -to withdraw. - -Even in the mosque, when prayers are over, and he converses on general -subjects, those in close proximity to him invariably maintain this -attitude. He is most particular that all persons brought before him -should keep their eyes downcast, whilst he himself scrutinises them most -carefully. Some years ago a Syrian named Mohammed Said, who had the -misfortune to have only one eye, happened to be near him when he was -delivering a religious lecture, and unintentionally cast his blind eye -in the direction of the Khalifa. The latter at once called me up, and -told me to tell the Syrian never to come near him again, and if he did -never to dare to look at him. At the same time he told me that every one -should be most careful to guard themselves against the evil eye. "For," -said he, "nothing can resist the human eye. Illness and misfortunes are -generally caused by the evil eye." - -In spite of his tyrannical nature, the Khalifa shows to greater -advantage in his private life. He is devoted to his eldest son Osman, -who is now twenty-one years of age, and who has been instructed in all -the commentaries of the Kuran by able Mohammedan teachers; but his -father never hesitated to change the teachers as often as his son -wished; and when Osman affirmed to his father that he was sufficiently -instructed, the latter at once withdrew his teachers. When he reached -his seventeenth year, he was married to his cousin, the daughter of his -uncle Yakub; and on this occasion the Khalifa departed from the strict -observances as regards marriage enjoined by the Mahdi, and arranged a -series of banquets extending over a period of eight days, to which -almost every inhabitant in Omdurman was invited. He had a large red -brick house built for his son in the space lying opposite to Yakub's -residence, and had it furnished with all the comfort available in the -Sudan. An attempt was even made to lay out a garden on the stony ground -within the enclosure. Shortly afterwards, he gave his son two more of -his female relatives in marriage, and innumerable concubines, which he -himself selected; but he declared, in the most emphatic manner, that he -would never permit him to marry a woman from any of the Nile valley -tribes. He watches over his son's intercourse with strangers with the -greatest jealousy, and considers it a most dangerous proceeding; and -when he heard that, in the perversity of youth, his son entirely -disregarded his injunctions, and held nightly orgies in his house, he -had a new residence built for him within the Omdurman wall close to his -own, so as to exercise greater supervision, and handed over his old -house to Yakub. - -He married his own daughter to the Mahdi's son Mohammed, to whom he bore -no good will; whilst the latter was anxious to marry one of his own -relations, and had no love for the Khalifa's daughter. Abdullahi, -however, as father-in-law, guardian, and master, absolutely forbade him -to enter into any such alliance, and tried to insist on his affection -for his daughter, with the result that a complete estrangement was -brought about between man and wife, ending in a divorce; but the Khalifa -was so annoyed that, out of pure fear, Mohammed had to take her back, -and swear entire devotion to her for the rest of his life. - -The Khalifa thought it incumbent on his position to maintain a large -establishment; and as this was also entirely in conformity with his own -inclinations, he gradually became possessor of a harem of over four -hundred wives. In accordance with the Mohammedan law, he has four legal -wives, who belong to free tribes; but, being a lover of change, he never -hesitates to divorce them at will, and take others in their places. The -other women of the household consist for the most part of young girls, -many of whom belong to tribes which have been forced to accept Mahdism, -and whose husbands and fathers fought against him. They are therefore -regarded as booty, and have only the rights and claims of concubines, -or, in some cases, of slaves. This large assortment of ladies varies in -colour from light brown to the deepest black, and comprises almost every -tribe in the Sudan. They are divided into groups of from fifteen to -twenty, presided over by a superior; and two or three of these groups -are placed under the orders of a free woman, who is generally a -concubine specially selected by the Khalifa. A certain amount of grain -and money is granted monthly to these superiors for the maintenance of -their charges; and they also receive means to purchase the necessary -cosmetics, consisting of various sorts of oils, grease, and scent. The -value of their clothing is regulated entirely by the comparative beauty, -position, and character of the wearers, and consists for the most part -of native-woven cotton cloth with particoloured borders, or of bright -silk or woollen shawls imported from Egypt. These are always distributed -by the Khalifa himself or by his chief eunuch. As the wearing of silver -jewellery was strictly prohibited by the Mahdi, mother-of-pearl buttons -and oblong strips of red coral and onyx, threaded together, are worn -round the wrists, ankles, and head. The hair is usually worn in -innumerable small plaits, which are arranged in all sorts of different -ways, and bedaubed with a quantity of oily and greasy scents; and to -European olfactory nerves the odour emanating from a Sudanese lady "en -grande toilette" is repulsive in the extreme. For the last few years the -wives of the upper classes have again taken to wearing gold and silver -jewellery; and the Khalifa's principal women indulge in these luxuries -to a greater extent than the rest. The latter live in a series of large -detached houses, something like barracks, surrounded by courts encircled -with high walls. Special women are maintained to watch over their state -of health; and they are obliged to report it to their master, the -Khalifa, from time to time. When he wishes to summon any lady in -particular to share his affections, he communicates his desire by means -of little boy eunuchs. Occasionally, he holds an inspection of his -entire household, and makes use of such opportunities to rid himself of -those of whom he is weary, in order to make room for new attractions. -Those disposed of in this way he generally passes on to his near -relatives, his special favourites, or his servants. The harem courts are -carefully guarded by eunuchs and the Black mulazemin. The women are -almost entirely cut off from intercourse with the outer world; and -perhaps once a year their female relations are allowed to converse with -them for only a short time. - -The Khalifa's principal wife is called Sahra, and belongs to his own -tribe. She has shared with him from earliest days all his joys and -sorrows, and is the mother of his oldest children Osman and Kadija. -During the early years of his reign, he would only eat the simplest -food, cooked by her or under her superintendence. It consisted, as a -rule, merely of asida, roast meat, and chickens; but as his household -increased, he began to try the various sorts of cookery known to his new -wives, many of whom were acquainted with the Turkish and Egyptian -methods; and now, in place of the simple food, he indulges in far more -luxurious fare, though to outward appearance he still pretends to lead a -life of simplicity and abstinence. These innovations brought about a -quarrel between him and his wife Sahra, who pointed out that the new -dishes might be bewitched or poisoned, and might end in his death, with -the result that he twice sent her letters of separation; but, on the -strong representations of his brother Yakub and the other members of the -family, he was induced to cancel them. - -He has in his service in all some twenty eunuchs, chief of whom is a -certain Abdel Gayum, who is also charged with the superintendence of -large quantities of land which are cultivated by slaves for the use of -the household; and it is his duty to purchase the necessary supplies of -grain, and have in readiness the sheep and cattle required for domestic -purposes. He also draws from the Beit el Mal the necessary amounts -required for the payment of the women and servants of the harem. He has -also charge of considerable sums of private money with which the Khalifa -purchases the presents he secretly makes to his Emirs and other -influential persons. To assist him in carrying out his multifarious -duties, he has a staff of clerks and servants, who are always eunuchs or -slaves, as the Khalifa will on no account allow any stranger to get an -insight into his harem. - -Abdullahi's dress consists of a jibba made of superfine white cotton -cloth with a coloured border, loose cotton drawers, and on his head a -beautifully made Mecca silk skull-cap, around which a small white turban -is wound. Around his body a narrow strip of cotton, about five yards -long, called wassan, is worn, and a light shawl of the same material is -thrown across his shoulders. He formerly wore sandals; but latterly he -has taken to wearing soft leather stockings of a light brown colour, and -yellow shoes. When walking, he carries a sword in his left hand, and in -his right a beautifully worked Hadendoa spear, which he uses as a -walking-stick. He is invariably accompanied by twelve or fifteen little -boy-slaves as his personal attendants. Many of these are children of -Abyssinian Christians seized by Abu Anga and Zeki Tummal. Their duty is -to remain always near him, and act as his messengers to various parts of -the town. They usher into his presence all visitors, and must be ready -day and night to carry his orders. When they reach the age of seventeen -or eighteen, they are drafted into the ranks of the mulazemin, and their -places taken by others. The Khalifa thinks that by employing young boys, -his secrets are less likely to be betrayed; and in this he is not far -wrong, when one considers the extraordinary amount of bribery and -corruption which prevails amongst the older classes. Within the house, -into which these young boys are never admitted, he employs young -eunuchs, who wait upon him, whilst the more advanced in age of this -unfortunate class are relegated to the outer dependencies of the -household. Even these juvenile domestics suffer considerable brutality -at his hands. The slightest mistakes are punished by flogging, or the -offenders are thrown into chains and starved. - -Upwards of three years ago, he conceived the idea of augmenting his -mulazemin by a species of body-guard; and for this purpose he selected a -number of Jehadia from Mahmud Ahmed's and Zeki Tummal's armies. In -addition to these, he called on the Emirs of the western tribes to -provide a number of recruits for his mulazemin; but his orders were only -partially obeyed. He selected a few of the sons of the best Jaalin -families for incorporation in the body-guard; but he rigorously excluded -all Danaglas and Egyptians, in whom he has no confidence. In this -manner, he created a force of from eleven to twelve thousand men, who, -with their wives and children, are all quartered close to his and his -son's houses, and within the newly erected wall. This force is -subdivided into three corps, under the respective commands of his son -Osman, the Khalifa's young brother Harun Abu Mohammed, who is barely -eighteen years of age, and his cousin Ibrahim Khalil, who has been -recently replaced by an Abyssinian named Rabeh, who has been brought up -in the Khalifa's household. - -Osman, in all matters regarding the mulazemin, is looked upon as the -Khalifa's representative. The corps are subdivided again into sections -of one hundred men, over each of which an officer called Ras Miya (head -of the hundred), who has several assistants, has command. Over every -five or six Ras Miya an Emir presides, who is also provided with an -assistant. The Black soldiers, or Jehadia, are incorporated in the -subdivisions, not with the free Arabs, but under the special command of -the Emirs, who have therefore under their respective orders two or three -hundred Jehadia, and the remainder Arabs. Almost all these are armed -with Remington rifles, which, however, are kept in store, and are only -issued on special feasts. The monthly pay of the mulazemin consists of -half a Dervish dollar, and, every fortnight, one-eighth of an ardeb of -dhurra. The grain is received fairly regularly; but the cash payment is -merely a nominal one, and is very seldom issued. The salaries of the -Ras Miya and Emirs are proportionately higher; and they receive frequent -gifts of women and slaves from the Khalifa. The duty of the mulazemin -and body-guard is to protect the person of the Khalifa; and all must -accompany him when he rides out or holds reviews. Even when making a -comparatively small expedition into the town they must proceed with him. -They have always to remain in readiness in the open square in front of -his house. Although the Khalifa has forbidden all Egyptian music, he has -collected the former Black buglers, two of whom invariably accompany -him. The call for a Ras Miya is that of captain; for Emir that of major; -and for commander that of colonel. Abdullahi frequently inspects the -mulazemin at night, in order to see that they are in occupation of the -posts allotted to them; and he pays special attention to the outposts. -Owing to this unusually hard service, the Ras Miya and Emirs, under the -pretext of illness, frequently go secretly to their houses, and great -discontent prevails amongst them. - -The Khalifa's public duties consist in saying the five prayers daily in -the large mosque. At early dawn, he begins with the morning prayers, -after which the Rateb is read in various groups, as enjoined by the -Mahdi. This consists of a selection of verses and special prayers from -the Kuran, and occupies about an hour. The Khalifa then returns, as a -rule, to his private apartments, but sometimes walks about in the mosque -in order to see for himself whether the inhabitants of Omdurman comply -with his orders to attend prayers regularly. He holds midday prayers at -about two o'clock, and two hours later follows the Asr, or evening -prayer, after which the Rateb is repeated. Prayers are said again at -sunset, and, three hours later, night prayers are held. On all these -occasions, the Khalifa attends in his mihrab (niche), which has been -erected immediately in front of the lines of believers. It is a -square-shaped structure, consisting of a series of columns connected by -open iron-work, through which he can see all that is going on around -him. Immediately behind him are the seats of his son, the Kadis, and a -few persons specially selected by himself. The mulazemin take up a -position to the right and left, whilst the Black soldiers occupy large -open enclosures which are separated from the mosque by a wall. On the -right of the mulazemin are the places of Yakub, the Emirs, and most of -the western tribes, whilst to the left are some of Yakub's followers, a -few of Khalifa Ali Wad Helu's Arabs, and the Jaalin and Danagla. Behind -these, the people are seated in ten or twelve rows, and repeat the -prayers in unison after the Khalifa. On all occasions there are several -thousand persons present; and the Khalifa is most particular that all -the principal Emirs and influential people should assist him. If he -bears any special dislike or ill-will to any persons, he invariably -condemns them to regularly attend the five daily prayers in the mosque, -under the supervision of people specially selected for this purpose. In -making these strict regulations regarding prayers, the Khalifa is by no -means actuated by devotional ideas, but utilises these occasions to keep -his followers together under his own personal control. As several of the -people live a considerable distance away from the mosque, they are -generally so tired and exhausted, after these frequent journeys to and -fro, that they do not collect in the evening in each others' houses,--a -practice which the Khalifa specially abhors, for his object is to -destroy, as far as possible, what he is pleased to call "social life;" -that is to say, social gatherings, for he is perfectly well aware that -his deeds and actions on such occasions are invariably discussed and -criticised, and not generally very favourably. - -If, for any reason, such as illness, he is prevented from attending -prayers, his place is taken by one of his Kadis, or by a very pious -mulazem of the Takruri tribe; but on such occasions the substitute Imam -is never allowed to occupy the mihrab, but stands outside. Khalifa Ali -Wad Helu, who, in accordance with the religious law, should, on such -occasions, represent the Khalifa, is scarcely ever permitted to do so. - -In the afternoon, or between afternoon and evening prayers, he receives -reports, news, and letters, and interviews the Kadis and Emirs whose -names have been previously submitted to him, as well as any other -persons whom he specially wishes to see. - -His postal arrangements are very primitive. He keeps up from sixty to -eighty riding camels, with a specially selected staff of postmen; and -these he despatches to different parts of his Empire with orders and -instructions. Ibrahim Adlan had suggested to him that he should make -special stations for the posts along the various main roads, and -establish a more regular and less expensive system; but he utterly -refused to entertain the idea, saying that he placed special value on -the verbal accounts of the postmen who were despatched direct, and he -frequently obtained from them important information concerning the -attitude and behaviour of his Governors. The Emirs of the various -districts also have a similar postal system of their own, and despatch -camel-men with important information to Omdurman. There is no system of -postal communication for private persons, though sometimes the -camel-postmen convey letters secretly. The Khalifa being intensely -suspicious of all intercourse with strangers, any communications between -his subordinates and the outside must be carried out with the greatest -circumspection and secrecy. Utterly ignorant of reading and writing, the -Khalifa orders all letters that arrive to be handed over to his -secretaries, Abu el Gasem and Mudasser, who are obliged to explain the -contents, and write replies in accordance with his orders. These two -individuals lead a wretched life; for they know that he will not forgive -the slightest mistake, and should he have the least suspicion of their -having revealed any of his secrets, even through carelessness, he would -not hesitate to treat them as he treated their comrades Ahmedi and his -four brothers, who, having been accused of communicating with the -Ashraf, were executed. - -He converses principally with his Kadis, who are, for the most part, -willing tools in his hands, and serve to give a veneer of justice to -his despotic actions. These myrmidons, submissively seated in a -semi-circle on the bare floor, their heads bowed down, listen to his -orders, which are generally given in an undertone; and rarely any one of -them dares to open his mouth or make a suggestion, no matter how -necessary he may think it. In addition to the Kadis, he occasionally -interviews Emirs and other influential persons, from whom he ascertains -the condition of the country and tribes; but he invariably stirs up -intrigue, and tries to pit one against the other. He generally consults, -immediately after night prayers, with Yakub and some of his near -relatives; and these meetings often last till long past midnight. They -are usually convened for discussing the ways and means of ridding -themselves of persons who are objectionable, or who are in the smallest -degree a menace to their authority. - -Occasionally, he makes short riding excursions to various parts of the -town, or visits his houses in the north or south of Omdurman. The -melancholy notes of the ombeija and the beating of war-drums announce to -the inhabitants that their master is about to appear in public. Horses -are at once saddled in the large thatched enclosure immediately behind -the mosque. The doors are thrown open, and the mulazemin stream out from -all directions, and, last of all, follows the Khalifa, mounted, as a -rule, on horseback. A square is immediately formed around him; and the -men advance in front of him in detachments, ten or twelve abreast. -Behind them follow the horse and foot men of the town population, while -on the Khalifa's left walks an immensely powerful and well-built Arab -named Ahmed Abu Dukheka, who has the honour of lifting his master in and -out of the saddle. On his right is a strongly-made young Black, who is -chief of the slaves in the royal stables. The Khalifa is immediately -preceded by six men, who alternately blow the ombeija by his orders. -Behind him follow the buglers, who sound the advance or halt, or summon, -at his wish, the chiefs of the mulazemin. Just behind these follow his -small personal attendants, who carry the Rekwa (a leather vessel used -for religious ablutions), the sheepskin prayer-carpet, and several -spears. Sometimes, either in front or rear, as the case may be, follows -the musical band, composed of about fifty Black slaves, whose -instruments comprise antelope-horns, and drums made of the hollow trunks -of trees covered with skin. The strange African tunes they play are -remarkable rather for the hideously discordant noise they make than for -their melody. These rides are generally undertaken after midday prayer; -and the Khalifa returns at sunset. Whilst he is advancing in this solemn -state, the mulazemin generally indulge in displays of horsemanship. -Galloping four abreast, with their spears poised high in the air, they -dash up towards him at full speed, drawing up their horses almost on to -their haunches. They then slowly retire to repeat the operation. - -[Illustration: The Khalifa and Cadis in Council.] - -During the early years of his rule, the Khalifa was present every Friday -on the large parade ground where the ceremony of trooping the colours is -performed; but now he attends only four times a year, viz., on the -birthday of the Prophet, on the Feast of Miraj, the Feast of Bairam, and -the Feast of Kurbam Bairam; on this last date all the troops in the -neighbourhood, as well as the Darfur and Gedaref armies, are assembled -during peaceful times. On the first day of the Feast of Bairam, the -Khalifa holds prayers on the parade ground, and retires himself within a -zariba in which a small mud-brick house has been built. A few special -favourites, and a number of mulazemin, remain with him; but the rest of -the troops and populace range themselves in long lines; and when the -prayer is over he mounts a wooden pulpit, and delivers a sermon, which -is generally specially prepared for him by his secretaries. This over, a -salute of seven guns is fired, and all those who can afford it kill the -sacrificial lambs prescribed by the religion; but, owing to the -prevailing distress and poverty of the inhabitants, very few of them are -in a position to bear this expense, and are obliged to content -themselves with a sort of porridge which takes the place of a -sacrificial dish. During the three following days, a review is held. -Long before sunrise, the Emirs, with their flags and followers, collect -and march to their allotted positions on the parade ground, which is an -almost perfectly flat sandy plain, with a few stones here and there. The -troops are marshalled in long lines in rear of each other, facing east. - -Yakub has the principal flag,--an immense piece of black cloth, which is -hoisted exactly opposite the Khalifa's zariba, and about four hundred -yards from it. To the right and left are ranged those of the different -Emirs, while on the north side flies the green flag of the Khalifa Ali -Wad Helu, on either side of which are the flags of his Emirs. On the -left flank, the horse and camel-men are drawn up, while on the right -flank are ranged the riflemen, consisting partly of Jehadia, and partly -of men belonging to the various Emirs, who are only specially provided -with arms for the time being. Immediately after sunrise, the Khalifa -comes out of the zariba, and, mounted on his horse, stands surrounded by -his mulazemin and body-guard, whilst the entire army passes in review -before him, the troops being generally provided with new jibbas and -turbans in honour of the feast. Sometimes the Khalifa mounts on a camel; -and, on one occasion, he drove in the carriage of one of the former -Governors-General which had been captured in Khartum, and which was kept -stored away in the Beit el Mal. Two horses were specially trained to -draw this vehicle, which the Khalifa ordered to be driven at a foot -pace, as he feared being upset; but, latterly, he has given up this -plan, and generally rides on horseback direct from the mosque along the -road leading due west towards the black flag, and, on reaching it, he -solemnly contemplates it for a few moments, and then rides to the -zariba, at the south front of which a small shelter, consisting of -trunks of trees lashed together and covered with palm-mats, has been -erected. Here he dismounts and reclines on an angareb, surrounded by his -Kadis, whilst the troops file past. Occasionally, he starts from his -own house, and, taking a southern road, marches out of the town, then -turns west and rides along the front alignment of his troops, after -which the usual march past takes place. At these reviews the horsemen -are generally clad in coats of mail, of European or Asiatic origin, -whilst on their heads they wear heavy iron helmets and curious cotton -caps of various colours and the most grotesque shapes, round which a -small turban is wound. The horses are clothed in large padded patchwork -quilts, somewhat resembling those worn by the knights of old at -tournaments; and one might almost imagine one was gazing at one of those -old mediæval displays. These reviews terminate at the end of the third -day; and the troops brought from beyond Omdurman are permitted to return -to their respective garrisons. - -I propose now to briefly consider the Khalifa's political intentions and -ideas. - -As I have already stated, when the Mahdi first declared himself, he -nominated three Khalifas, viz., Abdullahi, Ali Wad Helu, and Mohammed -Sherif, who were to succeed him in this order, if they survived. On his -death, Abdullahi succeeded as arranged; but, from the moment he took -over the reins of government, he did everything in his power to increase -his personal ascendancy, and make it hereditary in the family. The -mutinous Ashraf, who prided themselves on their relationship to the -Mahdi, afforded him a welcome pretext for compassing their downfall; and -he did not hesitate to possess himself of the Black troops belonging to -both his rival Khalifas. An obscure member of a western tribe, he was a -complete stranger in the country; and he knew that he could not reckon -on the Jaalin, Danagla, inhabitants of the Gezira, and other Nile valley -tribes to support his authority. He therefore sent secret emissaries to -the western Arabs to induce them to make a pilgrimage to the Mahdi's -tomb, and emigrate to the Nile valley. His agents drew a tempting -picture of the magnificent country to which they had been invited, -telling them that they were the Lord's chosen people, and that they -should go out to possess the land, the inhabitants of which were rich in -cattle and slaves, which should be theirs. Tempted by these glowing -accounts, many of these tribes emigrated of their own free-will to -Omdurman; but as this contingent was not sufficient, the Khalifa -instructed his Emirs in Darfur and Kordofan to enforce his orders; and, -in consequence of this, an immense emigration took place, and continues, -on a reduced scale, down to the present day. By this means the Khalifa -has surrounded himself with hordes of strangers who have ousted the -rightful owners of the soil, and have made themselves absolute masters -of the situation. All offices and important situations are filled by -them, and by his own relatives, the majority belonging to the Taaisha -section. Almost the only one of the old Emirs left is Osman Digna; and -the reason for this is that the eastern Arab tribes he governs speak a -language which is unknown to the western Arabs. Besides many of these -tribes are gradually coming under Egyptian and Italian influence, and -the few that are left are merely attached to Osman Digna because he is -one of them. Thus the Taaisha tribe has acquired all the power and -authority in the land; and they fill their pockets with the waning -revenues of the impoverished Sudan. - -Years ago, the Emirs of Dongola and Berber had been instructed by the -Khalifa to weaken the local population as much as possible; and, in -consequence, fire-arms and weapons of all descriptions were taken from -them, and they were reduced to a condition of complete harmlessness. -Moreover, in the actions of Toski and Tokar numbers of Jaalin and -Danagla were killed, whilst large contingents of them had been sent to -Darfur and Gallabat in the hope that they may be eventually -exterminated. In this manner the Khalifa has secured their countries, -and rendered any attempt to oppose his authority almost impossible. The -same may be said of the inhabitants of the Gezira, who have also been -drafted off into various remote parts of the country, or have been -forced to come to Omdurman with their families, where they have endured -the greatest hardships and privations. Moreover, they were called upon -to give up more than half their cultivated lands, which were distributed -amongst the western Arabs; and all their best fields are now possessed -by the Khalifa's own relatives and favourites. The former owners are -often obliged to till the soil for their new masters, who have annexed -their servants, slaves, and cattle. Thus the cultivable area of the -Gezira, which, in former times, was the most populous and prosperous -part of the Sudan, has been reduced by at least a half; and such -commotion prevailed in the districts that the Khalifa was himself -obliged to intervene on behalf of the inhabitants, who were ill-treated, -tyrannised over, and oppressed to an incredible extent. - -As I have before stated, his own tribes are preferred on all occasions. -Not only do they hold all the best positions and posts, but the greater -part of the money and spoil which passes into the Beit el Mal from the -provincial treasuries at Darfur, Gallabat, and Reggaf finds its way into -their hands. For their special benefit he has imposed a horse tax, which -must be paid in kind; and in this manner he has provided the majority of -the Taaisha with chargers. His own section, the Jubarat, of course gets -the lion's share of everything. - -He never hesitates to make use of every description of intrigue in order -to strengthen his own side and weaken the other. For example, on the -defeat and death of Nejumi, whose flags belonged to those of Khalifa -Sherif, and from whom Abdullahi had withdrawn all power of command over -other Emirs, the remnant of the defeated force was placed under the -direction of the Emir Yunes, and, in order to replace those who had been -killed, he appointed fresh Jaalin and Emirs as well as men from -Omdurman. These he first placed under the command of their compatriot -Bedawi Wad el Ereik; but, instead of sending them to Dongola, they were -despatched to Gedaref, and as an unavoidable delay occurred in their -departure, he made out that this was a proof of disobedience, and -condemned Bedawi, with six of his Emirs, to be banished to Reggaf; and -in their place he nominated other Emirs, whom he placed under the direct -command of his cousin Hamed Wad Ali. - -It is human nature to seek the protection of the most powerful; and now, -instead of being desirous to serve under their own Emirs, the greater -number of the so-called opposition party vie with one another in their -efforts to be placed under the direct command of the Khalifa or of -Yakub; even the adherents of Ali Wad Helu come under this category. As -an instance of this, I will quote the case of Hamed Wad Gar en Nebbi, -who was the principal cause of the destruction of the Batahin. He -belonged to the Hassanab tribe, which was commanded by Ali Wad Helu. -Recognising how matters stood, he wished to place himself and his tribe -under Yakub's command; but he was short-sighted enough to tell Khalifa -Ali's relatives of his plans. He even went so far as to state in public -that on the death of Abdullahi he would be succeeded by his brother -Yakub or his son Osman, and that, as they had all the power in their -hands, Khalifa Ali could expect nothing, and was, moreover, a weak man -without energy. Several of the bystanders retorted that the Mahdi had -nominated Khalifa Ali to be Abdullahi's successor, to which he replied -that times had changed, that Abdullahi was all-powerful, and that the -Mahdi's commands were never attended to or taken into consideration. -When this interview came to the ears of Khalifa Ali, he charged Gar en -Nebbi before the Kadi; and it was proved beyond a doubt that the latter -had actually made these statements. He was consequently convicted of -being "irreligious," having doubted the maintenance of the Mahdi's -doctrines and instructions. Abdullahi could not therefore publicly -interfere. Had he done so, he would have revealed his own intentions, -which were in reality well known, and would have corroborated Gar en -Nebbi's assertions. The judges sentenced him to death; and although -Abdullahi did all in his power to induce Ali Wad Helu to grant a -reprieve, the latter insisted that the sentence should be carried out; -and Gar en Nebbi was publicly executed in the market-place as an -unbeliever and a disturber of public tranquillity. All the tribes under -the command of Yakub, as well as the Khalifa's immediate followers, -received instructions to show general dissatisfaction with the execution -by openly absenting themselves from it. - -Whenever it is a question between himself and his opponents, the Khalifa -invariably relies upon his arms, which are far more than sufficient to -overcome with ease any attempt to dispute his authority, whether it be -in Omdurman itself or in any other part of the country. Within the -Sudan, therefore, he is all-powerful; but he is not in a position to -offer determined resistance to outside enemies. His leaders are neither -capable nor sufficiently instructed to ensure victory. His men are not -now loyal enough to fight with that determination which early fanaticism -had inspired. They have little or no faith in the cause for which they -are supposed to be fighting; and there is little doubt that the -Khalifa's forces could not resist the advance of a foreign power bent on -re-occupying the Sudan. - -The table on the next page shows approximately the forces at present at -the Khalifa's disposal. Of the forty thousand rifles shown in the table, -there are not more than twenty-two thousand Remingtons in good -condition. The remainder consist of single and double barrel -smoothbores, and other guns of a variety of pattern. Several of the -Remington barrels, however, have been cut short with the object of -lessening the weight, and with entire disregard to the altered -trajectory thus occasioned. Of the sixty-four thousand swords and spear -men, at least twenty-five per cent are either too old or too young to be -considered effective for a campaign. The seventy-five guns comprise six -Krupps of large calibre, and for which there is only a very small amount -of ammunition, eight machine guns of various patterns, and sixty-one -brass muzzle-loading guns of various shapes and sizes, the ammunition -for which is manufactured principally in Omdurman, and is of a very -inferior quality, the range being little over six or seven hundred -yards. - ------------------+-------------+---------------------------+----+-------- - | | Armed Strength. | |Rifles -Position and | Emirs. +--------+--------+---------+Guns| and -Garrisons. | | | | Swords. | | Smooth - | |Jehadia.|Cavalry.|Spearmen.| | Bores. ------------------+-------------+--------+--------+---------+----+-------- -Omdurman |Osman Sheikh | | | | | - (mulazemin) | ed Din | 11,000 | | | | 11,000 - " |Yakub | 4,000 | 3,500 | 45,000 | 46 | 4,000 - " (in store) | | | | | | 6,000 - | | | | | | -Reggaf |Arabi Wad | 1,800 | | 4,500 | 3 | 1,800 - | Dafalla | | | | | -Western Sudan: | | | | | | - El Fasher } | | | | | | - El Obeid } |Mahmud, etc. | 6,000 | 350 | 2,500 | 4 | 6,000 - Shakka, etc. } | | | | | | - Berber |Zeki Osman | 1,600 | 500 | 1,300 | 6 | 1,600 - Abu Hamed |Nur en Nau | 400 | 100 | 700 | 4 | 400 - | | | | | | -Eastern Sudan: | | | | | | - Adarama |Osman Digna | 450 | 350 | 1,000 | | 450 - Gedaref |Ahmed Fedil | 4,500 | 600 | 1,000 | 4 | 4,500 - El Fasher | | 1,000 | 200 | 500 | | 1,000 - Asubri |Hamed Wad Ali| 900 | 400 | 1,400 | | 900 - Gallabat |En Nur | 50 | | 200 | | 50 - Dongola |Yunes ed | | | | | - | Degheim | 2.400 | 500 | 5.000 | 8 | 2,400 - Suarda |Hammuda | 250 | 100 | 1,000 | | 250 ------------------+-------------+--------+--------+---------+----+-------- - Total | | 34,350 | 6,600 | 64,000 | 75 | 40,350 ------------------+-------------+--------+--------+---------+----+-------- - -Let us now consider for a few moments the present limits of the -Khalifa's influence. - -Until a few years ago, Dervish authority extended from near Wadi Halfa -in a southeasterly direction towards Abu Hamed, thence eastwards to the -Suakin neighbourhood, including Tokar and the Khor Baraka, thence in a -southerly direction, including Kassala, Gallabat, and the southeastern -slopes of the Beni Shangul and Gulli mountains, and from here it trended -in a southwesterly direction towards the White Nile, and included -Fashoda, Bohr, and Reggaf. On the west, it extended in a southwesterly -direction through the southern Libyan desert, including Selima, the -Dongola, Kordofan, and Darfur Provinces, up to the Wadai frontier, and -thence southward across the Bahr el Arab through Dar Runga, and included -Dar Fertit, the Bahr el Ghazal, and a portion of Equatoria. - -The defeat of Nejumi obliged the Mahdists to evacuate the northern -portion of the Dongola Province; and their most northerly outpost is now -Suarda, some three days' march from Dongola. The Egyptian victories at -Tokar and Handub gave back to the local tribes the districts in the -immediate neighbourhood of Suakin and Tokar, whilst the capture of -Kassala threw into the hands of the Italians all districts lying east of -that town, in consequence of which the river Atbara may now be -considered the Khalifa's eastern frontier. The main force originally -stationed at Gallabat under Ahmed Fedil has been moved to Gedaref, and -only an insignificant force is maintained at the former station. The -chief of the Beni Shangul districts--Tur el Guri--and many of the -neighbouring Sheikhs have declared themselves independent. - -In the extreme west, the Massalit, Tama, Beni Hussein, and Gimr tribes, -who formerly paid tribute, have now revolted against the Mahdi's -government, and until lately were independent. They entered into an -offensive and defensive alliance with Sultan Yusef of Wadai; and the -Khalifa was about to despatch an expedition with the object of bringing -them into subjection, when the alarming news, to which I have already -referred, regarding the appearance of Europeans in the Bahr el Ghazal -induced him to alter the destination of Khatem Musa's force to that -neighbourhood. After the retirement of the Dervishes, orders were sent -to Khatem Musa not to proceed further south until he had received -reinforcements from Omdurman. - -The Shilluks and Dinkas were, as I have already stated, reduced to -subjection by Zeki Tummal, and the route opened to Reggaf, which -continues to be the most southerly of the Dervish garrisons; in -consequence of the disquieting news of European movements in these -districts, the strength of the force there is by no means -inconsiderable. The Khalifa's object in retaining these districts is to -replenish his supplies of slaves and ivory; and, under the energetic -command of Arabi Wad Dafalla, frequent expeditions are despatched south -and west, some of which have collided with the forces of the Congo Free -State; but, as I quitted the Sudan before the result of these -expeditions was known, I am not in a position to state which side was -victorious. - -The Khalifa's revenue and expenditure is worked entirely on the Beit el -Mal system. - -The following are the principal:-- - - Beit el Mal el Umumi (General Treasury). - Beit el Mal el Mulazemin (the Mulazemin Treasury). - Beit el Mal Khums el Khalifa (or the Treasury of the - Khalifa's fifth tithes). - Beit el Mal Warshat el Harbia (Treasury of the War Department). - Beit el Mal Zabtia es Suk (Treasury of the Bazaar Police). - -The following are the sources of revenue of the General Treasury, -viz.:-- - - 1. The "Zeka" and "fitra" as laid down in the Moslem Law. - 2. Confiscated property. - 3. The ushr (or tenth) tax paid by merchants and traders on goods. - 4. The gum-tax. - 5. The boat-tax. - 6. Loans from merchants (which are never repaid). - 7. The ferry or "meshra" tax (_i. e._ the farming out of ferries). - 8. The produce of all lands on the east of the Blue Nile and the - west of the White Nile, as far south as Karkoj and Fashoda, - and as far north as Haggar el Asal. - 9. A percentage of the revenues of the principal Beit el Mals. - -The following are the main expenses borne by the Treasury:-- - - 1. Transport of troops and supplies to the different provinces. - 2. Pay of the troops (Jehadia). - 3. Pay of the various officials. - 4. Alms. - -The revenues of the Mulazemin Treasury come from the Gezira lands; and -the main item of expenditure is the pay of the mulazemin. - -The revenues of the Treasury of the Khalifa's fifth tithes are:-- - - 1. The greater part of the balance revenues of the Provincial - Treasuries. - 2. The revenues of all islands, including Tuti Island, and all - "Ghenima" lands, including the Halfaya and Kemlin districts, - which formerly belonged to His Highness, the Khedive. - 3. The ushr on all goods coming from Berber to Omdurman. - 4. All slaves sent from the provinces. - 5. Revenues of the majority of steamers and boats. - -The expenditure of this Treasury is devoted to the Khalifa's household. - -The War Department Revenues are:-- - - 1. The produce of the Khartum gardens. - 2. The revenue of some "sakias" (water-wheels) in the vicinity - of Khartum. - 3. Ivory from Equatoria. - -Expenditure:-- - - 1. Dockyard expenses. - 2. Beit el Amana (arsenal) expenses. - 3. Saltpetre refining. - 4. Expenses in connection with the manufacture of arms and - ammunition. - -Revenue of the Police Treasury:-- - - 1. Confiscated property of drunkards and gamblers. - 2. Shop-tax. - -Expenditure:-- - - 1. Pay of police officers and men. - 2. Expenses connected with Yakub's guest-house. - 3. Expenses in connection with the building of the great wall. - -It will be readily understood, that the above system produces a -considerable revenue for the Khalifa's private treasury; and I know that -a very large sum of money has been hoarded by him, and is stored in -ammunition boxes, kept in his house; but I am unable to state, even -approximately, what the amount may be. He has also several boxes, made -of skins in which are quantities of gold and silver ornaments, collected -from all parts. - -As I have stated, a show is made of keeping correct accounts; but the -system in vogue admits of endless peculation, and any persons having -business in the Beit el Mal invariably acquire considerable fortunes. -The Khalifa, however, is aware of this, and makes up for it by wholesale -confiscations of property. - -When the Mahdi first acquired possession of the Sudan, he naturally -obtained considerable quantities of gold and silver money; and, with -the assistance of Ahmed Wad Suleiman, he began to make his own coinage: -he struck gold sovereigns which resembled the Egyptian sovereign; but, -as he did not understand the exact amount of alloy which should be mixed -with the gold, the weights and values varied considerably, and, as the -amount of gold in the Sudan was small, the coining of sovereigns had -soon to be suspended. Silver coining was then carried on with some -vigour; and the following table, showing the various descriptions of -dollars coined during the last ten years, is an interesting indication -of the decline of Dervish power and government; for instance, the first -dollar coined by the Mahdi was made up of seven parts silver and one -part copper, whereas, the last dollar, coined by the Khalifa about a -year ago, is composed of two parts silver and five parts -copper,--indeed, the present dollar is merely a heavy copper coin -covered over with a thin layer of silver. - -+-----------------------------------------------------+---------------+ -| | Weight in | -| | Dirhems. | -| +-------+-------+ -| |Silver.|Copper.| -+-----------------------------------------------------+-------+-------+ -| 1. The Mahdi dollar | 7 | 1 | -| 2. The first dollar made by Ibrahim Adlan | 6 | 2 | -| 3. The second dollar made by Ibrahim Adlan | 5 | 3 | -| 4. The first dollar of Nur el Gereifawi (this is | 4 | 4 | -| known as the Makbul dollar) | | | -| 5. The second dollar of Nur el Gereifawi (this is | 3 | 4 | -| known as the Abu Sidr or Makbul) | | | -| 6. The dollar of Suleiman Abdulla (this is known | 2½ | 4½ | -| as the Abu Kibs or "crossed-spear" dollar) | | | -| 7. The first dollar of Abdel Mejid (also called the | 2½ | 4½ | -| Makbul) | | | -| 8. The dollar of Weki Alla | 2½ | 4½ | -| 9. The dollar of Omla Gedida (new money) | 2 | 5 | -+-----------------------------------------------------+-------+-------+ - -Coining money is a lucrative trade; and, at present, the Mint is -presided over by two individuals, who pay six thousand dollars a month -each, for the privilege. All money issued by them must be accepted as -good money. The merchants, of course, object most strongly to these -arbitrary measures; but wholesale confiscation of their property, -accompanied by flogging and imprisonment, has forced them to realise the -futility of attempting to go contrary to the Khalifa's will. Maria -Theresa dollars and Medjidi dollars were the principal currency when the -Egyptian Government occupied the Sudan; and the present rate of exchange -is:-- - - One Maria Theresa dollar = five Omla Gedida dollars. - One Medjidi dollar = eight Omla Gedida dollars. - -In consequence of this introduction of base coinage, the prices of -certain articles have risen enormously: for instance, blue cotton stuff, -which is principally used for women's dresses, and which cost formerly -three-quarters of a dollar the piece, has now risen to six dollars, -whilst ordinary linen, which was sold at a dollar for twelve yards, has -risen to eight dollars for the same amount. Half a pound of sugar costs -a dollar, and so on. In fact, all goods which come from Egypt have risen -in price, whilst local produce, such as grain and cattle, has -proportionately diminished in value: for instance,-- - - Dervish Dollars. - A baggage camel costs from 60 to 80 - Riding camel " " 200 " 400 - Abyssinian horse " " 60 " 120 - Country bred horse " " 200 " 600 - Ordinary cow " " 100 " 160 - A calf " " 30 " 50 - Milch cow " " 100 " 120 - A sheep " " 5 " 20 - An ardeb of dhurra " " 6 " 8 - An ardeb of wheat " " 30 " 40 - -If the above rates were calculated in the former currency, it will be -seen that the price of these articles is less now than it was in the -days of the Egyptian Government; and it is evident that this state of -things is brought about by bad sales, depression of trade, and general -poverty. The unfortunate natives, who, at most, own only a few acres of -ground, and a small stock of domestic animals, are obliged to sell them -in order to obtain the bare necessaries of life, and pay the oppressive -taxes. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS (_continued_). - - Administration of Justice--The Kadi el Islam--Religion in the - Sudan--The Khalifa's Sermons--Enforced Pilgrimage to the Mahdi's - Tomb--Limits of the Mahdist Empire--Natural Produce--Caravan - Roads--Ostrich Hunting--Trade and Commerce--The Slave-trade--The - Slave Market--Industries--Immorality--Unpopularity of the - Khalifa--His Ignorance and Cruelty--His Private - Apartments--Principal Buildings in Omdurman--Description of the - City--The Prison and its Horrors--Death of Zeki Tummal and Kadi - Ahmed. - - -Throughout the preceding pages, I have frequently referred in general -terms to the Khalifa's system of administering justice. The Kadis, or -judges, are ready tools in the hands of their astute master. They are -only permitted to act independently in trivial cases, such as family -disputes, questions of property, and the like; but in all matters of -importance, they must invariably refer to the Khalifa for final -decision, in giving which the latter invariably consults his own -immediate interests; but at the same time his earnest endeavour is to -appear before the public to be within the bounds of justice. The judges -therefore, have a somewhat difficult task to perform: that is to say, -they must invariably carry out the Khalifa's wishes, and give them the -appearance of being legally correct; whereas, in nine cases out of ten, -they are entirely contrary to the first elements of justice and right. - -The nominal codes of justice are the Moslem religious law and the -"Instructions" of the Mahdi,--the latter being supposed to regenerate -the former, which, through abuse and corruption, had been misapplied -and, metaphorically speaking, trodden under foot. The main principle -governing the "Instructions" is the necessity for absolute belief in -the Mahdi's Divine mission,--to doubt this is considered an act of -apostasy punishable by death, confiscation of property, or imprisonment -for life. The Khalifa's object being to seize all power, the -"Instructions" are applied on every possible occasion; and he generally -takes council with Yakub as to the means to be employed to secure his -end; and as Yakub is the embodiment of every description of base -intrigue and violence, the application of these laws results in the -grossest injustice, oppression, and brutality. - -The following comprise the Court of Justice of the two principal Kadis: -Hussein Wad Sahra, Jaali; Suleiman Wad el Hejaz, Gehemabi; Hussein Wad -Gisu, Homri; Ahmed Wad Hamdan, Arakini; Osman Wad Ahmed, Batahini; and -Abdel Kader Wad Om Mariam, who was formerly Kadi of Kalakla and Prefect -of Khartum; also Mohammed Wad el Mufti, who is the judge of petty -disputes amongst the mulazemin. In addition to these, there are several -Kadis of the western tribes; but they are not permitted to give -judgment, and merely give their votes to their higher colleagues. - -Hussein Wad Sahra, whom the Khalifa recently appointed to succeed the -Kadi el Islam, Ahmed Wad Ali, completed his studies at the Azhar Mosque -in Cairo, and is known as the most learned man in the Sudan. In spite, -however, of his erudition, he made the fatal mistake of writing a small -pamphlet in favour of the claims of Mohammed Ahmed to be the true Mahdi; -and, having realised his error, he inwardly became his most bitter -antagonist. Having now been summoned by the Khalifa to fill this -important position, he was unwillingly obliged to accept it; his sense -of justice has occasionally got the better of his fear, and, in several -instances, he has given just judgments contrary to the Khalifa's wishes; -consequently, he is not at present in favour with his master. He still -nominally holds the post, but is seldom called to the councils. If fear -of his life does not eventually get the upper hand, he will undoubtedly -be shortly numbered amongst those who are to be got rid of. - -Whenever the grand Council of Kadis assembles, it is always understood -that they are about to pronounce some special judgment in accordance -with the Khalifa's wishes, which have been previously communicated to -them. As a Kadi's salary is not large,--from twenty to forty Dervish -dollars a month,--it may be readily understood that venality enters -largely into the minor judgments with which the Khalifa does not -interfere. - -In accordance with the "Instructions," the evidence of witnesses is -inviolable: it is not permitted to the accused to protest; and, -consequently, it is the judges' prerogative to accept or refuse -witnesses at will, and such a system naturally gives them ample -opportunities of increasing their incomes. - -The Kadi of the Mulazemin has special instructions that any case between -one of the body-guard and natives of the country--even if they be the -highest in the land--shall invariably be given in favour of the former; -and so rigorously is this rule enforced, that it is now never thought -worth while to enter into a lawsuit with one of the body-guard. - -Attached to the Beit el Mal are two Kadis whose special duty is to keep -up connection with the Mehekema (Law Courts); they also issue the papers -which must be signed when slaves are bought and sold, and on which they -collect a small tax. There are also Kadis in the market, police -stations, and at the ferries who are charged with settling disputes and -carrying out the duties of the Court of Small Causes. - -The following brief notes on the state of religion, education, -agriculture, commerce, and slave-trade may be of some interest. - -Religion in the Sudan, as far as my experience goes, is governed by the -principle that the end justifies the means. Proclamations and pamphlets -enjoining strict attention to the performance of religious duties, and -urging the abandonment of all earthly pleasures, are despatched to the -remotest parts of Africa and Arabia, to Bornu, Dar Fellata, Mecca, and -Medina. The Khalifa, if his health permits it, attends the five daily -prayers most regularly; and yet, at heart, no man could be more -irreligious. During all the years in which I have been in the closest -communication with him, I have never once seen or heard him say a prayer -in his own house. Should any religious rite or ceremony interfere in the -smallest degree with his wishes or ambitions, it is instantly abolished; -but in doing so he is careful that the proposition for its abolition -should emanate in the first instance from his Kadis, who declare it -necessary for the "maintenance of the faith;" and the astuteness with -which these obsequious myrmidons twist and turn matters in order to suit -the Khalifa's will is deserving of a better cause. Whenever it is quite -impossible to create some pretext for the execution of an unusually -gross piece of injustice, Divine interposition and inspiration is -invariably called to the rescue. - -Abdullahi often addresses his followers from the pulpit in the mosque; -but as he is entirely ignorant of theology, and knows little or nothing -about the rudiments of religion, the scope of his sermons is excessively -limited, and consists of a repetition of stereotyped phrases. On first -mounting the pulpit, he greets the multitude with the words, "Salam -Aleikum ya ashab el Mahdi!" (Peace be upon you, O friends of the -Mahdi!). To this the congregation shout in one voice, "Aleik es Salam ya -Khalifat el Mahdi!" (Peace be with thee, O Khalifa of the Mahdi!). The -Khalifa then adds, "God bless you! God preserve you! May God lead the -Mahdi's followers to victory!" and between each sentence the -congregation shout, "Amin" (Amen). - -He then goes on to say, "See, O friends of the Mahdi, how evil is the -world! Think for how short a time we live in it! Were it not so the -Prophet and his follower, the Mahdi, would still be with us. We shall -surely follow them. Prepare, therefore, for your journey to the next -world. Do not seek earthly joys; say the five prayers daily. Read the -Mahdi's Rateb; and be ever ready to fight against the unbelievers. Obey -my orders [this sentence he frequently repeats], and the joys of -Paradise will be yours. Those who are disobedient, and do not take heed -of my words, are lost; for them, as for the unbeliever, eternal -damnation and hell fire is prepared. I am the shepherd, and you are the -sheep. As you tend your cattle and see that they do not eat what will -harm them, so I watch over you and see that you do not get into evil -ways. Think always of the Almightiness of God. Think of the cow, which -is made of flesh and blood and skin and bones; and yet you can obtain -sweet white milk from her. Do you not recognise God's power in this?[17] -Remain faithful to your vows to the Mahdi and to myself. Obey my -commands, which will give you peace on earth and joy in the world to -come. As the stones of a building go to make the structure complete, so -should you support one another. Forgive one another. Love each other as -the sons of one mother [and the crowd shouts, "We forgive each other!"]. -May God bless you! May He lead you to victory! May He ever preserve and -keep you! Depart now in peace; but, before we separate, shout in one -voice, 'La Illaha ilalaha Mohammed Rasul Allah.' This will enlighten -your hearts and strengthen your faith." The congregation then disperses -with loud shouts of "Amin, la illaha, etc." All his sermons vary very -little from the above. - -The repetition of the five prayers, and the reading of the Kuran, on -which no commentaries are permitted to be made, make up the sum total of -religion, interspersed now and then with the reading of the Mahdi's -instructions and the repetition, twice a day, of the Rateb. If any -person says prayers at home, instead of at the mosque, without just -cause or reason, he is adjudged by the Khalifa as "disobedient;" and -such prayers are, he says, not acceptable to God. From his point of -view, true religion consists of servile obedience to his commands; and -by this means alone can the soul enter into everlasting joys. - -He has forbidden pilgrimage to Mecca, having substituted for it -pilgrimage to the tomb of the Mahdi, who is the Prophet's -representative. Although the Sudanese intensely dislike this innovation, -they are perforce obliged to accept it; and as it is now impossible for -them to return to the orthodox faith, which they so unwittingly cast -aside, they now accept the situation, and carry out their mock religious -duties in the most businesslike manner, but without the smallest belief -in their efficacy. - -Education and religious instruction are practically non-existent. Some -boys, and occasionally a few girls, are taught to recite the Kuran and -the Rateb in the mesjids (religious schools attached to the mosques), of -which a few are allowed to be privately kept up. A small percentage of -these children, when they have completed their course in the mesjids, -are sent to the Beit el Mal, where they become apprentices to the old -Government clerks, and learn a certain amount of business -correspondence. The system of theological instruction which obtains in -most Moslem countries, but which was never much in vogue in the Sudan, -has now ceased to exist altogether. - -Cultivation of the land south of Berber is carried on during the rainy -season, which in the northern districts begins in July, and in the -southern at the end of May, or early in June, and lasts till the end of -October; but there are now immense tracts of once fertile soil which, -through want of cultivation and depopulation, have become tracts of -desert or a tangled wilderness. The staple grain of the Sudan is dhurra, -and if there is a plentiful rainfall, the supply is generally good; but -if there is a scarcity of rain, a famine almost invariably ensues, and -the poorer classes of the population undergo terrible privations. On -these occasions, they generally have to proceed to Karkoj on the Blue -Nile, or some distance up the White Nile, and bring dhurra to Omdurman -in boats. - -From Wadi Haifa to Fashoda on the White Nile, or to Famaka on the Blue -Nile, narrow strips of river bank are cultivated by sakias -(water-wheels) or shadufs (hand-buckets); and, in addition to dhurra, -Turkish maize, beans, lentils, peas, and pumpkins are cultivated. Owners -of water-wheels in the vicinity of the larger towns cultivate small -quantities of sugar-cane, water-melons, radishes, sweet cucumbers, and -various kinds of vegetables, which find a ready market; and when the -rainy season is over cotton is planted. The most productive land is, of -course, on the islands, which, during high Nile, are often completely -submerged; and as the river sinks they are sown almost without labour, -and produce excellent crops. Oranges and lemons are grown in the -neighbourhood of Khartum; but they are very small, and contain little -juice. A few pomegranates, grapes, and figs are also to be had; but they -are all of a very inferior quality. There are, of course, quantities of -date-palms, of which the fruit forms one of the principal items of food; -but the supply is barely sufficient for the consumption. In the Dar -Mahass and Sukkot districts of the Dongola Province the supply of dates -is very considerable; and they are brought from thence to various parts -of the Sudan, the drying process being carried on principally in the -Berber and Robatab districts. - -Gum-arabic is collected in the forests of Southern Kordofan, and at one -time constituted the principal wealth of this province. It was gathered -principally by the Gimeh and Gowama Arabs; but the former have been -forced to emigrate, and the latter, through constant tyranny and -oppression, have been so reduced that scarcely a sixth remains of their -original numbers. In the days of the Egyptian Government, from eight -hundred thousand to one million kantars of gum-arabic were gathered -annually; but at present at most thirty thousand kantars are produced, -and were it not that one of the former chiefs of the Beit el Mal had -represented to the Khalifa the increase which would accrue to his -private treasury by allowing the collection of gum, it is probable the -custom of gum picking would have fallen into entire disuse. - -The cultivation of tobacco was formerly one of the principal pursuits -of the native population; but as smoking is strictly prohibited by the -Mahdist code, this product has entirely died out, though occasionally -small quantities are smuggled in from the Tagalla and Nuba mountains, -and fetch large prices; but any persons guilty of infringing the -regulations in this respect suffer very heavy penalties. - -The once extensive commerce of the Sudan has now sunk down to -comparatively nothing; and the roads which were formerly traversed by -numberless caravans are now deserted, obliterated by sand, or overgrown -with rank vegetation. The principal routes were,-- - -1. The Arbaïn or forty days' road, from Darfur to Assiut, or from -Kordofan through the Bayuda desert to Dongola and Wadi Halfa. - -2. From Khartum, _via_ Berber, to Assuan, or _via_ Abu Hamed, to -Korosko. - -3. From Khartum, _via_ Berber or Kassala, to Suakin. - -4. From Gallabat, Gedaref, and Kassala to Massawa. - -At present the only roads used by occasional caravans are from Berber to -Assuan and Suakin. Shortly after the capture of Khartum, the Sudan -merchants imported to Assuan considerable quantities of the captured -gold and silver ornaments; and, partly owing to this fact, and partly to -the amount of spoil accumulated in the Khalifa's private treasury, the -supply of these metals has become so reduced that Abdullahi has given -strict orders to the merchants that they should on no account take with -them to Egypt any gold or silver except what was absolutely necessary -for the expenses of the journey. This amount was fixed by the Beit el -Mal, and had to be taken in old currency, the value of which was -inserted in the passport. - -As the sadly diminished trade with Egypt began to revive, natural -products, which had been the former wealth of the Sudan, were again made -the medium of commerce. Gum, ostrich feathers, tamarinds, senna-leaves, -etc. were collected in the Beit el Mal, as well as ivory, and were sold -by auction at local currency rates; but as the majority of these -products came from the western districts, which, owing to war, famine, -and disease had become almost depopulated, the supply was scanty. In -exchange for these, the merchants brought from Egypt Manchester goods, -which are greatly in demand in the Sudan. Gum is a monopoly, and the -price paid for it varies greatly. The Beit el Mal purchases at the rate -of twenty to thirty dollars (Omla Gedida), and sells to the merchants at -the rate of thirty to forty dollars. The purchaser generally receives -permission to take it to Egypt, and is taxed at the rate of a dollar a -hundred weight at Berber, where the amount is carefully checked with the -bill of lading. If he wishes to take it to Suakin or Assuan, he is -obliged to pay a tax of a further dollar a hundred weight; but in this -case it is a Maria Theresa dollar, which is equivalent to five Omla -Gedidas; and thus already a sixth of the original cost has been added in -taxation. - -Ostrich-hunting has now become almost impossible, as the Arabs have -practically no guns, and it is most difficult to procure any ammunition. -An attempt was made to hunt ostriches on horseback; but this also was -forbidden by the Khalifa, and, consequently, very few feathers are -brought into the market. The Arabs then tried ostrich-breeding, and -caught some young birds; but this again was forbidden on the grounds -that it was not allowed by religion, and the plucking of birds was made -an offence which was most severely punished. The Khalifa's object in -imposing these absurd strictures was merely to appear in the eyes of the -public as a very religious Moslem. In consequence, ostrich-breeders had -no other course but to kill their birds, and for some days Omdurman was -flooded with ostrich meat. I have heard that attempts are made by some -of the desert Arabs to rear ostriches in a species of cage made of the -branches of trees; but the feathers obtained in this way are so few as -to make the trade in this commodity almost unappreciable. - -Ivory comes from the Equatorial regions in considerable quantities about -once a year, and generally finds its way to Suakin; and as these -districts appear to be gradually passing out of Mahdist control, it is -hardly probable that the amount will increase in future years. -Occasionally, a few tusks are brought from the Southern Darfur -districts; but unless the Dervishes re-occupy the Bahr el Ghazal in -force, their ivory trade stands in danger of dying out altogether. - -Goods can only be imported from Egypt by the Assuan and Suakin roads. -Formerly, a certain amount of trade was carried on between Suakin and -Kassala, and Kassala and Massawa; but since the occupation of the -Eastern Sudan by the Italians, it has almost entirely ceased. The goods -imported are generally of an inferior quality, and consist mostly of -material for women's dresses and men's jibbas; but to the inhabitants of -the Sudan this is a matter of little consequence, for they much prefer -gaudy and tawdry material to the more durable fabrics. Indeed, it would -be very difficult, if not impossible, to find purchasers for a better -class of goods in the Sudan. - -One of the principal imports is scent of every variety, such as -sandal-wood oil, cloves, scented seeds, etc., for all of which the -Sudanese ladies have a strong predilection. A certain amount of sugar, -rice, inferior jams, and dried fruit also find purchasers amongst the -more wealthy of the population. The importation of all articles made of -iron, brass, tin, copper, etc. has, for some time past, been rigorously -prohibited by the Egyptian Government, and now it is almost impossible -to obtain a pair of scissors or a razor. Copper cooking-utensils have -risen to an enormous price; and most of those which previously existed -have been bought up by the arsenal for the manufacture of cartridges. -Consequently, food is now cooked almost entirely in earthenware vessels. - -The tax of ushr (a tenth) is levied on all goods imported to the Sudan. -It must be paid in either money or kind, and is frequently taken more -than once along the road. All goods on arrival in Omdurman are taken to -the Beit el Mal and stamped; and here the ushr is again taken. -Merchants, therefore, owing to the heavy taxes imposed, in addition to -the presents they have to make to the various chiefs, have generally -paid half as much again over and above the value of their goods. They -are therefore obliged to considerably raise the price; and even then the -total profit is by no means a large one. Several of the more wealthy -inhabitants of the Sudan have taken to trading with Egypt, not so much -with a view to making money, as to spending a few months away from the -atmosphere of the Khalifa's authority. It is by means of trade alone -that any of the unfortunate inhabitants of the Sudan can temporarily -escape from the hands of that tyrant, whose rule is more detested than -ever. Most of the merchants, having their wives, families, and relatives -in the Sudan, are obliged eventually to return; and, were it not for -these ties, I think that few men who have the chance of leaving the -Sudan would ever return. - -But if trade in general is in a state of depression, there is one trade -to which the advent of the Mahdi and Khalifa has given a great impulse. -I refer, of course, to the slave-trade. As, however, the export of -slaves to Egypt is strictly prohibited, this trade is confined entirely -to the provinces under the Khalifa's control. In prohibiting the export -of slaves, the Khalifa acts on the wise principle that he should not -increase the power of his adversaries at his own expense. It is, of -course, quite impossible for him to absolutely prevent slaves being -taken occasionally to Egypt or Arabia; but the slave-caravans which were -formerly sent from the Sudan have now almost completely stopped. A few -years ago quantities of slaves were sent from Abyssinia by Abu Anga, and -from Fashoda by Zeki Tummal, as well as from Darfur and the Nuba -mountains by Osman Wad Adam, and were generally sold by public auction -for the benefit of the Beit el Mal, or the Khalifa's private treasury. -The transport of slaves is carried on with the same execrable and -heartless cruelty which characterises their capture. Of the thousands of -Abyssinian Christians seized by Abu Anga, the majority were women and -children; and under the cruel lash of the whip they were forced to march -on foot the whole distance from Abyssinia to Omdurman; wrenched from -their families, provided with scarcely enough food to keep body and soul -together, barefooted, and almost naked, they were driven through the -country like herds of cattle. The greater number of them perished on the -road; and those who arrived in Omdurman were in so pitiable a condition -that purchasers could scarcely be found for them, whilst numbers were -given away for nothing by the Khalifa. After the defeat of the Shilluks, -Zeki Tummal packed thousands of these wretched creatures into the small -barges used for the transport of his troops, and despatched them to -Omdurman. Hundreds died from suffocation and overcrowding on the -journey; and, on the arrival of the remnant, the Khalifa appropriated -most of the young men as recruits for his body-guard, whilst the women -and young girls were sold by public auction, which lasted several days. -Hungry, and in many cases naked, these unfortunate creatures lay huddled -together in front of the Beit el Mal. For food, they were given an -utterly inadequate quantity of uncooked dhurra. Hundreds fell ill; and -for these poor wretches it was also impossible to find purchasers. -Wearily they dragged their emaciated bodies to the river bank, where -they died; and as nobody would take the trouble to bury them, the -corpses were pushed into the river and swept away. - -But a worse fate than this befell the slaves who had the misfortune to -be sent from Darfur along the broad stretches of waterless desert which -lie between that province and Omdurman. These miserable creatures were -mercilessly driven forward day and night; and it would be impossible for -me to describe here the execrable measures adopted by these brutal -slave-drivers to force on their prey to their destination. When the poor -wretches could go no further, their ears were cut off as a proof to the -owner that his property had died on the road. Some of my friends told me -that on one occasion they had found an unfortunate woman whose ears had -been cut off, but who was still alive. Taking pity on her, they brought -her to El Fasher, where she eventually recovered, whilst her ears had -been duly exposed in Omdurman as proof of her death. - -Latterly, no large caravans of slaves have arrived in Omdurman, because -the majority of the slave-producing districts, such as Darfur, have -become depopulated, or, in some cases, the tribes, such as the Tama, -Massalit, etc., have thrown off allegiance to the Khalifa. Consignments, -however, still come from Reggaf; but, owing to the long and tedious -journey, numbers of them perish on the way. As the supplies from -Gallabat, Kordofan, and Darfur have considerably diminished, the Khalifa -now allows the Emirs to sell slaves to the itinerant Gellabas; and the -latter are obliged to sign a paper giving a descriptive return of their -purchase, and the amount paid. They are permitted to re-sell on the same -conditions. - -There is of course a daily sale of slaves in Omdurman; but the purchase -of male slaves is forbidden, as they are looked upon as the Khalifa's -monopoly, and are generally turned into soldiers. Any one wishing to -dispose of a male slave must send him to the Beit el Mal, where a purely -nominal price is paid for him; and he is then, if likely to make a good -soldier, recruited for the mulazemin, but if unsuitable, he is sent off -to work as a labourer in his master's fields. The sale of women and -girls is permissible everywhere, with the proviso that a paper must be -signed by two witnesses of the sale, one of whom, if possible, should be -a Kadi, certifying that the slave sold is the actual property of the -vendor. This system was brought into force because slaves frequently ran -away from their masters, were caught and sold by other persons as their -own property, and thus theft of slaves was a very common practice in -Omdurman. They were frequently enticed into other people's houses, or -secretly induced to leave the fields, then thrown into chains and -carried off to distant parts of the country, where they were sold at -very low rates. In accordance with the Mohammedan Law, slaves cannot be -witnesses; and, being well aware of their inferior position, these -stolen creatures, as long as they are kindly treated, are not -dissatisfied with their lot. - -In Omdurman itself, in an open space a short distance to the southeast -of the Beit el Mal, stands a house roughly built of mud-bricks, which is -known as the Suk er Rekik (slave-market). Under the pretext that I -wanted to buy or exchange slaves, I several times received the Khalifa's -permission to visit it, and found ample opportunity for closely -observing the conduct of the business. Here professional slave-dealers -assemble to offer their wares for sale. Round the walls of the house -numbers of women and girls stand or sit. They vary from the decrepit and -aged half-clad slaves of the working-class, to the gaily-decked Surya -(concubine); and as the trade is looked upon as a perfectly natural and -lawful business, those put up for sale are carefully examined from head -to foot, without the least restriction, just as if they were animals. -The mouth is opened to see if the teeth are in good condition. The upper -part of the body and the back are laid bare; and the arms carefully -looked at. They are then told to take a few steps backward or forward in -order that their movements and gait may be examined. A series of -questions are put to them to test their knowledge of Arabic. In fact, -they have to submit to any examination the intending purchaser may wish -to make. Suryas, of course, vary considerably in price; but the whole -matter is treated by the slaves without the smallest concern. They -consider it perfectly natural, and have no notion of being treated -otherwise. Only occasionally one can see by the expression of a woman or -girl that she feels this close scrutiny; possibly her position with her -former master was rather that of a servant than a slave, or she may have -been looked upon almost as a member of the family, and may have been -brought to this unhappy position by force of circumstances, or through -some hateful inhumanity on the part of her former master. When the -intending purchaser has completed his scrutiny, he then refers to the -dealer, asks him what he paid for her, or if he has any other better -wares for sale. He will probably complain that her face is not pretty -enough, that her body is not sufficiently developed, that she does not -speak Arabic, and so on, with the object of reducing the price as much -as possible; whilst, on the other hand, the owner will do his utmost to -show up her good qualities, charms, etc., into the detail of which it is -not necessary to enter here. Amongst the various "secret defects" which -oblige the dealer to reduce his price are snoring, bad qualities of -character, such as thieving, and many others; but when at last the sale -has been finally arranged, the paper is drawn out and signed, the money -paid, and the slave becomes the property of her new master. Payment is -always made in local currency (Omla Gedida dollars), and runs -approximately as follows:-- - -For an aged working slave, fifty to eighty dollars; for a middle aged -woman eighty to one hundred and twenty dollars; for young girls between -eight and eleven years of age, according to looks, one hundred and ten -to one hundred and sixty dollars; and for suryas (concubines), according -to looks, one hundred and eighty to seven hundred dollars. These rates, -of course, vary also according to market value, or special demand for a -particular race. - -There are practically no industries in the Sudan, as, with the exception -of the articles I have already mentioned, there are no exports. -Formerly, gold and silver filigree work was sent to Egypt; but, owing to -the scarcity of these metals, and to the Mahdi's edict against wearing -jewellery, this export has altogether ceased. There is a considerable -manufacture and trade in long and short spears of various shapes, -stirrup-irons, horse and donkey bits, knives for fastening on the arm, -as well as agricultural implements. Wooden saddles for horses, camels, -and mules, angarebs, boxes for carrying clothes, and doors, windows, and -shutters of a primitive description are also made. Formerly, -boat-building was extensively carried on; but, owing to the Khalifa's -confiscation of all boats on the Nile, it ceased almost entirely, till -about a year ago, when, with the Khalifa's permission, it re-commenced. -As, however, all new boats are taxed highly by the Beit el Mal, there -is little inducement to the builders to undertake such profitless work. - -[Illustration: In the Slave Market, Omdurman.] - -There is a certain amount of leather-work in red and yellow shoes, -sandals, saddles of different sorts, harness, amulets, sword scabbards, -and knife sheaths, etc., whilst whips in large quantities are made from -the hide of the hippopotamus. There is also a considerable cotton -industry. Every woman or girl spins for her own use or for sale; and in -every village there are numbers of weavers who work the spun-yarn into a -variety of materials. In the Gezira are woven common cotton -stuffs,--such as tobs, damur, and genj (names of cloths) in lengths of -about ten yards. These are brought to the market in large quantities, -and are principally used for the clothing of the commoner classes. The -finest yarns are spun in the province of Berber. Strips of coloured silk -are frequently interwoven in the material, which is used principally for -turbans and hazams (the strips of cotton which are used to bind round -the body), as well as coverings of various sorts, and shawls. A certain -amount of cotton stuff is made in the Dongola province; but that -district is chiefly noted for the manufacture of sail-cloth. Materials -from Kordofan are noted for their durability rather than for their -beauty. - -In addition to spinning, the women occupy themselves largely in plaiting -mats of various shapes and sizes from the leaves of the dom palm, which -are sold largely in all parts of the Sudan. The best quality of these -mats is made from the narrow strips of the palm leaves, barley straw, -and thin pieces of leather. Mats of a similar description are also made -for placing under dishes on the dinner-table. The workmanship of some of -these is so fine and good that a certain quantity find their way to -Egypt, where they are sold as curiosities. The Darfur women are -specially clever in making these mats, into which are interwoven various -sorts of glass beads, and the result is sometimes extremely pretty. - -In the preceding pages, I have endeavoured to give a brief outline of -the Khalifa's life, and the existing state of affairs in the country; -but this would not be complete without a few remarks regarding the moral -condition of the people. The attempted regeneration of the faith by the -Mahdi, who disregarded the former religious teaching and customs, has -resulted in a deterioration of morals, which, even at the best of times, -were very lax in the Sudan. Partly from fear of the Khalifa, and partly -for their own personal interests and advantage, the people have made -religion a mere profession; and this has now become their second nature, -and has brought with it a condition of immorality which is almost -indescribable. The majority of the inhabitants, unhappy and discontented -with the existing state of affairs, and fearing that their personal -freedom may become even more restricted than it is, seem to have -determined to enjoy their life as much as their means will allow, and to -lose no time about it. As there is practically no social life or -spiritual intercourse, they seem to have resolved to make up for this -want by indulging their passion for women to an abnormal extent. Their -object is to obtain as many of these in marriage as possible, as well as -concubines; and the Mahdi's tenets allow them the fullest scope in this -direction. For instance, the expenses in connection with marriage have -been greatly diminished. The dowry for a girl has been reduced from ten -to five dollars; and for a widow, five dollars, a common dress, a pair -of shoes or sandals, and a few scents. Should a man desire to marry a -girl, her father or guardian must consent, unless there are some very -cogent reasons for not doing so. Under any circumstances, they are held -responsible that their daughters or wards become wives as soon as they -reach a convenient age. The acquisition, therefore, of four wives--which -is the number authorised by the Kuran--has become a very simple matter, -and in most cases is considered merely a means of acquiring a small -amount of personal property. Moreover, a large proportion of the women -are quite agreeable to this arrangement, and enter into matrimony either -with the object of obtaining some clothes and a little money, or -temporarily changing their mode of life, being well aware that, in -accordance with the law, they can dissolve marriage ties without -difficulty. If a woman seeks a divorce, she retains her dowry, unless -the separation rises from aversion to her husband, in which case the -dowry is returned if the man wishes it. I know many men who, in the -space of ten years, have been married forty or fifty times at least; and -there are also many women who, during the same period, have had fifteen -or twenty husbands, and in their case the law enjoins that between each -divorce they must wait three months at least. As a rule, concubines, of -whom a man may legally have as many as he likes, lead a most immoral -life. They rarely live in the same house as their master, unless they -have children by him, in which case they cannot be sold; but in the -majority of cases they are bought with the object of being retained -merely for a very short time, and subsequently sold again at a profit. -This constant changing of hands leads to great moral deterioration. -Their youth and beauty quickly fade; and, as a rule, they age -prematurely, and then enter upon a life of hardship and moral -degradation which it is almost impossible to conceive. - -It is a common practice for merchants to make pecuniary profit out of -the immorality of their slaves. They buy young girls, permit them to -enjoy a certain amount of freedom by seeking a shelter and livelihood in -the manner which suits them best; and for this privilege they refund to -their masters a percentage of their gains. - -The greatest vice exists amongst the slaves of the mulazemin. The latter -entice women to their quarters, where they remain a short time with them -as their wives; but the freest interchange takes place between them. The -Khalifa does not seem to think it worth while to check this immorality, -as he imagines that by allowing them to please themselves, his own -slaves will become more attached to him, and will not wish to leave him. -It may be readily conceived that the result of this moral laxity has -led to the prevalence of the worst sort of disease, which has taken such -a hold of all classes of the population, both free and slaves, that were -it not for the warm and dry climate, the ravages would be terrible. As -it is, the general state of health is very unsatisfactory, and is -considerably aggravated by the complete absence of medicines necessary -to check the malady. - -A certain number of people also indulge in unnatural love: and at first -the Khalifa made some attempt to check this by banishment to Reggaf; but -latterly he has given up doing so. He has come to the conclusion that it -is much easier to rule by despotism and tyranny, a degraded nation than -one which possesses a high standard of morality. For this reason, he -both hates and fears the Jaalin, who inhabit the Nile banks between -Hagger el Asal and Berber, because they are almost the only Arabs in the -Sudan who maintain a well-regulated family life, and hold morality in -high esteem as a necessary condition for a healthy and contented -existence. - -The widows of the Mahdi are forcibly prevented from leading a corrupt -life; as, immediately after his master's death, the Khalifa, in honour -of his memory, confined these women in houses surrounded by high walls, -in the immediate vicinity of his tomb, where they are strictly guarded -by eunuchs. Much against their will, not only the wives and concubines, -but also many of the young girls,--most of whom were daughters of former -Government officials, and who were taken into the harem when quite -young, in order to become his future wives,--have been thus forcibly -deprived of the possibility of re-marrying, and are so closely guarded -that they are only permitted to see their female relatives once a year. -They are supplied merely with the bare necessaries of life, and long for -their freedom. Let us hope that before very long it may come! - -In spite of his despotism, the Khalifa is in considerable fear of his -life. He ruthlessly evicted all the local inhabitants of those portions -of the town in the immediate neighbourhood of his own residence; and -their places have been taken by his enormous body-guard, whose numbers -he daily seeks to increase. These he has surrounded by an immense wall, -within which he and his relatives live, while all persons of whom he is -in the slightest degree suspicious are forced to reside without the -enclosure. Within, however, all is not peace and contentment. The -constant duties he imposes on his body-guard have produced a feeling of -irritation. They grumble at the small pay they receive, and do not -appreciate the restrictions imposed on their social life. Thousands of -these who belong to the free Arab tribes are prevented from having any -intercourse whatever with their relations. They are scarcely ever -permitted to quit the enclosure; and their smallest offences are -punished with appalling severity. Abdullahi is surrounded day and night -by his own specially appointed guard, and by numbers of faithful -servants; and no persons--not even his nearest relatives--are permitted -to approach him with arms in their hands. Should any one be commanded to -see the Khalifa, his sword and knife, which he invariably wears, are -taken from him, and he is generally searched before being admitted to -the audience-chamber. This general mistrust has added to his -unpopularity; and, even amongst his most devoted adherents, remarks are -frequently let fall in an undertone, commenting on his despotism and his -personal fears. - -In spite, however, of all this undue severity, the Khalifa has not -succeeded in keeping his own tribe in hand. On their first arrival in -the Nile valley, they indulged in wholesale raids on the local -population, seizing their grain, ravishing their women, and carrying off -their children. Indeed affairs became so serious that the Khalifa was -obliged to issue an order that no Taaisha Arab would be permitted to -leave the town without special permission; but his instructions were -practically ignored, and lawlessness is even more rife than before. The -conduct of these Arabs is unbearable. They openly boast that their -relationship with the Khalifa has made them masters of the country, and -that they intend to assert themselves. They have seized all the best -pastures for their cattle and horses; and they live on the fat of the -land,--a state of affairs which has caused considerable jealousy amongst -the other western tribes, who view the Taaisha with no very friendly -feelings. Of all this the Khalifa is well aware; but I do not think he -realises how unpopular he really is, and his constant effort is to -retain the sympathy of his Emirs by frequently sending them secretly by -night presents of money and slaves. The latter do not hesitate to accept -these gifts, which they know have been unfairly gained; and their -opinion of the Khalifa, instead of being improved, remains as it was -before. He imagined that the learned and educated element of the -population--which is exceedingly small--was on his side, because he -allowed Kadi Hussein to give lectures in the mosque after noon and -evening prayers on the subject of the Moslem rights of inheritance. As -all such re-unions were forbidden by the Mahdi, some of the Ulema -(learned men) were stupid enough to think that this new departure was a -sign of progress. The Khalifa himself attended these lectures; and, -noticing one day that some of the Ulema, in order to rest themselves, -sat cross-legged instead of in a submissive attitude of prayer, he -openly reprimanded them, and declared in a loud voice that all persons, -whether learned or ignorant, must in his presence pay him the respect -due to him. A few days later, Kadi Hussein inadvertently quoted in his -lecture a chapter to the effect that learning was a high virtue, and -that kings and princes should realise this, and accept the advice of -learned men. The Khalifa, who is utterly ignorant of reading and -writing, got up and left the mosque in a rage; and, a few days later, he -issued an order that the meetings should be discontinued for the future. -Kadi Hussein immediately fell in favour, and soon afterwards had the -further misfortune to disagree with the Khalifa on a question respecting -slaves. The latter had called upon the Kadis for an opinion as to -whether all male and female slaves who might have taken refuge with the -mulazemin, and were not claimed by their rightful owners within twenty -days, should not become the actual property of their new masters; but as -no persons living outside the wall are under any circumstances permitted -to enter the enclosure, it stands to reason that masters of runaway -slaves have no possibility of searching the quarters of the mulazemin. -On these grounds the Kadi suggested that runaway slaves should be -publicly exposed in the market-place for a short time, and that if no -one appeared to claim them within a specified period, they should then -become the property of the Beit el Mal. As the Khalifa had previously -given private instructions to his mulazemin to retain all slaves -belonging to the Nile valley tribes, and to return only those who -belonged to the western Arabs, the Kadi's proposition did not at all -suit him, whilst the other Kadis, to whom he had referred the matter, -concurred with him against Kadi Hussein. The friends of the latter now -trembled for his life; but the Khalifa allowed it to pass for the -moment, and is only waiting for some other opportunity to involve him -more deeply in what he is pleased to term "an act of disobedience." - -The Khalifa has not moved out of Omdurman for upwards of ten years. Here -he has centralised all power, stored up all ammunition, and gathered -under his personal surveillance all those whom he suspects, obliging -them to say the five prayers daily in his presence, and listen to his -sermons. He has declared Omdurman to be the sacred city of the Mahdi. It -is strange to think that ten years ago this great town was merely a -little village lying opposite to Khartum, and inhabited by a few -brigands. It was not for some time after the fall of Khartum that the -Mahdi decided to settle there. Mimosa-trees filled up the space now -occupied by the mosque and the residences of the three Khalifas. -Abdullahi took as his own property all ground lying south of the mosque, -whilst that on the north side was divided between Khalifa Sherif and -Khalifa Ali Wad Helu. During his lifetime, the Mahdi had declared that -Omdurman was merely a temporary camp, as the Prophet had revealed to him -that he should depart this life in Syria, after conquering Egypt and -Arabia; but his early death had shattered all his plans and the hopes of -his followers. - -From north to south, the new city covers a length of about six English -miles. The southern extremity lies almost exactly opposite the southwest -end of Khartum. At first, every one wanted to live as near the river -banks as possible, in order to facilitate the drawing of water, -consequently the breadth of the city is considerably less than its -length; and it is in no place over three miles in width. At first, it -consisted of thousands and thousands of straw huts; and the mosque was -originally an oblong enclosure surrounded by a mud wall four hundred and -sixty yards long and three hundred and fifty yards broad; but this has -now been replaced by one made of burnt brick, and then whitewashed over. -After this, the Khalifa began building brick houses for himself and his -brother, then for his relatives, whilst the Emirs and most of the -wealthy people followed his example. I have already described the -construction of the Mahdi's tomb; but before I left Omdurman much of the -whitewash had been knocked off by the weather, which spoilt its general -appearance. Above the apex of the dome are three hollow brass balls, one -above the other, connected together by a lance, the head of which forms -the top ornament of the structure. I have often heard people say that -the Khalifa erected this spear to show that he is perfectly prepared to -declare war against the heavens if his wishes are not carried out. -Occasionally Abdullahi shuts himself up for hours in this mausoleum, -probably with the object of obtaining some special inspiration; but -since the execution of the Mahdi's relatives, his visits are much less -frequent; and it is generally supposed he dreads to be alone with the -body of his dead master, whose tenets and influence he has, not in words -but in deeds, so persistently overturned. Every Friday, the large doors -in the surrounding enclosure are opened to admit the pilgrims; and as -every Mahdist is ordered to attend on these days to repeat the prayers -for the dead, thousands are to be seen in the various attitudes of -prayer, beseeching the protection of the Almighty through the -intermediary of the Saint (?) who lies buried there; but I doubt not -that many fervent prayers ascend to the throne of God for relief from -the terrible oppression and tyranny of his despotic successor. - -South of the tomb, and adjoining the great mosque, lies the enormous -enclosure of the Khalifa. It consists of a high wall built of red -bricks, which is subdivided into several smaller courts, all of which -are in communication with each other; and nearest to the mosque are his -own private apartments, to the east of which are those of his wives, the -stables, store-houses, quarters of the eunuchs, etc., etc. In the centre -of the eastern face of the mosque is a large wooden door (the other -entrances to the mosque have no doors) through which admission is -obtained to the Khalifa's private apartments and reception chambers. On -entering the main gate, one passes through a sort of porch, leading into -a small court, in which are two rooms, one side of each of which is left -completely open; and it is here that the Khalifa receives his guests. A -door leads out of this court into the private apartments; and the -youthful attendants are the only persons allowed to enter. The various -houses within the enclosure are constructed in the shape of large -detached halls, on one or both sides of which are verandahs. On the roof -of one of these buildings a second story has been added, on all four -sides of which are windows, from which a complete view of the town can -be obtained. - -The reception chambers are furnished with the greatest simplicity. An -angareb, over which a palm-mat is spread, is the only article of -furniture; but his interior apartments are provided with all the -luxuries it is possible to procure in the Sudan. Brass and iron -bedsteads with mosquito curtains,--the spoil of Khartum,--carpets, -silk-covered cushions, door and window curtains of every variety of -colour and texture, are the principal articles of furniture, while the -verandahs are provided with the universal angareb and palm-mat. Compared -with the Khalifa's early mode of life, these articles constitute the -most extreme luxuries. - -To the east of the Khalifa's enclosure lies the house of his son, which -is furnished much in the same style as that of his father, but with even -greater luxury. Several large brass chandeliers from Khartum are -suspended from the ceilings; and there is an immense garden made from -earth transported from the banks of the Nile, and in which hundreds of -slaves are employed daily. The latter are justly irritated with the -great love of show which is the distinguishing characteristic of their -young master, whilst they themselves are provided with scarcely enough -food for their maintenance. - -The Khalifa and his son spend much of their time in building and -furnishing new apartments, and in making their lives as pleasant and -comfortable as possible. Yakub follows their example; and every day -numbers of workmen are to be seen streaming towards these two houses, -carrying beams, stone, mortar, and other requisite building-material. -Khalifa Ali Wad Helu's house is very much smaller, and is furnished with -great simplicity. - -In addition to his principal residence, Abdullahi possesses houses in -the northern and southern districts of the city; but they are built and -furnished on much simpler lines, and are merely used by him as -rest-houses when he despatches troops on expeditions from the capital, -or goes out to inspect freshly arrived detachments from the provinces. -He seldom stays in these houses more than a day or two at a time. He has -also built a house near the river, and close to the old Government fort, -the ditches of which have now been filled in. He generally goes to this -house when steamers are about to start for Reggaf, in order that he may -personally superintend embarkations. - -The Beit el Amana, or arsenal, is separated from Yakub's house by a -broad open space. It consists of a large building enclosed by stone -walls, and here are stored the guns, rifles, ammunition, and other -warlike material, as well as the five carriages belonging to the -Governor-Generals and to the Catholic Mission. At intervals of every few -paces sentries are posted in small sentry boxes; and they are charged to -allow no unauthorised persons to enter the building. Just north of the -arsenal lies a building in which are stored the flags of all the Emirs -residing in Omdurman; and beside it is a semi-circular building about -twenty feet high, provided with stairs, where the Khalifa's war-drums -are kept. A little further to the east is the cartridge and small-arms -manufactory. - -On the north side of the city, and close to the river, is the Beit el -Mal, which is an enormous walled-in enclosure subdivided into a variety -of courts in which are stored goods coming from all parts of the Sudan -and from Egypt, as well as grain stores and slave courts. A little to -the south of the Beit el Mal lies the public slave-market, and, in close -proximity, the Beit el Mal of the Mulazemin has been erected. - -The town of Omdurman is built for the most part on fairly level ground, -but here and there are a few small hills. The soil consists mostly of -hard red clay, and is very stony, with occasional patches of sand. For -his own convenience, the Khalifa has driven large straight roads through -various parts of the town; and to make way for these numbers of houses -were levelled, but no compensation was given to their owners. A glance -at the rough plan attached to the end of the book will give the reader -an approximate idea of the extent and general situation of the town and -principal buildings, and its relative position with reference to -Khartum, which is now a complete ruin, the dock-yard alone being kept -up, and communication between it and Omdurman maintained by a submarine -cable worked by some of the former Government telegraph officials. -Outside the large unfinished wall built along the road leading to the -Beit el Mal are a number of shops belonging to the various trades, all -of which are kept quite distinct,--such as carpenters, barbers, -tailors, butchers, etc., etc. The Mehekemet es Suk (market police) are -charged with maintaining order in the town; and the gallows erected in -various parts of the city are a very evident indication of the system of -government of the country. - -The population of the city is located entirely according to tribes. The -western Arabs live for the most part in the southern quarters, whilst -the northern portion has been allotted to the Nile valley people; and in -addition to the market police, the various sections of the populace are -obliged to supply a number of watchmen for the preservation of public -security in their respective quarters, and they must report any -disturbances to the night patrols. - -With the exception of the few broad roads which the Khalifa has made for -his own convenience, the only communications between the various -quarters consist of numbers of narrow winding lanes; and in these all -the filth of the city is collected. Their wretched condition, and the -smells which emanate from these pestilential by-paths are beyond -description. Dead horses, camels, donkeys, and goats block the way; and -the foulest refuse lies scattered about. Before certain feast-days, the -Khalifa issues orders that the city is to be cleaned; but, beyond -sweeping all these carcases and refuse into corners, nothing further is -done; and when the rainy season begins the fetid air exhaling from these -decaying rubbish heaps generally produces some fatal epidemic, which -sweeps off the inhabitants by hundreds. - -Formerly, there were cemeteries within the city; but now all the dead -must be buried in the desert north of the parade ground. - -Fever and dysentery are the prevailing maladies in Omdurman, and between -the months of November and March an almost continuous epidemic of typhus -fever rages. - -Of late years numbers of new wells have been made. Those north of the -mosque give good water; but those in the southern quarters of the city -are mostly brackish. They vary in depth from thirty to ninety feet, and -are generally dug by the prisoners under the direction of the saier. - -[Illustration: Coming from Market, Omdurman.] - -"He has been taken to the Saier," is an expression one frequently hears; -and it means that some wretched creature has been carried off to the -prison. The mere mention of this word awakens feelings of horror and -dread in the minds of all who hear it. The prison is situated in the -southeastern quarter of the city, near the river, and is surrounded by a -high wall. A gate, strongly guarded day and night by armed Blacks, gives -access to an inner court, in which several small mud and stone huts have -been erected. During the day-time, the unhappy prisoners, most of them -heavily chained and manacled, lie about in the shade of the buildings. -Complete silence prevails, broken only by the clanking of the chains, -the hoarse orders of the hard-hearted warders, or the cries of some poor -wretch who is being mercilessly flogged. Some of the prisoners who may -have specially incurred the Khalifa's displeasure, are loaded with -heavier chains and manacles than the rest, and are interned in the small -huts and debarred from all intercourse with their fellow-prisoners. They -generally receive only sufficient nourishment to keep them alive. - -Ordinary prisoners receive no regular supply of food; but their -relatives are allowed to provide for them. It often happens that long -before a meal reaches the person for whom it is intended, a very large -portion of it has been consumed by the rapacious and unscrupulous -warders; and sometimes the prisoner gets nothing whatever. At night, the -wretched creatures are driven like sheep into the stone huts, which are -not provided with windows, and are consequently quite unventilated. -Regardless of prayers and entreaties, they are pushed pell-mell into -these living graves, which are generally so tightly packed that it is -quite impossible to lie down. The weaker are trampled down by the -stronger; and not infrequently the warder opens the door in the morning -to find that some of his victims have succumbed to suffocation and -ill-usage in these horrible cells. It is a painful sight to see scores -of half-suffocated individuals pouring out of these dens, bathed in -perspiration, and utterly exhausted by the turmoil of the long and -sleepless night. Once emerged, they sink down, more dead than alive, -under the shade of the walls, and spend the remainder of the day in -trying to recover from the effects of the previous night, and gain -sufficient strength to undergo the horrors of that which is to follow. - -One would think that death was preferable to such an existence. Still -these unfortunates cling to life, and pray to God to relieve them from -their sufferings. In spite of the prison being invariably overcrowded, -and notwithstanding the horrors of prison life, I do not ever remember -having heard of a case of suicide amongst the unfortunate inmates. - -Charles Neufeld has spent some years in the Saier, often ill, subject to -the greatest privations, and merely kept alive by the occasional -supplies which reached him through the Black servant he brought with him -from Egypt, and who, in turn, was assisted by the other Europeans in -Omdurman. He managed to survive, though heavily chained by the neck, and -wearing two large irons round his feet. On one occasion, he refused to -spend the night in one of the stone huts, which he aptly described as -"the last station on the way to Hell," and for this act of disobedience -he was severely flogged; but he bore it without a murmur, until his -tormentors--amazed at his powers of endurance--cried out, "Why do you -not complain? Why do you not ask for mercy?" "That is for others to do, -not for me," was the strong-hearted reply which gained for him the -respect of even his gaolers. After enduring three years of imprisonment, -his irons were lightened; and, with only a chain joining his ankles, he -was removed to Khartum, where he was ordered to refine saltpetre for the -manufacture of gunpowder, under the superintendence of Wad Hamednalla. -Here his condition was much improved; and he received a small monthly -remuneration for his work, which sufficed to provide him with the bare -necessaries of life. As the saltpetre refinery adjoins the old church of -the Mission, the latter has thus been saved from destruction. After his -daily hard work is over, Neufeld is allowed to rest in the Mission -gardens; and here, no doubt, his thoughts often revert to his family at -home, and he must in his heart curse the evil day which induced him to -quit Egypt, and thoughtlessly venture into the clutches of the Khalifa. -For him fate has indeed been cruel; and most fervently do I hope that -ere long he may be reunited with his relatives, who have not abandoned -all hope of seeing him again. In Europe, there is no lack of friends who -are ready to do all in their power to help him; but it rests with God -alone to release this poor captive from his misery. - -It makes my heart ache to think of all the horrors that have been -enacted in that dreadful prison. There was the sad case of poor Sheikh -Khalil, who had been despatched from Cairo with letters to the Khalifa, -informing him of the number and names of the prisoners who had been -captured at the battle of Toski, all of whom, he was assured, were being -well cared for, and would eventually be set free; and he was requested -to hand over to the Sheikh the sword and medals of General Gordon, -which, it was assumed, were in his possession. Khalil's companion, -Beshara, was sent back with the letters unanswered, whilst the -unfortunate emissary, who was an Egyptian by birth, was thrown into -chains, under the pretext that he had been sent as a spy. Ill-treated -and deprived of nourishment, he became so weak that he could not rise -from the ground. His tormentors even refused him water to drink; and at -last death came to him as a happy release from his sufferings. - -Malech, a Jewish merchant of Tunis, who had come to Kassala with Abu -Girga's permission, was seized by the Khalifa's orders, and brought to -Omdurman, where he remains in captivity in the Saier to this day. He is -as thin as a skeleton, and is driven almost to despair. He is kept -alive by the efforts of his own community, who have been forced to -become Moslems, and who succeed in providing him with small quantities -of food. - -Two Ababda Arabs, arrested on suspicion of carrying letters to Europeans -in Omdurman, were seized and imprisoned, and died soon after of -starvation. The alarm in the European colony was great; but fortunately -it transpired that the letters were for a Copt from his relations in -Cairo. - -The great Sheikh of the Gimeh tribe, Asakr Abu Kalam, who had shown such -friendship and hospitality to the Khalifa and his father in early days, -was ruthlessly seized and thrown into chains, because it came to the -Khalifa's ears that he had spoken disparagingly of the present condition -of the Sudan, and had expressed regret at having taken up arms against -the Government. He was eventually exiled to Reggaf, whilst his wife, who -was a well-known beauty in the Sudan, was torn from the arms of her -husband at the hour of his departure, and carried off to the Khalifa's -harem. - -The well-known Emir, Zeki Tummal, on being seized, was thrown into a -small stone building the shape of a coffin, the door of which was built -up. He was given no food whatever; but a small amount of water was -handed to him through an aperture in the wall. For twenty-three days, he -suffered all the horrors of starvation; but no sound or complaint was -heard to issue from that living grave. Too proud to beg, and well aware -of the futility of doing so, he lingered on till the twenty-fourth day, -when death carried him out of reach of his tormentors. The saier and his -warders watched, through the aperture, the death agonies of the wretched -man; and when at length he had ceased to struggle, they hurried off to -give their lord and master the joyful news. That night Zeki's body was -removed to the western quarter of the city, and there buried amongst a -heap of old ruins, with his back turned towards Mecca.[18] The Khalifa, -not content with having tormented him in life, thought thus to deprive -him of peace in the world to come. - -I have already described how the Khalifa disposed of his most trusted -adherent, the Kadi Ahmed. On reaching the Saier, he was thrown into the -hut in which Zeki had been interned; and, a few days after, he was -visited, at the command of the Khalifa, by two other Kadis, who asked -where he had hidden his money. "Tell your master, the Khalifa," said he, -"that I have settled my account with this world; and I know of no place -where gold or silver can be found." To their further inquiries he -remained perfectly silent; and the two myrmidons returned, crestfallen, -to their master. This happened only a few days before I quitted -Omdurman. Since my return to Egypt, I have ascertained that he died -shortly afterwards, under similar circumstances to those of Zeki. - -One could fill a volume with descriptions of the horrors and cruelties -enacted in the terrible Saier; but it is useless to weary the reader -with further accounts of the atrocities committed by order of that -merciless tyrant, the Khalifa. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -PLANS FOR ESCAPE. - - European Captives in Omdurman--Artin, the Watchmaker--Friends in - Cairo--Efforts of my Family to help me--Difficulties of - Communication--Babakr Abu Sebiba's Failure--Efforts of Baron - Heidler and the Egyptian Intelligence Department--Constant - Failures--Osheikh Karrar--Abderrahman matures his Plans--Hopes - and Fears--My Plan to gain Time--I quit my Hut never to return. - - -In keeping me constantly close to his person, the Khalifa had a twofold -object. He knew that I was the only remaining high Egyptian official who -had a thorough knowledge of the Sudan, had traversed almost the entire -country, and was complete master of the language. Utterly ignorant of -the political situation, he imagined that if I succeeded in escaping, I -should induce the Egyptian Government, or some European power, to enter -the Sudan; and he well knew that in that case I should form a link -between it and the principal tribal chiefs who were disaffected to him, -and longed for the return of a settled form of Government. On the other -hand, it flattered his vanity to have practically as his slave the man -who had formerly governed the whole of the great province of Darfur, -including his own country and tribe. He never attempted to conceal his -feelings in this respect, and frequently said to the western Arabs, -"See, this is the man who was formerly our master, and under whose -arbitrary rule we suffered. Now he is my servant, and must obey my -commands at all times. See, this is the man who formerly indulged in the -pleasures and vices of the world, and now he has to wear an unwashed -jibba and walk barefooted. God indeed is merciful and gracious!" He paid -much less attention to the other European captives, who gained a small -livelihood by working at various trades in a quarter near the -market-place, where they had built their own huts, and were left almost -undisturbed by the other inhabitants of the city. Father Ohrwalder lived -by weaving. Father Rosignoli and Beppo Rognotto (a former Mission -brother) kept a cookshop in the market-place, and the Sisters lived with -them until--with the exception of Sister Theresa Grigolini--they -succeeded in escaping. Then there is Giuseppe Cuzzi, one of A. Marquet's -former clerks, and a number of Greeks, Syrian Christians, and Copts,--in -all some forty-five men who have married either Christians born in the -country or Egyptians. The entire colony is termed the Muslimania[19] -quarter, and they have elected from amongst themselves an Emir, under -whose orders they agree to live, and who is responsible to the Khalifa -for every member of the colony. The present Emir is a certain Greek -called Nicola, whose Arabic name is Abdullahi. No one is on any account -allowed to quit Omdurman; and they are obliged to guarantee each other. -Consequently when Father Rosignoli escaped, his companion Beppo was -thrown into prison, and was in chains when I left the town. After Father -Ohrwalder's flight a much stricter surveillance was exercised over all -these unfortunates. A place has been allotted to them in the -northeastern portion of the mosque, where they have to attend prayers -daily; but not being under special control, they take it in turns to be -present, so that, in case of inquiry, the colony shall always be -represented. Their huts are built adjoining each other, and in this way -they can communicate without difficulty, and thus derive some -alleviation of their sad lot by mutual sympathy; but their children are -obliged to live in the various tekias (religious rest-houses), where -they are taught the Kuran. - -I have already described my own surroundings and mode of life; and it -now remains for me to add that I was only permitted to converse with a -few of the body-guard who were, like myself, either under surveillance -or specially employed as spies by the Khalifa to watch and report our -every action and word. I was seldom permitted to enter the town; and I -was strictly forbidden to make any visits. - -The Khalifa is very fond of watches and clocks; and one of my many -duties was to wind them up, and generally look after them. I availed -myself of this privilege to occasionally visit an Armenian watchmaker -named Artin, on the pretext that a clock or watch required repair. His -house was situated near the market-place; and here I used to arrange -meetings with some of the people I particularly wished to see. I never -confided in Artin, and those who came to the shop invariably made some -small purchases; and in doing so we succeeded in exchanging, as it were -quite casually, a few words. Most of my time was spent at the Khalifa's -gate reading the Kuran. I was not permitted to write, as Abdullahi -thought it unnecessary for me to practise an art of which he himself was -ignorant. I invariably accompanied my master to the mosque, or when he -appeared in public, and on these occasions my duties were somewhat those -of an aide-de-camp. Being in receipt of no salary, my food was of the -simplest, and consisted generally of asida, various sorts of sauces, and -occasionally a little meat purchased in the market. - -Abdullahi knew perfectly that I longed for freedom; and, in spite of all -my efforts to conceal it, I could not overcome his very rational -suspicion of me. By constant gifts of slaves, by offers of marriage with -his family, and various other expedients, he did all he could to make -ties which he thought would hold me down; but my continued refusal of -these very questionable benefits only confirmed his suspicions that I -intended to escape on the first possible occasion. After the fall of -Khartum, my family had done all in their power to obtain news of me; but -fortunately they realised how careful they must be. Herr Von Gsiller, -the Austro-Hungarian Consul-General in Egypt, spared no pains to get -news of me, and his efforts were heartily seconded by the officers -attached to the Egyptian army, and other officials. It was at his -suggestion that my relatives had communicated with me through the -Governor of Suakin, in 1888; and I have described in the preceding pages -how I was eventually forbidden by the Khalifa to hold any further -intercourse with the outside world. Already my relations with the -Khalifa had become much strained, owing to these events; and they became -much more so when a letter reached the Khalifa from Herr Von Rosty (who -had succeeded Herr Von Gsiller), asking his permission to send a priest -to minister to the members of the Mission, who, he stated, were Austrian -subjects. At the same time, he had written to me asking for information -on the present situation in the Sudan. The Khalifa, of course, took no -notice of Herr Von Rosty's letter, and accused me of duplicity and -disloyalty, because I had previously informed him that the members of -the Mission, with the exception of Father Ohrwalder, were Italians. I -had deliberately done this, as I feared that Abdullahi, in one of his -sudden outbursts of passion against me, might vent his rage on those -whom he believed to be my compatriots, and whom I was anxious to save; -but now this letter, stating directly the contrary, was a heavy blow. It -was quite beyond the Khalifa's capacity to understand that members of -various nationalities could be, for the purpose of the Mission, under -Austrian protection; and for a long time he incessantly upbraided me for -having deceived him. - -My family had placed a considerable sum of money at the disposal of the -Austrian Consul-General, with the object of assisting me; and they, -through the kind intervention of the various Sirdars of the Egyptian -army, and of Major Wingate, the Director of Military Intelligence, -succeeded in sending me occasional sums by the hands of trustworthy -Arabs. Of course I invariably received considerably smaller sums than -those which had been originally confided to them, though I was obliged -to give receipts for the full amounts. However, I was truly thankful -for what I received; and by the system which was established I was -enabled to send my relatives scraps of information about myself and my -affairs. I was obliged to exercise the most extreme caution in spending -the money thus received, lest suspicion should be aroused; and therefore -I continued to live as simply as possible, and expended all I could -spare in cementing my various friendships. - -My friends in Cairo had fully realised that, after I had been prevented -from holding any communication with the outside, it was quite impossible -for them to secure my release from the Khalifa's hands by ordinary -methods. They therefore spared no efforts to afford me the means of -affecting my escape should an opportunity occur. From the earliest days -of my captivity, I had realised that my only hope of freedom lay in -flight; and although the rise and development of this great movement -interested me considerably,--especially as I had exceptional means of -watching it,--I never for an instant abandoned the idea of succeeding in -my object, though I little dreamt that twelve long years of hardship, -misery, and humiliation must elapse before it could be accomplished. - -For years, I did not confide my secret to a soul; but eventually I told -Ibrahim Adlan of my intentions; and he promised to assist me to the best -of his ability. Unfortunately, the Khalifa executed him soon afterwards; -and in him I lost a true and kind friend and protector. On his death, I -confided my secret to two influential individuals on whose silence I -could rely; and though I knew that partly owing to their liking for me, -and partly owing to their hatred of the Khalifa, they would have -willingly assisted me in the accomplishment of my object, our -negotiations came to nothing. The money required would, I knew, be -forthcoming; but they dreaded that after my escape their names might be -eventually divulged; and as they were tied by their families to live in -the Sudan, they knew that, in the event of discovery, the Khalifa would -wreak his vengeance on their defenceless wives and children. - -Meanwhile, my family had not been idle; and no sacrifice was too great -for their love. Living in Vienna, ignorant of the real state of affairs -in the Sudan, and not aware of how they could best help me, they -trustfully continued to place considerable sums of money at the disposal -of the Austrian Agency in Cairo, the representative of which received -instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to utilise it to the -best of his ability. His Excellency Baron Heidler von Egeregg--now -Ambassador and Minister Plenipotentiary, and who has been for some years -Consul-General in Cairo--took a personal interest in my affairs, and did -everything in his power to facilitate my escape. But it is only possible -to secure the services of reliable persons through the intermediary of -Government officials; and with this object in view, he enlisted the -sympathies, first of Colonel Schaeffer Bey, and subsequently of Major -Wingate, who had on several previous occasions endeavoured to assist me; -and it is to his and to Baron Heidler's incessant efforts that I owe my -freedom. Without their intervention, it would not have been possible to -procure reliable Arabs to bring me occasional sums of money; and I owe -to them my heartiest thanks for their frequent attempts to effect my -rescue; and although, with the exception of the last, they all failed, -the arrangements were such that the Khalifa and his myrmidons never had -the slightest suspicion of them. - -Early in February, 1892, the former chief of the Dongola camel postmen, -Babakr Abu Sebiba, arrived in Omdurman from Egypt. He was an Ababda -Arab; and when brought before the Khalifa, he asserted that he had -escaped from Assuan, that he sought the Khalifa's pardon, and begged to -be allowed to settle down in Berber. As he had letters of introduction -to the Emir of Berber, Zeki Osman, permission was accorded to him; and -when going out at the door of the mosque, he nudged me, and whispered, -"I have come for you; arrange for an interview." "To-morrow after -evening prayers, here in the mosque," was my reply; and he then -disappeared. Although I had not given up hope of escape, I never dared -to be very sanguine; for I had had much experience of these Arabs and -Sudanese, and knew that often their words go for nought, and their -promises are more frequently broken than kept. I therefore spent the -following day much as usual, though I could not help wondering what -would be the upshot of the interview. - -After evening prayers, and when all the people had left the mosque, -Babakr passed the door at which I had seen him the previous day. - -Cautiously I followed him; and together we entered the thatched portion -of the building, which was in deep shade. Out of sight, and out of -hearing, Babakr now handed me a small tin box, which, from the smell, -seemed to contain coffee, saying, "This box has a double bottom. Open -and read the papers enclosed in it; and I shall be here again to-morrow -at the same hour." Concealing the box under my jibba, I returned to my -place, and, as chance fell out, was summoned that evening to sup with -the Khalifa. Imagine my feelings: for the box was sufficiently large to -be seen under my clothes; and here was I seated opposite my master with -his lynx eyes fixed on me. Fortunately he was rather tired, and only -talked on general subjects; though he did not fail to caution me to be -loyal, or he would punish me unmercifully. Of course I assured him of my -fidelity and affection for him; and, after having partaken of a little -meat and dhurra, I feigned sudden illness, and obtained permission to -withdraw. Hurrying home with all speed, I lit my little oil lamp, tore -open the box with my knife, and there found a small piece of paper, on -which the following words were written in French: - - Babakr Wad Abu Sebiba is a trustworthy man. - - (Signed.) SCHAEFFER, COLONEL. - -On the other side of the paper were a few lines from the Austrian Agency -confirming this. The writers had wisely omitted my name, fearing that it -might fall into the hands of enemies; and now I had to exercise more -patience until the following evening. - -As agreed, I met Babakr as before; and he briefly informed me that he -had come to arrange my escape, and that, having seen me, he would return -to Berber to complete his preparations. As the Emir Zeki Osman had been -ordered to come to Omdurman in July for the manoeuvres, he proposed to -accompany him, in order to carry out his object. I assured him that I -was ready at any time to make the attempt; and, after imploring him to -do all in his power to help me, we parted. He returned, as arranged, in -July with Zeki Osman; and, in a secret meeting, he told me that, in -order to disarm suspicion, he had got married in Berber; that he had -brought four camels with him, but that he had not yet arranged about our -crossing the river. Should I, however, decide to risk flight, he would -guide me through the Bayuda desert and by El Kaab (west of Dongola) to -Wadi Halfa; but I knew that the camels could not possibly perform such a -journey in the height of summer. I soon saw that the man wanted to spend -a few more months in the Sudan, probably with his newly acquired bride; -and so we agreed to postpone the attempt till the month of December, -when the long nights would be more favourable to the enterprise. Months -passed; and I heard from secret sources that Babakr was still at Berber. -December went by, and the year 1893 had begun. Still no sign of my -friend. At length he returned in July, and told me that the messenger -whom I had despatched to Cairo asking for £100 had been delayed on the -road; and that as he had arrived there at a time of year when the -journey would have been impossible, the authorities had refused to -supply him with the funds. He added, however, that he had brought two -camels, and that if I would risk flight, he would try to procure a -third. I saw that the man had been making inquiries, and had ascertained -that at most it would only be possible for me to obtain a few hours' -start, which would not be sufficient to insure success; besides he knew -that it was out of the question starting in July. When, therefore, I -proposed again postponing flight till the beginning of the winter, he -readily acquiesced merely for form's sake. His constant visits to -Omdurman had aroused the Khalifa's suspicions; and one of the Kadis -notified him that he must attend the mosque five times daily, and should -not leave Omdurman without the Khalifa's permission. Alarmed probably at -the turn affairs had taken, he escaped and returned to Egypt. Three days -after he had left, his absence was discovered. On his arrival in Cairo, -as I subsequently learnt, he informed those who had sent him that he had -frequently come to Omdurman; but that I had persistently refused to risk -flight with him. Baron Heidler and Major Wingate, however, realised that -the man's statement was untrue; and some time later I had an opportunity -of informing them, through a trusty agent, of the man's behaviour. - -These gentlemen subsequently made an agreement with a merchant named -Musa Wad Abderrahman, promising him £1000 if he succeeded in effecting -my escape, while at the same time he was furnished with what was -necessary for the undertaking. In the winter I received information of -this fresh enterprise; but it was not till June, 1894, that one of -Musa's relatives, named Ahmed, told me that some Arabs had been secured -who would arrive in a few days, and would attempt to fly with me. He -also told me that a station had been prepared in the desert, where a -change of camels would be in readiness, and that, in spite of the great -heat, there was every prospect of the success of the undertaking. - -On 1st July, Ahmed warned me that the camels had arrived, and that I -should be ready to start the next night. That evening, I told my -servants that one of my friends was dangerously ill, and that I had -obtained the Khalifa's permission to visit him, that I would probably -stay the night, and that, therefore, they need not be uneasy if I did -not return. That night, when my master had retired to rest, accompanied -by Ahmed, I quitted the mosque; and, with bare feet and armed only with -a sword, we hurried along the road leading towards the parade ground, -and then turned off in a northeasterly direction. - -The night was dark. During the day the first showers announcing the -beginning of the rainy season had fallen; and, as we crossed the -cemetery, I put my foot into an old grave, which had been washed out by -the rain, and my foot got twisted in the bones of the skeleton on which -I had stepped. It seemed as if the dead as well as the living were -conspiring to throw difficulties in my path; but, in spite of the pain, -I struggled on, and reached Khor Shambat. We crossed to the other side, -where it was arranged the camels would await us. We searched up and down -the banks. Ahmed even called out in a low tone; but not a sign of them -was to be seen. The night was cool; but our efforts had bathed us in -perspiration, and, after wandering to and fro for hours, in our vain -search, we were at length obliged to give up and retrace our steps. What -could have happened to our men? Could they have been noticed by some -Dervishes who had perhaps arrested them on suspicion? Full of doubts and -fears, we reached our homes in safety. I had parted from Ahmed on the -parade ground; and I had begged him to let me know in the evening what -had happened. At the same time, I repeated that I was prepared to renew -the attempt at any time. The dawn was just breaking as I reached the -threshold of my hut, which I had quitted a few hours before, as I -thought for the last time, and my feelings can be better imagined than -described I had scarcely been back more than a few minutes, when one of -my fellow mulazemin, named Abdel Kerim, arrived with a message from the -Khalifa to inquire the reason of my absence from morning prayers. I -replied that I had been ill; and indeed my wretched appearance almost -warranted such an assertion. - -In vain I waited that evening for news from Ahmed; but I did not learn -from him till two days afterwards, that the Arabs had reconsidered the -matter, and had come to the conclusion that the risk of recapture was -too great, and had returned to their homes instead of coming to the -place of rendezvous. So we had completely failed, and considered -ourselves lucky to have returned unnoticed from our midnight ramble. - -Again I informed my Cairo friends of what had happened. They were -unsparing in their efforts, and had now the valuable aid of Father -Ohrwalder, who, when in Vienna, had visited my family, and had obtained -from them some ether pills, which are very strengthening on a journey, -and ward off sleep. They had been prepared by Professor Ottokar Chiari, -and had reached me safely. They were in a small bottle which I had -buried carefully in the ground. - -I now made a confidant of Abderrahman Wad Harun, whom I despatched to -Cairo with a message to Baron Heidler to place at his disposal the -requisite means for my escape. Again an agreement was made between this -merchant and the Austrian Agency, with the concurrence of Major Wingate, -and the assistance of Milhem Shakkur Bey and Naum Effendi Shukeir of the -Intelligence Department. If successful, Abderrahman was to receive -£1000; and he was also given the necessary outfit and £200 in advance. - -Meanwhile, Major Wingate, who had been despatched to Suakin as acting -Governor, fearing another failure, made a similar agreement with a local -Arab named Osheikh Karrar, who, it was arranged, should attempt my -rescue _via_ Tokar or Kassala. One day, a Suakin merchant in Omdurman -handed me a small slip of paper, on which was written,-- - - We are sending you Osheikh Karrar, who will hand you some - needles, by which you will recognise him. He is a faithful and - brave man. You can trust him. Kind regards from Wingate. - - (Signed.) OHRWALDER. - -Soon afterwards I heard from one of Abderrahman Wad Harun's relatives -that the latter had arrived at Berber from Cairo, and was making -preparations for my escape; but in order to avoid being suspected, he -had decided not to come to Omdurman, and in this I fully concurred. - -The 1st of January, 1895, had dawned. How many weary years of -deprivation and humiliation I had spent in closest proximity to my -tyrannical master! And would this year come and go like the rest, -leaving me still in his clutches? No. I felt sure that the time was at -length approaching when my friends would be able to break asunder the -bonds which held me down, and that I should once more see my relatives, -fatherland, and the friends of my youth. - -One evening, about the middle of January, a man I had never seen before -passed me in the street, and made a sign to me to follow him; and as I -brushed up against him, he whispered, "I am the man with the needles." -Joyfully I led him in the dark to a little niche in the outside wall of -my hut, and begged him to tell me his plans quickly. He first presented -me with three needles and a small slip of paper, and then, to my dismay, -told me that at present flight was impossible. "I came," said he, "with -the full intention of taking you to Kassala; but now that military posts -have been formed at El Fasher, Asubri, and Goz Regeb on the Atbara, -which are in constant communication with each other, flight in this -direction is not possible." He added further that one of his camels had -died, and that he had lost money, owing to bad trade; and, in -consequence, he had not sufficient means to arrange for the escape. He -therefore begged that I would give him a letter to Major Wingate, asking -for a further sum of money, and promising to return again in two months. -I felt sure that the man did not really mean to risk his life for me; -and, as he informed me he wished to leave without delay, I told him to -meet me the following evening at the mosque. We then separated; and I -returned once more to my post at the Khalifa's door. The note from -Suakin contained a few lines of recommendation from Father Ohrwalder, to -which I wrote a reply, briefly describing what had taken place; and the -next night when we met, I handed to Osheikh the letter, which he -hurriedly thrust into his pocket, hoping that it would be the means of -obtaining more money. - -Bitterly disappointed, I was returning disconsolately to my house, when -I suddenly came across Mohammed, the cousin of my friend Abderrahman. As -if by mere chance I found him walking at my side; and, in a whisper, he -said to me, "We are ready. The camels are bought; the guides are -engaged. The time arranged for your escape is during the moon's last -quarter next month. Be ready!" and without another word he left me. - -This time I felt convinced that I was not to be doomed to -disappointment. Towards the end of January, Hussein Wad Mohammed, who -had also been engaged by Baron Heidler and Major Wingate, arrived in -Omdurman, and secretly told me that he was ready to help me to escape. -He begged me to let my friends in Cairo know what I had decided to do, -and said that one of his brothers, who was about to proceed to Egypt, -would be the bearer of the letter. As I was bound to Abderrahman, I -decided to wait and see if his efforts would succeed, and, should they -fail, I decided I would try Hussein; but I merely told the latter that -at present I was not well enough to attempt so long a journey, and that -at the end of February I would let him know definitely my decision. At -the same time, I gave him a letter to my friends telling them that I -intended to attempt escape with the assistance of Abderrahman; and, in -case of failure, from which I prayed the Almighty to preserve me, I -would seek the help of Hussein. I was now in some alarm that, so many -people being in the secret, the Khalifa might suspect something. Had he -obtained the slightest clue to what was going on, I should have -certainly paid for it with my life. - -On Sunday, the 17th of February, Mohammed, in a few hurried words, told -me that the camels would arrive the next day, that they would rest two -days, and that the attempt would be made on the night of the 20th. He -said that on Tuesday evening he would communicate with me by a sign by -which I should know that everything was ready; and that I should then -do all in my power to arrange that we should have as long a start as -possible. - -At last Tuesday night arrived, and I found Mohammed waiting for me at -the door of the mosque. In a hurried whisper he told me that all was -ready; and, after arranging a rendezvous for the following night, when -the Khalifa had retired to rest, we separated. - -I confess that I passed the greater part of that night in a state of -fevered excitement. Would this attempt also fail like the others? Would -some unforeseen event frustrate this effort too? These thoughts kept me -awake and restless; and it was not till towards morning that sleep, -which was so necessary to keep up my strength during the journey, came -at length, and I had two or three hours of sound repose. - -The next morning, when before the Khalifa's door, I feigned sickness, -and asked the chief of the mulazemin for permission to absent myself -from morning prayers, as I proposed taking a dose of senna tea and -tamarind, and remaining quietly at home the following day. The necessary -permission was accorded, and Abdel Kerim promised to make my excuses to -the Khalifa should he inquire for me. I felt sure that my master, when -he knew that I was not present, would, under the pretext of solicitude -for my health, send to my house to see if I was really there; but I -could think of no other way of accounting for my absence. - -Before sunset, I assembled my servants, and, after making them promise -to keep secret what I was about to say, I told them that the brother of -the man who had brought me letters, money, and watches from my relatives -seven years before, had arrived with a further consignment, and that, as -he had come entirely without the Khalifa's knowledge, I had decided to -keep his arrival secret. I told them that I intended visiting him that -night, as I wished to arrange with him without delay, and let him return -at once. My good domestics, of course, believed the story implicitly; -and I knew the thought that they would share some of the good things -which were supposed to have come, would make them keep the secret. In -continuation of my imaginary scheme, I ordered my servant Ahmed to meet -me the next day at sunrise at the north end of the city, near the Fur -quarter, with my mule. I told him not to be impatient if I happened to -be late, as the business in hand was important, and might take some time -to arrange; but that on no account was he to leave the rendezvous, as I -intended to give him the money I received to take home. I impressed upon -the others the necessity of maintaining perfect silence, as I ran a -great risk of being discovered. Should any of the mulazemin ask for me, -I told them to reply that I had been very unwell during the night, and -had ridden off, accompanied by my servant Ahmed, to seek advice of some -man whose whereabouts they did not know, but that they supposed he was -some one who could cure illness. To make my story appear more real, I -gave my servants to understand that I should receive a considerable sum -of money the next day, and, in anticipation, I presented them with -several dollars apiece. My object in making these arrangements was to -secure a few hours' delay before the hue and cry that I had escaped -should be raised. My servant Ahmed would probably wait for some hours -with the mule, while those in the household would anxiously expect my -return with the money. I naturally concluded that, should the Khalifa -send to inquire for me, the reply which my servants were to give, would -avert suspicion for a time; and then it would take more time for them to -find Ahmed, and his story of the arrival of the supposed messenger would -still further perplex them. Of course they must eventually find out the -deception; but to me every moment's delay in sending out search parties -was of the utmost importance. After afternoon prayers, I once more -returned to my house, again impressed on all my servants the immense -importance of keeping the secret, and with repeated promises of reward, -I stepped across the threshold, praying fervently to God that I might -never set foot within my hut again. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -MY FLIGHT. - - I escape from the Town by Night--My Guides Zeki Belal and - Mohammed--A Scare--130 Miles in 21 Hours--Our Camels break - down--Hiding in the Gilif Mountains--Precautions against - Surprise--Arrival of Fresh Camels--Our Journey to the Nile--The - Crossing--Friendly Sheikhs--Narrow Escape from a Large Armed - Party of Mahdists--Difficulties with my Guides--Hamed Garhosh - the Amrabi--Out of Danger--Assuan at last--Congratulations and - Welcome--Arrival in Cairo--Meeting with Old Friends. - - -It was three hours after sunset. We had offered the evening prayer with -the Khalifa, and he had withdrawn to his apartment. Another hour passed -without interruption. My lord and master had retired to rest. I rose, -took the farwa (the rug on which we pray) and the farda (a light woollen -cloth for protection against the cold) on my shoulders, and went across -the mosque to the road that leads north. I heard a low cough, the signal -of Mohammed, the intermediary in my escape, and I stood still. He had -brought a donkey. I mounted, and was off. The night was dark. The cold, -northerly wind had driven the people into their huts and houses. Without -meeting a soul we reached the end of the town where a small ruined house -stands obliquely to the road, from which a man led out a saddled camel. -"This is your guide. His name is Zeki Belal," said Mohammed. "He will -guide you to the riding camels that are waiting concealed in the desert. -Make haste. A happy journey, and God protect you." - -The man sprang into the saddle, and I got up and sat behind him. After -about an hour's ride, we arrived at the spot where the camels were -hidden among some low trees. All was ready, and I mounted the animal -assigned to me. - -"Zeki," said I, "did Mohammed give you the medicine?" - -"No; what medicine?" - -"They call them ether pills. They keep off sleep and strengthen you on -the journey." - -He laughed. "Sleep!" said he. "Have no fear on that account. Fear is the -child of good folk, and will keep sleep from our eyes, and God in his -mercy will fortify us." The man was right enough. We rode in a northerly -direction. The halfa grass and the mimosa-trees, which in places grew -rather close together, prevented the camels from making rapid progress -in the darkness. At sunrise we reached Wadi Bishara, a valley extending -here to a breadth of about three miles, which is sown in the rainy -season with millet by the Jaalin tribes who live along the Nile. - -With daylight I was now able to see my guides. Zeki Belal was a young -fellow, with his beard still downy; Hamed Ibn Hussein, a man in the -prime of life. - -"Of what race are you?" - -"We are from the Gilif mountains, master; and if God will, you will be -satisfied with us." - -"How long a start have we got from our enemies? When will they miss -you?" the elder one asked me. - -"They will look for me after the morning prayer; but before all doubt is -over as to my escape, and before the men and the beasts are found with -which to pursue me, some time must elapse. We may at least reckon on -twelve or fourteen hours' start." - -"That is not very much," answered Hamed. "But if the animals are up to -their work, we shall have left a good bit of ground behind us." - -"Don't you know our animals? Have they not been tried?" I asked. - -"No. Two of them are stallions of the Anafi breed, and the third a -Bisharin mare, bought expressly for your flight from friends," was the -answer. "We must hope the best of them." - -[Illustration: Slatin Pasha flying from Omdurman.] - -We drove the creatures at their swiftest pace. The country in these -parts was flat, broken now and then by solitary shrubs, with here and -there small stony hillocks. We rode without stopping until near midday, -when suddenly my guide called out,-- - -"Halt! Let the camels kneel down at once. Be quick!" - -I stopped. The camels knelt. - -"Why?" - -"I see camels a long way off and two led horses, and fear we have been -seen." - -I loaded my Remington to be prepared for any issue. "But if we have been -seen," I said, "it is better to ride quietly on. Our making the animals -lie down will excite their suspicion. In what direction are they going?" - -"You are right," said Hamed Ibn Hussein. "They are marching northwest." - -We rose and changed our line of march to the northeast, and were almost -confident that we had passed unobserved when, to our despair, we -perceived one of the party, which was about two thousand metres away -from us, jump on his horse and gallop swiftly towards us. - -"Hamed," said I, "I will go slowly on with Zeki. Do you stop the man, -and answer his questions, and in any case prevent him from seeing me -close. You have the money on you?" - -"Good; but march slowly!" - -I rode on quietly with Zeki, hiding my face with my farda, so as not to -be recognised as a white man. - -"Hamed is greeting the man, and has made his camel kneel," said Zeki, -looking back. After about twenty minutes, we saw the man remount his -horse, and Hamed urging his camel on to rejoin us. - -"You must thank God for our safety," he cried, as he came up. "The man -is a friend of mine, Mukhal, a Sheikh, on his way to Dongola with camels -to bring dates to Omdurman. He asked me where I was going with the -'white Egyptian.' The man has the eyes of a hawk." - -"And what did you answer?" - -"I adjured him as my friend to keep our secret, and gave him twenty -Maria Theresa dollars. We Arabs are all a little avaricious. The man -swore a sacred oath to me to hold his tongue if he happened to fall in -with our pursuers; and his people are too far off to tell black from -white. Urge the camels on; we have lost time." - -At sunset, we passed the hills of Hobegi, and camped nearly an hour -later in the open country about a day's journey west of the Nile, so as -to give our exhausted animals some rest. We had been riding twenty-one -hours without stopping, had eaten nothing all day, and only once drunk -water. In spite of fatigue we ate bread and dates with a good appetite. - -"We will feed our beasts and then get on," said my guide. "You are not -tired?" - -"No," I replied. "In Europe we say time is money. Here one might say -time is life. Make haste." - -But to our despair the beasts refused the food which was placed before -them. Hamed made a little fire, took a piece of burning wood and a -little resin, which he laid on the wood, then walked round the camels -muttering some words which I could not understand. - -"What are you doing?" I asked him, with some surprise. - -"I fear the fikis of the Khalifa have bewitched our camels, and am -trying the Arab's antidote." - -"For my part," I replied, "I fear that they are second-rate market -camels, or are sick. Let us give them a little more rest. Perhaps they -will pick up." - -As, after another half-hour's rest, the beasts still refused food, and -longer delay was out of the question, we tightened up the saddle-girths -again and mounted. The tired animals refused to trot, would only walk at -a good pace, and as the sun rose we found ourselves on the high ground -to the northwest of Metemmeh. The diminishing strength of our mounts -filled us with anxiety, and it became clear to us that they would never -hold out till the spot, about a day's journey north of Berber, on the -edge of the desert, where we were to change camels. Towards afternoon, -we let the exhausted animals rest in the shade of a tree, and agreed to -make for the Gilif range, distant a good day's journey to the northwest, -where I should remain concealed in the uninhabited hills until my guides -could succeed in securing other mounts. - -About sunset we struck camp. The animals had so far recovered that they -could walk at a good pace, and we reached, in the early morning, the -foot of the Gilif mountain, which at this spot is quite uninhabited. We -dismounted, driving our camels before us after an extremely difficult -march of about three hours in a valley hemmed in by sheer rocks. - -My guides, Zeki Ibn Belal, as well as Hamed Ibn Hussein, both belong to -the Kababish tribe. The Gilif mountain is their own country; and they -were familiar with every path. We unsaddled the camels, and concealed -the saddles among the boulders. - -"We have come into our own country; and she will protect her son," said -Hamed Hussein. "Have no fear; as long as we live you need have no -misgiving. Remain quietly concealed here. A little way off there is a -cleft in the rocks containing water. I will water the animals there. -Zeki will bring you a water-skin full. I will also hide the beasts -elsewhere, that our halting-place may not be betrayed by the vultures -circling above. Wait for me here; and we will see what our next step -must be." - -I was alone and somewhat depressed. I had hoped to make a straight dash -for the Egyptian frontier, and to out-distance my pursuers by speed; and -now a crowd of unexpected obstacles was gathering round me. About two -hours later, Zeki arrived with the water-skin on his shoulders. - -"Taste the water of my native land," he cried. "See how fresh and pure -it is. Take confidence. God, if He will, will bring our enterprise to a -happy end." - -I drank a deep draught. It was delicious indeed. - -"I am full of confidence," I said to Zeki; "but a little put out by the -delay." - -"Malaish kullu shai bi iradet Illahi (It matters not. All happens as God -ordains), and perhaps this delay has its good side too. Let us wait for -Hamed Hussein." - -Soon after midday Hamed came. We ate our frugal meal of bread and dates, -and while doing so arranged that Zeki should ride to the friends who -were privy to my escape, a brief two days' journey, and fetch new -animals. - -"I will ride the Bisharin mare," said Zeki. "She is strong, and has not -yet got to the end of her tether. This is Saturday evening. I shall ride -all night and to-morrow, Sunday. Monday morning early, please God, I -shall reach our friends. We must allow one to two days there; because, -it may be, no animals will be ready. But, Thursday or Friday, I should -get here with fresh camels if no misfortune happens to me." - -"It is better to put it a little later," I answered. "We will wait for -you here till Saturday. If you arrive sooner, all the better; but -remember that our life is in your hand. Above all, be cautious in -bringing the animals, that you arouse no suspicion." - -"Trust in our good fortune and my good-will," and he grasped my hand in -farewell. - -"God protect you, and bring you back right soon." - -He tied a few dates up in a cloth as provision for the journey, and took -the saddle on his shoulders. Hamed described the spot accurately to him -where he would find the mare. As he turned, he enjoined us to be careful -not to be seen; and in a few moments he was lost to sight. We cleared -the ground which was to serve as our night's resting-place, of stones, -and were in the best of spirits as to our success. - -"I have a proposal to make to you," said Hamed to me after a long -interval. "A relation of mine, Ibrahim Masa, is Sheikh of this district, -and has his house at the foot of the hill, about four hours' distance -from here. Now though, as I hope, no one has seen us, still it would be -better to warn him of our arrival, so that he may be prepared for any -eventuality. I will describe our situation to him without mentioning -your name. As my kinsman, he is bound to give us asylum, and would warn -us in time of pursuit, if it should be that our track is followed to the -base of the hills, though indeed this is scarcely to be feared. If you -agree, I will go during the night, so as to see him without being -observed by other people, and will be back with you early in the -morning." - -"The plan is good; but take twenty more dollars with you, and offer them -as a small contribution to his house, and, as you have said, do not -mention my name." - -Hamed left me at sunset; and I was alone with my thoughts. I thought of -my housefolk and companions, to whom, in spite of the difference of race -and of many unattractive qualities, I had grown accustomed in the long -course of years, and whom I had just left behind me in the hands of the -enemy. I thought of the dear ones I was now on my way to meet, of my -sisters, my friends and well-wishers. If only my adventures have a -successful issue! Exhausted with fatigue, I fell asleep on my hard bed. -I woke while the dawn was gray, and shortly afterwards heard the sound -of approaching footsteps. I knew it must be my guide. - -"All goes well," said he as he came up. "The Sheikh, my kinsman, greets -his unknown guest, and bids God protect you. Fortify yourself with -patience. For the present, we have nothing else to do." - -He sat down between two blocks of stone, from which his dark skin was -hardly distinguishable, and kept watch. I sat a short distance below in -the shade of a little tree which struggled for existence among the -rocks; and we talked in low tones of the present and the former -condition of the country. It was past midday when I suddenly heard -behind the noise of footsteps, and, turning round, I saw, to my disgust, -a man about one hundred and fifty yards off, climbing the slope opposite -me, trying to draw the end of his farda, which was twisted round his -loins, over his head. Judging from the direction he had come from, he -must have seen us. - -"In any case it is a fellow-countryman," said Hamed, who had heard the -sound, and had perceived him. "Anyhow it will be better that I should -overtake him and speak with him. Or do you not agree?" - -"Certainly, make haste, and if necessary, give him a small present," I -answered. - -My companion left his seat, and followed the man at a swift pace. He had -now reached the crest of the hill and passed out of my sight. A few -minutes later, I saw them both approaching me with smiling faces. - -"We are in luck," Hamed cried from a distance. "He is one of my numerous -relations. Our mothers are children of two sisters." - -The man came up to me and offered his hand in greeting. - -"The peace of God be with you. From me you run no danger," he said as he -sat down on the stone at my side. - -I gave him a few dates, and bade him taste our travelling fare. "Who are -you?" - -"They call me Ali Wad Feid," he replied; "and, to be honest with you, my -intentions were not well disposed to you. I was changing my pasture -ground, and arrived a few days ago with my flocks at the foot of those -hills which you see from here to the south. I went to the cleft in the -rocks to see if there were much water there, because we might need it, -although we also get drinking-water in the plain. There I found traces -of a camel, and followed them up. When, in the distance, I saw the white -skin of your feet which were sticking out of your hiding-place, I -realised that a stranger was concealed here, and tried to get away again -unobserved, so that," said he, smiling, "I might return again with a few -comrades by night, and make your further journey easier by removing your -superfluous luggage. I thank God that my cousin here caught me up. By -night I should not, perhaps, have recognised him." - -[Illustration: Slatin in hiding in the hills.] - -"Ali Wad Feid," said my guide, who had listened in silence, "I will -tell you a little story. Listen! Many years ago, when I was a little -fellow, in the days when the Turks ruled in the land, my father was -Sheikh of these mountains, which then were thickly peopled. One night -there came a man, a fugitive, who sought asylum with my father. He was -closely pursued by Government troops, under suspicion of being a highway -brigand who had murdered some merchants. His women fell into the hands -of his pursuers; but he himself sought and found protection with my -father, who kept him in concealment. A long while after, my father went -to the seat of Government at Berber, and by money and fair words -succeeded in obtaining pardon for the man, against whom there existed no -definite proofs of guilt. He went bail for him, and set free his women, -who were in prison. That man's name was Feid --" - -"And he was my father," interrupted Ali, whose face had grown grave -during his narrative. "I was born later, and heard the story from my -dead mother, on whom God have mercy. My brother, let me give you good -tidings. What your father did for mine, his son will do for your -father's son. In peace or in peril I am with you. But, follow me, and I -will show you a better hiding-place." - -We went some two thousand yards back round the hill towards the south, -and reached a sort of little grotto formed of rock slabs, large enough -to hold two men. - -"When evening comes bring your baggage here, although there is nothing -to fear, since the hills are uninhabited; but under the cover of -darkness you can choose some other spot in the neighbourhood to sleep -in. It is impossible to be quite sure that some one may not have -perceived you, and have the intention which I confessed to have had, of -returning after dark. I have lost time, and my road is a long one. I -will go, pick up what news I can, and return to-morrow when it is dark, -announcing my presence by a low whistle. Farewell till then!" - -As Ali Wad Feid had advised us, we selected a place to sleep in, and -early in the morning, before the sun rose, retired again to our cave. -Throughout the day Hamed Hussein kept watch from a high point of -vantage, like a sentry on a tower, and only came to me when driven in -by hunger. Our bread came to an end this day, and we had only dates to -eat. - -In the evening, two hours maybe after sunset, we heard a low whistle. It -was Ali Wad Feid, who, faithful to his promise, had come to visit us. He -brought some milk in a small vessel of gazelle-skin (the skin of young -gazelles is tanned by the Arabs, and now much used for carrying milk -in), and had rolled up some bread (millet cakes) in his farda. - -"I pretended to my wife that I was going to visit the caravan folk, and -show them hospitality," he said, after greeting us. "I cannot trust her -with the truth, she is such a chatterbox." - -"A feminine quality which many married men complain about in our country -at home," I remarked with a smile, delighted at the prospect of such a -grateful meal. - -"I made inquiries at the well," he continued, "and heard of nothing to -cause you uneasiness. Eat and drink your fill. I have every confidence -in your good luck." - -After we had done honour to his good fare, I begged him to return so as -not to awake suspicion with his own folk by remaining out unduly long, -and whispered to Hamed to give him a present of five dollars before he -went. - -"Do not return," I said to him in taking leave. "Your comings and goings -may excite suspicion among your people, and your footsteps may perhaps -leave traces on the ground which would betray our hiding-place to -others, unless, of course, you hear any really disquieting news. -Farewell. I thank you for your loyal friendship." - -Hamed Hussein accompanied his kinsman some little way. - -"Ali would not take the money," he said, when he returned. "I had to -press him very hard; and it was only the fear of offending you which -induced him at last to accept it." - -We once more selected our couches, and rested undisturbed till the -morning, when we returned to the cave, or rather I did, for my -companion had to go back to his post as watchman. This day went by -equally without event, but how slowly the time seemed to pass! The hours -grew to days, and thoughts succeeded thoughts in weary sequence. My -patience was severely tried, but there was no help for it, and nothing -to do but to bear it. - -As our water supply threatened to fall short, Hamed Hussein went with -the skin to the cleft in the rocks. At the same time, he intended to -look up the camels, which had been hobbled, and were getting what food -they could from trees and bushes. - -"I shall return in about four hours. Meanwhile, remain quiet in the -cave," he said to me, "and should any one appear,--which God forbid!--it -could only be one of my own countrymen, for no stranger gets so far as -this, detain him, and tell him that Hamed Wad Sheikh Hussein is coming -in a little while. But do not yourself enter into any negotiation, and -above all do not spill blood." - -"I will follow your counsel whatever happens," I replied; "but I trust -you will find me here undisturbed when you return." - -My guide returned with the water-skin full even before the time he had -indicated. - -"I found the camels somewhat recovered, at any rate in appearance," he -said, with evident satisfaction. "Give me a few dates. I am hungry, and -must return to my watch tower." - -The rest of the day passed slowly, but without episode. At night we -betook ourselves to our sleeping-place, talked for a while in a low -voice, and prayed that our patience might not be put to too hard a -trial. - -On Thursday morning, Hamed had gone as usual to his post of observation; -and it must have been about midday when I suddenly saw him climb down -from his seat I clutched my rifle. - -"What is the matter?" - -"I see a man running in the direction of our former hiding-place. It -must mean news. Remain here till I come back." - -I sat down and waited for what seemed an eternity. Then I rose with -caution to have a look out, and saw, a long way off, two people -approaching me. My eyes could make out Hamed, and with him was Zeki -Belal. As I stepped from my hiding-place, he perceived me, and ran up. - -"God give you greeting, master. Here is good news for you," said he, -shaking my hand. "I have arrived with two fresh camels, and have hidden -them some way behind. I will be off and fetch them." And he hurried back -again. - -About an hour later, he arrived with the new animals. - -"You have been quick," I cried with delight. "Now tell your story." - -"It was Saturday evening when I left you," he replied. "I rode all night -and all day. My Bisharin mare went splendidly over the ground, which was -tolerably level, and on Monday morning I reached our friends. They sent -immediately for the beasts you now see, which were at a considerable -distance. They came in early on Tuesday. I started at midday. I rode -slowly so as not to wear them out, and now we can start at once. And, -oh, I had almost forgotten to tell you that your friends, after -discussing it with me, went off to the camp on the edge of the desert, -to warn their people there to be ready. I promised we would reach the -tryst on Friday, or at latest on Saturday after sunset." - -"Did you bring bread?" I asked the youth, who was talking away in high -spirits. "We have got nothing but dates to eat." - -"Good heavens! I forgot that in my haste." - -"No matter," I replied, seeing him look rather crestfallen. "Even -without dates we could hold out for this short ride." - -"Zeki," said Hamed, "saddle the light-coloured camel, go with our friend -and brother to the hollow rock, and give the camels water. Wait for me -there. I will take the other saddle and follow with my own camel, which -has recovered sufficiently to stand this comparatively short march. But -it will be better," he added, turning to me, "that you should not go -right up to the spring, but remain hidden in some suitable spot near -till we fetch you. One never can be too sure. There are so many thirsty -folk in the wide world." - -I went with Zeki, leading one of the camels, towards the cleft where the -water was, and hid myself in a place my guide suggested, among the -boulders of rock. - -About two hours before sunset, Hamed and Zeki came with the three camels -that had just been watered, and the skins all filled. We mounted and -rode east northeast across hills, which at times were very steep to -climb, till, as darkness gathered round us, we arrived in the plain -without having been observed. - -Throughout the night, we rode without a halt at a slow trot or a walk, -and at daybreak Hamed calculated we had left half the road behind us. - -"This is the most critical day of our journey," said my guide. "We come -into the neighbourhood of the river, and cross pasture grounds of the -river tribes. God grant we reach our destination unobserved." - -The aspect of the country does not change. The veldt, as one may call -it, is covered with a thin mat of grass, with here and there clumps of -half-dried mimosa bushes. The ground is sandy, and at times covered with -stones. We rode on without stopping, and ate our frugal meal, which -consisted of nothing but dates, as we rode. When the sun was at the -zenith, we saw in the distance a flock of sheep with its shepherds. We -turned a little aside from our straight course, and Zeki rode off to -them to ask for news; but when he rejoined us he said he had learned -nothing of interest. Though we came upon constant tracks of camels, -donkeys, sheep, eta, in the soil, our eyes detected nothing which caused -us concern, and the country had become quite flat again. - -"Do you see the broad, gray band in front crossing from south to -northwest?" Hamed asked me. "That is the great caravan track which leads -from Berber to Wadi Gammer and Dar Shaigia. If we pass that without -being seen, we have nothing more to fear, for between this and the river -there is only stony ground, without a vestige of vegetation, and quite -uninhabited. But now you must follow my directions closely. Let the -camels advance at a slow pace, and each some five hundred paces from the -next till we reach the big track. When we get there we will turn into -the road and proceed for a few minutes in the direction of Berber. Then -we will leave it again, and march in an easterly direction. Do you see -that stone hillock about three miles away? There we will join again. -This is the only way to put any one who may be pursuing us off our -track." - -We did as he had instructed us, crossed the caravan road, which is at -most times tolerably frequented, without seeing a trace of any one, and -met again at the spot indicated. - -"And now urge the animals on. Don't spare them. Let them do us their -last service," said Hamed, with a merry laugh. "All has gone well." - -Since I left Omdurman I had not seen a laugh upon his face, and I knew -that on this side of the river we had nothing more to fear. - -So on we went, driving the weary camels forward with the stick without -much mercy, till, leaving a range of hills on our right, we reached the -Kerraba. - -The Kerraba is a plateau with a sandy soil. The surface is covered with -black stones, ranging from the size of a man's fist to that of his head, -packed closely together. Single blocks of rock are seen at a certain -distance one from another. The animals could scarcely make any progress -over the rolling level. It was a break-neck march. Towards evening, we -saw the Nile in the far, far distance, like a silver streak across the -landscape. Climbing down from the plateau in the darkness we reached a -valley lying between stony hills. We halted and took the saddles off. -The river was about two hours' march away. - -"Our mission is near its end," said Hamed and Zeki, as they sat on the -ground munching dates. "Stay here with the animals. We will go to a spot -we know near the river; and there we shall find your friends, who will -escort you on." - -I was left alone, looking forward in the highest spirits to the future. -Already in imagination I saw my own people, saw my fatherland. I awoke -after midnight. No one had come, and I began to feel somewhat concerned -at the delay, for if they did not soon return I could not cross the -river that night. It was not till some two hours before dawn that I -heard footsteps. It was Hamed. - -"What news?" I asked impatiently. - -"None!" was the despairing answer. "We could not find your friends at -the place indicated. I returned because you cannot remain here after -daybreak. You are too near human habitations, and exposed to the risk of -being seen. I left Zeki behind to look for your people. Take the -water-skin on your shoulders and some dates. I am too exhausted to carry -anything. We must go back on to the Kerraba. There you must stay till -the day is over, hidden among the stones." - -I did as I was bidden, and reached the plateau in about an hour. After -we had marched a little further in the darkness, Hamed stood still. - -"Stop here," he said. "Make a ring of stones as camel-herds do in winter -to protect themselves from the cold, and lie down between them. You know -how to do it. You are just as much an Arab as one of us. In the evening, -I will come again to fetch you. I go back to the camels. The people of -these parts know me, and I have nothing to fear. If they ask me any -questions I shall say I have come from Dar Shaigia to look up some -people who are settled here. Luckily, I have some relations here also." -He went back. I stood upon the rolling plain alone--abandoned. - -I piled the stones on top of one another to a height of about half a -metre, leaving just room enough between for myself, my water-skin, and -my gun. Morning began to grow gray, and I crept into my hiding-place. -The ground beneath was sandy. I dug it up with a flat, pointed stone, -and heaped up sufficient between the piles of slabs to prevent my being -seen from without. I flung myself on my back in weariness, and stretched -out my limbs. Again reflection came and thoughts thronged past. I looked -back again to the past, and pictured to myself the Khalifa's anger at my -flight. My imagination sped once more towards my dear ones. I longed to -be united to them again, and, unanticipated, almost insuperable -obstacles seemed to be springing up round me. What change has come over -me? Where is my motto of "Never despair?" However desperate the -circumstances in which I may have found myself, I have never lost -courage, never abandoned confidence in my ultimate good fortune. To-day -a sense of fear is pressing on me. Perhaps it is that I am already lying -in what will be my grave. But that is, after all, the end of every man. -Be his days long or short, he can go no other way. And yet to die in a -strange land forsaken! God, up there in heaven, have mercy on me, have -mercy on a miserable man who, if he has sinned, has surely bitterly -atoned for his transgressions. God have mercy on me! Let me see my -friends and dear ones, my fatherland again! - -Then I grew calm once more. After all, I thought, in spite of a few -little delays, affairs are not so bad. To-night, I shall cross the -river. To-morrow, I reach the desert. In two or three days, I shall be -beyond the reach of danger, and fly towards those I crave to see. I -smiled once more, and grew full of confidence and hope. The sun was -burning hot. I had brought my farda, and held it up over me to keep my -face in the shade, waiting in patience for what would follow. - -A little after midday, I heard a low whistle, and raised myself to look -out over the stones. It was Hamed, who approached me smiling. - -"Good news," he cried. "We have found your people." - -A sense of joy possessed me as I caught his words, and my lucky star -was once more in the ascendant. When he came up to me, he sat down -outside the stones. - -"You may make yourself more comfortable," he said. "I have kept a good -lookout all round. You have nothing to fear. Zeki found your people -before daybreak, and just now one of them came over to us to find out -where we were. They are ready. In the evening, they will come to fetch -you. But you will have to take great care, for your flight is known in -this part of the country. Come with me now, or, better still, wait till -darkness comes on. I am going now. Can you find the way alone, or shall -I come back for you?" - -"It is not necessary for you to go over the ground again. I know the -place, and will join you in the evening." - -The sun had disappeared from the horizon when, with gun and water-skin -slung upon my back, I left the spot which had cost me such bitter hours -of reflection. When I reached my companions, I found myself in the -presence of two men who were strangers to me. - -They greeted me, saying, "We are sent by your friend Ahmed Wad Abdalla, -and are of the Gihemab tribe. We will take you down to the river. He -himself will cross the stream with you. On the other side, the camels -are waiting ready to take you across the desert. Take leave of your -guides. Their task is done." - -I shook my old friends by the hand, and thanked them with words which -came from the heart for their devotion. "Farewell, and may we meet again -in better times of peace." - -We saddled two camels and left the third to my former guides. I mounted, -and one of the new-comers got up behind me. - -"What is your name?" I asked him. - -"They call me Mohammed, sir, and my companion's name is Ishaak." - -"Do you go with me across the desert?" - -"No, there are others told off for that. Let the camel walk slowly; and -it will be better to cover your face in spite of the darkness. Orders -came from Berber three days ago to have all the roads closely watched; -and the ferries have been put under observation. Still, in our country, -you have nothing to fear." - -After proceeding for about two hours in an east northeast direction, we -approached the river. We could hear the groaning of the water-wheel, the -cries and laughter of the slaves and their women at work. As we came up -to a small clump of bushes, Mohammed, who was riding behind me, sprang -down and said, "Make the camel kneel down, slowly--gently, that he may -not grunt, and so attract attention." - -They knelt down without a sound. - -Bidding me remain there till they returned with Ahmed, they disappeared -into the darkness. I waited about an hour, and then saw four men -approaching. The tallest of them came up and embraced me. Pressing me to -his breast, he said in a low voice,-- - -"God be praised. Welcome to the land of my fathers. I am your brother -Ahmed Ibn Abdalla, of the tribe of Gihemab. Believe my words, you are -saved. Mohammed, Ishaak, take the saddles off the camels quietly. Make -no noise. Ride a good way on along the stream. Blow the water-skins full -of air, and tie them round the camels' necks. Then cross the river at -different spots, and to-morrow await my orders near the stones of the -'Fighting Bull.' Meantime, do you follow me," he said, turning to me. - -He himself, with the fourth man, took the saddles on their backs, and I -followed. A few minutes later, we reached the shore of the sacred Nile, -and found, in a little hollow washed out by the current, a tiny boat -constructed by my friends themselves, scarcely large enough to hold us. -We climbed down the steep bank, got into the boat, and pushed off. It -took us more than an hour to cross the stream. When we reached the far -side, the other man, who had remained in the little boat, guided it back -into the river, and bored a hole in the bottom, swimming to the land -while the boat sank in the stream, and with it disappeared all traces of -our crossing. We marched for about half an hour, and then Ahmed Abdalla -bade me wait there while he went away, to return soon after with a dish -of milk and bread. - -"Eat and drink," said he, "and have no more fears as to the success of -your flight, for I swear to you by God and the Prophet you are saved. I -had intended that you should start to-night; but the hour is already too -late. It will be better that you should wait till to-morrow evening. -Besides, to-morrow is the day when your camels should be watered. As we -are here too near to human habitations, my nephew, Ibrahim Ali, will -conduct you to a place some distance off which is difficult of access. -Wait for me there. I will bring you an animal to ride, or do you feel -strong enough to go on foot?" - -"I am strong, and can walk," I replied. "Where is Ibrahim Ali?" - -"He is here; and he will be your guide through the desert." - -It was a black night. Ibrahim went first with an empty water-skin in his -hand along the caravan track leading beside the river to Abu Hamed, and -I followed. After proceeding about three English miles, he went down to -the river, filled the skin half full, and then changed the direction, -turning inland. The march was very difficult. The big stones with which -the hills were covered hindered one's progress. I was dead beat, and -staggered about to right and left like a drunken man. At last we halted -by a hollow in the ground. - -"This is the spot which my uncle indicated," said Ibrahim, who had kept -silence up till now. "Remain quietly here without misgiving. To-morrow -evening, I shall bring the camels, and we will start. Here is water and -bread. I will return now to make my preparations." - -Once more I was alone. Once more I was exposed for a long day to the -scorching sun; but now it was easy for me to bear, for I was near to the -goal I had longed for so wildly. At last the sun disappeared from the -horizon; and, after waiting about an hour more, I heard the sound of -hoofs moving quickly over the stones. I rose, and recognised Ahmed -Abdalla, accompanied by two men on donkeys. - -Springing off in haste, he pressed me warmly to his breast. "God be -thanked that you are safe! These two men," pointing to his companions, -"are my brothers, and have come with me to wish you luck." - -I pressed their hands in greeting, and, turning to Ahmed, said, "But I -do not understand you--your tremendous spirits--" - -"Of course not," he replied, "for you do not know the great danger you -have escaped. Listen! Three days ago, the Emir of Berber, Zeki Osman, -learned, we know not how, that the Egyptian garrison at Murrat had -received important reinforcements, and intended to attack the Mahdist -station at Abu Hamed. Zeki Osman is sending reinforcements, and to-day -at noon sixty horsemen and about three hundred foot soldiers passed our -dwellings. You know these wild bands who call themselves Ansar -[defenders of the faith]. We had killed a sheep, and were busy preparing -a portion for you to take with you on the road, when they suddenly came -upon us by surprise. They consumed what was intended for your provision, -and then scattered in search of loot. We were in terrible anxiety on -your account, fearing one of these wild fellows might find his way to -your hiding-place. Now they have marched on. The curse of God go with -them! Thanks be to Him, who has protected you!" - -And I also humbly thanked my Creator, who had saved me from this great -and unexpected danger. As I learned later, the Commander-in-chief of the -Egyptian army, General Kitchener Pasha, had come to Wadi Haifa to -conduct the usual manoeuvres. Captain Machell Bey marched with the -Twelfth Sudanese Battalion and two hundred of the Camel Corps from Wadi -Haifa to Korosko by Murrat, and this accounted for the rumour of a -strengthening of the garrison at Murrat, and the contemplated attack on -Abu Hamed. - -"The camels will be a little late," said Ahmed, continuing. "I sent them -hastily away into the interior when the Dervishes came in, for fear they -might press them into service to carry their ammunition or other -baggage. If, however, you feel inclined to rest in patience till -to-morrow, we should be able to procure fresh provisions." - -"No. I want at all hazards to start at once, and want of provisions will -not alter my resolve," I replied. "I trust the camels will come soon." - -It was towards midnight when they brought in the three animals. Ahmed -Abdalla presented my two guides to me. "Ibrahim Ali, the son of my -brother, and Yakub Hassan, also a near relative of mine. They will -conduct you to Sheikh Hamed Fedai, the head of the Amrab Arabs, who are -subject to the Egyptian Government. He will assist you in getting on to -Assuan." - -We filled the water-skins and took our leave. - -"Forgive the failure of provision for your journey," said Ahmed Ibn -Abdalla. "It is not my fault. You have meal and dates, enough to keep -hunger off, though there are no luxuries." - -We rode three hours and a half east northeast before the sun rose, and -as the dawn grew gray found ourselves east of Wadi el Homar (the Vale of -Asses), which, though called after the wild asses which inhabit it, is -in a great measure devoid of vegetation. As we proceeded, the country -assumed the genuine characteristics of the desert,--wide stretches of -sand, with here and there, at long intervals, ridges of hills, but never -a tree or trace of grass. After riding for two days, almost without a -halt, we reached the hills of Nuranai, formerly occupied by the Bisharin -Arabs. The valley, running in a northeasterly direction for the most -part, between ridges with very steep walls, grows mimosa-trees along -either side, and in one lateral valley are trees which take their name -from the hills. - -Ibrahim Ali got off and took an observation from the heights, and, -finding that the valley was quite unoccupied, we entered it, hastily -watered our camels, and partially filled our water-skins. - -The well lies in a hollow some twenty-five yards across, and some -eighteen feet deep, dug out with a sharp decline towards the centre. -Down this sloping plane there are slabs of rock and stones, serving as -steps, by which one descends to the water-hole in the middle. As wells -are always places where people are apt to collect, we left the spot and -rested in the plain, after crossing the hills of Nuranai in about three -hours. - -There was a great difference between my former and my present guides. -The first were brave, devoted fellows, ready even to sacrifice their -lives for me, whereas these new ones were just the contrary. They -grumbled at the service which it seems their relative Ahmed Abdalla had -forced upon them, and were forever complaining of want of sleep and -hunger, and at the danger of the enterprise, the reward for which would -go to others. Through their carelessness they had dropped my sandals and -tinder-box on the road; and the loss of the former was destined to cause -me much trouble later on. - -The next day, a Thursday, we reached the groves of Abu Hamed an hour -before noon, and though the tribes who at present live in these parts -are hostile to the Mahdists, I preferred to remain hidden. Ibrahim Ali -and Yakub Hassan had been ordered by Ahmed Abdalla to guide me to Sheikh -Hamed Fadai; but this did not suit their views. - -They came to me in the afternoon and represented to me the risk they -would incur if their people missed them for many days. Since it was -certain everything would come to the Khalifa's ears which was calculated -to throw light on the question of who had helped me in my flight, and -since their tribe was already under suspicion of being friendly to the -Egyptian Government, there was danger not only for them but also for my -friend Ahmed Abdalla. In conclusion, they begged to be allowed to go and -look for a man who was well known to them both, and living in these -parts, who would conduct me further. I saw that their reluctance would -prove of more harm than service to me as I proceeded further, and agreed -to their proposal, almost with alacrity, so distasteful had both my -guides become to me, and bade them settle the matter as quickly as -possible according to the best of their powers. - -It was not yet sunset when they brought back the man in question. He was -an Amrab Arab named Hamed Garhosh, and considerably the wrong side of -fifty in years. - -"Every man looks to his own advantage and profit," he said curtly to me -after the greeting. "Your guides, whom I know well, wish me to show you -the way from here to Assuan. I am ready to do so, but what shall I earn -by the job?" - -"On the day of my arrival, I will pay you there one hundred and twenty -Maria Theresa dollars, and in addition a present, which I shall -calculate according to the manner in which your duties are -accomplished." - -"I accept," said he, giving me his hand. "God and the Prophet are my -witnesses, that I trust you. I know your race. A white man does not lie. -I will bring you to your own folk, across untrodden mountain ways, known -only to the fowls of the air. Be ready. After the sun is down we start." - -I selected the strongest of the three camels for the remainder of my -journey, took two water-skins, the greater part of the dates, and a -portion of dhurra for my provision. As the darkness closed in Hamed -Garhosh arrived. - -His son had gone away on the only camel which he possessed, to the -country of Robatab near the river, to fetch grain, and he was therefore -obliged to perform his functions as guide on foot. Since the road was -most of it mountainous, however, and the camel could only go at a foot's -pace, he would not be any the worse off on that account. It was merely a -question of good-will and stout legs. I took leave of Ibrahim and Yakub -with few words; and, there was no doubt about it, we were mutually glad -to part company. - -After a march of more than two days, crossing for the most part bare -ridges and stony hills, we reached, on Sunday morning, a small well, -nearly dried up, called "Shof el Ain;" and though presumably it was not -likely to be visited by any one, I waited for my guide, as he desired, -at a spot an hour's distance from it. - -Our food consisted of dates and bread which we baked ourselves. That is -to say, an apology for bread, for I am convinced, though my guide prided -himself particularly on his talent, that the stuff which he produced -would give our European bakers a proper sense of disgust, both on -account of its appearance and its taste. To prepare it, my guide piled -together a lot of stones about the size of pigeon's eggs, and laid dry -wood on top of them. Then he kneaded dhurra mixed with water in a wooden -vessel, and lighted his pile of fuel with flint and tinder. When the -wood had burned out, he removed the embers from the glowing stones, -poured his dough over them, and then replaced the embers on the top of -that again. A few minutes after he rescued his work of art from its -fiery grave, beat it severely with a stick, to remove the superfluous -ashes and stones which stuck to it, and served it up. This abortive -production we ate, if not quite with pleasure, at any rate with hearty -appetite, and realised the truth of the proverb. After resting a little -while, we left the neighbourhood of the fountain, and, in a few hours, -reached the first slopes of the Etbai mountains. - -These mountains (El Etbai), stretching between the Red Sea and the Nile, -are inhabited in the southern portion by Bisharin and Amrab Arabs, and -in the north by the Ababda tribe. Between lofty black cliffs, absolutely -bare of vegetation, rising in sheer perpendicular, stretch broad valleys -well wooded, which the camel-breeders of these tribes pasture in. We -traversed a well-nigh impassable road, moving on without resting, -impelled by my desire to see my own folk and to finish the weary -journey as quickly as possible. Though we had nothing more to fear, for -we were by now out of the power of the Mahdists and on Egyptian -territory, my guide insisted on the importance of not being seen. He was -afraid of being recognised by the people, who have commercial relations -with the Sudan. Since his home lay on the border, and he was often -obliged for various reasons to go to Berber, the knowledge that he had -served me in my flight might be fraught with most serious consequences -for him. - -But with him the spirit was willing though the flesh was weak. Being -already advanced in years, the want of proper food and the overtaxing -march had their effect on his health. In addition to this, he felt the -cold, which was often severe, so much that he fell ill, although I had -made over to him my jibba, and had nothing myself upon my body but the -farda and hezam (a strip of woollen cloth to wind round the body, eight -to nine yards in length). In order to get on I made over the camel to -him for the last four days, and walked behind him with my bare feet over -the stones; for my former guides had lost my sandals, and this was -therefore for me, from the physical point of view, the hardest part of -my journey. - -Even our camel seemed to be going to leave us in the lurch. He had got a -raw place on his off fore-foot, and had besides injured it so severely -with a pointed stone that the unfortunate beast could hardly walk on it. -I was obliged to sacrifice one of my hezamin, with which, by binding it -in quadruple fold, I made a kind of shoe for him, which had, however, to -be renewed every twenty-four hours. I had seen this done by camel-herds -in Darfur, though they use leather for the purpose, and the old -experience now stood me in good stead. - -At last, on Saturday, the 16th of March, in the morning at sunrise, -descending from the heights, I saw the river Nile and the town of Assuan -along its shore. I cannot describe the feelings of joy which possessed -me. My woes were at an end; saved from the hands of fanatical -barbarians, my eyes beheld for the first time the dwellings of -civilised people, in a country governed with law and justice by its -ruler. My heart went out to my Creator in thankfulness for His -protection and His guiding hand. - -I was received in the most friendly manner at their quarters by the -English officers in His Highness the Khedive's service, and the Egyptian -officers, who only just then learned the surprising news of my arrival; -and each vied with the other to do all that was in his power to help me -to forget the miseries I had gone through. - -The commanding officer and Governor of the frontier, who happened to -have arrived almost at the same moment in Assuan, Colonel Hunter Pasha, -as well as his officers, Majors Jackson, Sidney, and Machell Bey, with -Bimbashi Watson, and others whose names I cannot at this moment call to -mind, generously placed their wardrobes at my disposal; and I availed -myself of their kindness for what was strictly indispensable. Before, -however, I changed my clothes, my excellent friend Watson, who is a -capital artist, asked leave to make a sketch of me, a request to which I -was delighted to accede. - -As to my guide, Hamed Garhosh, with the assistance of a former -acquaintance, Butros Bey Serkis, who is now British Vice-Consul in -Assuan, I at once paid him the one hundred and twenty Maria Theresa -dollars. He also received from me a present of money, clothes, and arms, -while over and above this Hunter Pasha presented him with a gift of £10 -as a token of joy at my safe arrival; and so, having suddenly become a -"man of means," he took a touching farewell of me and departed. - -A short time afterwards, telegrams of congratulation arrived. The first -was from Major Lewis Bey on behalf of himself and the garrison of Wadi -Halfa. The second, from the chief of the Austrian Diplomatic Agency in -Egypt, Baron Heidler von Egeregg, who has been so indefatigable on my -behalf. Then from my devoted friend, Major Wingate Bey. Baron Victor -Herring and his sons, who were travelling on the Nile, were the first of -my own countrymen to greet me. - -[Illustration: A Camel Corps Scout, Wadi Halfa.] - -As it happened that the postal steamer was starting that afternoon, I -was recommended to avail myself of it to continue my journey. Escorted -by all the officers, to the tune of the Austrian national hymn (played -by the band of the Sudanese battalion), which it brought the tears into -my eyes to hear, I went on board the steamer, amid the hurrahs of a -number of tourists of all nations assembled on the bank. - -I was deeply moved. Though I have ever tried to live up to my standard -of honour in whatever circumstances I have been placed, which, indeed, -any officer in a similar position would surely do, I had done nothing to -prepare me for, still less to deserve, this public expression of -sympathy, and it made me feel very humble. - -I travelled in company with Machell Bey, who commands the Twelfth -Sudanese Battalion, and whose march during the manoeuvres from Wadi -Halfa by Murrat to Korosko had been the cause of my provisions being -eaten up, and of the short commons I had to put up with in the desert. I -took a terrible vengeance. He had to submit unconditionally to all my -whims in food and drink, and endured his martyrdom with extraordinary -good-nature and soldierly fortitude. - -When I arrived on Sunday evening in Luxor, I was again the object of a -lively demonstration of sympathy from the European travellers, and here -received, through Baron Heidler, a telegram from my dear sisters, and -from my native city of Vienna. Sisters and native city! How sweet the -words sound! - -On Monday, at five in the afternoon, we reached Girga, the southernmost -station on the Egyptian State railway, and proceeded to Cairo, which I -reached at six in the morning, on Tuesday, the 19th of March. In spite -of this early hour, Baron Heidler von Egeregg, with his staff, and the -Austrian Consul, Dr. Carl Ritter von Goracuchi, had come to the station -to meet me; and there, too, was my dear friend Wingate Bey, to whom I -can never sufficiently show my gratitude in word or deed. The "Times" -correspondent was also there; and Father Rosignoli, with a number of -others, and, of course, a photographer taking snap-shots. - -We drove to the Austrian diplomatic agency, where I was for a long time -the guest of the warm-hearted Baron Heidler, who had worked so hard for -my freedom, and whose actions were prompted, not only by a desire to do -his duty as a representative of the Government, but who was actuated by -a deep sympathy for the sufferings of a fellow-creature held down in -miserable bondage. - -On arrival, I found my rooms adorned with the flags of my dear -fatherland, and decked with roses and flowers, whilst above the door was -written, "A hearty welcome home." On the same day, I received telegrams -of congratulations from my family, friends, fellow-students, and from -several newspapers. I also met with a hearty welcome from His Royal -Highness, Duke Wilhelm of Würtemberg, and His Serene Highness, General -Prince Louis Esterhazy, both of whom had been in the Bosnian campaign -when I had served there with my regiment, and who greatly honoured me by -their expressions of genuine sympathy with me in the hardships I had -undergone, and in the joy I now experienced at having escaped at last -from the tyrannical thraldom of the Khalifa. I was received in audience, -soon after my arrival, by His Highness the Khedive of Egypt, who -conferred upon me the title of Pasha. I had entered the Sudan sixteen -years before as a first lieutenant of the Austrian army, and, whilst -Governor of Darfur, had been granted the Egyptian military grade of -lieutenant-colonel, and now, on my return, I was promoted to the rank of -colonel, and posted to the Egyptian Intelligence Department. - -A few days after my arrival, when seated on the balcony of the Agency, -and looking down on the garden all fresh with the verdure of spring, I -espied a tame heron stalking across the flower-beds. Instantly I thought -of Falz-Fein of Ascania Nova, in Tauride, South Russia, and I hurried to -my room, and then and there wrote to him a full account of the crane -which he had released in 1892, and which had been killed in Dar Shaigia. -It was the greatest pleasure to feel myself in a position to give the -former owner of the bird an accurate account of what had happened; and, -soon afterwards, I received a reply from Mr. Falz-Fein, who possesses a -large estate in the Crimea, thanking me warmly for my letter, and -inviting me to pay him a visit, which, unfortunately, the numerous calls -on my time have hitherto prevented me from accepting. - -A series of official and private calls, numerous invitations, and other -social duties so occupied my time that some weeks elapsed before I could -undertake any serious work. My first duty was, of course, to submit a -detailed official report to my military superiors; and it was not till -some time later, that I began to describe the story of my life during -the last sixteen years. - -My old friend and comrade in captivity, Father Ohrwalder, who is now a -missionary at Suakin, took an early opportunity of coming to Cairo to -welcome me. Our meeting was indeed a happy one, and I rejoiced to be -able to thank him personally for all the assistance he had given in -arranging for my escape. - -The contrast between my past and present life, the influence of fresh -impressions, the many changes I see around me, sometimes make my head -feel heavy,--heavy, as though I had just woke up from an evil -dream,--twelve years' captivity, a long dream indeed! - -It was long before my excitement subsided, but gradually I began to -settle down and collect my thoughts. Now again in the midst of civilised -society, once more a man among men, my thoughts often turn back to the -fanatical barbarians with whom I had to live so long, to my perils and -sufferings amongst them, to my unfortunate companions still in -captivity, and to the enslaved nations of those remote territories. My -thanks are due to God, whose protecting hand has led me safely through -all the dangers behind me. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -CONCLUSION. - - - Africa, Past and Present--The Sudan, Past and Present--Rise, - Progress, and Wane of Mahdism--How long will it last?--The - Khalifa's Present Position--European Encroachment--"Whites" in - the Bahr et Ghazal--Important Strategical Position of the - Province--Time and Tide wait for no Man--I recover my Long-lost - Sword--A Last Word. - - -After more than sixteen years in Africa, including twelve years of -captivity, during which I was cut off from all communication with the -civilised world, I have at length had the good fortune to return to -Europe. How Africa has changed within this period! Regions in the -exploration of which Livingstone, Speke, Grant, Baker, Stanley, Cameron, -Brazza, Junker, Schweinfurth, Holub, Lenz, and hundreds of others risked -their lives, are now accessible to civilisation. In most of these, in -which the explorer had formerly to encounter the greatest dangers, there -are now military posts and stations to afford security and facilitate -the trade which is constantly becoming more active. From the east, -Italy, England, Germany, from the west, the Congo State, France, and -England, are daily enlarging their spheres of influence, and are now on -the point of joining hands in Central Africa. Wild tribes, who in their -modes of life are nearer to beast than to man, are beginning to know new -wants, beginning to understand that there are beings mentally superior -to themselves, and who, through the appliances of modern civilisation, -are unconquerable even in foreign lands. The more northerly of the still -independent Mohammedan States--Wadai, Bornu, and the Fellata -Kingdoms--will doubtless sooner or later be compelled to conclude -alliances with some of the advancing powers, perceiving that only in -this way their hereditary rule can be secured. - -In the middle of Africa, between the lands just mentioned and the powers -advancing from east, south, and west, lies the former Egyptian Sudan, -now under the rule of the Khalifa Abdullahi, the despotic head of the -Mahdists. No European can venture to cross the limits of this land, cut -off from civilisation, extending in the south along the Nile to Reggaf, -and east to west from Kassala to near Wadai; death, or lifelong -captivity, would be his lot. Yet it is only within the short period of -ten years that the land has been subjected to these miserable -conditions. For more than seventy years, since the time of Mohammed Ali, -it remained under the rule of Egypt, and was open to civilisation. In -the chief towns were found Egyptian and European merchants. In Khartum -itself, the foreign powers had their representatives. Travellers of all -nations could pass through the land unharmed, and found protection and -help through their aid. Telegraphs and a regular postal service -facilitated intercourse with the most distant countries. Mohammedan -mosques, Christian churches, and mission schools looked after the -religious and moral education of the young. The land was inhabited by -the most diverse tribes, many of which lived in hostility with one -another, but were compelled by the strength of the Government to keep -the peace. - -Discontent, no doubt, prevailed in the land; and in the preceding pages -I have shown how the avarice and misgovernment of the officials brought -about a condition of affairs which rendered the country ripe for revolt. -I have endeavoured to explain how Mohammed Ahmed took advantage of the -mood of the people, and, well knowing that only a religious factor could -unite the hostile tribes, he maintained that he was the Mahdi sent by -God to deliver the country from foreign yoke, and to regenerate -religion, thus bringing into existence that element of fanaticism which -throws such a lurid glow over those dark episodes with which the -history of the past twelve years of the Sudan has been so replete. -Without fanaticism, the revolt could never have been successful, while -with it one is brought face to face with a condition of warfare and -religious enthusiasm, to find a parallel to which one must go back to -mediæval history and even further. - -In the preceding account of my life and adventures, in the vortex itself -of this mighty religious movement, I have endeavoured to briefly trace, -step by step, the principal causes which have led to the present -situation,--changed greatly, it is true, from the time in which the -Mahdi and his successor were in the zenith of their power, but -nevertheless a situation requiring careful handling and a thorough -knowledge of details, in order that those concerned may be enabled to -grasp accurately the conditions necessary to restore to civilisation -this vast expanse of country which has now fallen into an almost -indescribable state of moral and religious decadence. - -In the Sudan, we have before us a terrible example of a nascent and -somewhat crude civilisation suddenly shattered by wild, ignorant, and -almost savage tribes who have built over the scattered remnants a form -of government based, to some extent, on the lines they found existing, -but from which they have eradicated almost every symbol of right, -justice, and morality, and for which they have substituted a rule of -injustice, ruthless barbarity, and immorality. Nor can I recall any -other instance in modern times of a country in which a semblance of -civilisation has existed for upwards of half a century, falling back -into a state so little removed from absolute barbarism. - -But let us consider for a moment what is this new power which has -suddenly grown up, and which seems to the European world to block so -completely all their civilising efforts, which have during recent years -made such startling strides in almost every other part of the vast -continent of Africa. - -I have endeavoured to show how, on the Mahdi's first rise to power, the -entire country was with him heart and soul. How, on his death, real -fanaticism gradually waned, and gave place to a temporary power wielded, -under the cloak of religion, with reckless severity by the Khalifa and -his western Arabs, who, taking the place of the Egyptian garrisons they -had destroyed, ruled the unfortunate populations with a rod of iron, and -with such oppression and tyranny as to make them long for a return to -any form of government which would give them rest and peace. It is -needless for me to recapitulate the horrors and cruelties which have -been enacted by the Khalifa and his followers in order to maintain their -position of ascendancy; but it will be sufficient for my purpose to -recall here that at least seventy-five per cent of the total population -has succumbed to war, famine, and disease, while of the remainder the -majority are little better than slaves; and that terrible scourge, the -slave-trade with all its attendant horrors, is rampant in the land, and -includes amongst its victims numbers of Abyssinian Christians, Syrians, -Copts, and Egyptians. - -The extent of country now governed by the Khalifa is little altered, it -is true, from that occupied originally by the Egyptian Government, but -with what a difference! Prosperous districts with a teeming population -have been reduced to desert wastes. The great plains over which the -western Arabs roamed are deserted, and their places taken by wild -animals, while the homesteads of the Nile dwellers are now occupied by -those nomad tribes who have driven out the rightful owners of the soil, -or enslaved them to till the land for the benefit of their new masters. -Deprived of the means of self-defence, reduced by oppression and tyranny -to a condition of hopelessness of relief from their foreign -task-masters, their powers of resistance crippled, the comparatively -small river populations which are left are little better than slaves. -What can they do of themselves against their despotic rulers? It is -folly to imagine that the country can right itself by internal revolt. -The helping hand must come from without; and the local populations must -realise that the first step to re-establish Government authority having -been taken, there will be no drawing back. They must be convinced that -the Khalifa's power is doomed, and that the bright era of civilisation -is assuredly returning. Then, and not till then, will they heartily -throw in their lot with the advancing forces, and lend their aid in -breaking down the power of the now waning Mahdist Empire. Let it not, -however, be supposed that, although I describe this power as declining, -it is likely of itself to become extinct within a comparatively short -period. A careful perusal of the last few chapters will, I think, make -it clear to all that the means taken by the Khalifa to render his -position secure against his internal enemies has been most thoroughly -effective, and, assuming that his authority is not threatened by -external influences, I see no cause why, as long as he is alive, he -should not maintain his ascendancy. With his death, it is more than -probable some internal revulsion will take place, which might, under -certain circumstances, displace the dynasty he has attempted to found, -but which would not necessarily bring that unfortunate country much -nearer to civilising influences than it is at present. Considered, -therefore, from this point of view, the necessary palliative still lies -in the introduction of external aid. - -The above hypothesis does not, however, entirely meet the conditions of -the case. Those who wish to study the present situation in the Sudan -must not think of that country as it was in the days of Ismail Pasha, -when the civilising influence was represented by the Egyptian -Government, and when the various countries lying immediately beyond the -Egyptian sphere were barbarous or Pagan states, in which Europeans were -almost unknown, and the Arab slave-hunter had barely penetrated; that -condition has been little else than reversed. The Mahdist authority, as -I have already shown, is at once intolerably obstructive and dangerously -insecure. The once comparatively civilised Sudan is now occupied by a -barbaric power hostile to both European and Ottoman influence. It -blocks the way from the central plateaus along the Nile valley to the -Mediterranean; it seals up districts which were at one time fairly -tranquil, and open to the influences of commerce and civilisation, while -the various countries by which it is bordered are now being gradually -opened up. Intercourse between them and the outside world is becoming -easier; trade is pushing obstacles out of the way; risk to life is -lessened by the protective action of European governments; and the -savage races by which they are peopled, are beginning to learn the folly -of fighting against the resources of civilisation. - -To turn from generalisation to details, what do we find to be the -present situation? On the east, Egyptian influence is slowly--very -slowly--recovering its lost ground in the vicinity of Suakin and Tokar. -To the southeast, the Italians have captured Kassala, and have forced -the Mahdists to take up a strong line of defence on the west bank of the -Atbara River. Further south, the Abyssinians show no present intention -of altering the relations which have previously existed between them and -the Dervishes. In the mountainous districts of Fazoglu and the Blue -Nile, the inhabitants have thrown off allegiance to the Khalifa. Far -away to the south, at the sources of the Nile, British influence is -beginning to make itself felt in those regions where Speke, Grant, -Baker, and others gained imperishable renown by their magnificent -explorations, and by their efforts against slavery and the -slave-trade,--regions which will ere long be connected with the coast by -a railway which will open up not only the country it traverses, but will -also give an exit to the trade of Southern Equatoria and the adjacent -countries. Next to these British possessions comes the Congo Free State, -which within the last few years has made such gigantic strides in -bringing under its influence large tracts of country, not only in the -vicinity of the Mbomu and Ubangi, but in many districts of the Bahr el -Ghazal Province and in Equatoria, almost to within striking distance of -the Dervish advanced post at Reggaf in the Nile valley, while behind -them, in the Haute Ubangi, or even in juxtaposition with them, the -enterprising French pioneers are striving to give effect to their -colonial dreams, which have of late years been so fully realised in -various parts of Africa. Still further to the northwest, the Khalifa's -authority in those districts is menaced by hostile tribesmen who may, -sooner or later, become subject to the guidance of European influence -penetrating from the west and north of Africa; and, on the extreme -north, lies the Egyptian power, which Abdullahi is gradually learning to -dread, as being that most likely to be the first to interfere with the -uncertain tenure of his empire. - -Such, then, is briefly the present defensive and offensive position of -the Mahdist Sudan. All-powerful within his dominions, but threatened -from all sides from without, there is little doubt that before the -onward march of civilising forces the whole empire of the Khalifa must -crumble and collapse,--and what then? Will Egypt once more become the -actual possessor of the country of which she was the legitimate owner? -Will all those civilising powers who are marching forward unselfishly -realise that should they establish themselves on the banks of the -navigable Nile, they must not attempt to cut off or minimise the -life-giving water supply of Egypt by introducing skilled irrigation -within the territories they may have acquired? Will they unselfishly -abandon the advantages which they may have secured through the -expenditure of blood and treasure, in order that the legitimate rights -of Egypt may not be interfered with? All these questions enter into the -domain of practical and current politics, with which it is not my -province to deal. I am merely in the position of expressing my views on -the importance and value of the Sudan to Egypt; and on this subject I -hold a strong opinion. The reasons which first prompted Mohammed Ali, -three quarters of a century ago, to take possession of the Sudan, still -hold good. As the Nile is the life of Egypt, so every effort must be -made to preserve the Nile valley from intrusion. Any advance, -therefore, of civilising influences towards that gigantic waterway must -naturally be viewed with alarm by those authorities who are fully alive -to the danger which would arise by the creation, on the banks of the -river, of colonies whose personal interests would predominate over their -regard for the preservation and advancement of Egyptian welfare and -prosperity. - -Here and there, in the preceding pages, I have referred to the immense -importance of the Bahr el Ghazal; and it is perhaps not out of place -here to recapitulate once again the peculiar position which this -province holds in regard to the remainder of the Sudan. It is a most -fertile district, extending over an enormous area, watered by a -labyrinth of streams, and covered with mountains and forests in which -elephants abound, while the low valleys are subject to inundations. The -soil is exceptionally good, producing quantities of cotton and -India-rubber. There are cattle in abundance; and I estimate the -population at between five and six millions. They are capable of making -excellent soldiers. Moreover, the continual feuds between the various -tribes prevent any combination of the inhabitants as a whole; hence the -ease with which foreigners can obtain an ascendancy in the province, and -create an efficient local army. - -The port of the Bahr el Ghazal was Meshra er Rek. To this place steamers -periodically ascended from Khartum, but were often stopped by the -floating vegetation which from time to time blocks the passage of the -Upper Nile. Just south of Fashoda, the river emerges from what may have -been the bed of an ancient lake. Into this wide marsh trickle a great -number of winding streams which are often completely blocked by the -suds; and through these dense barriers travellers must at times cut -their way with swords and axes. Sir Samuel Baker's expedition, -1870-1874, was delayed a year from this cause. - -The geographical and strategical position of the province, therefore, -with reference to the rest of the Sudan, renders its possession of the -greatest importance. The presence of foreigners, unconcerned in the -preservation of Egyptian interests, having at their command the vast -resources of this great country, which are estimated at a much higher -value in both men and materials than those of any portion of the Nile -valley, would place them in such a predominating position as to endanger -any occupation by Egypt of her lost provinces. - -In the preceding pages, I have described all I know of the movements of -Europeans in these districts; and it is possible an attempt in force on -their part to reach the Nile _via_ Meshra er Rek, or the Bahr el Homr, -or Bahr el Arab, might meet with some opposition from the Mahdists, but -if well-conducted it would, in all probability, result in their losing -their province. - -If, therefore, the Khalifa were to learn that the "Whites" in the Bahr -el Ghazal were in greater force than his present information leads him -to suppose, he might engage in a campaign against them; and in this case -he would be obliged to send reinforcements from Omdurman,--a matter of -some difficulty, as the drain on his resources caused by the maintenance -of large forces at the threatened points on the Atbara opposite Kassala, -and in the Dongola province, is considerable. - -Reverting to the Dervish situation in Darfur and Kordofan, it should be -noted that the present force of the Emir Mahmud amounts to some -thousands of rifle and spear men, scattered in garrisons at El Fasher, -Shakka, and El Obeid. Mahmud himself resides at El Fasher with the bulk -of this force, and is constantly at war with the Dar Gimr, Massalit, -Tama, Beni Hussein, Hotir, and other tribes of the Kebkebia and Kulkul -districts. Recently, one of Mahmud's lieutenants, Fadlalla, was killed, -and his force of six hundred men heavily defeated in a contest with -these revolted tribes; and, just at the time I left Omdurman, permission -had been given to Mahmud to send out a punitive expedition from El -Fasher, which appears to have been partially successful. These tribes, -although nominally independent, owe a certain allegiance to the Wadai -Sultanate. It is, therefore, erroneous to suppose that they are acting -under the direction of Rabeh Zubeir, whose hostility to Wadai is well -known, and whose authority does not extend so far to the east, and now -appears to be centred in the districts lying south and southwest of Lake -Tchad. - -Such, then, was the state of affairs in these southern and western -districts when I left the Sudan; and, since my arrival in the midst of -civilisation, I have frequently seen many strange and conflicting -reports in the press as to the situation in these distant regions, and -although concurring with the view that the onward march of civilising -forces must eventually cause the collapse of the Mahdist Empire, I feel -that my unique position in the centre of Dervish authority entitles me -to give a word of warning to the country whose interests I endeavoured -for long years to uphold, and whose eventual welfare and prosperity, in -a recovered Egyptian Sudan, I earnestly long to see. I would merely -impress upon her the fact that time and tide wait for no man; that -whilst she is contemplating with longing eyes the recovery of her lost -provinces, there is always the possibility that they may fall into the -hands of others who may prove more difficult to dislodge than the -Khalifa, and who, by bringing engineering skill on the life-giving -waters of Egypt, may endanger its very existence, and who would--though -it is undoubtedly the lesser of two evils--deprive that country of the -rich blessings of trade and commerce which, under a beneficent -administration in the Sudan, would give wealth and prosperity both to -the parent Egypt and her recovered Nile provinces. - -With these few words of friendly advice to the country to whose services -I rejoice to have returned after twelve long years of captivity, I now -end this narrative. But ere I close, I will relate yet one more incident -which, were I superstitious, I would consider presaged well for the -recovery of what has been lost. In December, 1883, when force of -circumstances obliged me to surrender to the Mahdi, the sword of -Austrian pattern which I had received on entering the Austrian army, and -on which I had had my name engraved in Arabic characters, was taken from -me. In August, 1895, when I came to London to attend the Geographical -Congress, it was returned to me by Mr. John Cook, Sen., of the firm of -Thomas Cook & Son, at his office in Ludgate Circus. It appears that Mr. -John Cook had, in 1890, purchased this sword from a native of Luxor, on -the banks of the Nile, his attention having been attracted by the Arabic -inscription on the blade, from which my friend, Major Wingate, whom he -met shortly afterwards, was able to decipher my name. It is, I think, -likely the Mahdi had presented my sword to one of his followers who had -taken part in the invasion of Egypt by Nejumi, in 1889; and when that -redoubtable Emir was overthrown by General Sir Francis Grenfell on the -field of Toski, it is probable that the wearer of my sword fell too, and -the long-lost weapon was taken from the field by a villager, from whom -Mr. Cook purchased it. To have lost my much-prized first sword in the -wilds of Darfur, and to find it again in the heart of London, is almost -more than a coincidence. - -During the last sixteen years, I have led a life of strange -vicissitudes; and I have endeavoured to narrate as simply as I could my -unique experiences, in the hope that my story may not only prove of -interest to those who have shown sympathy with the hard fate of the -European captives in the Sudan, but with the most earnest desire that -these my experiences may prove of some value when the time for action -may arise, and when, if God wills, my services may be utilised in -helping to abolish the rule of my tyrannical master and lifelong enemy, -the Khalifa Abdullahi, and re-establish in that country the Government -authority I struggled with some measure of success, but alas vainly, to -uphold. - -[Illustration: KHARTUM AND OMDURMAN -Edward Arnold; London & New York -STANDFORD'S GEOG^{L} ESTAB^{T}, LONDON - -MAP SHOWING EXTENT OF MAHDIST INFLUENCE IN 1895. -Edward Arnold; London & New York -STANDFORD'S GEOG^{L} ESTAB^{T}, LONDON] - - - - -INDEX. - - - The following letters appended to names of persons signify: _A._ - Ashraf, descended from the Prophet; _C._ Commander; _D._ Danagla - or Dongolawi; _E._ Emir; _G._ Governor; _J._ Jaalin; _K._ King; - _Kfa._ Khalifa; _M._ Mahdi; _P._ Pasha; _S._ Sultan; _Sh._ - Sheikh. - - - Abakr, S., Begu, 149, 157, 190, 225 251, 261. - - Abba, Island of, Mahdi's home, 123, 126, 136. - - Abd el Kader, Mahdi's uncle, 286; - _P._, _G._ Gen. Sudan, 147; - his advice, 232. - - Abderrahman, _K._ Darfur, 43; - and Napoleon, 44; - Abderrahman ben Naga's warning, 286. - - Abdul Kerim, Mahdi's cousin, 286; - to Sennar, 380, 383. - - Abdullahi bin Sayd Mohammed, Khalifa el Mahdi, _W. Arab_, - early history, 127, 514; - proclaimed Khalifa, 281; - appearance, 285; - commands "blue flag," 303; - succeeds Mahdi, 370; - coinage, 407; - "signs and commands," 409; - tyranny, 429; - seizes Nile boats, 431; - Mahdi's Dome, 432; - Dr. Wahrmund's letter, 447; - brethren arrive, 449; - writes to Queen, etc., 450; - illness, 496; - fortifies Atbara, 507; - fiendish character, 516; - harem, 520; - postal service, 527; - how he rides abroad, 528; - reviews, 530; - present army, etc., 535; - frontiers, 537; - treasuries, 538; - timidity, 562; - house at Omdurman, 567; - his "blackholes," 571. - - Abdullahi Dudbenga, Harun's cousin, _S._, 85, 211, 377. - - Abdullahi om Dramo, _Sh._ Messeria, 192; - joins Madibbo, 251. - - Abo Bey, _C._ Toweisha, disloyal, 204; - moves on Dara, 249. - - Abu Anga, _E._ of Blacks, 174; - befriends Slatin, 329; - reduces Kordofan, 355, 397; - marches to Omdurman, 422; - beats Abyssinians, 426; - dies much lamented, 426. - - Abu es Saud, attacks Abba, 136. - - Abu "Falja" (Mahdi), 289. - - Abu Gemmaisa, his rebellion, 442. - - Abu Girga, _D. E._ Gezira, 283; - besieges Khartum, 302; - repulsed, 300; - to Kassala, 405; - joins Osman Digna, 433; - at Kassala, 472; - sent to Reggaf, 496. - - Abyssinians take Gallabat, 404; - beaten by Abu Anga, 426; - King John's death, 439. - - Adam Amer, _C._ El Fasher, 203. - - Adlan, Ibrahim, in charge of Beit el Mal, 382, 407; - his new offices, 408; - hung, 463. - - Afifi Wad Ahmed, _Sh._ Habbania, 158; - killed, 207. - - Agordat, battle of, 502. - - Ahmed ed Dalia, executioner, 240, 430, 447. - - Ahmed el Makur, _K._ Darfur, 41. - - Ahmed Fedil, Khalifa's cousin, commands Blacks, 480; - to Gedarif, 503. - - Ahmed Katong, lame Arab, 68. - - Ahmed Wad Ali, at Kassala, 433; - _E._, 472; - comes to Omdurman, 495; - back to Gallabat, 496, 500; - routed by Italians, and killed, 502. - - Ahmed Wad Ali, "Kadi el Islam," 231; - with Khalifa, 286, 505; - starved, 575. - - Ahmed Wad Suleiman, _E._ Beit el Mal, 177, 231; - with Khalifa, 286; - discharged, 381, 480; - condemned, 485. - - Ala ed Din, _P._, _G._ Gen. Sudan, 3. - - Ali Bey Sherif, _G._ Kordofan, 7; - _G._ Darfur, 88; - at El Fasher, 96; - Slatin succeeds, 103, 108; - submissive, 383, 406. - - Ansar, "helpers," 141, 309. - - Arab clothes, 114; - courage, 146, 154, 159, 208, 223, 414, 447; - customs, 114; - food, 34, 114; - greed of gain, 20; - oath of fealty, 120; - tactics, 52, 196, 198; - treachery, 240. - - Arabs, _Baggara_, 29, 46; - _Batahin_, 446; - _Bedeyat_, 107, 117; - _Beni Helba_, 45; - country, 71, 205, 218; - revolt, 218; - chastised, 222; - _Ereikat_, 45; - _Gehéna_, 146; - destroyed, 423; - _Gimeh_, transported, 386; - _Gowama_, 230, 427; - _Habbania_, join Suleiman, 17; - against him, 26; - rise, 148; - _Hawazma_, 19, 146; - _Homr_, 19; - _Kababish_, plundered, 402; - _Khawabir_, restless, 58, 205; - _Maalia_, rise, 148, 154, 155, 182; - _Maheria_, 46; - rise, 244; - _Massalit_, 110; - _Mima_, restless, 58, 84, 205, 209, 248; - _Misseria_, 19, 182, 218; - _Rizighat_, 19; - from Ruzeik, 45; - independence of, 45; - rise, 148; - decimated and divided, 46; - join Suleiman, 17; - against him, 26; - rise, 148, 427; - _Shaigi_, loyal, 146; - to Khartum, 302; - _Tago_, 182, 218; - _Taaisha_, 29, 438; - masters, 563; - _Zaghawa_, 113, 182; - _Zayedia_, 244. - - Arabs, animosity between E. and W. tribes, 129, 381, 476. - - Arifi Wad Ahmed, _Sh._ Habbania, 22. - - Artin, Armenian watchmaker, 578. - - Ashraf, 478; - starved and beaten to death, 485; - property confiscated, 486, 494. - - Atbara River, 625. - - - Babakr Abu Sebiba, 581. - - Bahr el Ghazal, subject to Darfur, 47; - Black population, 13, 194; - recruiting ground, 509; - penetrated by Congo State, 510; - its importance to Egypt, 626. - - Bairam, 317, 422, 529; - trooping colours at, 529. - - Bara, captured by Mahdi, 174. - - Barnu, Ismail Wad, 22, 149, 251, 261. - - Batahin, execution of, 446. - - Bazingers, 7. - - Bee-keeping in Sudan, 77. - - Begu, tribe of Bahr el Ghazal, 44; - _S._, 190. - - Beit el Mal, 231, 241, 431, 538. - - Berber, fall of, 290. - - Beresford, Lord Charles, 352. - - Beshari Bey, 218, 223. - - Black babies, 78. - - - Calamatino, George, Gordon's messenger, 304, 321, 333. - - Camel besieged by Waganda, 87; - runaway, 98. - - Caravan road re-opened, 107. - - Coinage, 541. - - Comboni, R. C. Bishop, 101. - - Congo State, flags, 508; - treaties, 510. - - Corruption, 104. - - Crane, Russian in Dongola, 498. - - - Dafalla, Ahmed Bey, 97; - at El Obeid, 145; - surrenders, 176; - interviews Mahdi, 179; - killed, 230. - - Dafalla, Arabi, in Dongola, 476; - to Reggaf, 500; - defeats Fadl el Maula, 507. - - Dali, _S._, 41. - - Dali, Kitab, or penal code, 41. - - Danagla, descendants of slave Dangal, 13. - - Dara, capital of S. Darfur, 62; - the Doctor of, 69. - - Darfur, kingdom of, once reached Atbara, 37; - Egyptians conquer, 56; - _S._ in revolt, 218. - - Darho, Omar Wad, _C._ Shaigia, 58; - arbitrator, 96; - accused by Zogal, 102, 108; - disloyal, 149; - chastises Arabs, 151, 205; - back to El Fasher, 207; - joins Zogal, 268; - attacks Jebel Marra, 377; - revolts against Khalifa, 378; - shot by Zogal, 379. - - Deain, Madibbo's village, 93, 183. - - Delen, R. C. Mission Station, 173. - - Dinkas, 470. - - Divorce, oath of, 222. - - Dongola, 303. - - Donkey postman, 251. - - Duem, on White Nile, 234. - - - Ebtar Idris Bey, _D._ Zubeir's agent, 13; - accuses Suleiman at Khartum, 14; - _G._ Bahr el Ghazal, 14. - - Ebtar, Osman, Idris' brother, killed at Ganda, 16. - - Egeil Wad el Jangawi, Madibbo's enemy, 93. - - El Fasher, capital of Darfur, 37; - taken by Zubeir, 55; - besieged by Harun, 57; - Slatin at, 58; - taken by Zogal, 270. - - El Koreishi, _Sh._, 359, 362. - - El Obeid, siege of, 173; - starved out, 176; - mutiny at, 393. - - Elias Pasha, _G._ Gen. Kordofan, 133, 142; - invites Mahdi to El Obeid, 144; - at Duem, 237. - - Emiliani dei Danziger, of Kobbé, 108; - Mudir of Dara, 109; - dies, 120. - - Emin Bey, 2. - - Esh Sheikh's advice, 359, 362. - - Evil Eye, the, 519. - - - Fadlalla, Ali Wad, arrested, 93, 191; - his grave rifled, 183. - - Fadl el Maula, _C._ of _all_ Blacks, 384. - - Fadl el Maula Bekhit, mutinies, 393. - - Famine, 453, _et seq._ - - Farag, Mohammed Effendi, 211, 213. - - Faragalla, _P._ defends Omdurman Fort, 337. - - Farquhar, Col., 236; - his note-book, 241. - - Fayo, native radish, 198. - - Fealty, Arab oath of, 120. - - Felkin, Dr. R. W., at Dara, 85. - - Fiki Mohammed el Heliki, 50. - - French and English, 310. - - Fungs, 37, 68. - - Furs, 37; - only stopped by Nile, 41; - Niurnia, 75. - - - Gabralla, 55, 68; - slave-dealer, 217. - - Gallabat, destroyed by Abyssinians, 404; - almost taken again, 440. - - Gellabas (_J._ and _D._), traders from Nile, 60; - Gordon's order ruins, 20, 30; - claims of, 92, 169; - revenge on Gordon, 280. - - Gessi, Romolo, and Shellali attack Suleiman, 16; - sick at Khartum, 101; - dies at Suez, 102. - - Gezira, Island (_J._ and _D._), between Blue and White Niles, - espouse Mahdi's cause, 132, 232. - - Ghanima, "plunder," 265 note, 377, 431, 442; - granary of Khartum, 403. - - Giegler Pasha, 3, 5, 139, 146, 228. - - Gilif mountains, 595. - - Gordon, his kindness, 35, 60, 61; - coolness, 60; - meets Suleiman, 10; - succeeds Ismail Pasha, 57; - marched out of Abyssinia, 89; - leaves Sudan, 91; - returns, 280; - popular with W. Arabs, 298; - his letter, 334; - despatches and awaits steamers, 337, 341; - his death, 343. - - Gowl, Bir, hot spring, 64, 72. - - Gretli, Mohammed el, 253, 256. - - Gsiller, Herr Von, Egyptian consul, 579. - - Guma, Ali Agha, conducts retreat, 166; - goes to Mima country, 207. - - Guma, Mohammed, lets Mahdi escape, 138. - - Guma, Said Bey, 59, 104; - _C._ El Fasher, 121, 244, 267; - defends El Fasher, 270; - with Mahdi, 289. - - Guru, village, 224. - - - Hamada Effendi, tortured, 271. - - Hamed Wad All, Khalifa's cousin, _E._ Kassala, 472; - commands Jaalin, 508, 534. - - Hansal, Austrian Consul, writes to Slatin, 325; - killed at Khartum, 347. - - Harun, _S._ Darfur, heads a revolt, 57; - at Niurnia, 58; - threatening, 64; - raids Dara, 80; - pursued, 81; - defeated, 83. - - Hasaballa, _Sh._ Maheria, 117, 120. - - Hashaba, _Sh._ Salama's village, 170; - number of force collected at, 181. - - Hassan Bey om Kadok (Berti), and his brother Ismail, 34. - - Hassan Hussein, _E._ of Egyptians, 293. - - Hassan Wad Saad Nur, 100; - joins Mahdi, 250, 266. - - Helmi, Hassan Pasha, 6; - _G._ Darfur, 8, 56, 58. - - Helmi, Mansur Effendi, 22; - accuses Suleiman, 28; - sent to Shakka, 149; - false, 153; - at Murrai, 157; - runs away, 165. - - Helu, Ali Wad, Degheim, _Kfa._, 138; - commands "green flag," 304; - sides with Khalifa, 383; - well paid, 406; - in Ashraf insurrection, 480, 482, 496. - - Helu, Musa Wad, to Metemmeh, 336; - killed at Abu Klea, 338. - - Hicks Pasha, 233; - his expedition a mistake, 234; - cut to pieces at Shekan, 240. - - Home Rule in the Sudan, 297. - - Hussein, _P._ _G._ Shakka, 11. - - Hussein _Kfa._ Berber, at Mahdi's camp, 294. - - - Ibrahim, _S._ last _K._ Darfur, 54; - his tomb, 74; - his sisters, 429. - - Ismail Pasha, 8; - and Zubeir, 55; - summoned to Egypt, 56. - - Iya, Basi Zemzem, "eldest sister" of _S._ Darfur, 46. - - - Jaalin, descended from Abbas the Prophet's uncle, 13; - Zubeir's tribe, 9. - - Janghé, Baggara tribe transferred to Bahr el Ghazal, 95; - revolt and join Maddibbo, 194. - - Japo, Mohammed Agha, 145; - hoodwinks Mahdi, 174. - - Jebel Gedir, renamed "Masa," 144. - - Jebel Marra, centre of Darfur, 38. - - Jehad (holy war) proclaimed, 116, 138, 141; - round Suakin, 233. - - Jehadia, _J._, 524. - - Jibba, the Mahdist dress, 231, 283, 285; - the Mahdi's own, 289. - - - Kabbashi, Mustem Wad, _Sh._, 60; - at Om Waragat, 190; - wounded, 249. - - Kalaka, headquarters of Habbania, 22. - - Kapsun, Fertit boy sent to England, 88. - - Karamalla, _D._, Mahdi's relative, _G._ Bahr el Ghazal, 275; - at Shakka, 412; - prefers Dara, 413; - retires, 414. - - Kassala, besieged, 280; - closely besieged, 380; - surrenders, 385; - captured by Italians, 504. - - Kebkebia, capital W. Darfur, 109. - - Kerraba, the, 604. - - Khadiga, Donkusa's sister, 113. - - Khadiga, Khalifa's daughter, married to Mahdi's son, 520. - - Khaled Wad Iman, sent to Kordofan, 57, 203; - Zogal's agent, 245; - writes to Madibbo, 245. - - Khartum, Gordon at, 285; - invested by Gezira tribes (_J._), 295; - famine, 337; - fall of, 342; - pillaged, 345. - - Kitab-Dali, or penal code, 41. - - Kitchener, Sir Herbert, 303 (note), 473. - - Klootz, Gustav, brought in, 238, 242; - in chains, 314; - died, 405. - - Kobbé, old capital of Darfur, 44, 108. - - Kordofan, taken and retaken, 37; - in possession of Mahdi, 208. - - Koreina Nur, killed, 195. - - Kuku Agha, killed, 250. - - Kurd, Abu Sheikh, 44. - - - Leontides, Gr. Consul, killed at Khartum, 347. - - Locusts, 457. - - Lupton Bey, _G._ Gen. Bahr el Ghazal, 193; - capitulates, 275; - arrives at Mahdi's camp, 326; - in irons, 332; - his wife and daughter, 354; - hair white, 358; - set free, 361; - engineer, 401; - dies, 437. - - - Madibbo, _Sh._ Rizighat, 22, 95; - discharged by Emiliani, 149; - joins Mahdi, 156; - attacks Deain, 158; - stampeded, 163; - wins Om Waragat, 186; - beaten off, 197; - challenged, 200; - surprised, 247; - attacks Dara, 250; - explains, 263; - Abu Anga's revenge on, 413. - - "Mahdi el Muntazer," 134. - _See_ Mohammed Ahmed. - - Mahmud, Khalifa's relative, _E._ Darfur, returns to Dongola, 499; - resides now at El Fasher, 628. - - Mahmud, Ali Said, Mahdi's relative, killed at Korti, 303. - - Marching order, 183. - - Marcopoli Bey, 95. - - Marissa, Sudan beer, 34. - - Marriage, in Sudan, 561; - Gabralla's office for, 217; - of Fadl Maula, 315; - jars, 357; - made easy, 373; - divorce frequent, 561; - abruptly dissolved, 31. - - Massawa, Italians at, 442. - - Mek Adam Um Daballo, 133; - advises Mahdi to retire into interior, 139. - - Melek Hagger, 107. - - Melek Jusef, 146. - - Messallamia, 4, 125, 129. - - Messedaglia Bey, _G._ El Fasher, 37; - plans attack on Harun, 74. - - Miracles, 143; - comet, 174, 179; - at Friday reviews, 304. - - Mohammed Ahmed (Mahdi), _A._ first news of, 111; - his history, 122; - quarrel with Sherif, 125; - builds Koreishi's tomb, 129; - secret tour in Kordofan, 132; - proclaims himself Mahdi, 134; - chooses three Khalifas, 138; - first successes, 137-146; - Jebel "Masa," 144; - takes El Obeid, 176; - works a miracle, 179; - imitates Mohammed, 180; - his sensuality, 231; - master of Sudan, 242; - at Rahad, 275; - Friday reviews, 304; - to Khartum, 305; - his appearance, 289; - death, 369; - burial, 371; - teaching, 373; - Chronicles, 515; - "instructions," 544. - - Mohammed el Fadl, _S._ Darfur, subdues Arabs, 45; - his mosque, 62. - - Mohammed el Kheir, Mahdi's first teacher, 123; - takes Berber, 303; - awaits English at Metemmeh, 336; - holds Dongola, 381; - dead, 438. - - Mohammed et Taki, Khalifa's father, 127. - - Mohammed Hussein, _K._ Darfur, 46; - his prophecy, 51. - - Mohammed Idris, 107. - - Mohammed Khaled. _See_ Zogal Bey. - - Mohammed Said Pasha, _G._ El Obeid, 96; - misses Mahdi, 139, 145; - lets Mahdi go again, 173; - his treasure, 178; - death, 230. - - Mohammed Sherif, _Kfa._ _See_ Sherif. - - Mohammed Terab, _K._ Darfur, stopped by Nile, 43. - - Mohammed Wad Asi, 203; - brings news, 208. - - Morgan Hosan, faithful in death, 189. - - Mussaid Wad Gaidum, 405; - in Dongola, 476; - recalled, 477; - Kassala, 496; - loses Kassala, 505. - - Mustapha Bey Yawer, defends Dongola, 303. - - - Nejumi, Abderrahman, with Zogal, 257; - sent against Khartum, 301; - takes Sennar, 382; - to Dongola, 405; - defeated and killed at Toski, 452. - - Neufeldt, Charles, 416; - in prison, 572. - - Niurnia, capital of Tago princes, 58; - Fur Sultans, 75. - - Nur Angara Bey, _G._ W. Darfur, 11; - surprises Harun, 85; - his history, 105; - household, 110, 145; - sent to Metemmeh, 338. - - - O'Donovan, 237; - his note-book, 241. - - Officers, six shot at Dara, 210. - - Ohrwalder, Father, 101; - taken by Mahdi, 173; - escapes in Ashraf insurrection, 483. - - Om Badr, 403. - - Ombeija, Sudan war-horn, 26, 51, 283, 292, 446, 504. - - Om Bilbil, 106, 111. - - Om Lawai, taken and destroyed, 209. - - Om Shanga, 151; - fort evacuated, 207; - surrender of, 256. - - Om Waragat, disaster at, 186. - - Omdurman, the sacred city of the Mahdi, 565; - filth of, 570; - fort besieged, 331; - prison, 571; - taken, 337. - _See_ Map. - - Osman Digna, 233; - fights Abyssinians, 385; - at Tokar, 473; - flies to Atbara, 474. - - Osman Sheikh ed Din, Khalifa's son, 140; - married to Yakub's daughter, 519. - - Osman Wad Adam, Khalifa's cousin, to Kordofan, 386; - at El Obeid, 399; - _E._ Kordofan and Darfur, 416; - to Shakka, 427, 444; - dies, 475. - - Osman Wad Dekeim, to Berber, 438. - - Ostrich, hunting, 112; - breeding stopped, 552; - swiftness of, 154. - - - Pain, Olivier (Frenchman), 306; - taken ill and dies, 317. - - - Rahad, 238; - Mahdi at, 275; - Slatin reaches, 283. - - Ramadan, 63, 106. - - Rashed Bey, _G._ Fashoda, and men annihilated, 140. - - Rations paid for, 66, 67, 201. - - Rauf Pasha, succeeds Gordon, 91; - warned by Sherif, 135. - - Reggaf, 469; - most southern post of Khalifa, 537. - - Rifki, Hassan Effendi, 63, 64, 76, 86; - killed with Shellali, 141. - - Rott, Gottfried, at Dara, 182; - taken ill and dies, 203. - - Rudolph, Crown Prince, news of death, 495. - - - Saadalla, Nubawi, 365, 367, 466. - - Sahra, Khalifa's principal wife, 522. - - Said Hussein, _G._ Shakka, 11; - arrested, 17. - - Said Mahmud, 395. - - Salama, Abu Mohammed Bey, _Sh._ Habbania, 155; - deserts, 164; - joins Madibbo, 201. - - Salama, brother of Om Dramo, his ride, 192; - wounded, 226. - - Saleh Bey el Kabbashi, _Sh._ Kababish at Om Badr, 403; - sends to Egypt, 416; - caravan waylaid, 417; - flies and is killed, 421. - - Saleh Donkusa and Zaghawa, 113, _et seq._, 376. - - Saleh Wad el Mek, 300; - in Mahdi's suite, 305; - his brother's head, 336; - his sons, 348; - discharged, 353. - - Seckendorff, Baron, 237, 240. - - Sennar, relieved, 146; - again, 232; - falls, 382. - - Sennusi, Mohammed es, _Sh._ of N. Africa, 138, 231. - - Shakka, battle at, 52; - Slatin marches to, 183. - - Sharaf ed Din, 181, 184; - his death, 188. - - Shekan, disaster at, 240. - - Shellali, Yusef Pasha esh, 6, 141; - disaster, 143. - - Sherif, Mohammed, _Sh._, 123; - warns Rauf, 135; - joins Mahdi, 316. - - Sherif, Mohammed es, _Kfa._, 138; - commands "red flag," 304; - at storming of Khartum, 339, 383; - loses his drums, 385; - appeased, 386; - revolts, 479; - gets into trouble, 488. - - Shilluks, 470. - - Slatin Pasha goes to Egypt, 3; - Mudir of Dara, 5; - attacks Harun, 64; - collects Suleiman's Bazingers, 91; - _G._ General Darfur, 101; - retires on Dara, 153; - marches to Shakka, 183; - turns Mohammedan, 216; - _C._ Darfur, 245; - surrenders Dara, 261; - meets Khalifa, 285; - swears fealty to Mahdi, 288; - writes to Gordon and Consul Hansal, 320; - in chains, 328; - more chains, 334; - more still, 352; - free, 361; - Darfurian wife, 365; - offered wives, 367, 368, 389, 464; - white jibba instead, 390; - with Yunes, 390; - suspected, 393; - rides, 422; - hears from home, 434, 447, 461; - moves house, 493; - meditates escape, 513; - by whom aided, 579; - fails, 584; - succeeds, 591; - recovers sword, 630. - - Slave market at Beit el Mal, 408, 472, 557; - runaway slaves, 564. - - Slave trade, 47, 97, 107, 134, 140; - Rott and, 182, 194. - - Small-pox, at Omdurman, 357; - Gemmaisa dies of, 443. - - Solong, Suleiman, _K._ Darfur, 42. - - Stambuli, George, 174, 469. - - Stewart, Col., steamer wrecked, 322. - - Sudan, education in, 549; - effects of proclamation abandoning, 297; - gross immorality in, 560, 562; - justice in, 544; - liberty in, 108; - manufactures, 559; - market in, 71; - one quarter of population left, 623; - past and present state, 621; - products, 38, 550; - religion, 546; - soldiers' rations in, 65; - trade routes, 551. - - Tagos, displaced by Tungurs, 38, 41. - - Tarika, Sammania, etc., 123; - Mahdi's new, 232, 373. - - Taxation, Slatin inspector, 4; - of Baggara Arabs, 73; - unjust, 133; - Mohammedan poll tax and alms, 406; - on gum, 552. - - Theft, punishment of, 36. - - Tomb of Mahdi, building of, 431; - pilgrimage to, 549. - - Toweisha, 20. - - Tuti Island, 333; - surrenders, 347; - Sir C. Wilson at, 350. - - Typhus fever, 318; - Mahdi dies of, 368, 487; - Khalifa attacked by, 496. - - - Uganda, Christians in, 508. - - Umbusa, Begu, mother of Mohammed el Fadl, 44. - - Usul, El Ata Wad Melek, at Om Shanga, 203. - - - Vizetelly, 237. - - - Wadai, Sultanate, 629. - - Waganda, envoys, 85. - - Wahrmund, Professor, 448. - - Water bottles, 110, 111; - melons, 206, 209; - Baobab trees, 277. - - Wilson, Rev. C. T. at Dara, 85. - - Wilson, Sir C., and steamers, 350. - - Wodehouse, _P._ Wadi Halfa, 451. - - Wolseley, Lord, at Dongola, 333; - at Abu Klea, 338. - - - Yakub, Khalifa's brother, 240; - sympathetic villain, 292, 326, 364; - his spies, 429, 457; - plot against Zogal, 477, 501, 506; - pays W. Arabs, 407. - - Yunes Wad Dekeim (Khalifa's relative), 256; - subdues Gimeh, 386; - Gallabat, 405; - attacks Abyssinians, 415; - his rapacity, 416; - escapes plot and is recalled, 424; - _E._ Dongola, 445; - recalled, 476; - sent back, 477. - - Yusef Pasha. _See_ Shellali. - - Yusef, _S._ aims at independence, 411; - killed at Kebkebia, 428. - - - Zeidan Agha, "all right," 197. - - Zeki Tummal (Taaisha), 312; - succeeds Abu Anga, 439; - defends Gallabat, 440; - harries Shilluks, 471. - - Zeki, starved to death, 501, 574. - - Zigada, Dimitri, of El Fasher, 203, 276; - breaking rules, 287, 291. - - Zogal Bey, Mahdi's cousin, at Dara, 22, 62; - disloyal, 149, 169; - left at Dara, 182; - sent to El Obeid, 221; - detected, 246; - Said Mohammed Ibn Khaled, 261; - enters Dara, 263; - takes El Fasher, 270; - lives in style, 274; - arrested, 297; - sent to Osman Digna, 473; - _E._ Dongola, 476; - recalled and imprisoned for life, 477; - exiled, 500. - - Zubeir, Pasha, _J._ Ali Abu Amuri's assistant, 47; - "Not the Mahdi," 127; - _G._ Bahr el Ghazal, 49; - takes Dara, 53; - made Pasha and goes to Cairo, 56. - - Zubeir Suleiman, _J._ threatens revolt, 9; - Bey _G._ Bahr el Ghazal, 12; - dismissed, 14; - attacks Ganda five times, 17; - his wealth, 18; - submits to Gessi, 26; - shot by Helmi's Danagla, 28; - his wife and son, 269. - - Zubeir Rabeh, 8; - escape of, 19; - goes West, 25; - near Lake Tchad, 629. - - Zurbuchen, Dr., 7, 30, 59, 99; - treats Gessi, 102. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] The dabarek is the circular pond usually made close to a well, into -which the water when drawn up is poured, and which is then used as the -drinking-trough for the flocks. - -[2] The name given to the lords of the Bahr el Ghazal zaribas and their -men. - -[3] A sheba is a piece of forked wood which is fixed on the neck by way -of punishment, and in this position is very painful. - -[4] When religious Sheikhs go out to preach, they are generally preceded -by men bearing flags, on which texts from the Kuran are inscribed. - -[5] Favourites of God. The expression occurs in the Kuran in the -following verse: "Are not the favourites of God those on whom no fear -shall come, nor shall they be put to grief?" (Surah x. 63). - -[6] The Mahdi is supposed to come from Jebel Masa in North Africa; but -the astute Mohammed Ahmed did not hesitate to call Jebel Gedir, which -was to be his destination in Kordofan, by this name, and thus fulfil one -of the principal conditions of a "Mahdi." - -[7] That is, the "Helpers,"--a term given by the Prophet Mohammed to the -early converts of El Medina. - -[8] One of the most solemn forms of administering an oath is for the -person taking the oath to say, "I impose upon myself divorcement." - -[9] More familiarly, "He who fights and runs away, lives to fight -another day." - -[10] According to Mohammed Ibn Taher, "fai" is booty taken from a -country which submits to Islam without resistance, as distinguished from -"Ghanima," or plunder. The Mahdi adopted the "Ghanima" principle -entirely. - -[11] Major Kitchener, now Sir Herbert Kitchener, the Sirdar of the -Egyptian Army. - -[12] On my return to Cairo in 1895, I learnt that the full text of the -letters to which I have referred, had reached the British authorities, -and had been published in General Gordon's Journal. - -[13] The steamer "Husseinyeh." - -[14] One Egyptian piastre = 2½d. - -[15] Unfortunately, the jibba was too big and long for me, consequently -I was unable to wear it at the time of my escape. - -[16] By mere chance I had heard that the man's name was Taib Wad Haj -Ali, and that he had once been in Omdurman with Nejumi. - -[17] The Khalifa, being a Baggari, or cattle-owning Arab, frequently -draws similes of this description. - -[18] All true Moslems are buried facing Mecca. - -[19] The term "Muslimani" is generally given to the descendants of -"unbelievers;" is an opprobrious epithet, and is applied by the Mahdists -to all so-called renegades. - - - - -Transcriber's Notes - - -Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritics repaired. - -The following variants have not been changed: "spear men" and -"spearmen", "ombeÿa" and "ombeija". - -The following words appear both with and without hyphens and have not -been changed: "birth[-]place", "day[-]time", "dock[-]yard", -"down[-]hearted", "re[-]capture", "re[-]capturing", "re[-]conquer", -"re[-]conquest", "re[-]named", "re[-]opened", "re[-]taken", -"re[-]united", "wide[-]spread(ing)". - -Hyphen removed: "bare[-]footed" (p. 224), "life[-]long" (p. 630), -"mid[-]day" (pp. 198, 199), "re[-]gain" (p. 434). - -Hyphen added: "Body[-]guard" (p. xvi), "camel[-]men" (p. 530), -"fire[-]arms" (pp. 38, 532), "good[-]will" (p. 105), "mid[-]stream" (p. -137), "semi[-]circle" (p. 61), "Small[-]pox" (p. 635), "water[-]melons" -(p. 550). - -P. 82: "Omer" changed to "Omar" (Hillet Omar). - -P. 133: "become" changed to "became" (a spirit of jealousy became -rampant). - -P. 149: "send" changed to "sent" (At the same time I sent word). - -P. 154: "Bilal Nagur" changed to "Belal Nagur". - -"Madhi" changed to "Mahdi" (pp. 239, 241, 242, 292, 545, 615). - -P. 219: "an" added (He kept an open table). - -P. 245: "Maddibo" changed to "Madibbo". - -P. 251: "sowed" changed to "sewed" ( I then sewed up the wound). - -P. 279: "Imprisoment" changed to "Imprisonment" (The Rigours of my -Imprisonment). - -P. 305: "the" added (ordered me in the future to remain). - -P. 341: "heartly" changed to "heartily" (would have joined most -heartily). - -P. 348: duplicate "age" removed (Even women of an advanced age). - -P. 377: "collected" changed to "collecting" (he succeeded in -collecting). - -P. 408: added "to" (rank next to that of the Khalifa). - -P. 446 (caption of facing illustration): "Batakin" changed to "Batahin". - -P. 451: "suppresed" changed to "suppressed" (the revolt of Abu Gemmaiza -having been suppressed). - -P. 493: "Gareifawi" changed to "Gereifawi". - -P. 522: "stills" changed to "still" (he still pretends to lead a life). - -P. 588: "Aberrahman" changed to "Abderrahman". - -P. 610: "he" changed to "the" (the sun disappeared from the horizon). - -P. 614: "moutains" changed to "mountains" (first slopes of the Etbai -mountains). - -P. 616 (caption of facing illustration): "Wady" changed to "Wadi". - -P. 618: "Ascanea Nova" changed to "Ascania Nova". - -P. 633 (index entry for "Ibrahim"): "Dafur" changed to "Darfur". - -P. 635 (index entry for "Sennar"): "23" changed to "232". - -P. 636 (index entry for Zeki Tummal, defends Gallabat): added page -number "440". - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Fire and Sword in the Sudan, by Rudolf C. 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