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diff --git a/32875-h/32875-h.htm b/32875-h/32875-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..19c0a0a --- /dev/null +++ b/32875-h/32875-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,20916 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> + + +<html lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> + + <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Ten Years' Captivity in the Mahdi's Camp 1882-1892, by Major F. R. Wingate, R.A.</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + margin: auto; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + td.heading { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: top; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + .newpg {page-break-before: always;} + + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;padding-top:.5em;padding-bottom:.5em;} + + .center {text-align: center;text-indent:0em;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption { + font-size: .7em; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; + font-family: sans-serif; + text-indent:0em; + } + .caption2 { + font-size: .7em; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center; + font-family: serif; + text-indent:0em; + } + .captionserif { + font-weight: bold; + font-family: serif; + margin-right:7%; + margin-left:7%; + text-align: justify; + font-size:.7em; + display: block; + padding-left: 1.5em; + text-indent: -1.5em; + } + + + .alignright { + float: right; + padding-right: .4em; + } + + + .figcenter {margin: auto;text-align: center;display:block;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: .5em; margin-top: + .7em; margin-right: .5em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em; text-indent: 1.5em;} + .fnlabel {text-decoration:none;font-weight:bold;font-size:.8em;vertical-align: super;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + + .linearound { + border-width: 2px; + border-style: solid; border-color: black; margin-left:10%;margin-right:10%; + } + .firstpara {text-indent:0em;} + .firstwords {font-variant:small-caps;font-weight:bold;} + .signature {display: block;padding-right: 1em;text-align: right;} + .tocheading{font-weight:bold;font-size:1.3em;text-align: center;text-indent:0em;} + .tocsubhead{font-weight:bold;font-size:1em;text-align: center;text-indent:0em;} + .toctext {text-align: justify;font-size:1em; display: block; padding-left: 1.5em; text-indent: -1.5em;} + .chapterdescribe {margin-right:3%;margin-left:3%;text-align: justify;font-size:.8em; display: block; padding-left: 1.5em; text-indent: -1.5em;} + + .smaller {font-size:.7em;} + .chapterhead {margin: auto; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;text-indent:0em;padding-top:.8em;padding-bottom:.7em;} + .chapternote {margin-left:3%;margin-right:3%;text-indent:1.25em;font-size:.8em;text-align:justify;display:block;} + + .IX {padding-left:0em;margin-right:10%;margin-left:5%;font-size:1em;} + --> + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ten Years' Captivity in the Mahdi's Camp +1882-1892, by F. R. Wingate + +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: Ten Years' Captivity in the Mahdi's Camp 1882-1892 + +Author: F. R. Wingate + +Release Date: June 18, 2010 [EBook #32875] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEN YEARS' CAPTIVITY *** + + + + +Produced by StevenGibbs, Linda Hamilton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<a name="frontispiece"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:500px;padding-bottom:2em;"> +<img src="images/frontispiece.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="386" height="650"> +<p class="caption2">Father Ohrwalder, +The Sisters Catterina Chincarini and Elisabetta Venturini and The Slave girl Adila<br> +From a photograph by Stromeyer & Heyman, Cairo.</p> +<p class="caption2" style="text-align:left">Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd.</p></div> + +<p><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i"></a> + +<div class="linearound newpg"> + + +<h1 class="smcap" style="word-spacing:.3em;">Ten Years' Captivity</h1> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight:bold;font-size: .9em;padding-top:.5em;">IN THE</p> + +<h1 class="smcap" style="word-spacing:.3em;">Mahdi's Camp</h1> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: 1.3em;padding-bottom:1em;">1882-1892</p> + + +<div class="center" style="padding-bottom:2em;margin-right:10%;margin-left:10%;"> + +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .9em;display:block;padding-bottom:.3em;">FROM THE ORIGINAL +MANUSCRIPTS OF<br></span> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: 1.4em; word-spacing:.3em;">FATHER JOSEPH OHRWALDER<br></span> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .85em;padding-top:.3em;display:block;">LATE PRIEST OF THE +AUSTRIAN MISSION STATION AT DELEN, IN KORDOFAN</span> +</div> + + +<div class="center" style="padding-bottom:2em;margin-right:10%;margin-left:10%;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .9em;display:block;padding-bottom:.2em;">BY<br></span> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: 1.3em;word-spacing:.3em;">MAJOR F. R. WINGATE, R.A.<br></span> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .6em;padding-top:.3em;display:block;">DIRECTOR OF +MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, EGYPTIAN ARMY; AUTHOR OF 'MAHDIISM AND THE +EGYPTIAN SUDAN'</span> +</div> + + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 1em;padding-bottom:2em;"><i>WITH +MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS<br>BY WALTER C. HORSLEY</i></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight:bold;font-size: .8em;padding-bottom:2.5em;font-family:sans-serif;">THIRD EDITION</p> + +<div class="center" style="padding-bottom:1.25em;margin-right:10%;margin-left:10%;"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .8em;display:block;padding-bottom:.2em;">LONDON<br></span> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: 1em;">SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON & COMPANY<br></span> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .7em;padding-top:.3em;display:block;"><i>LIMITED</i><br></span> +<span class="figcenter"><img src="images/st_dunstan.png" alt="St. Dunstan's House" title="" width="200" height="23"><br></span> +<span class="center smcap" style="font-size: .9em;padding-bottom:.3em;">Fetter Lane, Fleet Street, E.C.<br></span> +</div> +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .9em;padding-bottom:.3em;">1892</p> +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .7em;padding-bottom:.5em;">(<i>All rights reserved.</i>)</p> + +</div> +<a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii"></a> + + + +<div class="center newpg"> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .9em;display:block;padding-bottom:.2em;padding-top:2em;">LONDON:<br></span> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .9em;display:block;padding-bottom:.3em;">PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, <span class="smcap">Limited</span>,<br></span> +<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size: .6em;display:block;">STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.</span> +</div> + +<a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii"></a> + + + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a><h2 style="padding-bottom:.75em;">PREFACE.</h2> +<div class="figcenter" style="padding-bottom:1em;"> +<img src="images/line.png" alt="------" title="" width="90" height="9"></div> + +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/preface.jpg" alt="" title="" width="173" height="391"> +<p class="caption">FATHER OHRWALDER.</p></div> + + +<p style="text-indent: 0em;"><span class="firstwords">After</span> the fall of Khartum +in January 1885, various +attempts were from time +to time made to effect the +release of some of the +European prisoners who +had fallen into the Mahdi's +hands during the early +stages of the Sudan revolt.</p> + +<p>These attempts were for +the most part attended with +little result. The causes of +their failure, and eventual +success in one instance, are +fully described in the following +personal narrative +of Father Ohrwalder.</p> + +<p>As Father Ohrwalder is +the first European who has +escaped from the Sudan +since 1885, I was fully occupied +with him during +the few days immediately +following his arrival in +ascertaining, for official purposes, +the actual situation +in the Sudan, and that completed, we had many interesting +conversations on the historical events which +had occurred in these revolted districts during the last +ten years.<a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv"></a></p> + +<p>Having but recently completed a <i>resumé</i> of these +events,<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> which had been largely compiled from the +statements of natives who had escaped, I was not unnaturally +desirous to verify, by the independent witness +of Father Ohrwalder, the accounts which they had given, +and I further begged Father Ohrwalder to carefully +read over the book and point out the errors. It was +with considerable satisfaction that I learnt from him +that the facts had been faithfully recorded; but the +flood of light which he was enabled to throw on many +obscure passages, and the great interest attaching to +the narrative of an active participator in so many of +these now historic occurrences, induced me to suggest +that he should set to work, while the memory of these +events was fresh in his mind, to write a personal narrative +of his varied and terrible experiences, of which +the general public have hitherto learnt but the bare +outline.</p> + +<p>It should be borne in mind that the circumstances +under which Father Ohrwalder lived in the Sudan +precluded him from keeping any written record of his +life; it was therefore agreed that I should supervise his +work which, I need scarcely add, it has given me great +pleasure to do. Father Ohrwalder's manuscript, which +was in the first instance written in German, was roughly +translated into English by Yusef Effendi Cudzi, a Syrian; +this I entirely rewrote in narrative form. The work +does not therefore profess to be a literal translation +of the original manuscript, but rather an English version, +in which I have sought to reproduce accurately +Father Ohrwalder's meaning in the language of simple +narration.</p> + +<p>England and the British public in general have +shown so much interest in the stirring events which +have occurred in the Sudan, and in which many gallant +British officers and men have lost their lives, that it is +Father Ohrwalder's desire that the narrative of his experiences +should be published in the first instance in<a name="Page_v" id="Page_v"></a> +England, as his modest tribute to the nation which +struggled so gallantly, and so nearly successfully, to +effect the relief of Khartum and the rescue of those +unfortunate Europeans who, like himself, had fallen +into the hands of a cruel and merciless enemy.</p> + +<p>It seems almost incredible that such sufferings as the +European captives endured did not long ago bring to +them the happy release of death they so ardently +longed for; but it was not to be. The door of escape, +which they had thought closed to them for ever, suddenly +opened, and they did not fear to risk the dangers +and perils of that terrible desert journey, with scanty +food and water, and the sure knowledge that they must +ride for bare life; re-capture would have ended in +certain death, or, at best, perpetual incarceration in a +prison, the horrors of which beggar description. In +spite, however, of all he has endured, Father Ohrwalder +longs for the time when it may be possible for him to +return to the Sudan and continue the Mission work so +suddenly and hopelessly interrupted since 1882.</p> + +<p>I am greatly indebted to Mr. Walter C. Horsley for +the admirable manner in which he has executed his portion +of the illustrations. The remainder are chiefly from +photographs, taken by Mr. Lekegian in his photographic +studio in Cairo, of Dervish prisoners captured at the +action of Toski, and of refugees who have recently +reached Cairo from Equatoria, through the territory +administered by the Imperial British East Africa +Company.</p> + + +<p class="signature">F. R. Wingate.</p> +<p><span class="smcap">Cairo</span>, <i>30th July, 1892</i>.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1" class="fnlabel">[A]</a> Published under the title of 'Mahdiism and the Egyptian +Sudan.' London: Macmillan & Co. 1891.</p></div> +</div> +<a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi"></a> +<a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii"></a> + + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> + +<a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a> +<h2 style="padding-bottom:.75em;">CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="padding-bottom:.4em;"> +<img src="images/line.png" alt="------" title="" width="90" height="9"></div> + +<table border="0" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="2" summary="Contents" align="center"> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">INTRODUCTION.</p> +<span class="tocsubhead">FATHER OHRWALDER'S JOURNEY TO THE SUDAN.</span></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="bottom"> +<td width="90%"> </td> +<td align="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><span class="smaller">PAGE</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Description of Kordofan and Dar Nuba—The Mission Station at Delen</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#INTRODUCTION">1</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER I.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE MAHDI AND HIS RISE TO POWER.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The rise of the Mahdi—Early successes—Personal appearance—His<br> +Khalifas described—Military organization—Makes +new laws—He summons El Obeid to surrender</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_I">6</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER II.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">FATHER OHRWALDER AND HIS COMPANIONS TAKEN CAPTIVE.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The storm rises in Dar Nuba—The Baggara begin to +raid—Khojur +Kakum of Delen—Mek Omar besieges Delen—The +slave guard deserts the Mission—The priests and +nuns surrender—They are sent to the Mahdi</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_II">22</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER III.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE MISSIONARIES AND THE MAHDI.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Description of El Obeid—Said Pasha's system of defence—The +Mahdi's followers encircle the town—Townspeople +desert to the Mahdi—Unsuccessful attack on Government +buildings—Dervishes driven off with loss of 10,000 men—The +missionaries brought before the Mahdi—Threatened +with death—Preparations for the execution—Reprieved +at the last moment—The Mahdi's camp described—Death +<a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii"></a>of some of the missionaries—Illness of remainder</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_III">34</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER IV.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE SIEGE OF EL OBEID.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Terrible sufferings of the besieged—The Kababish—Fall of +Bara—Fall of El Obeid—The Mahdi enters the town—Fate +of the El Obeid Mission—Cold-blooded murder of +the brave defenders—The Dervishes live a life of ease in +El Obeid—The Mahdi makes laws—He sends out proclamations—Prestige +increased by capture of town—News +from Khartum—Bonomi and Ohrwalder summoned before +the Mahdi—The interview</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">52</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER V.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE MAHDI'S VICTORY OVER HICKS PASHA.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The European captives learn that General Hicks is advancing—Slatin +Bey's defence of Darfur—His heroism—The +Mahdi prepares to resist Hicks—The march of the Hicks +Expedition—Extracts from the diary of Major Herlth—Colonel +Farquhar's gallantry at Rahad—Gustav Klootz +deserts to the Mahdi—Klootz's interview with the Mahdi in +which Ohrwalder and Bonomi act as interpreters—The +expedition advances towards Shekan—Is surrounded and +annihilated—Description of the battle—The Mahdi victor +of Kordofan</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_V">72</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER VI.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE MAHDI'S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO EL OBEID.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Fall of Darfur—Slatin surrenders—The Mahdi's +divinity credited +after the annihilation of Hicks—King Adam of +Tagalla—Stambuli's kindness to the European captives—Gordon +writes to the Mahdi—Power's letter—The +sisters seized and distributed amongst the emirs—They +are tortured—The missionaries turned into slaves—The +terrible journey to Rahad—The Greeks come to the help +of the sisters—The proclamation concerning the treatment +of priests and hermits by Mohammedans—The +Mahdi at Rahad—Ohrwalder's interviews with the Mahdi +concerning religion—The Dervishes attack the Nubas</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">91</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER VII.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">FATHER OHRWALDER'S VIEWS OF GORDON'S MISSION.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Ohrwalder describes his treatment at the hands of various +masters—The Nubas surrender and afterwards desert—News +<a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix"></a>from Khartum—The capture of the English mail—Its +arrival at the Mahdi's camp—The Mahdi decides to +advance on Khartum—Brief review of events in Khartum +and Berber—Ohrwalder's views on Gordon's mission—The +Mahdi sets out for Khartum—Mohammed Ali Pasha's +defeat and death—Colonel Stewart, Mr. Power, and others +leave Khartum in ss. "Abbas"—Description of their +wreck and treacherous murder</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">114</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER VIII.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE SIEGE AND FALL OF KHARTUM.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The surrender of Omdurman fort—Gordon's +dispositions for defence—His +great personal influence—The night before the +assault—The attack and entry of the Dervishes—Gordon's +death—The adventures of Domenico Polinari—The massacre +in Khartum—How most of the Europeans died—Ruthless +cruelty and bloodshed—The fate of the wives +and daughters of Khartum—Ohrwalder's views on the +situation in Khartum and the chances of relief by the +British Expeditionary Force—His description of the town +three months after the fall</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">131</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER IX.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE MAHDI'S LAST DAYS.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Ohrwalder's criticisms on certain events connected with the +defence of Khartum—The Sudan devastated by small-pox—The +Mahdi gives way to a life of pleasure—Description +of his harem life—The Mahdi sickens and dies—The effect +on his followers—The Khalifa Abdullah succeeds—Party +strife and discord—Abdullah prevails—Events in Sennar +and Kassala</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_IX">152</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER X.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE ESCAPE OF FATHER BONOMI.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Ohrwalder continues to describe his personal experiences—Mahmud +the emir of El Obeid—His unsuccessful attempts +to entrap the Nubas—The arrival of Olivier Pain in El +Obeid—His motives in joining the Mahdi—His journey +towards Omdurman—His sad fate—Lupton Bey arrives +at El Obeid from the Bahr el Ghazal—He is sent to +Omdurman and thrown into chains—Life in El Obeid—The +escape of Father Bonomi—Ohrwalder's solitude—The +<a name="Page_x" id="Page_x"></a>death of the Khojur Kakum</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_X">169</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XI.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">REVOLT AGAINST THE DERVISHES.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The black soldiers of the old Sudan army—They revolt against +the Dervishes in El Obeid—And march off to Dar Nuba—The +emir Mahmud pursues and is slain—Ohrwalder +quits El Obeid for Omdurman—Zogal and Abu Anga at +Bara</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XI">189</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XII.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">OHRWALDER'S IMPRESSIONS OF OMDURMAN.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Ohrwalder's arrival in Omdurman—His first impressions of the +Dervish capital—Khalifa Abdullah's intentions to conquer +Egypt—Wad Suleiman of the beit el mal—Wad Adlan +succeeds—Gordon's clothes, medals, &c.—Adlan reorganizes +the beit el mal—The slave market, museum, mint, +and system of coinage—Counterfeit coining—The lithograph +press—The Khalifa's system of justice</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XII">204</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XIII.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE KHALIFA DECIDES TO CONQUER ABYSSINIA.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Events subsequent to the fall of Khartum—Capture of +Gedaref and Galabat—Dervishes defeated by Abyssinians +at Galabat—Abu Anga's victorious expedition to Tagalla—His +triumphal return to Omdurman—The Khalifa's +grand review—Destruction of the Gehena tribe—The +Khalifa decides to send Abu Anga's army to conquer +Abyssinia—The battle of Dabra Sin—Abu Anga sacks +Gondar—The victorious Dervishes return to Galabat—Rejoicings +at Omdurman </span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">216</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XIV.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">KING JOHN OF ABYSSINIA KILLED IN BATTLE.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Destruction of the Kababish tribe and death of Saleh Bey—Events +in Darfur—Revolt of Abu Gemaizeh—His death +and destruction of his army—Rabeh Zubeir—King +Theodore's son visits Omdurman—The conspiracy of +"Sayidna Isa"—Death of Abu Anga—King John of +Abyssinia attacks Galabat—Success of Abyssinians, but +the king killed—Victory turned to defeat—The king's +<a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi"></a>head sent to Omdurman</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">232</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XV.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">DEFEAT OF NEJUMI AT TOSKI, AND OF OSMAN DIGNA AT TOKAR.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The Khalifa's intentions regarding Egypt—Wad en Nejumi +despatched north—Various operations on the Egyptian +frontier—Battle of Toski—Defeat and death of Nejumi—Subsequent +events in Dongola—Osman Digna's operations +against Sawakin—Is defeated at Tokar—Emin +Pasha and events in Equatoria—Recent events in Uganda +and Unyoro</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XV">254</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XVI.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE FAMINE AT OMDURMAN—1888-1889.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Ohrwalder describes Omdurman—The Mahdi's tomb, and how +it was built—Pilgrimage to Mecca forbidden—A description +of the great mosque—The Khalifa's palace—The +markets—The population—The Khalifa's tyrannical rule—The +terrible famine of 1888-1889—Awful scenes and +sufferings—The plague of locusts</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">273</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XVII.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE KHALIFA AND HIS <a name="tn_png_11"></a><!--TN: Period added after "GOVERNMENT"-->GOVERNMENT.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The Khalifa's system of government—His household—An +outline of his character—His system of prayers in the +mosque—His visions and dreams—His espionage system—His +household troops—His great activity and circumspection—The +great Friday review described—The emigration +of the Baggara and western tribes to Omdurman—The +flight of Sheikh Ghazali—Management of the beit +el mal—System of taxation</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">293</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XVIII.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">A CHAPTER OF HORRORS.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The revolt of the Batahin tribe—Revolt suppressed with +appalling cruelty—Wholesale executions—Method of +hanging—Punishment by mutilation—The execution of +Abdel Nur—Trade with Egypt—Wad Adlan the emin +beit el mal—His imprisonment and death</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">315</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XIX.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">SOCIAL LIFE AT OMDURMAN.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">System of public security and justice in Omdurman—The +court of small causes—Bribery and corruption—The +<a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii"></a>story of the slave and her mistress—How the Khalifa +deals with quarrelsome persons—Thieves and pickpockets—The +story of Zogheir—Usurers and their trade—The +chief of police—Brigandage—Disproportion of +males to females in Omdurman—How the Khalifa overcame +the difficulty—Immorality—The marriage ceremony</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">328</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XX.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE KHALIFA'S TREATMENT OF THE WHITE CAPTIVES.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Description of the prison, or "Saier"—The "Abu Haggar"—The +imprisonment of Charles Neufeld—Terrible sufferings +of the prisoners—Domenico Polinari—The danger +of corresponding with the European prisoners—Neufeld +threatened with death—He is given charge of the saltpetre +pits—The fate of Sheikh Khalil, the Egyptian +envoy—The Khalifa's treatment of the "Whites"—Exile +to the White Nile</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XX">344</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XXI.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">LUPTON BEY AND THE AMMUNITION.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The Khalifa's powder and ammunition begin to fail—Lupton +Bey makes fulminate—Unsuccessful attempts to make +powder—Yusef Pertekachi at last succeeds—The explosion +in the powder factory</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">366</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XXII.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE IN THE MAHDI'S KINGDOM.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Remarks on the agriculture and commerce of the Mahdiist +kingdom—A sandstorm in Omdurman—The paucity of +cattle—System of taxation on imports—Provincial beit +el mals—Local manufactures—Slavery and the slave-markets—Torture +of slaves</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">376</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XXIII.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE BAGGARA MASTERS OF THE SUDAN.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Relations between Abdullah and the rival Khalifas—Mahdiism +practically dead—The Khalifa's son Osman—His marriage +to Yakub's daughter—His intentions regarding the +succession—The Baggara and the Aulad-Belad—The +Baggara masters of the Sudan—Examples of their +tyranny—Emigration of the Rizighat tribe—Hostility +between the Khalifa's and the late Mahdi's households—The +Ashraf conspiracy—Witchcraft—The dispute between +<a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii"></a>the Khalifas—Riots in Omdurman—The Mahdi's widows</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">387</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XXIV.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">PREPARATIONS FOR THE FLIGHT.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Ohrwalder forms plans for escape—The fate of other Europeans +attempting to fly—Stricter surveillance—Ohrwalder's +means of livelihood—Letters from Cairo—The faithful +Ahmed Hassan discloses his plan—Archbishop Sogaro—Miseries +of captivity in Omdurman—Death of Sister +Concetta Corsi—Preparations for flight</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">408</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XXV.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">ON CAMELS ACROSS THE GREAT NUBIAN DESERT.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Father Ohrwalder and Sisters Venturini and Chincarini escape—The +ride for life—The rencontre with the Dervish +guard near Abu Hamed—Alarm of the party—The +journey across the great Nubian desert—Five hundred +miles on camel-back in seven days—Arrival at the +Egyptian outpost at Murat—Safe at last—Arrival in +Cairo</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">424</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="2" class="heading"><p class="tocheading">CHAPTER XXVI.</p> +<p class="tocsubhead">THE PRESENT KHALIFA'S DESPOTISM IN THE SUDAN.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Reflections on the situation in the Sudan—The horrors of the +present Khalifa's rule—How long shall it continue?</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">447</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext" style="padding-top:2em;font-weight:bold;">INDEX.</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#INDEX">451</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv"></a><br> +<p><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv"></a></p> + + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS_MAP_AND_PLAN" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS_MAP_AND_PLAN"></a> +<h2 style="padding-bottom:.75em;">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS, MAP AND PLAN.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="padding-bottom:.4em;"> +<img src="images/line.png" alt="------" title="" width="90" height="9"></div> + +<table border="0" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="2" summary="List of Illustrations Map and Plan" align="center"> + + +<tr valign="bottom"> +<td width="90%"> </td> +<td align="right" valign="bottom" width="10%"><span class="smaller">PAGE</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Father Ohrwalder, Sisters Venturini and Chincarini, and their +servant Adila (<i><a href="#frontispiece">Frontispiece</a></i>).</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Zubeir Pasha</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#zubeir">8</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">A native woman of Dongola</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#native">65</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Hicks Pasha</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#hicks">74</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Colonel Arthur Farquhar (Chief of Staff)</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#colonel">80</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">A Baggara emir, present at the annihilation of the Hicks +Expedition, and afterwards captured at Toski</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#baggara">89</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Father Ohrwalder's interview with the Mahdi at Rahad, concerning +religion</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#father">107</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The gold medal struck by Gordon to commemorate the siege +of Khartum</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#gold">122</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">A Dervish emir present in the attack on Khartum, and afterwards +captured at Toski</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#dervish">136</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">An Egyptian Harem woman</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#egyptian">156</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">"Many a time did I turn round to look back, until Bonomi +disappeared from view in the wood"</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#many">181</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">A slave woman from Equatoria</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#slave">209</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Abyssinian dancing girls</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#abyssinian">243</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">An Arab sheikh of Upper Egypt</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#arab">255</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Bishir Bey, sheikh of the Ababdeh Arabs</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#bishir">259</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Wad en Nejumi (from a photograph of a drawing made by an +Egyptian officer of the great Emir, as he lay dead on the +field of Toski)</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#wad">264</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">A native woman of Makaraka, the wife of one of Emin Pasha's +officers, who reached Egypt from Uganda in June 1892</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#woman">270</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">A trophy of arms, banners, and drums, captured from the +Dervishes</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#trophy">305</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">Charles Neufeld</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#charles">354</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">A slave girl from Equatoria</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#girl">382</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">A Baggara woman</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#baggara_woman">398</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">The Arab guides who effected the escape of Father Ohrwalder +and the Sisters</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#guides">409</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toctext">"We had scarcely gone twenty paces from the river, when<br> +suddenly we heard the sound of a camel"</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%" align="right"> <a href="#scarcely">435</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> +<td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;" colspan="2"> +<p class="toctext"><a href="#plan">Plan of Omdurman.</a></p> +<p class="toctext"><a href="#map">Map of the Nile Basin, showing route taken by Father +Ohrwalder.</a></p> +<p class="toctext"><a href="#map2">Sketch Map +showing correct Position of I.B.E.A. Co's Forts & Boundary of Uganda.</a></p> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi"></a> +<a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<p class="center" style="word-spacing:.3em;font-size:1.3em;font-weight:bold;">TEN YEARS'</p> +<p class="center" style="word-spacing:.3em;font-size:1.5em;font-weight:bold;">CAPTIVITY IN THE +MAHDI'S CAMP</p> +<p class="center" style="font-size: 1.3em;padding-bottom:.5em;">1882—1892</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="padding-bottom:1.25em;"> +<img src="images/line.png" alt="------" title="" width="90" height="9"></div> + +<a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a><h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">FATHER OHRWALDER's JOURNEY TO THE SUDAN.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Description of Kordofan and Dar Nuba—The Mission Station at +Delen.</p> + + +<p style="text-indent: 0em;"><span class="firstwords">I left</span> Cairo on the 28th of December, 1880, as full of +bright hopes for a happy future as any young man could +wish to be. I had no thought of the miserable fate +which was so soon to overtake me.</p> + +<p>Our party consisted of Bishop Comboni, two +missionaries, Johann Dichtl and Franz Pimezzoni (these +three have long since passed into eternity), and several +sisters. We embarked at Suez, and spent the first day +of 1881 on the Red Sea. On the 4th of January we +landed at Sawakin. At that time the governor of the +town was Ala ed Din Pasha, who subsequently accompanied +General Hicks as Governor-General of the Sudan, +and was eventually killed with him. After a journey of +twenty-eight days and travelling <i>viâ</i> Berber, we reached +Khartum; here the pleasant gardens and shady groves +of date-palms impressed us most favourably. Standing +on the high river bank, just in front of the Mission +gardens, were the various members of the Mission, headed +by Father Alois Bonomi, also the Austrian Consul +Hansal and the Italian Consul Legnani, who gave us a +hearty welcome. The whole city was <i>en fête</i>, to celebrate +the return of the Governor-General Rauf Pasha from<a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a> +Gedaref. After landing, we walked through the lovely +garden towards the Mission buildings, and here, in the +principal parlour, were collected Rauf Pasha, Giegler +Pasha, Gessi Pasha, who had just returned quite worn +out from his campaigns in the Bahr el Ghazal; the +courageous Slatin, fresh from Darfur; Marcopoli Bey, +Doctor Zurbuchen, Marquet, the African traveller Jean +Maria Schuver, and many others who had come to welcome +Bishop Comboni on his arrival.</p> + +<p>On the 15th of March we celebrated the fiftieth birthday +of Bishop Comboni with general rejoicings: in the +evening the European colony dined at the Mission, and +then followed a <i>soirée</i>. Little did we think of the +terrible fate that was in store for the majority of those +gathered together on that happy evening!</p> + +<p>In the meantime Slatin Bey had been appointed +Governor-General of Darfur, and he considered it his +duty to proceed as soon as possible to take up his new +post. Our bishop accepted Slatin's proffered invitation +to travel together as far as El Obeid, and on the 29th of +March we embarked on a steamer placed at our disposal +by Rauf Pasha and proceeded to Tur el Hadra. We were +accompanied thus far by Marcopoli Bey, Dr. Zurbuchen +and Marquet, and here, mounting on camels, we made a +rapid march across the Kordofan deserts, arriving at El +Obeid on the 5th of April. No sooner had we dismounted, +than two telegrams were handed to us: one +announced the sudden death, on his return to Khartum, +of Dr. Zurbuchen, and the other described the death of +the Czar Alexander of Russia at the hands of the +Nihilists.</p> + +<p>We remained at El Obeid while Slatin was making +arrangements for his journey to Darfur. Bishop +Comboni then made a tour through Jebel Nuba, +returned to El Obeid and subsequently to Khartum, +where he died on the 10th of October. God, in His +mercy, took him away so that he should not behold the +terrible events in the Sudan which followed soon after +his death.</p> + +<p>I left El Obeid on the 28th of November, 1881, and<a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a> +reached Delen in Dar Nuba on the 5th of December. I +was most favourably impressed with the Nuba country. +Whilst Kordofan is merely an extensive plain with little +change of scenery, Dar Nuba presents an entirely different +aspect. Here chains of picturesque hills, running +in various directions, rise out of the plain, interspersed +with numerous watercourses. Jebel Delen, on which +our Mission station was situated, is one of the smallest +of the hills. The other principal groups are Naïma, +Kurun, Dobab, Dair, Kedaro, Tagalla, Gedir, and Tira, +in which gold is found, besides a number of smaller +hills. It is estimated that in all there are upwards of +one hundred inhabited mountains.</p> + +<p>The intervening plains and valleys are rich in vegetation +of every description; trees of colossal dimensions +are found, more especially in the khors (the beds of +perennial streams), and the thick luxuriant growth is so +dense that the rays of the sun cannot penetrate. The +soil is exceptionally fertile and rain abundant, consequently +for six months in the year the density of the +undergrowth makes it almost impossible to traverse +these rich valleys; but when the rains are over and the +grass becomes dry, it is generally fired, and thus the +plains and valleys become passable again. A quantity +of the rain from these hills flows into Lake Birket, +some passes also into the Khor Abu Habl, which becomes +lost in the sand before it reaches the White Nile. The +rain from the southern Nuba hills finds its way into the +Bahr el Arab. The plains abound with quantities of +deer, giraffe, antelope, and wild boar, whilst the woods +contain myriads of birds of lovely plumage, and apes +and monkeys of every description. During the winter +season, elephants were frequently to be seen in the +neighbourhood of Delen, which also abounds with snakes, +amongst which the boa-constrictor is not uncommon.</p> + +<p>The population of Dar Nuba, which at one time was +considerable, does not now exceed 50,000; the scattered +sub-tribes of Baggara, who roam the plains with the +Bederieh and Ghodiat Arabs, have decimated the Nubas, +and forced those that are left to fly to their moun<a name="Page_4" id="Page_4"></a>tain +recesses, where they eke out a wretched existence, +their protection being the inaccessible nature of their +retreats.</p> + +<p>I found the Nubas a pleasant and well-disposed +people; indeed, they have the reputation in the Sudan +of being the best of all the negroid races; they cultivate +only sufficient quantities of corn, sesame, and +beans to serve for their livelihood; whilst the wild +fruits and vegetables of their country are so plentiful as +to furnish almost sufficient food for their maintenance +should they be unable to cultivate. They possess +numbers of goats and cattle which supply them with +milk and butter; they are much addicted to drinking +marissa (a kind of beer made from dhurra), and great +quantities of this beverage are consumed at their feasts, +principally at the feast known as Zubeir. On this +occasion men and women drink and dance together; +but notwithstanding this unusual familiarity, I never +saw anything which might be considered an outrage to +society. With the exception of the Khojur, of whom I +shall presently speak, and the head sheikh, monogamy is +practised.</p> + +<p>The Nubas are governed entirely by their own traditional +laws and customs, the Khojur only intervening +in case of necessity. The Khojur is in reality a sort of +religious chief, whose power over the people depends +entirely on his skilfulness and sagacity. During the +time I was in this neighbourhood the Khojur was a +certain Kakum, known as "Kakum of Delen."</p> + +<p>Only a short time had elapsed since the Egyptian +Government had made a settlement at Delen. A company +of Sudanese soldiers, under the command of a +captain who was appointed for the suppression of the +slave-trade, had been recently quartered there, and they +were also charged with the protection of our Mission +station.</p> + +<p>I was very happy in Delen, where I found a variety +of pursuits to occupy my time. I amused myself in +collecting insects, of which I soon had a large selection. +I also skinned birds and snakes. The various<a name="Page_5" id="Page_5"></a> +modes of Nuba life and cultivation were, moreover, an +immense interest to me, and the presentation of a few +glass beads enabled me to secure many strange objects +in return. The natives used to roar with laughter when +they saw me examining with interest the curious insects +they brought me.</p> + +<p>We had quite a colony of blacks in the Mission, and +as the number increased, it became necessary to enlarge +the accommodation, so we began to make and burn +bricks; we obtained lime from the Saburi mountain (I +may here say the Nubas gave us this information) and the +doleb-palm supplied us with plenty of wood. Assisted +by Father Bonomi, our carpenter Gabriel Mariani built +a four-wheeled cart, which we drove with two strong +mules. We worked along cheerfully and full of hope. +We turned out some 2,000 good bricks. Our blacks +were quite contented; far removed from the corruption +and temptation of the towns, they kept steadily to their +work, and tilled their own little patches of ground; +everything was going well, and we anticipated great +results. But suddenly our tranquillity was disturbed. +Early in April 1882, there were perceptible at Delen +the first murmurings of the terrible storm which was to +deluge the entire Sudan with blood, and to bring misfortune +and calamity on the land and on our happy +Mission; but these events I will describe in the following +pages.<a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a></p> + + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE MAHDI AND HIS RISE TO POWER.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">The rise of the Mahdi—Early successes—Personal appearance—His +Khalifas described—Military organization—Makes new laws—He +summons El Obeid to surrender.</p> + + +<p style="text-indent: 0em;"><span class="firstwords">A few</span> years previous to the time of which I speak, an +individual who called himself a Dervish had attracted +people's attention. He wandered through the Sudan in +the garb of a Dervish, and strove to rouse the Moslems +to religious fanaticism. He urged that reality no longer +existed in the religion; faith was becoming of no account, +and this religious decadence was due to a +luxurious mode of life and contact with Christians. A +number of influential sheikhs and merchants took up his +cause, and these he made to swear to remain faithful +and true to him. At this time at El Obeid there was a +certain Said el Mek, who had the reputation of being a +holy man, and the Dervish did all in his power to +induce him to espouse his cause. Said el Mek urged +that religion had not fallen into such disrepute, and +that all would be well if more mosques were built; but +the Dervish, with threats that if he refused to join him +he would compass his destruction, extracted from him a +promise to keep his plans secret. He then prepared the +way by continuing his wanderings, preaching everywhere +against the oppression of the Turk and the decadence +of the true Moslem faith. Under the very nose +of the Government he collected a small body of faithful +adherents, set off with them for the island of Abba on +the White Nile, and there openly declared himself. +Rumours that he intended to raise the people to revolt +reached Khartum. At this time Rauf Pasha was<a name="Page_7" id="Page_7"></a> +Governor-General; he sent a noted Khartum townsman +named Abu Saud to Abba, with instructions to invite +the Dervish to come and see the Governor-General. Abu +Saud nearly succeeded in his mission, and had it not been +for the advice of one of his adherents, Ahmed Sharfi, it +is probable that the Dervish would have accepted the +invitation. Rauf Pasha, on learning of his refusal to +obey the summons, despatched two companies of troops +to Abba Island at the end of July 1881, with instructions +to bring the Dervish forcibly to Khartum. The +two captains of the companies had a difference of +opinion, and, landing the troops in a most careless +manner, they were drawn on by the adherents of the +Dervish into a marshy swamp, where they were fallen +upon and a number of them killed with simple sticks. +Ahmed Sharfi himself told me this. Only a very few +succeeded in escaping and returning to the steamer, in +which they made their way back to Khartum.</p> + +<p>This episode caused great excitement. I was at El +Obeid when it happened, and Giegler Pasha, who was also +there at the time, told me about it. Giegler despatched +Mohammed Said Pasha to the White Nile with orders +to prevent the Dervish from escaping south; but Said +Pasha soon afterwards returned, having done nothing; +probably he did not dare to attack the rebels. In the +meantime the Dervish quitted Abba, and succeeded in +reaching Tagalla in safety; thence he proceeded to Jebel +Gedir, and located himself at the foot of that mountain. +The natives of this district are called Kawakla, +and dwell on the top of the mountain; they are possessors +of a very celebrated and holy stone, on which +there is a tradition the prophet Mohammed sat and +prayed. Here the Dervish Mohammed Ahmed now +took up his abode, and waited to see what action the +Government intended to take.</p> + +<p>At Delen the news of this Dervish was very meagre, +though there was much talk of his wonderful miracles, +the most important of which was said to be his power to +change the bullets of the Government troops into water. +His repute as a worker of miracles grew rapidly, and was<a name="Page_8" id="Page_8"></a> +the cause of largely increasing the number of his adherents. +The malcontents, runaway slaves, criminals +evading justice, and religious fanatics, hurried to Gedir; +but perhaps the bulk of his adherents were men who +lived by theft and robbery, and who were the main +supporters of the movement. To all, the Dervish gave +promises of enormous shares of loot and everlasting +happiness in the world to come. But it was to the +slave-dealers that Mohammed appeared in the light of a +saviour, and it was to them that he owed his subsequent +success.</p> + +<a name="zubeir"></a><div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p008.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="361" height="377"> +<p class="caption2">ZUBEIR PASHA.</p></div> + +<p>From the time that Gessi Pasha put an end to the +slave-trade in the Bahr el Ghazal by conquering<a name="Page_9" id="Page_9"></a> +Suleiman, the son of Zubeir Pasha, and dispersing his +forces—as Gessi had often related to me—numbers of +these runaway slave-dealers (as they afterwards assured +me) owed their ruin to him. These men were all +warriors, accustomed to every description of hardship, +well trained in the use of firearms, and from their +constant slave-fights well accustomed to war; they +flocked in numbers to the Dervish, and he gave them +elaborate promises of quantities of booty and a complete +resumption of the slave-trade. Mohammed +Ahmed had the power of inspiring these men with an +extraordinary amount of fanatical ardour, so much so, +indeed, as we shall presently see, that they would not +hesitate to rush into certain death at one word from +him. He would compare these men with the Government +troops, and prove how far inferior were these +latter; and, on the other hand, the Government troops +made the fatal mistake of underrating their enemies, +and conducting their operations with a complete disregard +for the wary foes with whom they had to deal. +What more obvious example of this blind self-confidence +can there be than in the miserable defeat of Rashid Bey, +Mudir of Fashoda, who, without any instructions, advanced +against the Dervishes, and was cut to pieces on +the 9th of December, 1881?</p> + +<p>Rashid Bey—so an eye-witness told me—was drawn +into the middle of a forest, and there he and his men +were massacred, before they could even alight from +their camels, so completely taken by surprise were they. +Thus the Dervishes gained an important and decisive +victory, with, comparatively speaking, no loss at all. +The German Berghof, inspector for the suppression of +slavery at Fashoda, also fell in this fight. What wonder +is it that such successes as these strengthened the belief +of the people that the Mahdi could turn Egyptian +bullets into water! This victory gave enormous +impetus to the cause; not only was a quantity of +arms, ammunition, and stores captured, but Mohammed +Ahmed's moral influence was greatly increased. He was +now believed in as the true Mahdi; men flocked to his<a name="Page_10" id="Page_10"></a> +standard from all parts, and were ready and willing to +lay down their lives in his cause.</p> + +<p>Mohammed Ahmed Wad el Bedri, one of the Mahdi's +favourite and early adherents, told me that it was the +latter's intention to proceed to Dar Fertit, and there +organise an extensive revolt against the Government; +but Elias Pasha, a Jaali, and former Mudir of El Obeid, +urged him against this. Elias Pasha was a bitter enemy +of Mohammed Said Pasha, and of Ahmed Bey Dafallah, +one of the principal merchants of El Obeid, and he +took this opportunity to wreak his vengeance on them. +He fully convinced the Mahdi of the inability of the +garrison of El Obeid to offer any prolonged resistance, +as the troops were few in number, and he could +count on all the inhabitants joining him. It was this +advice that caused the Mahdi to turn his attention to +Kordofan.</p> + +<p>During all this time the number of the Mahdi's followers +was continually increasing, and the Government +at length decided to send an expedition against him. +On the 15th of March, 1882, Yussef Pasha Esh Shellali, +formerly Gessi's second in command in his campaign +against Suleiman Zubeir, left Khartum for the south, in +command of some 4,000 men, a large number of whom +deserted on the march. About the middle of May, +however, he left Fashoda, and advanced towards Gedir. +At the same time another expedition under Abdullah, +brother of Ahmed Bey Dafallah and Osman, started +from El Obeid. This force was composed entirely of +volunteers, whom it had taken almost a month to +collect, the noggara beating night and day as a summons +to arms. They were badly armed, and in spite +of Abdullah's well-known bravery, the expedition left +with little hope of success. Besides, an event happened +which filled the men with gloomy forebodings. Just as +the troops were starting, Abdullah fell from his horse, +and, according to Sudan superstition, such an untoward +event is always a sign that the expedition will meet +with misfortunes. Abdullah effected a junction with +Yussef Pasha, and the combined force reached Gedir,<a name="Page_11" id="Page_11"></a> +where they entrenched themselves in a zariba near the +base of the mountain. A body of rebels, noiselessly +approaching by night, succeeded unobserved in dragging +away some of the thorns forming the zariba, and in the +early morning the Dervishes, with fearful yells, broke in +and threw themselves on the troops, who, scared by the +suddenness of the attack, offered little resistance; they +were soon overcome, and fell a prey to the deadly +dervish spears. Abdullah alone made a gallant stand, +and fought with desperate bravery, but he too fell at +last. A few only succeeded in escaping to Fashoda, +and Emin Bey, who was there at the time, on his way +to the Equatorial Province, was the first to receive the +sad news. The account of this massacre, which took +place on the 7th of June, 1882, was described to us by +an eye-witness.</p> + +<p>And now the Mahdi determined to lay siege to El +Obeid, a step which was hailed with satisfaction by all +his followers. Large numbers of Dar Hamd, Ghodiat, +and Bederieh Arabs collected at Birket, which in winter-time +becomes a large lake, round which are clustered +numerous villages.</p> + +<p>In July 1882, Mohammed Said Pasha sent Major +Nesim and Osman, the brother of Abdullah who was +killed at Gedir, with a force of 1,500 men, with orders +to disperse the Arabs. After a stubborn resistance the +Arabs were defeated by Nesim, but the latter suffered +heavily, and Osman was amongst the killed. Nesim +afterwards returned to El Obeid.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the various military stations in Kordofan +were falling one by one into the Mahdi's hands. In +July Fiki Rahma, at the head of the Gowameh Arabs, +assaulted and took Ashaf and razed it to the ground. +Here terrible atrocities were committed; not a woman +was spared; even those with child were ripped open +and the unborn infant impaled on a lance. On the 8th +of August Shat was captured and destroyed by Wad +Makashif. Fiki Minneh stormed and took Tayara, +putting all the inhabitants to the sword. Bara and El +Obeid were now the only towns left in the whole pro<a name="Page_12" id="Page_12"></a>vince +of Kordofan over which the Egyptian flag was +still flying; and these two places were gradually being +invested, while within lurked the spirit of treachery, and +the Mahdi propaganda was being secretly instilled into +not unwilling minds. At El Obeid, Elias Pasha was the +most active agent, and it was to him that the Mahdi +had consigned the medals, watches, and other valuables +captured at Gedir, with orders to sell them in El Obeid.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi now became a man whose very name was +a terror to the Egyptians. The way to El Obeid lay +open before him, and when he saw how rapidly he had +risen to power, there is no doubt he really believed himself +to be the true Mahdi, divinely sent by God to carry +out this great revolution, and the fulsome flattery of his +numerous adherents must have confirmed him in this +idea. Here a few remarks on the Mahdi's antecedents +may not be out of place.</p> + +<p>Mohammed Ahmed belonged to the race of people +known as the Danagla—<i>i.e.</i> inhabitants of Dongola—who +are notorious in the Sudan as being the cleverest +and most determined of the slave-dealers. On the +White Nile and in the Bahr el Ghazal they had built +numerous zaribas, and it was through their means that +this country became first known. In Darfur they +always occupied the position of chief ministers or vazirs +to the Sultans; even to the present day the prime +minister of the Sultan of Borgo is a Dongolawi. In +spite, however, of their capacity, the Danagla were +rather despised throughout the Sudan, and it was only +subsequently that they were created Ashraf (or noble) +by the Mahdi. Mohammed Ahmed's age was estimated +at his death to have been about forty-five, he must therefore +have been born about the year 1840. It appears +that his father came into the Sudan when quite a young +man, and sent his son to the Mesit or Kuran school at +Kererri, and, from what I have heard, there is no doubt +that the young Mohammed Ahmed showed signs of a +violently fanatical nature at quite an early age. After +the fall of El Obeid, his former teacher came to see him, +and was received with great solemnity by his early pupil,<a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"></a> +who at once arranged that he should receive a monthly +salary.</p> + +<p>Mohammed Ahmed's early youth was spent in +learning the Kuran; later on he led the life of a +Dervish, moving about from place to place, distributing +amulets, and writing on little slips of paper mysterious +words, which were supposed to protect the wearer +against all the ills and diseases to which human beings +are liable. Through constant study, and by leading the +life of an ascetic, he acquired a facility of speech which +obtained for him a great reputation amongst the +uneducated and superstitious classes in which he moved. +Before he openly declared himself, he retired for some +time to a cave, where he gave himself up entirely to +prayer. His repute for sanctity was so great that +sailing vessels and even Government steamers stopped +to ask his blessing on their journey; in return for +which he received many valuable gifts. As I have +already said, it was not till after he had prepared the +ground by his itinerant preaching that he openly +declared himself.</p> + +<p>His outward appearance was strangely fascinating; +he was a man of strong constitution, very dark complexion, +and his face always wore a pleasant smile, +to which he had by long practice accustomed himself. +Under this smile gleamed a set of singularly white +teeth, and between the two upper middle ones was a V-shaped +space, which in the Sudan is considered a sign +that the owner will be lucky. His mode of conversation +too had by training become exceptionally pleasant and +sweet. As a messenger of God, he pretended to be in +direct communication with the Deity. All orders which he +gave were supposed to have come to him by inspiration, +and it became therefore a sin to refuse to obey them; +disobedience to the Mahdi's orders was tantamount to +resistance to the will of God, and was therefore punishable +by death.</p> + +<p>He called himself Mahdi Khalifat er Rasul (<i>i.e.</i> the +successor of the Prophet), while his adherents called him +"Sayid" (<i>i.e.</i> Master); Sayidna el Mahdi (<i>i.e.</i> our<a name="Page_14" id="Page_14"></a> +Master the Mahdi), or Sayidna el Imam (<i>i.e.</i> our Master +the head, or one who goes in front). The Mahdi in his +every action endeavoured to imitate and follow in the +exact footsteps of the Prophet.</p> + +<p>Thus he made his hejira or flight to Gedir, and there +appointed his four Khalifas. The first of these was the +Khalifa Abdullah, who assumed the title of Khalifa Abu +Bakr, or Khalifa Es Sadik; he belonged to the Taisha +section of the Baggara tribe, and it was through his +influence that the Taisha, Rizighat and Homr Baggaras +were won over to the Mahdi's cause. It was agreed +that Khalifa Abdullah should, in the event of the +Mahdi's death, succeed.</p> + +<p>The second Khalifa was Ali Wad Helu, the chief of +the powerful Degheim and Kenana tribes, who also +largely contributed to the Mahdi's success. The third +was Ali Esh Sherif, a Dongolawi, and son-in-law of the +Mahdi; the title of Sherif, or noble, was given to him +as being a member of the Mahdi's family; he was the +representative of the Gellabas (or traders), and of the +inhabitants of Gezireh,<a name="FNanchor_B_2" id="FNanchor_B_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_B_2" class="fnanchor">[B]</a> Berber, and Dongola. Ali +Sherif was in reality the last Khalifa, for a fourth was +never appointed. The Mahdi asked the son of Sheikh +Senussi, as by his influence he thought to win over +Egypt, but he refused the honour, and in consequence +no one else was nominated to fill the place, though +strenuous efforts were made by the more ambitious +adherents to secure this much-coveted position; and it +is needless to add that several who sought the honour +were relegated to prison as possible rivals. The Khalifa +Abdullah is now about forty-three years of age, has a +dark copper-coloured complexion, much marked by +small-pox, an intelligent face, and is a man of great +energy. He is gifted by nature with common sense, +but he has had no education, and can neither read nor +write. The Khalifa Ali is rather short, and if he +were only a little taller would pass for a good-looking +man; he has a ruddy complexion, and wears a large<a name="Page_15" id="Page_15"></a> +beard; he was educated at the El Azhar university in +Cairo, and has a considerable knowledge of Islam +theology. He is at present under forty years of age, +and should succeed Abdullah. The Khalifa Sherif is not +at present more than twenty-one years of age.</p> + +<p>These three Khalifas were the commanders-in-chief +of the army, of which each section had its own special +distinctions, whilst the Mahdi himself had no distinctive +military insignia—neither flag nor drum. Each Khalifa +had his own Jehadieh, or regular troops, his cavalry and +lance-bearers, all from the tribe to which he himself +belongs; each had also his own distinctive flag; +Abdullah's the Raya Zerga, or black flag; Ali's the +Raya el Hamra, or red flag; and Sherif's the Raya el +Hadra, or green flag; each Khalifa had in addition +his own war-drums made of brass, and which were +therefore called "nahas," in contradistinction to the +ordinary drums known as "noggara," which are made +of wood, over which a piece of skin is tightly stretched; +the Khalifa Abdullah had also the onbaïa, a very +powerful wind instrument made of an elephant's tusk, +hollowed out, and which when blown has a very loud +and impressive sound.</p> + +<p>The whole of the Mahdi's troops were thus divided +into three sections under their respective flags, and +each Khalifa was in actual command of his section. +The Mahdi and Sherif represented the Gellabas, who +are known, in contradistinction to the Baggara, as +Aulad-Belad (country people), and Aulad-Bahr (river +people), because they dwell on the banks of the +Nile; whilst Khalifa Abdullah and Ali Wad Helu represented +the Baggara, <i>i.e.</i> the Arabs. The former of +these two parties was the most capable as well as the +most numerous, but, as we shall presently see, Khalifa +Abdullah's party, through their leader's immense energy, +gained the ascendency. Each Khalifa has numbers of +emirs under him, all of whom have their different flags. +These banners are quite simple and require no great +labour; they are made of varied colours, and on each +the Moslem creed is written, with the addition of the<a name="Page_16" id="Page_16"></a> +words: "Mohammed Ahmed el Mahdi Khalifat er +Rasul" (<i>i.e.</i> "the successor of the Prophet"). This is +specially directed against the Sultan of Turkey, who +claims this title. Latterly flags were made to represent +certain stated numbers of men; for instance, in the +early days of the revolt, Abderrahman en Nejumi was +designated Emir el Umara (or <a name="tn_png_32"></a><!--TN: Hyphen removed following "Emir"-->Emir of Emirs), because +in the first instance he commanded from 2,000 to 4,000 +men, and secondly, these men received a regular rate of +pay, which in reality found its way into the emirs' +pockets; but latterly many of the emirs command +only fifty men. Each emir is assisted by several +mukuddums, or under officers, and each mukuddum also +has his assistant.</p> + +<p>Thus did the Mahdi organise the force which was +to conquer the Sudan. He had absolutely no knowledge +or system of drill, but he had men in abundance; +and taking the proverb, "Nekhrib ed Dunia wa +nammir el Akher" (<i>i.e.</i> "We shall destroy this and +create the next world") as his motto, he thought not +of sparing the lives of his men, but rather urged that +by dying they should go direct to paradise. His plan, +therefore, was to attack in overwhelming numbers +with wild shouts, and to be regardless of all loss. Later +on, at Abu Kru in the Bayuda desert, they yelled so +furiously in the hope that they would alarm the English, +that their commander, Nur Angara, tried to make +them desist, by telling them that if they continued +shouting much longer, the English would laugh at them. +In spite, however, of his bold tactics, the Mahdi did not +hesitate to practise every possible deception and falsehood—indeed, +most of his early successes were secured +by these means. At the commencement of the revolt +the use of firearms was forbidden; sticks and lances +formed the only arms, as it was the Mahdi's intention in +this instance also to follow directly in the footsteps of +the Prophet who had gained all his victories without +firearms.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi, however, whilst thus preparing for war, +did not relax in any degree his religious fervour. His<a name="Page_17" id="Page_17"></a> +primary object was to be a religious reformer, and to +preach that to him was confided the task of bringing +back the religion now polluted by the Turks, to its +original purity. He therefore formulated many severe +orders. The use of alcoholic drinks, to which the +Sudanese are much addicted, was entirely forbidden, and +any infringement of this order was punished by sixty +blows with the kurbash. Smoking and chewing tobacco, +a custom much in vogue amongst the Sudanese, was +also strictly forbidden; and the use of hashish, to which +the Turks and Egyptians were addicted, was entirely +prohibited; disobedience to this order was punishable +by eighty lashes. Death often ensued before the +punishment could be completed, but the full number of +lashes was always given. If any one lived through his +punishment he was considered purified both externally +and internally. Any harmless word of abuse, such as +"kelb" (dog), was punishable with twenty-seven lashes. +This punishment went by the name of "Hakk-Allah"<a name="FNanchor_C_3" id="FNanchor_C_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_C_3" class="fnanchor">[C]</a> +(the right of God), and was also inflicted in the time of +the Prophet, who, to make it a really mild punishment, +ordained that the upper part of the arms and shoulders +should be covered with camel's hide, and the punishment +inflicted on the lower arm only, the indication that +it had been correctly administered being shown by the +fact that the camel's hide had not moved from its place. +The Mahdiists, however, took quite another view of the +matter, and thought that the only correct way of administering +"God's right" was to draw blood copiously.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi also issued many new orders regarding +marriages. Hitherto in the Sudan and in the East +generally, the marriage ceremony is accompanied by +large feasts. It was the custom of the father on the +betrothal of his daughter to obtain in exchange as large +a sum of money as possible; that is the reason why +fathers greatly preferred their children to be girls, for +they made quite a small fortune on their marriages.<a name="Page_18" id="Page_18"></a> +But the Mahdi changed all this, and ordered that the +bridegroom should expend a sum of ten dollars only, +besides providing a korbab (girth) coverlet, perfumes +and ointment for the bride's hair, also another sort of +ointment which the Sudanese greatly appreciate, and +which is generally used for anointing the bridegroom's +body; also he must supply a pair of shoes. The ceremonies +of betrothal and marriage are very simple. +When the contract is completed and the above articles +delivered by the bridegroom, his friends and relations +assemble, generally on a Friday or Monday (these days +being considered lucky); after a good meal the fiki +asks the bride or some one appointed to represent her, +whether she consents to the marriage, after which the +bridegroom repeats the usual saying, in which he mentions +the Mahdi's name, the ceremony is thus concluded, +and is announced to the neighbours by the women of +the party uttering at intervals the shrill cries of joy +called "Zagharit." Young women are forbidden by the +Mahdi to walk about with uncovered faces; an unveiled +woman is considered to be naked; but if she wear a veil +and the rest of her body be unclothed, it is not an +offence. The wearing of gold and silver ornaments, and +of goat's hair curled and plastered with gum (a custom +which some of the Sudanese women affect), was strictly +forbidden, and woe to the woman who thus adorned +herself; not only was her false hair forcibly torn from +her, but her real hair as well.</p> + +<p>All these innovations the Mahdi justified by the +divinity of his mission. He announced that he was the +last of the prophets, and that the end of the world was +near; further, he said that during his lifetime the +prophet Jesus would appear, and that the whole world +would become Moslem; he therefore urged the people +to repentance and prayer, and do all in their power to +further the Jehad (or holy war). Why should they +seek after riches when in a very short time the world +would cease to exist? It is easy to see how such +teaching as this must eventually result in famine and +destruction. The Mahdi <a name="tn_png_34"></a><!--TN: "forbad" changed to "forbade"-->forbade all weeping and wailing<a name="Page_19" id="Page_19"></a> +for the dead, on the grounds that to die in such times as +the present for the Mahdi's cause was an honour and +reward which would without fail secure paradise to +them. As for those who did not have the good fortune +to die, the Mahdi urged them to show their contempt +for the pleasures of this life by continual fasting, prayer, +and repentance. If a man were suffering from hunger, +he recommended him to tighten his belt, whilst his +more fanatical adherents advised placing a heavy stone +on the stomach. He further ordained that the poorest +of clothes should be worn, the feet bared or in sandals, +and, in imitation of the Prophet's example, the hard +floor should be chosen as the place on which to sleep. +He made curious regulations regarding the manufacture +of jibbehs (<i>i.e.</i> the Mahdi uniform coat); they should +be made of damur, a rough cotton fabric of the Sudan, +and if torn, they should be mended with new patches or +old rags, but that on no account should a new jibbeh +ever be worn.</p> + +<p>All these innovations, which were based on religious +motives, were intended by him to enforce unity and +cohesion amongst his followers, and at the same time +they had the effect of hardening them to undergo +the perils of war without complaint; for the Mahdi +thoroughly understood as long as men were rich they +would fear death, and that a luxurious and comfortable +mode of life was the worst possible training for +war. The Mahdi always conducted prayers in public, +and his followers considered it a very great privilege to +be permitted to take part in worship with him; consequently, +when he prayed, his followers came in their +thousands, and ranged themselves in long regular lines +behind him. When prayers were concluded, it was his +custom to make religious discourses, in which he explained +various passages in the sacred books, arguing +that they referred to the divine message concerning his +mission, and the destruction of the Turks and unbelievers. +The people whom he addressed were so +ignorant and uneducated that they believed implicitly +every word he uttered; these were the guileless, simple<a name="Page_20" id="Page_20"></a> +folk, and they were entirely deceived by the Mahdi; +but there were others who well knew that every word +he uttered was a falsehood; nevertheless they listened, +and, to flatter him, showed an apparent interest in his +new doctrine.</p> + +<p>Thus the Mahdi, having prepared himself, as we have +seen, and having already been three times victorious +over the Egyptian troops, now quitted his place of +refuge, Gedir, and set off for Kordofan, which he intended +to reduce to entire submission. In order to +cover his retreat in case of failure, he left his uncle, +Sherif Mahmud, with some troops at Gedir, where he +also left the guns, as transport at that time of the year +was very difficult, owing to the rain having flooded the +khors and valleys; he also left behind the arms captured +from the Turks. Hitherto he had not collected +any large amount of treasure, and had suffered considerable +privations at Gedir.</p> + +<p>When the Mahdi announced his departure from +Gedir, he wrote letters to the tribes, and soon they +flocked to his standards in great numbers and from all +directions; Baggara from the plains of Dar Nuba, +Miserieh, Dar Abu Dali, and Hawazma Arabs. These +hordes assembled, according to the Mahdi's orders, at +Birket, and to this place also came the Bederieh, +Ghodiat, and Dar Homr Arabs, whilst on the further +side of El Obeid, cruel fiki Minneh was gathering the +Gowameh, Asaker Abu Kalam and Dar Giumeh Arabs, +with whom he intended to assault El Obeid from the +north, simultaneously with the Mahdi's attack from the +south. The rumours of the enormous quantities of +treasure stored in El Obeid misled the Arab hordes, and +there is no doubt that the town would not have fallen +had the inhabitants remained loyal to the Government. +Mohammed Said Pasha had dug a ditch and raised a +high parapet round the whole city; but this line of +defence was so extensive, that it would have required at +least 20,000 men to hold it; besides, the ditch was +neither sufficiently deep nor broad, and did not present +a very serious obstacle to cross.<a name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></a></p> + +<p>From Birket the Mahdi despatched three messengers +to Said Pasha, calling on him to surrender, and to +acknowledge him as Mahdi; in case he refused he was +threatened with instant destruction. The three messengers, +clothed in their soiled and tattered jibbehs, were +brought before a meeting of all the principal people in +El Obeid; but in spite of their dirty appearance, they +behaved in such an overbearing and insolent way, that +Said Pasha, regardless of the advice and counsel of a +number of those present who were in reality in league +with the Mahdi, at once ordered Skander Bey to hang +them. The order was carried out, and in a few +moments their lifeless bodies were dangling on the +gallows.</p> + +<p>If Said Pasha had taken strong measures in dealing +with some of the principal townsmen, he might have +saved El Obeid. A certain Ahmed Dafallah, a loyal +supporter of the Government, urged him to put all the +suspected people including himself in chains in the +Mudirieh; this would have disposed of Elias Pasha, +Mohammed Wad el Areik, Hajji Khaled, Ben en Naga, +and Siwar ed Dahab; and their chiefs once away, it is +probable their followers would have returned to their +former loyalty; but Said Pasha refused to accept the +proposal, and instead of trying to win over his sworn +enemy, Elias Pasha, he alienated him still further by +taking possession of his newly-built house near the +Mudirieh and handing it over to Elias's bitterest enemy, +Ahmed Dafallah, to live in, thus entirely disregarding +Elias Pasha. Now was Elias Pasha's opportunity to +revenge himself on his two adversaries, the garrison of +El Obeid was unusually weak, insignificant reinforcements +had been sent from Khartum under Mohammed +Pasha Khabir, but he also, being an enemy of the Mudir, +joined the Mahdi, as I shall narrate in the following +chapter.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_B_2" id="Footnote_B_2"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_B_2" class="fnlabel">[B]</a> The Gezireh or Geziret Meröe is generally applied to the +country lying between the Blue and White Niles.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_C_3" id="Footnote_C_3"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_C_3" class="fnlabel">[C]</a> In law, the retributive chastisement which it is the duty of a +magistrate to inflict for crime and offences against morality and +religion.</p></div> +</div> +<a name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">FATHER OHRWALDER AND HIS COMPANIONS TAKEN +CAPTIVE.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">The storm rises in Dar Nuba—The Baggara begin to raid—Khojur +Kakum of Delen—Mek Omar besieges Delen—The slave guard +deserts the Mission—The priests and nuns surrender—They are +sent to the Mahdi.</p> + + +<p style="text-indent: 0em;"><span class="firstwords">Leaving</span> the Mahdi at Birket, I shall now return to the +narration of the events which <a name="tn_png_38"></a><!--TN: "befel" changed to "befell"-->befell us in Jebel Nuba.</p> + +<p>As I have already said, the first indication of a revolt +occurred in our part of the country in April 1882. +When the Mahdi had established himself at Gedir, the +slave-hunters, whose occupation had been destroyed by +the action of the <a name="tn_png_38a"></a><!--TN: "Goverment" changed to "Government"-->Government, and who were therefore +greatly incensed, were among the first to join his +banners. At that time the most notorious slave-dealer +was a certain Ismail Wad el Andok of Haboba, who took +the opportunity, when the Government was collecting +troops to attack the Mahdi, to assemble about 1,600 men +and make a slave raid on Golfan-Naïma. He had already +burnt over a hundred houses and captured the inhabitants, +when some of the poor Nubas who had escaped, arrived +by night at Delen and urgently begged the inspector +of slaves, Roversi, for help. This, Roversi gladly promised +he would give them, but it required all his +powers of persuasion to induce Captain Mohammed +Suleiman to consent; and, indeed, there was no small +risk in advancing with only eighty men—which was all +Roversi could raise—to attack this powerful band of +robbers. However, we put our trust in God, and asked +His blessing on our humane undertaking. Roversi left +that evening, guided by the terror-stricken Nubas.<a name="Page_23" id="Page_23"></a> +Golfan-Naïma is about ten hours' journey from Delen, +and Roversi, by making a forced march during the +night, arrived there at daybreak, and was taken by the +Nubas to a high hill, from which he could see the +enemy's entire camp without being seen, and, indeed, +so close was he that he could hear the horses neighing +and the sheep bleating. After the men had taken a +short rest, they prepared for the assault. Soon after +daybreak, Roversi gave the signal for attack by a +trumpet call; the enemy, taken completely by surprise, +thought only of flight, but the bullets coming from +every direction, gave them no time to think or look +from whence they came or how many were opposed to +them; they fled as rapidly as they could, leaving +behind them all the people and cattle they had captured, +as well as a number of their own women. Roversi's +men were soon masters of the situation, and were +welcomed by the relieved Nubas with every expression +of joy and delight; the other Nubas, who had fled to +the hills, now came down and cut off the retreat of the +Arabs. Roversi captured a large quantity of loot, +received the warmest thanks from the captives he had +rescued, and soon after he released a number of the +women whom he had taken prisoners. The large +number of cattle and sheep captured from the Arabs in +this expedition proved invaluable during the investment +of Delen, which followed shortly afterwards. The little +force now returned laden with booty of every description, +and was received by the inhabitants with every +manifestation of joy. This, however, was our last +victory.</p> + +<p>I must now give a short description of Delen +before I proceed to narrate the events which occurred +there later on. Delen, situated five days' journey to +the south of El Obeid, is on one of the smallest of +the mountain ranges. Jebel Delen itself consists of +five hill summits, decreasing in height from south to +north, the highest point being scarcely 1,500 feet above +the plain. These five hills form a most picturesque +group; enormous granite blocks lie piled one over the<a name="Page_24" id="Page_24"></a> +other, and the spacious cavities thus formed serve +as haunts for panthers and other beasts of prey. The +rain, which comes down in torrents, has washed all the +soil away, leaving only the barren rocks standing in +these huge piles; far in the clefts, a sort of wild fig has +taken slender root, and, gradually shooting up, gives a +pleasant shade, and takes off from the barren aspect +which these hills would otherwise present. Of the five +hills only two are inhabited, and in all there cannot be +more than 2,000 inhabitants, who are remarkable for +their tall and graceful figures and unusual bravery. At +the foot of the northernmost hill lay our little Mission +station, while at the foot of the south-east hill was +situated the palisaded zariba of the soldiers; to the +west and north, and close to the Mission buildings, +stretched the Nuba villages, extending from the base to +the summit of the hills.</p> + +<p>The second hill from the north, which is about 600 +yards from the first hill, was inhabited by the Nubas +and their Khojur Kakum. Kakum was at that time a +man of about fifty years of <a name="tn_png_40"></a><!--TN: Comma added after "age"-->age, of commanding appearance, +and greatly respected by the blacks. He used to +wear wide white trousers and a gallabieh, and on his +head a nicely embroidered cap with a large tassel which +our sisters had made for him. He had passed his youth +in Alexandria as a soldier, and acquitted himself admirably +as the Khojur, not of Delen only, but also of +the neighbouring hills. Numbers of people used to +come and seek his blessing and advice, and when our +Bishop Comboni arrived at El Obeid, he was there to +beg him to send missionaries to teach his people and +make men of them. He always remained faithful and +loyal to the Government, and when our time of difficulty +and hardship came, his continual motto was, "Eed +Effendina tawileh" (<i>i.e.</i> "Our Khedive's hand is long")—that +is to say, his power is great.</p> + +<p>The third mountain was occupied by a certain +Dogman, with a small following who were for the +most part inclined to Mahdiism. For the moment +this man was not dangerous, and the people on the two<a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"></a> +other hills remained loyal to us. When the whole +country was up in arms against the Government, this +honesty and devotion on the part of these poor Nubas +was a bright exception; they would even have fought +for us had it been of any use and we had deemed it +necessary.</p> + +<p>The enemies we most feared were the Baggara of the +Nuba plains, who had their headquarters at Singiokai, +about six hours north of Delen. These tribesmen had +joined in the revolt from the beginning, and had cut off +our communication with El Obeid; they had organised +themselves into a corps of from 150 to 200 strong, +mounted on horses, and they frequently made incursions +on the people in the neighbourhood of Delen; they +would suddenly appear galloping at full speed, and as +suddenly disappear, destroying or seizing everything +on their path. Their raids were principally directed +against the Nubas who were working in the fields, and +on their women who were carrying water from the +wells. These robber-dervishes appeared for the first +time on the 8th of April, 1882, and a cry of alarm was +raised from the mountains, which echoed and re-echoed +it back a hundred times.</p> + +<p>Every one fled to the mountains, even the cattle +instinctively made for their shelters. Some Nubas +were attacked and killed in the woods, and twelve of +the soldiers, who were out looking after the camels +grazing, were all killed, with the exception of one who +fell severely wounded in the back; all the camels were +captured. When the Baggara had disappeared, the +Nubas descended from the hills and came to the scene +of the raid. On finding the dead bodies, with weeping +and wailing they carried them back to the villages; the +women tore their hair, rolled on the ground, and put +dust on their heads. The large broad lances had made +deep gaping wounds in the unfortunate soldiers who +had fallen.</p> + +<p>That night, when all was still, the widows of these +poor men went to the top of a high rock and there +sang a solemn dirge for the dead, which made a<a name="Page_26" id="Page_26"></a> +melancholy echo in the deep recesses of the hills. I +never heard a more touching lamentation for the dead. +It was as if all nature joined in sympathy with these +poor people, whose happy homes had been destroyed. I +was deeply affected, and the more so as I thought over +the cruel fate which now seemed to be hanging over our +heads.</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards the Baggara appeared again, but this +time they were seen from a distance, and by a preconcerted +signal all fled to places of security, and the robbers +returned empty-handed. The Nubas now wanted to lie +in wait for the Baggara, and asked the captain commanding +the company to assist them with twenty men. +This, however, he refused to do, so we gave them twenty +rifles from the Mission, and they then prepared an +ambush for the unsuspecting Arabs, who a few days +afterwards came riding along on their tired horses. +The Nubas waited till they came quite close, and then +suddenly opened fire; fifteen of the enemy fell, and the +remainder galloped off at full speed; eight horses and +some booty fell into the hands of the Nubas, who +returned in triumph to the village, and were welcomed +with great rejoicings. It was interesting to see them +as they marched slowly along, leading their captured +horses, while the maidens of the village danced in front +of them and sang songs in honour of the braves.</p> + +<p>We had now a short period of tranquillity, but soon +afterwards the Baggara renewed their attacks, and we +were in a state of constant alarm. Our information +about the Mahdi was distorted and unreliable; we had +practically no news from El Obeid, and we could only +arrive at the conclusion that the Government was +powerless, otherwise why should the Baggara attack us?</p> + +<p>One evening the captain told us that he had certain +information that we were to be massacred that night; +he had heard that the Baggaras had made a compact +with the Khojur Kakum and the Nubas, and that our +destruction had been agreed upon. The alarm which +fell upon our little colony at this news can be readily +understood.<a name="Page_27" id="Page_27"></a></p> + +<p>It was a very dark night, and in the distance we saw +a line of fires which we took to be the Baggara camp-fires. +As we all quite believed in the captain's information, +we prepared ourselves for defence; but as we +thought over the situation we began to wonder how it +was that Kakum, who had hitherto been our sworn +friend, and united to us by the tie of blood-brotherhood, +should suddenly join with his bitterest enemies, +the Baggara, to compass our destruction; then, if the +news were false, why should we spend a night of +anguish?</p> + +<p>After some deliberation, Father Bonomi decided to +ascertain the true state of affairs, and taking with him +two boys and a lantern, he set off to see the Khojur +himself. Full of anxious thoughts, we watched the +light as it moved on towards the gap in the hills; at +length it reached the base, and then began slowly +ascending. An ominous silence pervaded the whole +place, which was unusual, for the Nubas love gossiping +till a late hour at night. Still we kept our eyes fixed +on the light, which eventually disappeared. How +anxiously we awaited its reappearance! Should the +Khojur intend treachery, we knew we should not see +Bonomi again. How slowly the time passed! But at +length the light reappeared, and began to descend the +hill. We breathed again; after all we should not lose +our Father Bonomi.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes he was with us again, and with a +cheery laugh told us how the captain's information was +all wrong, and how angry the Khojur was that we should +ever have doubted him. I thereupon hastened to the +soldiers' quarters, to reassure the poor captain. Mohammed +Suleiman was really a good man, but he was +too old and unfitted for his position. Although it was +midnight, he and Roversi returned with me to the +Mission, and there he related how one of his female +slaves, who had a slight knowledge of the Nuba +language, had gone to the Khojur to grind some dhurra, +and had overheard him talking secretly with some of the +Nubas; then some of them had got angry, and, standing<a name="Page_28" id="Page_28"></a> +up, beat the ground with their spears. This, the woman +concluded, must mean an oath that we should be destroyed. +As for the rest of the story, it was entirely the +woman's invention. Everything was now explained, +and our fear gave way to cheerful conversation, which +we continued till dawn, when the ringing of the "ave" +bell awakened the echoes of the black mountains of +Delen.</p> + +<p>At sunrise the Khojur arrived, accompanied by a +number of followers and many influential Nubas. Not +content with his declaration of fidelity made the +previous night, the good man had come down to give us +his solemn oath that, far from fighting against us, he +and his men were ready to fight and die for us. In a +grave speech, full of earnest fervour, he assured us of his +and of the Nubas' friendship. We, on the other hand, +felt certain of his loyalty, and we pledged the success +of our compact in a bottle of wine, which our good +friend the Khojur greatly enjoyed.</p> + +<p>We lived in this state of uncertainty and fear for +upwards of five months, not knowing what the next +day would bring forth; we were entirely cut off from +the rest of the world, and our peaceful work and occupations +were all disturbed. We now no longer dared to +expose ourselves on the plains, but confined ourselves to +the hills, where we sometimes hunted the koodoo. On +one occasion, when we went to the Dogman mountain, +our suspicions were aroused by the way in which the +people gathered round us, and showed a curious desire +to examine our arms. As we were returning, the +former sheikh of this district—a man named Isa—warned +us not to come to the mountain again, as some +of the men intended to kill us, and would have done so +had they not been afraid of our arms. Roversi's rifle +had a magazine for sixteen cartridges.</p> + +<p>Early in September our position became very critical. +The Mahdi, having quitted Gedir, had advanced into +Kordofan; his adherents gathered round him at Birket +from all directions, and from here he despatched a certain +Mek Omar with letters and a small band of followers to<a name="Page_29" id="Page_29"></a> +take possession of Delen. Mek Omar arrived, and encamped +on the hill with his friend Dogman, and planting +his standard, he beat his war-drum incessantly, day and +night. He then sent us a letter saying that the Mahdi +had captured El Obeid, and that all the inhabitants had +joined him, with the exception of Mohammed Said Pasha +and a few soldiers who still held out in the Mudirieh +buildings; at the same time Omar urged us to submit, +as resistance was useless. The fact that Omar, with only +fifty men, possibly less, had the audacity to pitch his +camp under our very eyes, rather induced us to believe +in the truth of his assertions. Roversi, however, determined +to attack him, but was dissuaded from doing so +by the captain.</p> + +<p>We then held a council to consider what would be +the best course to follow. After much deliberation +(which is always the case in dealing with Arabs) it +was unanimously decided to attempt a flight to Fashoda. +The Nubas also, who offered us their services as guides, +advised us to take this course. It is very probable +we should have <a name="tn_png_45"></a><!--TN: "succeded" change to "succeeded"-->succeeded in this attempt, as almost +all the Arabs who wanted to fight had followed the +Mahdi to El Obeid, in anticipation of the booty which +they thought would so soon be theirs.</p> + +<p>The route to Fashoda lay far to the south of the +scene of present operations, and with the eighty +Remingtons of the soldiers, and our thirty good +rifles, we felt confident that we should be able to make +our way thither. It was therefore decided that we +should start off very quietly in the dead of night. +Every one made up a small bundle of the few things he +wished to take, which would be required on the journey, +either as presents or to buy or offer in exchange for +food. We also had a sufficient number of camels, +mules, and donkeys for the sisters and sick, and we +had made up into bundles all that we required; we +gave the rest of our things to the Nubas, so that +nothing should fall into Mek Omar's hands. The +Nubas gave us every possible assistance, and through +the darkness we could see them moving about like<a name="Page_30" id="Page_30"></a> +ghosts amongst the black rocks, laden with every +imaginable thing.</p> + +<p>At midnight we quitted the Mission and made our way +to the soldiers' zariba, hoping that we should find them +all ready to start; but instead we found them all in +bed, the captain had given no orders to prepare, and +Roversi's influence was gone. We tried in various ways +to induce the captain to give orders, but he merely +answered that he was waiting till he received a reply +from Mek Omar, to whom he had written. Getting +impatient, he sent a trustworthy man to Omar, who +never returned. It was now nearly sunrise, and all our +efforts to move the captain were unavailing. Then the +Khedivial National Anthem, which was always blown +at reveille, was sounded, but was smothered by the +deafening rattle of the noggaras; it was, as it were, a +mockery, showing that the light of civilisation was +about to be extinguished by the barbaric hordes of +Jebel Nuba. In the meantime the soldiers had got +ready of their own accord, and declared themselves +willing to undergo any fatigue, and, if needs be, die +for us; but the fear and irresolution shown by their +captain unnerved them, and as the sun rose they +one by one left the camp and submitted to Mek Omar. +A very few only stayed with Roversi; and when the +captain quitted the zariba, these too went over to the +enemy.</p> + +<p>Thus were we left quite alone—a party of some 200 +persons, of whom the greater number were women and +children. Flight was now out of the question; there was +nothing left for us but to return to our homes. We did +so; but what a sight met our eyes! The Nubas had +carried off everything. With heavy hearts we returned +to the rooms of the Mission; here everything was +wrecked and ruined; what the Nubas had thought of +no use to themselves they had smashed to pieces. +Roversi, who had always been most loyal and true to +us, now went to Mek Omar to arrange for his own +safety. When the first bitterness of feeling had passed +off, we discussed the next step to be taken; there was<a name="Page_31" id="Page_31"></a> +absolutely nothing left in the station, and we had not a +mouthful of food left.</p> + +<p>I then went, in company with Bonomi, to Mek +Omar. This former slave-dealer—a short, crippled, and +dirty old Takruri, who had been well known to us +a long time ago—received us in a friendly manner. He +had coffee brought to us, and related the great bravery +of the Mahdi, and then concluded with the following +words: "I know that you will not turn Mohammedans, +you must therefore understand that your property and +slaves are no longer your own; at the same time I will +give you a letter to the Mahdi regarding your +situation." Hard as these conditions were, we had no +alternative but to accept; and when our conference was +over, our arms were taken from us, and all our blacks, +for whose welfare so many lives had been sacrificed and +such trouble expended, were suddenly lost to us at one +fell stroke. We then returned to the Mission, where we +spent the night alone and on our knees.</p> + +<p>These events took place on the 14th of September, +1882. On the morning of the 15th of September we +rang for the last time the ave-bell for Heaven knows +how many years. At noon Mek Omar arrived with his +followers, and, chanting the Mohammedan creed, he +first entered the church, and there we had the agony +of beholding with our own eyes its destruction. Our +blacks were taken over by Omar's troops, and attached +to the Government soldiers. Omar thought that he +would find some treasure, but here he was mistaken, for +we had hidden the little money we had to meet our +future wants; and as we had been cut off from El +Obeid for seven months, we had consumed all our +reserve stores; for the fourteen days previous to this +we had not even any salt to mix with our food.</p> + +<p>We had to stay on at Delen for three long days, +awaiting Omar's pleasure to allow us to proceed. It was +pitiable to see the cruel and brutal way in which our +poor blacks were treated by Omar's followers. Before +leaving we paid Khojur Kakum a visit; the poor man +was filled with pity for us, and more especially for the<a name="Page_32" id="Page_32"></a> +sisters; he longed to stay with us, and, bitterly weeping, +bade us farewell. He also fully expected to meet a +tragic fate. We finally left our beloved Nuba hills on +the 18th of September, and after endless trouble succeeded +in procuring from Mek Omar four animals on +which the sisters could ride. Father Bonomi, myself, +and two lay brothers took it in turns to walk and ride. +Our mounts consisted of a camel, a mule, and two +donkeys. Mek Omar placed us in charge of his son +Naser and a party of Arabs; several of the Nubas accompanied +us for some distance, and as we passed +Kakum's hill, we could see the poor man standing up +and stretching out his hands towards us as a last farewell. +Many of our young blacks also followed us, but +were forced by their new masters to turn back. Our +departure caused us pangs of grief which pierced us to +the very core.</p> + +<p>In the evening we reached a small hill called Kudru, at +the base of which there was a well, and here we encamped +for the night. Here also the Nubas came down from +the rocks to greet us. We left the next morning, and +our road now lay through the great grass plains. At +this season of the year, besides the rain, there is always +a very heavy dew which wetted us to the skin, besides +we often had to ford streams up to our necks, and +emerging with dripping clothes, to continue our march. +We knew that this was sure to bring on fever and +diarrh[oe]a, and so, indeed, it proved, shortly after our +arrival at El Obeid.</p> + +<p>At length we reached Singiokai, the head-quarters +of the Baggara, and we found numbers of nomad +Arabs living in tents. On our arrival, every one, old +and young, hastened to look at us, and gaze on the +hated captured Christians. This inquisitive and motley +crowd derided us and heaped insults upon us; the ugly +old women, whom one could only compare with hyenas, +were perhaps the most bitter in their disgraceful taunts. +We stayed here one day, and then continued our +journey. Whenever we came to a village we were subjected +to the rudest treatment, and had we not been<a name="Page_33" id="Page_33"></a> +guarded by our escort, we must have inevitably been +killed. We were constantly searched, in the hope that +money would be found on us. When we got near El +Obeid, Naser put us into a hut, where we were told to +remain until he should see the Mahdi, and ascertain +from him his instructions regarding us. We gathered +from what he said that he was going to find out +whether we should be killed where we were, or brought +first before the Mahdi. Thus Naser left us under strict +guard.</p> + + +<a name="Page_34" id="Page_34"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE MISSIONARIES AND THE MAHDI.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Description of El Obeid—Said Pasha's system of defence—The +Mahdi's followers encircle the town—Townspeople desert to the +Mahdi—Unsuccessful attack on Government buildings—Dervishes +driven off with loss of 10,000 men—The missionaries +brought before the Mahdi—Threatened with death—Preparations +for the execution—Reprieved at the last moment—The +Mahdi's camp described—Death of some of the missionaries—Illness +of remainder.</p> + + +<p style="text-indent: 0em;"><span class="firstwords">During</span> our stay in the hut we were told how the inhabitants +of El Obeid had joined the Mahdi, and that +only the garrison held out; but I will here narrate what +had actually occurred.</p> + +<p>We left the Mahdi last at Birket, while his three messengers +had been hanged in El Obeid. He left Birket +on the 4th of September, and encamped at Kaba, a +place a few hours' journey from El Obeid. El Obeid is +situated in the midst of a vast plain, which in the hot +weather is just like a desert. Here and there a few +Adansonia trees, transported from Khartum, break the +monotony of this dreary scene which is bounded on the +south-east by the Kordofan mountains; at a distance of +about five kilometres to the north rises the cone-shaped +hill known as Korbatsh, while to the north-west appears +the small Om Herezeh mountain. El Obeid lies in a +sort of hollow in the plain; consequently during the +winter-time the wells become full of water, and serve as +a sufficient supply for the whole year.</p> + +<p>Since the Egyptian occupation of the Sudan, El Obeid +had become a town of some importance, but the houses +were for the most part built of mud, with the exception +of the Government buildings, which were constructed<a name="Page_35" id="Page_35"></a> +of sun-dried bricks. The entrance to these buildings +was through a lofty archway, over which a +second story had been raised, thus making it a most +conspicuous object, and one which could be seen +from a considerable distance. El Obeid, at the time +of which I speak, was an important and flourishing +city, with a population of about 100,000 souls. It was +noted principally for its gum, the best quality of which +was known by the name of Kordofan gum. The largest +quantities came from Tayara and Dar Homr, where the +gum trees were planted in large gardens regularly laid +out. Thousands of camels were engaged in the transport +of this valuable commodity to Shatt on the White +Nile, to Omdurman, and to Dongola. Ostrich feathers +also formed another important article of commerce. At +Dar Homr there are numbers of ostrich farms, the +animals being kept in large zaribas; but as an article +of trade, the feathers of the wild ostriches are more +valuable than those of the domestic animal. Ostrich +feathers are always sold by weight. Other exports from +Kordofan are tamarinds, senna, and the skins of animals. +Iron is also found in Kordofan; and one day, when we +were digging out a well at Delen, we came across quicksilver.</p> + +<p>El Obeid was also the supply depôt for Darfur, +Shakka, and Dar Nuba, and thus became an important +trade centre. Numbers of rich merchants lived here, +such as Elias Pasha, Omberer, Hajji Mohammed Ben en +Naga, Ahmed Bey Dafallah (who owned thousands of +slaves), Mohammed Wad el Areik, Hajji Khaled, Ibrahim +wad Adlan, besides numbers of Copts and Egyptians. +Several of the principal mercantile houses in Cairo also +had their agents—Syrians, Greeks, and Jews—in El +Obeid. Kordofan was also rich in cattle. The Kababish, +Dar Homr, Beni Jerrar, and Dar Hamed Arabs +possessed large numbers of she-camels. These animals +are always kept in the deserts, and are retained exclusively +for breeding purposes. Quantities of the young +camels are killed, and their flesh, which is preferred to +any other kind of meat in the Sudan, is considered a<a name="Page_36" id="Page_36"></a> +great luxury, and is generally eaten uncooked. Corn is +largely grown in Kordofan, also sesame, which is preferred +to that grown on the White Nile; large white +water-melons are also grown in abundance. It may +therefore be understood why Kordofan was the richest +province in the Sudan and brought in the largest +revenue to Government.</p> + +<p>The whole of this rich country was now in the hands +of the Mahdi, with the exception of El Obeid, which was +destined soon to be the scene of bloodshed and fanatical +warfare between people of the same race and religion. +The Arabs of various tribes, who in peace time had +brought their goods to El Obeid to barter and exchange, +were now clamouring for the destruction of the town +and the slaughter of its inmates. As I have already +related, Said Pasha had completely surrounded the +town by a ditch and parapet; but as this would require +such an enormous number of men to defend it, and +knowing that he could place little reliance on the inhabitants, +he had strongly entrenched the Mudirieh and +Government buildings, and at the same time put into +a state of defence the barracks, officers and officials' +houses, and those of the Greek and Syrian <a name="tn_png_52"></a><!--TN: Comma changed to period after "merchants"-->merchants. +The members of our Mission station left their house and +pretty church, and hired rooms within the fortifications; +the loyal citizens and merchants followed their example, +while the remainder of the inhabitants continued to live +in the town, and conspired with the Mahdi. On the 7th +of December, that is to say, the day on which the Mahdi +arrived at Kaba, the whole of these inhabitants quitted +the town and joined him in his camp. The wealthy +merchants had for long been in communication with the +Mahdi, others joined him because they were worked up +to a pitch of wild fanaticism; some feared to disobey +the summons, for they could see how weak were the +Government troops and how successful the Mahdi had +been. Amongst the deserters to the Mahdi's side were +Mohammed Khabir Pasha of Darfur, and a number of +irregular troops who had been despatched from Khartum +as reinforcements for El Obeid.<a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"></a></p> + +<p>Thus by various means the Mahdi's force now numbered +upwards of 30,000 fighting men, and with such +an army as that it seemed to him a very easy matter +to subdue Said Pasha and his meagre garrison. The +Mahdi further incited his people to fight by assuring +them that the gates of paradise were open to all those +martyrs who should fall, and that each of them should +be attended by forty lovely houris when they entered +its portals. He also roused their feelings of cupidity by +representing, in the most exaggerated terms, the value +of the treasure locked up within the Mudirieh, and told +them that victory was assured, for God and his Prophet +had decreed that they should annihilate their enemies +with simple sticks; this he said because he knew that +only a few of his followers had firearms. Having thus +raised them to a pitch of the wildest excitement, he +advanced from Kaba.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Mudir, seeing that he could not +rely on the inhabitants, did all in his power to improve +the fortifications, and awaited the assault of the enemy. +At daybreak the hordes appeared on the rising ground +near El Obeid; the defenders heard only the dull roar +caused by the mass of voices in the distance, but the +clouds of dust prevented them seeing anything; it was +only when the fitful gusts of wind blew away the dust +that the thousands of horsemen could be seen galloping +wildly about and then disappearing again behind the +dust. But the noise like approaching thunder became +every instant more audible, and soon above the clouds +of sand the myriads of flags and banners became visible. +Fiki Minneh, with about 10,000 men, approached from +the east, whilst the Mahdi's attack was directed on the +south-west end of the town. The first ditch was soon +crossed, and then the Mahdiists spread out and completely +encircled the town; masses of wild fanatics +rolled like waves through the deserted streets; they did +not advance through these alone, but hurrying on from +house to house, wall to wall, and yard to yard, they +reached the ditch of the Mudirieh, and like a torrent +suddenly let loose, regardless of every obstacle, with<a name="Page_38" id="Page_38"></a> +wild shouts they dashed across it and up the ramparts, +from which the din of a thousand rifles and the booming +of the guns suddenly burst forth; but these wild hordes, +utterly fearless of death, cared neither for the deadly +Remington nor the thunder of the guns, and still swept +forward in ever-increasing numbers.</p> + +<p>The poor garrison, utterly powerless to resist such an +assault, ran to the tops of the houses and kept up an incessant +fire on the masses, which now formed such a crowd +that they could scarcely move—indeed the barrels of +the rifles from the rapidity of the fire became almost red-hot; +and soon the streets and open spaces became literally +choked with the bodies of those who had fallen. There was +a momentary pause, and Ali Bey Sherif, seizing this opportunity, +collected a party of men and dashed towards +the magazine, where a fierce conflict was going on between +the guard and the Dervishes. The latter had already +become masters of the situation when Ali Bey suddenly +appeared on the scene, and firing on the mass, whether +friend or foe, he drove the Mahdiists back over the +ditch, and then formed up in the breach ready to repel +any further attempt to break in.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Said Pasha was heavily engaged in front +of the Mudirieh. Here an emir named Wad Gubara +broke in, and shouting, "Death to the Turks, those +dogs and swine!" he dashed forward at the head of +his men, but the determined resistance of the Mudir +forced them to retire back across the ditch. Ahmed +Dufallah defended that part of the line which was +assaulted by Ibrahim Wad Abdullah, an emir who had +gained great celebrity amongst the Dervishes. This +brave Arab attacked again and again, hoping that the +bodies of those who fell would soon fill up the ditch and +make a passage which he could cross, but his attempt +failed, and he too was forced to retire.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi all this time was watching at a safe distance, +and kept on ordering the assault to continue; but it was +impossible to stand up against the well-directed fire from +the defences, and consequently towards the afternoon he +was forced to retire. The gallant little garrison seeing<a name="Page_39" id="Page_39"></a> +this, could not be restrained, and dashing out over the +heaps of slain they made a fierce onslaught on the houses +in the town, which were filled with Dervishes in search of +loot. In their fury they killed all who came in their +way, and perhaps they may be excused, for they were +in a state of the wildest excitement, occasioned by this +fearful scene of bloodshed.</p> + +<p>It was impossible not to admire the reckless bravery +of these fanatics who, dancing and shouting, rushed up +to the very muzzles of the rifles with nothing but +a knotty stick in their hands, only to fall dead one +over the other. Numbers of them carried large +bundles of dhurra stalk, which they threw into the +ditch, hoping to fill it up and then cross over. When +the town was cleared, the victorious troops had a +great feast and general rejoicing. Amongst the dead +bodies of the Dervishes were found a near relative of +the Mahdi's named Said Mohammed, also Wad Gubara; +the latter was a Turk who, with his two brothers, had +joined the Mahdi at Gedir; he was one of the fiercest +of the emirs. He had fought with the greatest pertinacity +in front of the Mudirieh, and, mounted on a +horse, he was urging on his followers; but the soldiers, +noticing his fair face, persistently aimed at him, and at +length he and his horse fell on the top of a heap of dead +bodies. When the soldiers subsequently found his +body, they were so annoyed that a Turk should have +joined the Mahdi that they cut off his head and hacked +his body to pieces.</p> + +<p>Whilst the soldiers were clearing out the enemy +from the houses, the Mahdi was retiring on Kaba with +a loss of 10,000 men. Said Pasha then held a +council to consider whether they should pursue; but +he himself was against pursuit, for he thought that +possibly Fiki Minneh might then fall on the defenceless +town; besides, in all he had not more than 3,000 men. +As for the Mahdi, he and his principal emirs were greatly +alarmed, and it is very probable that if they had been +pursued, the result would have been a complete victory +for Said Pasha. As it was, the Mahdi was on the point<a name="Page_40" id="Page_40"></a> +of retreating to the mountains, and would have done +so had not the inhabitants of El Obeid, who still +thought of their houses and property, dissuaded him. +The latter still urged him to continue the siege, +consequently on the following day he took up a +position on a hill called Gianzara, about two kilometres +distant to the north-west of the town, and only one +kilometre distant from the Oshra Well (so called from +the oshra or euphorbia which grows in quantities in +the vicinity). Fiki Minneh established himself to the +north-west of the town, and soon it was more closely +invested than ever; from that date nothing came in +and nothing went out of the doomed city.</p> + +<p>We had spent one day in the hut, and had learnt all +the details about the Mahdi's attack on the town, when +a messenger sent by Naser arrived, and ordered us to +move on to the Mahdi's camp, as it was his gracious +intention to permit us to look upon his face. Shortly +after we had set out, we met Naser returning, accompanied +by a party of Dervishes.</p> + +<p>As we approached El Obeid, the rattle of the rifles, +broken every now and then by the boom of a gun, became +more and more audible. We were halted under a large +Adansonia tree and ordered to rest, but we had scarcely +laid down when we were suddenly attacked by Naser and +his party, who seized our watches and other valuables, +and then stripped off our clothes; they even attempted +to remove the veils and outer garments of the sisters, but +to this we forcibly objected, and seizing sticks tried to +drive them off. At length these wretched thieves, +ashamed of the unequal contest, drew off, and Naser +ordered our clothes to be returned; but my suit, in +which I had stitched thirty dollars, was not given back +to me, and I was reduced to appearing before the Mahdi +in a shirt and drawers! Our escort having satisfied +their cupidity, now mounted our donkeys, and we were +obliged to walk; the burning sun beat down on our +heads, and the heated ground and heavy sand made our +progress intensely laborious.</p> + +<p>As we approached the camp, at every step the crowd<a name="Page_41" id="Page_41"></a> +grew denser. El Obeid was now visible a short way off, +and the sight of the houses and trees was a pleasant +break in the monotony of this desolate wilderness. The +continuous rattle of the bullets, interrupted by the +thunder of the cannon, was an indication that a brisk +engagement was going on. As we entered the camp, the +crowd was so enormous that we were almost choked with +the dust that was raised, and soon became thoroughly +exhausted. Our brother Mariani, who was sick at the +time we left Delen, could keep up no longer, and we +were obliged to almost carry him along.</p> + +<p>The fanatics now completely surrounded us, and kept +on threatening us with their lances, clubs, and sticks. +Naser himself, seeing some of the very excited Dervishes +pointing their lances at our breasts, greatly feared for our +safety, and it seemed to us that there was now not the +slightest doubt that they intended to kill us. He therefore +ordered our escort to draw their swords and form a +square, in the centre of which we walked. The exertions +of the last few days, the heat, the yelling of the crowd, +the monotonous chants of the Dervishes, and finally +the din of this enormous camp of over 100,000 men, +exclusive of women and children, reacted on us to such +an extent that we were well-nigh speechless. Slowly +we made our way towards the centre of the camp where +the great Dervish, Mohammed Ahmed, had pitched +his tent.</p> + +<p>We were taken, in the first instance, to the hut of the +Khalifa Sherif. Here we found a lad of twelve or +thirteen years of age, lying half-naked on a bedstead, +who invited us to come into the shade and rest ourselves, +at the same time he drove off with his whip the +inquisitive crowd that kept pressing in to look at us. +He gave us some water to drink, but we were so utterly +weary and exhausted that we could not swallow it for +some time, and the heat and dust had literally glued +our tongues, so that we were unable to articulate. We +were allowed to rest for a short time, as the Mahdi had +not risen from his noonday sleep, and this brief +respite enabled us to collect our thoughts, which the<a name="Page_42" id="Page_42"></a> +events of the last few days and the uproar of the camp +had caused to wander sadly.</p> + +<p>At length an order came that the <a name="tn_png_58"></a><!--TN: "Madhi" changed to "Mahdi"-->Mahdi was up and +wished to see us. We were then taken to a small hut, +which had two sides open, through which a cool breeze +blew in; close to the hut one of the tents captured from +Yusef Pasha Shellali had been pitched, and as we arrived +the Mahdi came out of the tent and seated himself, in +Arabic fashion, on a straw mat spread on the floor of the +hut. He greeted us kindly, and asked us about our +nationality and our object in coming to the Sudan, +also whether we had ever heard anything about the +Mahdi, he then briefly explained to us the nature of his +divine message, and recounted his great victories over +"the enemies of God and His Prophet," by which name +he designated the Turks.</p> + +<p>Seeing that we were utterly exhausted, he offered +us some kamar-ed-din (dried apricots) mixed with +water, but almost before we could put it to our +mouths it was full of flies. In the meantime a certain +George Stambuli, who had joined the rebels with the +other inhabitants of El Obeid, came in, and through him +the Mahdi endeavoured to place before us the great +advantage of the Islam religion. The Mahdi himself +never asked us to adopt the Moslem faith, because he +feared that we should answer in the negative. He then +stretched himself out on the mat as if he were preparing +to behold a vision.</p> + +<p>Mohammed Ahmed was a powerfully built man, of +dark-brown complexion and carefully kept skin; he +had a pleasant smile, which showed to advantage +the curious slit between his front teeth. By constant +training he had acquired a gentle manner in speaking, +and with these exceptions there was nothing unusual in +his appearance. He wore a dirty jibbeh, on which parti-coloured +strips of cotton had been sewn; on his head +the white skull cap or "takia," round which a broad +white turban was bound; he also wore a pair of loose +drawers and sandals.</p> + +<p>After he had lain for some time with closed eyes, he<a name="Page_43" id="Page_43"></a> +rose and offered us some more kamar-ed-din, from which +he himself began to take out the flies; but finding it +absolutely useless to do so, he gave it up, and then went +back to his tent, probably to hold a council. After a +short time he again returned, wearing a clean jibbeh +patched with pieces of the vestments belonging to our +Mission church at El Obeid. He then began to recount +to us the history of the numerous conversions which had +taken place in the early days of the Prophet. Seeing +that we took little interest in what he said, he got up +and ordered us to be taken before the Khalifa Abdullah +(the present ruler of the Sudan), while he himself retired +to his own tent.</p> + +<p>On our arrival at Abdullah's hut, we found ourselves +in company with twenty robbers who were +chained hand and foot. An enormous crowd stood +round, and amongst the faces I noticed some of our +Delen friends, who had evidently followed us to see +what the end would be. Our guard, armed with +Remington rifles, stood around us, and close to us was +the Khalifa Abdullah's horse, which always remained +saddled—a witness to his unbounded energy. A short +distance off, about eighty flags were planted in the +ground, and beside them were the war-drums. Hardly +had we seated ourselves when the Khalifa Abdullah +entered. He was at that time a man of about thirty-three +years of age, of middle height, very thin—in fact, +little else but skin and bone; he greeted us kindly, and +invited us to become Moslems. From his bombastic +conversation, we soon saw that he was a man of no +education whatever, and he ended up by saying that if +we refused to obey we had only death to expect. We +were then marched off.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the 27th of September, when George +Stambuli came to tell us that if we did not embrace +Islam, we should most certainly die, we gave him no +hope that we should change our minds. The Mahdi +frequently sent people to teach us the truths of religion, +but we soon tired of their nonsensical chattering, and +Father Bonomi used to send them away with strong<a name="Page_44" id="Page_44"></a> +words. Shortly afterwards Abdullah came again, +bringing a water-melon with him, and in default of +a knife he broke it on the ground; but we refused to +take any. Greatly annoyed at this, he went off in a +rage, saying that we should be beheaded the following +morning.</p> + +<p>At midnight Stambuli came to us again, to say that +he had offered a considerable sum for our ransom, +but that the Mahdi had refused to accept it. We +therefore gave him the few dollars we had left, and +asked him to come and see us the following morning, +which he promised to do. We employed our few +remaining hours in preparation for death. The terrors +and alarms which we had undergone for the last five +months were over at last; in the midst of our sufferings +the thought of death, which should soon take us out of +the hands of these barbarians, was a comfort to us. A +deep quiet had now settled down over the camp, which +was only occasionally broken by the clank of the +prisoners' chains.</p> + +<p>Just before dawn a wonderful comet appeared in the +east; its golden tail seemed to project about ten feet +into the blue firmament, and was a most striking sight. +It brought back to our minds the star in the east which +stood over the manger at Bethlehem. The Arabs called +it "Nigmet el Mahdi" (the Mahdi's star).</p> + +<p>According to Sudan superstition, the appearance of a +comet is supposed to forebode evil, and, indeed, what +catastrophe could have been greater than that which was +now impending over the Sudan? The sudden clang of +the war-drum startled me from the meditations which the +appearance of that strange comet had produced. The +beating of the drums and the blast of the great ivory +horn (onbeïa) was the signal for the "Ardeh-Kebir," or +grand review, and I now had to bethink me of my own +affairs and let the star pursue its way in the heavens.</p> + +<p>The emirs' war-drums now took up the signal, and +soon people were rushing from all directions towards their +particular flags, which were planted to the east of El +Obeid. Stambuli again appeared and announced to us<a name="Page_45" id="Page_45"></a> +that our sufferings were nearly over. We gave him a +small piece of paper on which we had written our last +farewells to our own loved ones at home, and had signed +our names. This we begged him to send on when an +opportunity occurred. Weeping bitterly, he took the +paper and went to his hut, saying he could not bear to +look on at our execution.</p> + +<p>We were now all ready, and at about nine o'clock a +party of thirty men armed with lances arrived and +ordered us to follow them. We were still suffering from +fatigue, but we got up and followed. After about half +an hour's walk we arrived before the Dervish hosts, and +thanked God that victory was now so near. About +40,000 men were standing on parade, and thousands of +others were moving about the camp like ants. We were +taken to a central position and ordered to bend our +necks to receive the death-blow, and without the smallest +hesitation we did so. But our hour had not yet come. +We were summoned before the Mahdi, who was riding on +a magnificent white camel; behind him rode a slave +carrying an umbrella to shade him from the sun's +rays. As we approached, he turned round to us and +said, "May God lead you into the way of truth," and +then rode on.</p> + +<p>The troops were now dismissed, and we were immediately +surrounded by a turbulent crowd, who +threatened to crush us to death; but the Mahdi, seeing +us in danger, turned back, and ordered us to walk in +front of his camel for protection. We did so, but were +too weary to keep up, and then the Mahdi gave orders, +which we could not understand, to a number of different +emirs; the latter ordered us to halt until the +great rush of people had passed, then they formed a +square and asked each one of us separately whether we +agreed to become Moslems or would prefer to suffer +death. Each one of us answered resolutely—death! +Then, full of anger, we were forced on—exhausted and +covered from head to foot with dust—till we reached +the Mahdi's hut. Having arrived there he said, "Have +you not seen my army?" and then he began to boast of<a name="Page_46" id="Page_46"></a> +the number of his followers and their great bravery. +We said nothing. He then went off, and we were taken +back to Khalifa Abdullah's hut.</p> + +<p>A council was now held to consider our fate; the +majority were for killing us, but a certain Hajji Khaled—now +an emir in Omdurman—pointed out that, +according to the Moslem law, it was not lawful to kill +priests who had not offered any armed resistance, +and who were, moreover, captives. His view of +the case was accepted, and we were handed over to +George Stambuli, who was made responsible for us. +We then left Abdullah's hut, and proceeded to Stambuli's, +which was barely large enough for himself and +his family, so we were obliged to take up our quarters +outside in the open, where we remained for fifteen days, +exposed to the continual insults of the Arabs, until we +were able to build a hut for ourselves. We were now +able to take a survey of this gigantic camp. From the +sandhill Gianzara almost up to the base of the Om +Herezeh mountain, was one mass of small huts, these +were merely enclosures made of branches of euphorbia +and (sorghum) dhurra stalks, just sufficient to keep +off the burning rays of the sun. Here and there a +white tent indicated the headquarters of some important +emir. Fiki Minneh's camp adjoined that of +Gianzara, and extended from Fulla (a small pond which +runs dry in the summer months), up to the base of Om +Herezeh. The huts were built so close to each other +that constant fires took place, which spread rapidly, and +caused great destruction.</p> + +<p>This enormous camp presented a wonderful spectacle, +more especially at night, when almost every one had his +own cooking fire, and the whole plain resembled a sea of +fires which were lost in the distant horizon. The din +and noise created by hundreds of thousands of men, +women, and children, can be better imagined than +described. Every emir's<a name="FNanchor_D_4" id="FNanchor_D_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_D_4" class="fnanchor">[D]</a> dwelling was known by two<a name="Page_47" id="Page_47"></a> +flags which were always planted near the entrance, and +beside them lay the war-drums, which were beaten day +and night, almost without intermission. Besides all +this, the neighing of thousands of horses rendered the +din still more unbearable. The whole air was infected +with the most sickening stench; but to these wretched +people, pure or impure air makes no difference; they do +not mind. All the filth was piled behind the huts, +dead donkeys lay about unburied; no attempt was +made to keep the place clean, and all this huge mass of +people lived in the midst of an ever-increasing heap of +rotting impurities. A daily market was held, and the +people laid their goods on the ground, sheltering themselves +under a strip of cloth, known as "Farda," +stretched on the points of lances, the bases of which were +stuck in the ground. El Obeid was close by, the great +arched gate of the Mudirieh towered above the other +houses of the town, and over it floated the red Egyptian +flag, which was hoisted every Friday. Some of the Dervishes +used to conceal themselves in the deserted houses +of the town and fire at the fort, while others pulled down +the roofs and walls and dragged away the beams to the +camp, and there cut them up for firewood. Our church, +which was covered with galvanised iron plates, was +completely destroyed; even the mosque was not +spared. There was a busy scene day and night at +the Oshra well; here thousands of male and female +slaves drew water, and frequent quarrels and fights +took place.</p> + +<p>All this change of scene made a deep impression on +me; the strain of the last few days, the tiring journey +from Delen to El Obeid, the continual uncertainty as to +our fate, anguish, fear, din, tumult, bad food, had already +considerably affected our health, and now that we were +at rest, and that the Arabs had ceased to molest us, the +re-action came, and we fell a prey to disease. The +infected atmosphere of El Buka—as the Mahdi's camp +is always called—brought on a burning fever and +constant diarrh[oe]a. Besides all this, when confined with +the robbers in Abdullah's house, we had become covered<a name="Page_48" id="Page_48"></a> +with horrible vermin; it was impossible to get rid of them—they +seemed to increase daily. We had no clothes to +change, and as we had scarcely enough water to drink, +washing was out of the question. With a feeling of +utter despair we lay helpless and comfortless on the +floor of that miserable black hut. Our maladies became +worse, and ere a month had passed, three of our number +were dead. Sister Eulalia Pesavento, of Verona, died of +fever on the 28th of October; carpenter Gabriel Mariani +died of dysentery on the 31st of the same month, and +sister Amelia Andreis died on the 7th of November, +while we four who still remained, hovering between life +and death, lay helplessly side by side with our dead +brothers and sisters. It was a terrible exertion to us +to sew the corpses in mats and drag them to the door +of the hut. At length some slaves—much against their +will, and on the promise of good pay—removed the +already decaying bodies, and buried them in shallow +pits, which they covered up with sand. No one lent +a hand to bury these "Christian dogs," as we were +called. It was a terrible grief to us not to accompany +our poor companions in adversity to the grave, +but we were all too ill to move, and so they were +carried away to their last resting-place without prayer +or chant; and even to this day I cannot tell if the +slaves really buried them, or merely dragged the +bodies beyond the huts, and left them lying there on +the ground.</p> + +<p>The condition of us miserable wretches who were still +alive is beyond description; we envied our companions, +who were now beyond the reach of human suffering; +but our hour had not yet come. Towards the end of +November we were somewhat recovered, but our lives +seemed to have been spared only to behold more +terrible sights and sufferings than we had previously +undergone.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, more of our companions in adversity had +arrived from Dar Nuba. Shortly after we had been +made over to Stambuli, Roversi came, and was interviewed +by the Mahdi, who received him well, and<a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"></a> +presented him with a horse. Roversi recounted to us +the story of his misfortunes; during his journey from +Delen to El Obeid he was frequently in danger of +losing his life; the Baggaras, mindful of their defeat at +his hands, thirsted for vengeance. Roversi owed his +life to his magazine rifle. He used to visit us daily and +tell us of the various plots of which we were the intended +victims. He told us how the Arabs had determined +to take the sisters, and that they intended to +distribute us amongst the various emirs. This news +terrified the sisters, and there is little doubt that the +bare thought of it hastened the deaths of the two +who were so ill. Roversi further informed us that a +quarrel had occurred between Mek Omar and the +Nubas regarding the distribution of the loot taken +from our Delen Mission; a conflict had taken place, +in which Mek Omar had lost a number of his men, +and had been obliged to retreat from Delen to +Singiokai.</p> + +<p>After Roversi's arrival the Mahdi wrote to Said +Pasha again, summoning him to surrender; Roversi +also, by the Mahdi's order, was forced to write to the +Mudir, telling him that resistance was useless, as it was +out of the question to hope for reinforcements from +Khartum. Towards the end of October Roversi fell ill +with dysentery, caused by the infected and foul atmosphere +of the camp; the last time he came to see us he +was very weak; then we heard that the Mahdi had +suddenly ordered him to Kashgil for change of air, and +a few days later we heard that he was dead. Some +said he had been killed, others said that he had been +poisoned by Ismail Wad el Andok, in revenge for his +defeat at Golfan-Naïma. Roversi's maid-servant, Aisha—a +black girl brought up in Constantinople—and +his man-servant, Hajji Selim, reported that they had +found his shoes in the forest, and his dead body in a +hut. The unfortunate young Roversi was barely thirty +years of age, a Protestant by religion, and a man for +whom we all cherished a great affection. The date of +his death was probably the 3rd of November, 1882. A<a name="Page_50" id="Page_50"></a> +few days after this date Mek Omar and his men arrived +in the camp, bringing our Delen blacks with them. The +latter at once came to see us, and soon afterwards all of +them—both boys and girls—were sold as slaves, whilst +the more grown-up youths were drafted into the +Mahdi's army. Two of the girls, one an Abyssinian +and the other a black, became concubines of the Mahdi. +A cruel fate soon overtook Mek Omar: it was reported +that he had concealed some of the captured booty, and +he was at once put in chains by the Mahdi's order. +Shortly afterwards he sent for us, and Bonomi and I +paid him a visit. We found him shackled with two +chains on his feet, and a chain about fifteen feet long +round his neck; the poor man was completely bowed +down with the weight of these chains, and begged us +most humbly to intercede for him, as he told us it was +the Mahdi's intention to have him beheaded. The +condition of this unfortunate individual so touched us, +that Bonomi went to the Mahdi and represented that it +was really the Nubas who had stolen the booty, and so +Mek Omar was released.</p> + +<p>As we slowly began to recover from our illness, the +thought of release was constantly in our minds. We +applied to the powerful Elias Pasha, whom we had +known very well in El Obeid. This blind old pasha +received us kindly, but said that Abdel Kader Pasha in +Khartum, was furious with him for having joined the +rebels; he therefore said that our best course was to +apply daily to the Mahdi, who in time might perhaps +be moved to grant our release. We followed his advice, +but it was no easy matter to make our way through the +crowd of fanatics who surrounded his hut day and +night, all struggling to get a sight of his face which, it +was said, shed rays of light. Pushed about, shoved in +every direction, and insulted, we might perhaps succeed +in reaching the doorway; but here we were stopped +by the guards, and it was almost impossible to pass +them. However, after superhuman efforts, we succeeded +twice in interviewing the Mahdi. He listened kindly +to our entreaty, and then said, "At present the roads<a name="Page_51" id="Page_51"></a> +are dangerous, and I wish no harm to come upon +you; when El Obeid has surrendered, we will permit +you to go to your own country." He advised us to +wear kuftans (the Arab outer garment), for hitherto +we wore merely a shirt and drawers, as he said that, +dressed in this way, we should escape the inquisitive +glances of the multitude and we took his good +advice.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_D_4" id="Footnote_D_4"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_D_4" class="fnlabel">[D]</a> The title "Emir" really means "Prince," and is far too high +a title to give to these wretched chiefs; but as it is the Sudan custom, +I must retain it.—J. O.</p></div> +</div> + +<a name="Page_52" id="Page_52"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE SIEGE OF EL OBEID.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Terrible sufferings of the besieged—The Kababish—Fall of Bara—Fall +of El Obeid—The Mahdi enters the town—Fate of the +El Obeid Mission—Cold-blooded murder of the brave defenders—The +Dervishes live a life of ease in El Obeid—The Mahdi +makes laws—He sends out proclamations—Prestige increased +by capture of town—News from Khartum—Bonomi and +Ohrwalder summoned before the Mahdi—The interview.</p> + + +<p style="text-indent: 0em;"><span class="firstwords">The</span> garrison in El Obeid now began to suffer from the +effects of this close siege and blockade. The necessaries +of life were failing rapidly; the price of provisions had +gone up enormously. The commonest food, known as +"dokhn" (a kind of millet) rose to 150 dollars, and +eventually to 500 dollars the ardeb. Meat had almost +entirely given out. Our Mission brethren in the fort +possessed one camel, which was nothing but skin and +bone, and which was sold for 1,000 dollars, and two days +afterwards the purchaser offered it for sale for 1,500 +dollars. Eventually the butcher bought it for 2,000 +dollars. A chicken went for thirty dollars; eggs a +dollar apiece; a loaf of sugar fifty dollars, and twenty +dollars for a pound of coffee. A thimbleful of salt +cost a dollar. The above were the prices a month +after the close investment had begun. Butter and +oil could not be had for any money. The poor began +to starve quite at the beginning of the siege, and soon +were dying in considerable numbers. A little later, +matters came to a terrible pass. All the camels and +cattle being finished, donkeys, dogs, mice, and even +crickets were consumed, as well as cockroaches, which<a name="Page_53" id="Page_53"></a> +were considered quite tit-bits; white ants, too, were +eaten.</p> + +<p>And now the deaths by starvation had reached an +appalling figure. The dead and dying filled the +streets; the space within the fortifications being so +limited, there was not room for all the people, and +in consequence many lay about in the streets and +open spaces. The air was poisoned by the numbers of +dead bodies lying unburied, while the ditch was half +full of mortifying corpses. Scurvy and dysentery were +rife; the air was black with the scores of carrion-kites, +which feasted on the dead bodies; these ugly +birds became so distended by constant gorging that +they could not even fly away, and were killed in +numbers by the soldiers, who devoured them with +avidity.</p> + +<p>Later on gum became the only food; there was a +quantity of this, but it brought on diarrh[oe]a, and +caused the bodies to distend—indeed, numbers died +from eating it. The ground was dug up in all directions +in search of the white ants' nests; and the food which +they had collected for the winter was greedily consumed. +Some poor sufferers eked out a miserable existence by +living on the undigested food found in the excrement of +animals; all sorts of leather, shoes and sandals, were +boiled and eaten. It was a terrible sight to see these +human skeletons—their eyes sunk into the backs of +their heads, wandering about in search of food. The +Mudir extorted all the corn and money he could from +the rich merchants, but of what good was a mere handful +of corn to the soldiers? They became desperate, +all discipline was at an end and they often broke into +the houses by night in search of food.</p> + +<p>During all this time the Dervishes outside kept on +shouting out curses and insults, deriding those within for +eating dog's-meat, for, during all this terrible famine +in the city, there was abundance of food in the +Dervish camp, and this made the besiegers bolder and +more insulting than ever, for they knew that the town +was practically in their hands. We often tried to<a name="Page_54" id="Page_54"></a> +establish some sort of communication with our Mission +brethren in the city, but we never succeeded in getting +any reliable information about them. At length, +towards the end of December, we managed, through the +kind offices of George Stambuli, to send in a letter +and received a reply from the Father Superior, Johann +Losi, which was brought to us by one of our female +slaves. The news it contained was heart-rending; all +our brethren were down with scurvy—that is to say, +Father Rossignoli, brother Locatelli, and four sisters, +whilst Father Losi himself was on the point of death. +For a month they had lived on nothing but dokhn and +rice; everything else was gone. Father Losi sent us +some clothes, which were a godsend to us, and also 200 +dollars, while we in return could do nothing for our poor +besieged brethren. A few days later we heard that +Father Losi died on the 27th of December of scurvy.</p> + +<p>The <a name="tn_png_70"></a><!--TN: "garrrison" changed to "garrison"-->garrison frequently attempted small sorties, in +the hope that they might be able to secure a sheep or +bullock, or some wood, and these always caused some +excitement in the camp. When anything of this sort +took place, the usual cry was "Et Turki Marak" ("The +Turks are coming out"), then the camp suddenly +woke up, and, like a swarm of ants, moved towards the +town to drive the garrison in again. On these occasions +quantities of ammunition were expended without much +result. In the meantime the Mahdi continued his daily +preaching against the vanities of this life, of his +divine message, and of the approaching end of the +world. During these sermons the people stood wrapped +in wonder and astonishment at the Mahdi's great +wisdom.</p> + +<p>The Egyptian guns frequently fired into the camp, +and on two occasions shells burst close to our hut, +but did no harm. The Dervishes also returned the fire, +but their shots always fell far beyond; had they only +been skilled in the working of the guns they had, the +fortifications would have become untenable in a day, +but the Mahdi seemed purposely to wish to prolong the +siege, and to thus compass the death of its defenders<a name="Page_55" id="Page_55"></a> +through famine. The wells were only about one kilometre +distant from the forts, and in consequence within +easy range of the fire of the besieged; but the Mahdi +was quite regardless of this, and often formed up his +troops there—a proceeding which generally resulted in +his losing some men.</p> + +<p>It was about this time that the principal sheikhs of the +powerful Kababish tribe, viz. Saleh and Tome, the sons of +Sheikh Salem, came to pay their allegiance to the Mahdi. +As a gift they brought him two hundred camels, and he +in return ordered a great military display and a special +bombardment of El Obeid in their honour. The two +sheikhs did not, however, take a great interest in these +proceedings; and one day Saleh suddenly took himself +off, and from that date became the Mahdi's sworn +enemy, until the day of his death, when, as we shall +presently see, he was one of the last of the great sheikhs +who was overthrown by the Mahdi. His brother Tome +was suddenly thrown into chains without any warning, +the Mahdi giving as his reason that the Prophet had +appeared to him in a vision and told him to do so.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of November, news arrived that a +further reinforcement of troops had left Khartum for +El Obeid. This information occasioned a great stir in +the camp, because there was some idea that English +troops had been sent. These must have been the arrival +of the first batch of troops destined eventually to form +part of the Hicks Expedition; but even then it was too +late to send any help to El Obeid.</p> + +<p>One day it came to the Mahdi's ears that provisions +were being smuggled into El Obeid, where they were +sold at enormous prices, and to stop this he made +the investment still closer. Some of the smugglers +were caught, and as a punishment their right hands +were cut off, and their handless arms tied to their necks; +they were then led round the camp as a warning to +others.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, as the siege of El Obeid was drawing to +a close, other places in Kordofan were falling into +the Mahdi's hands. The town of Bara had been re<a name="Page_56" id="Page_56"></a>duced +to great straits. A force marching to its relief +under Abu Kuka, was attacked by Fiki Minneh: the +majority were killed, and it was only through the +bravery of Surur Effendi that a few hundred of them succeeded +in reaching the town. The notorious Nur Angar, +who was on the walls of the town, rendered no assistance +during the siege, and went over to the enemy. At +length, on the 5th of January, Bara was forced to capitulate +through famine, and the garrison was sent to the +Mahdi's camp.</p> + +<p>The victory was celebrated by a salute of guns, and +the unfortunate garrison in El Obeid took this to be the +approach of relieving troops; but the Mahdi made it +known to Said Pasha that, on the contrary, it was in +celebration of the fall of Bara—an incident which +caused the gloom to deepen over the doomed city; +and all hope of delivery was abandoned. Yet the +Mudir still continued to hope against hope that he +should be relieved from Khartum, and his sanguine +spirit kept up the courage of the garrison. But it could +not last much longer; the soldiers were too weak even +to hold their rifles in their hands, and Said Pasha +realized that further resistance was useless. In desperation, +therefore, he proposed to blow himself up in the +powder magazine, and this he certainly would have +done had not the senior officers urged that in doing so +numbers of other lives would have been sacrificed as +well. There was now nothing left to be done but to +surrender, and this event took place on the 19th of +January, 1883.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi and his hordes now entered El Obeid, and +he made the Mudirieh his residence. Guards under the +command of mukuddums were posted outside every +large house, to prevent the notables escaping, to further +extort money and to search for treasure. Children, +servants, and slaves were kept aside, and by continual +flogging were obliged to divulge the secret hiding-places. +The Mission buildings were of course entered +by thousands of Mahdiists. Father Bonomi and +brother Locatelli lay sick, and the sisters were com<a name="Page_57" id="Page_57"></a>pletely +exhausted. Hundreds of Dervishes struggled to +break into the narrow enclosure where the unfortunate +brethren lay ill. The crosses which the sisters wore +round their necks were wrenched off and broken to +pieces with axes. Sister Concetta Corsi, who was then +one of the strongest, flew at these cruel intruders and +made them wonder at the boldness of a poor weak +woman. Some of them then entered with drawn +swords, and, pointing their lances within an inch of her +bosom, they threatened her with instant death if she +made the slightest resistance; but she answered, "You +are dogs, and not men!" whereupon one of those +standing near her gave her a blow on the face, which +broke several of her teeth and made her mouth pour +with blood.</p> + +<p>Three days after the Mahdi's entry into El Obeid, our +missionaries were taken before him, and in a solemn +assembly he tried in vain to force them to become Moslems. +They were then sent forth with nothing but the +clothes they wore, in company with the other survivors +of the siege, to the Dervish camp.</p> + +<p>Our little party was now increased by the arrival of +Father Rossignoli, brother Locatelli, who was then more +dead than alive being carried on an angarib (native +bedstead), and four sisters, who were all suffering from +scurvy. They were brought to our hut, and our meeting +could not be otherwise than a sad one. The sisters +were accompanied by a girl named Bianca Limona, who, +though a Sudanese, had quite a fair face, and resembled +an Albino. Gordon, when travelling from Darfur to El +Obeid, came across a youth of a similar type, whom he +brought to the Mission, and suggested that he should +marry the girl; but he being a fanatical Mussulman, +the girl absolutely refused.</p> + +<p>Bianca, being of no trade value, was permitted by the +Dervishes to remain with the sisters. All the other +Mission blacks remained with the soldiers, but the +young ones were sold. From amongst the Christian +girls the Mahdi selected two as concubines—an Abyssinian +and a black; the latter had been well brought<a name="Page_58" id="Page_58"></a> +up, had learnt handiwork of different sorts, and she +soon became the head of all the concubines.</p> + +<p>The Dervishes captured quantities of arms and +ammunition in the fort, also a considerable amount of +rough gold, goods of all sorts, and furniture. This was +all carried off to the beit el mal; the floors were all dug +up in search of hidden treasure, and even dead bodies +were disentombed and examined. The body of Father +Losi, who had died a month before, was pulled up and +searched, as it was believed he had a quantity of +money. I must here recount an episode which will +give an idea of the wonderful fidelity of our poor +blacks, and their affection for us. Father Losi had +purchased a little black boy in El Obeid, and for the +ten long years during which this brave missionary had +worked continuously for the welfare and happiness of +the blacks, his boy Said served him most faithfully, and +during all the horrors of that dreadful siege this boy +never left the side of his "Father," as he used to call +Father Losi. When Losi died, the boy used to spend +most of the day weeping over his grave, and one day he +was found lying stretched on the grave quite dead—he +had died of grief.</p> + +<p>The Mudir, Said Pasha, and the senior officers were, +for a time, placed under guard, and refused, even on +pain of death, to say where the treasure was; but when +Said Pasha heard that his concubine and servants had +been cruelly flogged and beaten to make them divulge, +he at length handed over all his property to the Mahdi, +and £6,000.</p> + +<p>A few days after the fall of El Obeid a fire broke out +on the north side of the camp; the strong wind drove +the flames to the adjoining huts, and soon half the camp +was ablaze. We had to run from our hut, which was +soon afterwards enveloped in flames, and we were again +obliged to encamp in the open. However, our good +friend Stambuli succeeded in procuring a small tent for +us. The Mahdi now ordered the whole town of El +Obeid to be occupied by the Arabs, but it was not +nearly large enough to hold all the people, consequently<a name="Page_59" id="Page_59"></a> +an enormous circle of huts soon surrounded the town, +and we ourselves erected a small one, just beyond the +precincts of the Mahdi's camp, having some Greeks and +Syrians, who had been turned out of El Obeid, as our +neighbours.</p> + +<p>For about fifteen days most of the inhabitants of the +town—clerks, Government officials, and Copts, were +closely guarded and continually flogged to make them +disclose the hiding-places of their treasure. Most of +the principal people were handed over to the emirs. +Said Pasha was placed in charge of Ismail Wad el +Andok, and sent to Aluba; Ali Bey Sherif was sent to +Birket, and several of the Coptic clerks were sent to +Singiokai. Ahmed Bey Dafallah and Major Yesin were +dragged to Shakka. Evil reports were spread about +them, and it was rumoured that both the Mudir and Ali +Bey Sherif had written to Khartum, consequently the +Mahdi issued orders that the gallant defenders should +be killed, justifying his action by saying that the +Prophet had, in a vision, ordered him to do so. Ali +Bey Sherif was beheaded close to the tent occupied by +his wife and two children, who were afterwards taken +over by Sayid Abdel Kader, the Mahdi's uncle. Said +Pasha was most cruelly slaughtered with axes at Aluba; +he was greatly disliked by the people, who called him +"Jurab el Ful" ("Sack of beans") because he was so +stout. Ahmed Bey Dafallah and Major Yesin were +executed at Shakka. Such was the end of the brave +defenders of El Obeid, who, in truth, deserved a better +fate.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi, having thus made away with his enemies, +was able to breathe more freely, and, as if to excuse +himself for his horrible cruelty, he published a vision, +in which he said that he had been told that Said Pasha +did not go to hell, but as he (the Mahdi) had earnestly +begged it, he was permitted to go to paradise.</p> + +<p>During the siege there was much friction between the +Mahdi and Fiki Minneh, whose capacity for drinking +marissa and stealing booty came to the Mahdi's ears. +As long as Minneh was useful to the Mahdi he forbore<a name="Page_60" id="Page_60"></a> +with him; but when El Obeid fell, he sent for him and +forcibly made him divide his booty. Fiki Minneh +therefore returned in a sulky mood to Tayara, and from +that time became the Mahdi's enemy. He openly +collected a quantity of dokhn, and brought together his +fighting force. The Mahdi therefore despatched Abu +Anga, the Commander-in-chief of his forces, Abderrahman +en Nejumi and Abdullah Wad en Nur, with a +large number of men. Making a forced march, they +appeared suddenly at Tayara, and the Gowameh followers +of Minneh fled on the first volley. Minneh's brother, +uncle, and two sons were captured and beheaded on the +same spot where Minneh himself had slain the soldiers +and their wives and children the previous year; +their heads were hung up in the market-place at El +Obeid as a warning to others.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi and his emirs now began to live a life of +ease; the latter occupied the various buildings around +the Mudirieh and made themselves comfortable: they +placed no restrictions on themselves in the way of food +and drink; there was money in abundance and supplies +were plentiful, consequently sensuality and luxurious +living were substituted for the abstemious life which the +Mahdi doctrine had at first inculcated. The principal +emirs delighted in extensive harems and a show of +splendour. Jibbehs were still worn, but their ragged +condition, which was essential in the early days, gave +way to as much embellishment as such a garment would +admit of. The emirs vied with one another in their +wealth of slaves, cattle, horses and donkeys; their sword-hilts +were now embellished with silver. In place of +lying on the dirty ground, their clothes full of vermin, +they assumed the luxurious and comfortable mode of +life of the Turks and Egyptians. So shocked, indeed, +was the Mahdi's uncle, Sherif Mahmud, when he arrived +from Gedir to see the drunken and debauched lives led +by the emirs, more especially by Wad en Nejumi, that +he induced the Mahdi to order the latter to reduce his +harem by twenty wives, who were subsequently sold in +the beit el mal as slaves. At the same time the Mahdi<a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"></a> +issued the strictest orders against luxurious living, +and insisted that no gold and silver ornaments should +be worn. He further ordained that in future the dress +should consist of a takia (or skull cap) made of the +leaves of the dwarf-palm, round which a turban should +be worn with end hanging down; the jibbeh (or coat); +a pair of drawers; and a girdle made of straw. This +made rather a becoming uniform to these swarthy +warriors.</p> + +<p>The rules regarding smoking and drinking were +reiterated with greater severity. It was next to impossible +to induce the Sudanese to give up smoking and +chewing tobacco: a man would willingly give all the +money he had to secure even a small quantity. Then +the blacks, and especially the emirs, are much addicted +to marissa drinking, which it was found still more difficult +to stop; if men or women were caught in the act of +smoking or drinking, they were obliged to walk through +the market with the drinking bowl or tobacco on +their heads, followed by an insulting and hooting crowd. +It was sometimes the custom to break the bowl on the +marissa drinker's head and drench him with its contents; +this was the signal for all the children to throw mud and +dust at the culprit until he became almost unrecognisable; +he was then dragged before the kadi (or judge) in +the market-place, where he received eighty unusually +heavy blows, the first of which generally drew blood. +The place was full of spies, who were always on the look-out +to report smokers and drinkers to the Mahdi. +Sometimes they forced their way into the houses, and +finding nothing, would surreptitiously throw some +tobacco on the floor, which they would then suddenly +discover, and declare it to be the property of the owner +of the house, who would be forthwith dragged off and +thrashed unmercifully although perfectly innocent.</p> + +<p>Justice was administered according to the Moslem +law. Blasphemers of God or the religion were punished +with instant death, as well as all those who disbelieved +in the Mahdi. A murderer was at once beheaded, +no extenuating circumstances were ever admitted. A<a name="Page_62" id="Page_62"></a> +thief was deprived of a hand and a foot; adultery +between married persons was punished by beheading +the man and stoning the woman, but in the latter case +a necessary proof was that the woman should be with +child. Illicit intercourse between unmarried persons +was punished with eighty lashes; these laws regarding +immorality were, however, in the case of slaves, relaxed +to some extent, and they were, as a rule, punished by +flogging only. Persons found concerned in the making +of eunuchs were beheaded, though curiously enough the +khalifas and emirs all retained eunuchs for their harems. +Slaves freed by the Egyptian Government were not recognised +as such, and were again forced to become slaves. +A slave's witness was not accepted in a trial. All important +cases were judged before the Mahdi, who sentenced +persons as he thought fit. The Mosaic law—an eye for +an eye and a tooth for a tooth—was generally practised. +The relations of murdered persons generally carried +out the sentences on the criminal, provided that the +judge approved. Punishment could be modified or cancelled +altogether by the payment of money. In addition +to the Mahdi, his relatives and the khalifas were permitted +to judge cases—a proceeding which resulted in +great confusion and miscarriage of justice. The market-place +was the chief centre of activity; here the judge +held his court, and a profitable business he made of it by +substituting money for punishments.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the fall of El Obeid the Mahdi set himself +to regulate his finances. The Kordofan Arabs, who +had gained many successes over the Government, and +who had really taken up the Mahdi's cause in anticipation +of the loot they would acquire, were ordered to +bring all their booty—down to the smallest article—to +the Mahdi at El Obeid, and to enforce this order, parties +of Dervishes were sent out in various directions to +forcibly drive in the Arabs, who now regretted that they +had so precipitately joined the Mahdi in the first +instance. Everything was brought to the beit el mal, +and there publicly sold; of the proceeds, one-fifth was +given to the Mahdi personally, and the remaining four-<a name="Page_63" id="Page_63"></a>fifths +were set aside as administrative revenue, but in +point of fact a considerable portion of this sum also +found its way into the Mahdi's private treasury. A +native of Dar Mahas, named Ahmed wad Suleiman and +a great favourite of the Mahdi, was given unlimited +control over the beit el mal treasury. His master had +had a divine revelation, pointing out that he was the +one man to hold this responsible position, and in consequence +he was unassailable. Whenever the Mahdi rode +out on horseback, Ahmed held the reins and walked +barefooted at the horse's side.</p> + +<p>All learned men were despised and disliked by +the Mahdi, for he not unnaturally recognised a +danger in their combating his claims by reference +to divine books. Consequently all such documents +were ordered to be burnt, and any one who concealed +a book did so at the risk of his life. The +Mahdi's object was to keep the people in ignorance by +proclaiming that he was the centre of all light and +knowledge; there were even flatterers to be found who +asserted that they had seen flashes of light darting out +of his head! He frequently indulged in visions, sometimes +representing that he had been taken up in the +spirit to the heavens, where he conversed with God and +His Prophet. To doubt the truth of these visions was +an unpardonable offence. He entirely abolished all the +rules and customs practised by the Government. The +wearing of the tarbush (fez) was strictly forbidden; if +any one was seen wearing one, it was instantly pulled +off and torn to shreds. All Government registers were +burnt, and debts contracted with the Government considered +cancelled. He ordered his adherents to call +themselves Foggara<a name="FNanchor_E_5" id="FNanchor_E_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_E_5" class="fnanchor">[E]</a> or Asyad.<a name="FNanchor_F_6" id="FNanchor_F_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_F_6" class="fnanchor">[F]</a></p> + +<p>His usual custom was to pray on a small straw mat +placed in the divan of the Mudirieh and in the presence +of all his followers; a slave generally stood beside him +with a pillow on which he either sat or knelt, as the<a name="Page_64" id="Page_64"></a> +case might be. When the prayers were over he received +the visitors, conversed on matters of general interest, +read his letters, and discoursed on the manners and +customs of the Turks with the object of making his +hearers despise and laugh at them. He plunged wildly +into the sensual delights of his immense harem. In +place of wine he substituted a drink much appreciated +in the Sudan, consisting of date syrup mixed with ginger, +of which he drank quantities out of the silver cups +taken from the Mission Church in El Obeid.</p> + +<p>In spite, however, of all this luxurious living, the +Mahdi did not omit to publish his new propaganda far +and wide. He wrote several letters to the inhabitants +of the Gezireh (the country between the Blue and White +Niles), calling on them to rise, and threatening all those +who refused to obey the summons. Numbers flocked to +his standards, partly through fear and partly because +they recognised the inability of the Government to cope +with the revolt. It was at this time that he despatched +Osman Digna, who afterwards became so notorious, to +the Eastern Sudan. This fanatical adherent of the +Mahdi copied the example of his master in every respect, +wearing neither shoes nor sandals, and only riding +during exceptionally long marches, his argument being +that as the Mahdi deigned to walk the earth, he thereby +made it holy. A force was now despatched to capture +Sheikh Tome of the Kababish, who was reported to be +in friendly communication with Khartum. The unfortunate +man was attacked by night, captured and dragged +off in chains with his wife, child, slaves, and camels to +El Obeid. The Mahdi was prepared to pardon him, but +Khalifa Abdullah insisted on beheading him, which was +done; this cruel act terrified the remainder of the tribe. +During the last fifteen days of Ramadan the Mahdi +attended to no public business, but gave himself up to +fasting and prayer. The holidays following Ramadan +were set aside for military parades and man[oe]uvres, +which served to rouse the fanatical ardour of his now +numerous followers.</p> + +<a name="native"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><img src="images/p065.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="338" height="430"> +<p class="caption2">A NATIVE WOMAN OF DONGOLA.</p></div> + +<p>About this time a letter came from Mustafa Yawer,<a name="Page_65" id="Page_65"></a> +the Mudir of Dongola, to Osman Tobji; the latter was a +most generous man, who gave much of his money to the +poor and to widows and orphans, especially during the +siege of El Obeid; Tobji had thus won the honour and +respect of all, and on the fall of the town the Mahdi +returned to him the property he had captured; thereupon +he at once set to work to relieve the distressed +Egyptian families who had been turned out of house +and home, and whose property had been taken. In his +letter Mustafa Yawer asked his friend Tobji if Mo<a name="Page_66" id="Page_66"></a>hammed +Ahmed were the real Mahdi or not; this letter +came into the Mahdi's hands, and Tobji was at once +sent for and asked what reply he intended to give. +Osman answered, "When the sun has risen over the +horizon it is visible to all, and no further proof of its +existence is required—thus if the Mahdi be the true +Mahdi, his works will bear witness of the truth." This +evasive answer did not however satisfy the Mahdi, who +obliged Tobji to sign a letter declaring that Mohammed +Ahmed was the true Mahdi, and this letter was then +despatched to the Mudir of Dongola.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi was well versed in the art of winning +over people. His unruffled smile, pleasant manners, +generosity and equable temperament, though at times +somewhat severe, all tended to enhance the popular +idea of him. He attributed the execution of Said +Pasha and Ali Bey Sherif to the Khalifa Abdullah, and +when the two little sons of the latter were brought to +him, the smiling hypocrite wept for their father's fate. +The popular belief in him and his cause almost +amounted to worship: women especially raved about him +and thought him the most handsome of men. They +swore by him in the words "Hakk rabb el <a name="tn_png_82"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "Mahdi"-->Mahdi" +(By the Mahdi's God) or "Hakk Sayidna el Imam" +(By our Lord, the Imam); all solemn oaths and statements +began with the words "Aleik el Mahdi el +Muntaser" (By the Victorious Mahdi); his virtues were +extolled in poems, and constant reference was made to +his good looks, wisdom, stature and to his repeated +victories over the Turks. The beggars used to learn off +by heart special laudatory verses, and by reciting them +from house to house they were sure to be given alms; +to such an extent was this laudation carried that if a +beggar sang songs in which the Prophet's name occurred, +he was at once interrupted and told to substitute the +Mahdi's for the Prophet's name; at every street corner +his praises were sung; soldiers on the march sang of his +glorious victories; female slaves gathering wood, or laden +with corn, or grinding it between the stones—all sang +the same refrain, which indeed might be called the<a name="Page_67" id="Page_67"></a> +Mahdi's national anthem, and began with the words +"Mahdi Nur Ainana" (the Mahdi is the light of our eyes), +or "El Mahdi kammal et Turk fi Kana" (the Mahdi +conquered—lit. gave their full to—the Turks at Kana).</p> + +<p>The Arabs delight in poetry, and during the night +generally collected in parties, and seated on the sand +sang the Mahdi's praises, the two principal singers +keeping time by beating the ground with their sticks, +while the rest joined in the chorus at the end of each +verse. Inspired sometimes by their theme, they would +stand up and flourish their swords in the air as if combating +the Turks, shouting "Fi Shan Allah" (for God's +cause). Thus the adulation of the Mahdi extended from +the highest emir to the lowest slave, and woe to him +who was ever heard to utter one word in deprecation or +blame of the new Prophet, he would at once be pounced +upon and beaten to death with sticks.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the Mahdi was called "Khalifat er Rasul" +(the successor of the Prophet), and sometimes even they +dignified him with the sacred title of Nebbi (Prophet). +In truth the Prophet Mohammed occupied in the +people's minds quite a secondary position, and the +celebration of his birthday was forbidden by the Mahdi.</p> + +<p>On one occasion a dispute occurred between two +men; one argued that the Mahdi would have a higher +seat in heaven than the Prophet, while the other +maintained that "God was higher than the Mahdi." +The dispute waxed hot, and the case was referred to +the judge, who settled the matter by saying that +"the living was better than the dead," but at the +same time the man who advocated the Prophet's claims +was relegated to prison, not so much for asserting what +was perfectly true, that "God was higher than the +Mahdi," but that the tone in which he had said it was +tantamount to an insult to the Mahdi. Naturally +those Moslems who still had some sense of the orthodox +creed were much annoyed at this decision.</p> + +<p>Early in April a messenger arrived from Khartum with +a letter from the Austrian Consul Hansal. Now as we +were perfect strangers in El Obeid, people did not dare<a name="Page_68" id="Page_68"></a> +to associate with us; the messenger therefore handed +over the letter to George Stambuli, who was then a man +well known to every one. Stambuli, who supplied us +with all the necessaries of life, now came to us in a state +of great excitement, bringing the letter in which he +hoped to find some news of the outside world. We +opened the letter, which was long and well-written, and +found that it was directed to the Mahdi. We read it +and considered it a well-written letter; in it Hansal +called the Mahdi "Sheikh," and begged him to release +us, receiving as a ransom such a sum as he should +demand, and which he (Hansal) was prepared to give. +The bearer of the letter was then ordered to take it +direct to the Mahdi, but fearing that its contents might +compromise him, he gave it to Stambuli, who gave it as +his opinion that the letter was useless, as he himself had +been doing all in his power to effect our release, but was +unable to do so. Father Bonomi, however, urged that +as the letter was useless it was therefore harmless, and +that there could be no objection to giving it to the +Mahdi; consequently it was taken to him, and he +expressed himself much pleased with it; although he +admitted that the system of ransoming was in vogue +during the days of the Prophet, he stated that it had +been changed by him, as also was the tax per head +formerly paid by Christians.</p> + +<p>He, however, promised to give us protection until +the coming of Sayidna Isa (Jesus Christ), when we +should either have to turn Moslems or die; thus the +letter was of no good to us, and on the following +day a rumour was spread abroad that the Austrian +Consul had joined the Mahdi. The messenger asked us +to give him a few lines to take back, and thus prove +that he had delivered the letter to us; so we and +Stambuli complied, and the messenger left for Khartum; +but he was followed by spies, and when at Korsi—one +and a half day's journey distant—he was searched by +them, and the letters found in the saddle-bag on the +donkey, consequently he was arrested, brought back, +and thrown into chains.<a name="Page_69" id="Page_69"></a></p> + +<p>The false news was now rapidly circulated that an +English post had arrived. Father Bonomi and I were +at once summoned to read the letters. It occurred +to us that our letters had probably been seized and that +we were in some danger. I was not alarmed about my +letter to Hansal, for I had written in German, and there +was no one besides myself in El Obeid who understood +German; but Bonomi's letters had been written in +Italian, and there were several people who understood +that language. As we entered the Mudirieh we saw +Stambuli also coming. We were first taken to the +Khalifa Sherif, who was lying on a straw mat in his +hut; after greeting us, he lifted up the mat and drew +out several letters, which we at once recognised as those +we had written. The Khalifa asked us if we had written +them, and we replied in the affirmative. He thereupon +produced a piece of paper on which Bonomi had written +that the messenger should receive six pounds. Father +Bonomi translated this to the Khalifa; Stambuli was +then called in, as he pretended to know a number +of European languages, while in point of fact he +knew little or nothing; when the paper was given to +him to read he said that it contained a medical +prescription, and this translation did not of course +agree with Bonomi's version. Amidst the murmuring +of the bystanders the Khalifa now rose and bid us +follow him into the divan of the Mudirieh, and thence +into the room adjoining that in which the Mahdi was +sitting with the Khalifa Abdullah. The latter had to +keep his bed, for his leg had been broken by a fall from +a horse; he had collided with another horseman, and in +falling had been badly kicked. Father Bonomi and +Stambuli only were taken before the Mahdi, whilst I +was left in the room outside; there were a Dervish and +a Greek also in the room, and as I was sitting on the +ground near the door, the Greek came up to me and +told me that a sheikh wished to speak to me. I +replied, "Let the sheikh come to me if he wants to +speak to me; I have nothing to ask of him."</p> + +<p>A few moments afterwards the sheikh came up to me<a name="Page_70" id="Page_70"></a> +in a furious rage, and without further ado attacked me +with his fists, kicked me, and called me a Christian +dog; then seizing me by the leg he dragged me out +towards the gate, where he said he intended to cut off +my head.</p> + +<p>The sound of this struggle reached the Mahdi's ears, +and he sent a eunuch to take me out of the sheikh's +hands. Shortly afterwards the Mahdi himself, Bonomi, +and Stambuli came out, and were rather pleased than +otherwise that my incident with the sheikh had interrupted +their somewhat painful conversation. The +Mahdi did not appear angry, and as usual, smiled +pleasantly all round; then, surrounded by his principal +emirs, he performed the noonday prayers in the divan, +while the multitude conformed to the prayers in the +Mudirieh courtyard. This over, he sat down on his mat +and opened his audience, whilst a slave standing behind +him fanned him and drove off the flies. Numbers of +people submitted their cases to him in a very low and +humble tone of voice, and from the various gestures which +took place, I concluded that he had given satisfaction to +all. He then read aloud a letter from an influential sheikh +in Khartum, whose name I have forgotten; after which +a number of sheikhs came in to take the oath of +allegiance.</p> + +<p>During this ceremony the man taking the oath had to +place his hand in the Mahdi's right hand; then the latter +repeated the oath in the following words: "Thou +consecratest thyself, thy children and thy property to +the Mahdi. Thou shalt be guilty of no impurity; thou +shalt not steal, nor drink alcohol; and thou shalt bind +thyself to do thy duty in the Jehad." The person to +whom the oath was administered sealed it with a +solemn "Amen." If several persons took the oath together, +they were obliged to repeat it in chorus, and at +the conclusion they shouted "Fi Shan Allah." When +the audience was over, we asked the Mahdi's permission +to retire, which he allowed us to do.</p> + +<p>Bonomi now gave us an account of his interview with +the Mahdi and Khalifa Abdullah. They had thought<a name="Page_71" id="Page_71"></a> +that we had written letters to the Government at +Khartum, but they could not read the letters which, +in point of fact, contained nothing political. Bonomi +had given the Mahdi a short resumé of their contents +with which he seemed pleased, but Abdullah appeared +dissatisfied.</p> + +<p>For the next eight days we were in considerable +danger, and the one topic of conversation was what +should be done to us. It was the general idea that we +were to be beheaded; but Stambuli was working his +friends, and by dint of bribes the matter was hushed up, +although I believe that we owed it principally to the +good will and kindly disposition of the Mahdi. After +about ten days we were summoned before a certain +emir named Hajji Khaled, who made enquiries about the +letters, and we told him that we were prepared to translate +literally every word. Our fearless persistence impressed +him, and he did not trouble us further.</p> + +<p>Some of the European merchants could have translated +the letters, but Stambuli bribed them with twenty +pounds, and on the 26th of April, thirteen days after the +letters had been intercepted, the Mahdi pardoned Stambuli +at a public meeting, and handed them back to +him; then in the presence of two trustworthy friends +of the Mahdi, we translated them word for word into +Arabic, and gave them back to the Mahdi, who, judging +from their general tenour, appeared convinced of their +harmlessness.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_E_5" id="Footnote_E_5"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_E_5" class="fnlabel">[E]</a> Pl. of Fakir, <i>i.e.</i> a poor religious mendicant—one who has renounced +the world.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_F_6" id="Footnote_F_6"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_F_6" class="fnlabel">[F]</a> Pl. of Sayid, <i>i.e.</i> a master.</p></div> +</div> +<a name="Page_72" id="Page_72"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE MAHDI'S VICTORY OVER HICKS PASHA.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">The European captives learn that General Hicks is advancing—Slatin +Bey's defence of Darfur—His heroism—The Mahdi prepares +to resist Hicks—The march of the Hicks Expedition—Extracts +from the diary of Major Herlth—Colonel Farquhar's +gallantry at Rahad—Gustav Klootz deserts to the Mahdi—Klootz's +interview with the Mahdi in which Ohrwalder and +Bonomi act as interpreters—The expedition advances towards +Shekan—Is surrounded and annihilated—Description of the +battle—The Mahdi victor of Kordofan.</p> + + +<p style="text-indent: 0em;"><span class="firstwords">In</span> our present miserable plight all our hopes were +directed on Khartum, from whence we expected succour. +Hitherto we heard only vague rumours, but the +news of the defeat and death of Wad Makashef on the +White Nile encouraged us to hope on. We had no idea +who commanded the Egyptian troops in this action. +We were quite uncertain as to what policy the Government +would adopt regarding Kordofan; and of course, +at this time, false reports were flying about everywhere, +and it was quite impossible to arrive at the truth. At +first we were inclined to believe everything we heard, +but gradually we found that we lived in such an atmosphere +of lying and deceit that we arrived at believing +almost nothing we heard. The Sudanese proverb, +"Consider all news to be good and true, even if it be +false," is universally acted on in the Moslem world; and +those who looked for help from the Government always +hoped for good news, and seized on the smallest pretext +to give colour to their expectations; their belief in +dreams which never came true accentuated their misery. +It was useless to try and enlighten these poor ignorant +people, contradiction only made them annoyed. For<a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"></a>tune-tellers +were often consulted about the future, and +naturally they foretold what they thought their interrogators +wanted to hear, and thus gave them hope for a +short time; but when it turned out incorrect—as was +invariably the case—it only increased their depression.</p> + +<p>God, in His mercy, sent a ray of light into the darkness +of our captivity, which again kindled the hope of +succour which had been well-nigh quite extinguished. +On the 21st of June, 1883, a man came into our little hut +and asked in a scared sort of way if we were the missionaries. +After repeated assurances that we were, the man +took courage and withdrew from his trousers a little +note, which he had concealed very carefully, and handed +it to Father Bonomi, who at once tore it open in nervous +haste and eagerly scanned the few lines which were to +give us a new life. The note was signed by Marcopoli +Bey, by order of General Hicks, and was to the effect +that we should not abandon hope, for as soon as the +winter season began, a large army would advance into +the Sudan to attack the Mahdi. We kissed that dirty +little bit of paper, and thanked God most heartily for +sending us news so full of comfort. We became reassured, +and now our dark future gave place to cheerful +hopes which brightened the few months of anxious delay +which followed the receipt of this note. The letter was +dated from the White Nile, where the General had +already gained a victory over Wad Makashef, and soon +the news of the intended expedition against the Mahdi +spread like wildfire through the camp.</p> + + +<a name="hicks"></a><div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p074.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="286" height="375"> +<p class="caption2">HICKS PASHA.</p></div> + +<p>It appears that Consul Hansal also wrote a letter to +the Mahdi, but the latter said nothing to us about it. +Amina, one of our black girls whom the Mahdi had +taken as a concubine, said she saw in the Mahdi's hand +a letter with a large seal, on which the "double-headed +eagle" was represented; but the Mahdi does not appear +to have taken much notice of it. In Darfur the news +of the intended Hicks expedition had considerable effect. +Slatin, the Governor-General, had been fighting continuously +against the natives of Darfur and against the +Rizighat, Habbanieh, and other Arab tribes; he was<a name="Page_74" id="Page_74"></a> +now in the north, then in the south, combating with +bravery and unusual rapidity the various revolts which +sprang up throughout his province. He was a scourge +to the Arabs and killed thousands of them; he even +pursued them into the almost inaccessible hills and +valleys of Jebel Marra. His powers of endurance were +wonderful, and he would often be twenty-four hours in +the saddle, constantly fighting, and with nothing to +eat or drink. He slept on the bare floor or ground +beside his native soldiers, and lived on dhurra soaked +in water; he was just, never took bribes, generous, ever +ready to assist the poor and needy, and never refused +admittance to old and young who sought his help. In<a name="Page_75" id="Page_75"></a> +spite, however, of his having—as he himself told me—fought +in twenty-seven battles against the Arabs, he +could not crush them, for they were like fungus growing +out of the earth.</p> + +<p>In action Slatin was most heroic. On one occasion +he was struck by a bullet which shattered one of his +fingers; but, undismayed, he seized the hanging remnant +with his other hand and ordered the man standing next +him to cut it off with his knife; then he joined again +in the fight, and cheered his men on to victory. Not +only in Kordofan, but throughout the entire Sudan, he +was celebrated for his bravery in the face of the enemy. +Still he was powerless to cope with the extensive revolt +in his province, and obtained little support from his +Egyptian officers, who were jealous and constantly +intrigued against him; yet it was the wonder of all +that he succeeded in holding out so long. At length, +when his ammunition was almost finished, came the +news of Hicks's projected expedition, and to gain time he +resorted to the following expedient. His vakil was a +man named Mohammed Zogal, uncle to the Mahdi, and +a man of sense; with him Slatin came to a private +understanding, and it was agreed that Zogal should pay +a visit to the Mahdi, inform him that Slatin was prepared +to submit, provided he was permitted to hold his +present position, and then he was to return and bring +back full information regarding the Mahdi, his power, +&c., and at the same time endeavour to arrange for a +suspension of hostilities pending the arrival of Hicks. +Should Hicks be victorious then Slatin and Darfur +would be saved, otherwise all would be lost; but this +plan, if successful, would enable Slatin to hold out until +Hicks came, which he could not otherwise have done. +Zogal set out on his journey and arrived at El Obeid +early in September 1883, where he was warmly welcomed +by the Mahdi. The latter was much pleased +with Slatin's proposition, and ordered a salute of one +hundred guns to be fired to announce his surrender.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi could now turn his entire attention to his +preparations to resist the advance of General Hicks,<a name="Page_76" id="Page_76"></a> +concerning the number of whose troops the wildest +reports were circulated. On learning of his departure +from Omdurman on the 9th of September, he issued a +proclamation instructing his emirs to read it to their +followers. In it he, as usual, styled himself the Mahdi +sent by God to defeat the Turks, who were the enemies +of God and His Prophet, and that his mission was to +conquer the world; he extolled the virtues of holy war +and promised paradise and its joys to all those who fell +fighting in the holy cause. He now quitted El Obeid +and pitched his tent under a large Adansonia tree outside +the walls; his three Khalifas and their followers copied +his example, and this was the signal for the whole town +to be evacuated. The life of ease and comfort was +abandoned and people collected round their emirs' flags, +so that in a short time an enormous camp was formed +in anticipation of the great battle. Couriers were sent +in all directions to proclaim that anyone who refused +to follow the Mahdi would have his hand and foot cut +off; all men joined willingly, the Mahdi's camp daily +grew larger, and straw huts (or tokuls) soon covered the +plain, though the people were allowed in turns to go +back to the town at night. Detachments of troops were +sent to various parts of Kordofan to collect the Dervishes, +and whole tribes streamed from all directions towards +El Obeid. Daily man[oe]uvres and reviews were held, +and guns fired repeatedly so that the horses should get +accustomed to the noise. Thus the Mahdi instilled great +enthusiasm into the masses, and we began to have some +fear for Hicks.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi now despatched the three emirs, Abdel +Halim Wad el Hashmi, Hajji Mohammed Abu Girgeh, +and Omar Elias Pasha, with their followers, to Duem. +They were instructed to watch the movements of Hicks's +force, and when it left the White Nile, to cut his +communication; they were then to harass his march as +much as possible, but not to bring on a general engagement. +All these orders were admirably carried out.</p> + +<p>General Hicks left Duem on the 24th of September, +1883, and marched in a south-westerly direction through<a name="Page_77" id="Page_77"></a> +Shatt, Zeregga, Aigella, Shirkeleh, and Rahad, which +he reached on the 20th of October, leaving Tagalla and +Jebel Dair on the left. The inhabitants of the districts +through which the troops passed, quitted their villages +and carried off all their goods, so that when the troops +arrived they found nothing but straw huts, which the +soldiers at first set fire to; but General Hicks soon +forbade this practice. The ill-fated army scarcely met +a living soul, but flocks of vultures followed them as if +waiting for their prey. Shortly after the annihilation +of the army, a small and incomplete diary belonging to +an Austrian officer, Major Herlth, came into my hands, +but it was sufficient to give me an insight into the +wretched condition of this force. The facts were briefly +as follows: It was expected that on the arrival of the +army at Shirkeleh, it would be joined by several +thousand Tagalla people, and it was hoped that this +reinforcement would inspire the troops with some life +and energy, which they entirely lacked; but these +reinforcements never appeared.</p> + +<p>Major Herlth described the troops as anything but +good, and frequently refers to the want of agreement +between the two commanders—General Hicks with his +small body of European officers on the one hand, and +Ala ed Din Pasha, Governor-General of the Sudan, a +man imbued with the old Turkish system, on the other. +The European officers were convinced that the expedition +would not be successful; the camels were badly +looked after, hundreds died every day, and their loads +were piled on to the others which were still alive; +saddles were for the most part without straw, so that +the bare wood rubbing on their backs made terrible +wounds. Almost all the horses had died before the +force reached Rahad. General Hicks had also great +trouble in keeping the men together; numbers of them +had recently been fighting against the English with +Arabi Pasha, and had been forcibly sent to the Sudan. +It is also strange that the shorter route from Duem to +Bara, on which there was plenty of water, was not +chosen in preference to the long roundabout road they<a name="Page_78" id="Page_78"></a> +took. While the latter route led through forests and +long grass, the former was entirely free from these +obstructions, and, moreover, the friendly Kababish tribe +would have supported them on their northern flank. +There was still another circumstance which contributed +to the final disaster—the guides were treacherous, and +led the army into the hands of the Dervishes; indeed, +it was an open secret in the camp at El Obeid that +the guides had been sent by the Mahdi.</p> + +<p>At Rahad, Hicks expected to have been joined by +five hundred Baggara horsemen, and it is true a number +of horsemen were seen in the distance, and a white flag +was shown; but the riders did not approach, and it was +soon evident that they were enemies. The force was in +such a miserable and wretched condition that the emir, +Abdel Halim, begged permission of the Mahdi to be +allowed to attack it with his own followers; but this the +Mahdi would not permit him to do, as he wanted to +have all the honour and glory of victory for himself. +Every day information about the movements of the +Egyptian troops was sent to the Mahdi; sometimes +reports reached him twice a day, and were always of the +same tenour, viz. that the men had no heart to fight. +Had an expedition been coming which had the elements +of success in it, public opinion would have shown itself +by numbers deserting the Mahdi's standards; but they +had heard nothing of Hicks's early successes, and now +the only reports that reached them were that the army +was in a hopeless condition. All this only made the +Mahdi's prestige the greater, and it must be remembered +that the latter was an adept at inspiring fanaticism. +One of General Hicks's spies was captured, and he was +at once impaled on lances. The following extracts, +which I give from memory, from Major Herlth's diary +will show how demoralised the expedition had become. +The camp was pitched at Rahad on a small eminence +near the Khor Abu Habl, whilst the enemy, who were +concealed on the opposite side in the high grass and +under the trees, fired incessantly at the Egyptians and +killed a number of them. One bullet entered Hicks's<a name="Page_79" id="Page_79"></a> +tent and struck the seat on which he was sitting; he +then gave orders that the grass and woods should be at +once cleared of the enemy. There was still a little +water in the Khor, and as it seemed to be deep, a consultation +was held as to how it should best be crossed. +The discussion lasted an hour. At length a few, more +courageous than the rest, decided to try and wade across, +and to their intense surprise found that it was quite +shallow and easily fordable; they then crossed over and +drove back the enemy, killing seven of them.</p> + +<p>While at Rahad, it was discovered that the camp +out of which they had marched the previous day had +been entered, and everything that they had left behind +had been taken. It was now evident that the enemy +were in greater force than they had thought, and in +consequence General Hicks made an entrenchment and +put guns into position, which were fired with some effect, +as one shell killed no less than thirteen men. This +news was sent to the Mahdi.</p> + +<p>At El Obeid the slow advance of the troops could not +be understood, and this had a still more convincing +effect on the Dervishes that the expedition must be in a +bad way. It was a matter of no surprise that the +troops had not been victorious, as it was known that +every element of success was wanting; as for the poor +Egyptians, the capture of a cow was an event of great +importance, and General Hicks ordered every officer to +be given a piece of it.</p> + +<p>Colonel Farquhar, chief of the staff, did all he could +to raise the courage of the soldiers. On one occasion +some horsemen were seen a short distance away sitting +fearlessly on their horses as if challenging anyone to +come out and fight them. When Farquhar saw them +he mounted his horse and advanced straight on them. +When he approached they began to retire, but he went +in pursuit, and coming up with them killed two, the +third he pulled off his horse, and capturing the horses +brought them back to camp. In spite, however, of +such a gallant example, the men were listless and out of +heart; the long marches had thoroughly exhausted them.<a name="Page_80" id="Page_80"></a></p> + +<a name="colonel"></a><div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p080.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="228" height="382"> +<p class="caption2">COLONEL ARTHUR FARQUHAR.<br>(<i>Chief of the Staff.</i>)</p></div> + +<p>At Rahad, Gustav Klootz, a native of Berlin, deserted +the army. He was Baron Seckendorf's servant; but at +Shirkeleh he quitted his master's service, and became +the servant of Mr. O'Donovan, correspondent of the +<i>Daily News</i>. Klootz had certain socialistic tendencies, +which caused him to change masters, and there is no +doubt that these ideas had much to do with his desertion. +He and a native of Saxony determined to escape +secretly, and on the plea of gathering wood outside the +camp, these two men succeeded one evening in passing +the outposts. No sooner had they gone beyond the line +than they heard firing, and the Saxony man, fearing a +sudden attack, at once turned back to camp, whilst<a name="Page_81" id="Page_81"></a> +Klootz continued his flight. When he had gone a short +distance he fired two shots, one to make the Egyptians +believe that the enemy was close to them, and the other +to make the enemy think that they were close to the +Egyptian outposts. When night came on he lay down +under a tree to sleep, regardless of the fact that he was +between two enemies; and the next morning he began +to debate with himself whether, after all, it would not +be better to return. He would not have hesitated for +an instant had he not thought that perhaps the Saxony +man had betrayed his desertion. At length he decided +there was nothing for it but to go on towards the +Dervishes.</p> + +<p>After going some distance he saw three dirty-looking +men who pointed their rifles at him; but he +signed to them that he was not coming as an enemy, +and to further reassure them, he threw down his rifle +and revolver on the ground, and advanced towards +them. The Arabs also approached; but Klootz, who +did not understand a word of Arabic, called out, +"Dervish—where is the Dervish?" (by "Dervish" he +meant the Mahdi.) The Arabs understood perfectly +what he wanted to say, but at that moment they were +thinking much more of the loot they saw before them +than of the Mahdi; so they seized the little money +Klootz had, and took possession of his watch, rifle, +revolver, and even his boots. Klootz soon realised into +whose hands he had fallen, for these Arabs, having taken +everything from him, then directed him towards the +Dervish camp. On he plodded barefooted, through the +long grass, and often over thorns, until at last he met +an old woman, who made him understand by gestures +that he was close on the camp. A few moments later +several horsemen appeared, and, surrounding him, took +him in triumph to Abu Girgeh; for they thought at +length they had captured a hated Englishman. Klootz, +to his astonishment, now found himself in a large +entrenched camp, where the Dervishes were living in +perfect safety. The horsemen had told Abu Girgeh that +they had found him sitting in a tree writing, so he was<a name="Page_82" id="Page_82"></a> +at once put in chains, tied tightly to a bedstead, and +then interrogated about Hicks's troops. At the same +time a messenger was sent to the Mahdi to inquire what +should be done with the Englishman. The Mahdi +ordered that he should be at once brought to El Obeid; +the chains were therefore removed, and a rope put round +his neck, by which he was drawn by horsemen to the +Mahdi's camp. The journey lasted a day and a half, +and he was obliged to walk the whole way barefooted +in the burning sun, so that when he reached El Obeid +his feet were swollen up and in a dreadful condition.</p> + +<p>As swift as lightning the news now spread through +the camp that an English officer had been captured. +Who could the unfortunate man be? we wondered. +When Klootz was brought before the Mahdi all he +could say was that he was Nimsawi (a German). The +Mahdi therefore summoned Stambuli, Bonomi, and +myself, to act as interpreters. When we entered the +crowded enclosure everyone understood the object of our +coming; most of them were busy cleaning their lances, +and shouted out after us, "Mind you make careful +inquiries of him." There was such a crowd in front +of the Mahdi's tent that it was almost impossible to +make our way through; but at last there was a cry of +"Ahl Delen" ("Here are the Delen people"), and they +made way for us. We took off our shoes, and were +shown into the Mahdi's presence. I was intensely +anxious to see who this Englishman might be; we had +seen nothing but black faces for so long, that had he +been a creature from the other world, we could not have +been more interested; then we were on tenter-hooks to +know how the expedition was progressing, whether it +was under English command, &c., &c. Of course General +Hicks's name was well known, but we knew nothing +about the composition of his force.</p> + +<p>When we entered we saw the Mahdi, the supposed +English officer, and Ahmed Wad Suleiman sitting on a +straw mat. We saluted the Mahdi, who returned our +salute in a most gracious manner. He was smiling, and +seemed much pleased. He introduced the Englishman<a name="Page_83" id="Page_83"></a> +to me, and asked me to question him about his coming. +My imagination, in which I had pictured an Englishman, +received a rude shock, for I beheld before me a young +man with blonde hair, blue eyes, a sunburnt face, and a +nose from which the skin was peeled off. He wore a +dirty tarbush; his clothes were made of rough canvas, +and he looked very much like the fireman of an engine. +Before anything else I expressed to him my sincere pity +at his having fallen into the hands of savages, for I did +not then know that he had come of his own accord. I +asked him his name; he replied, "Gustav Klootz, of +Berlin," and said that he was the correspondent of an +important newspaper. He afterwards gave me a true +account of himself. I translated everything to the +Mahdi. I then asked him about the state of the army. +He said that it consisted of barely 10,000 men, and he +added that it was generally believed by the European +officers that they would be defeated. It was with the +greatest difficulty that I concealed the blow to my +feelings which this news occasioned. I asked him why +he deserted, and he excused himself by saying that he +did so to save his life. I now knew that he could be +no soldier; but, of course, I did not translate to the +Mahdi the wretched account he gave of the army. +At this moment I received a kick in the ribs from +Ahmed Wad Suleiman, who cried out, "Ask him +how many guns are in possession of the unbelievers?" +I was then given a small book, which turned out to be +Klootz's diary, and was told to translate it. There were +only a few leaves, in which the date of departure from +Shatt and other places was noted; the number of +camels that died daily; a few observations on his master, +and sundry other things.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi then asked whether, if he wrote to Hicks, +he would be likely to surrender, to which Klootz naturally +replied that he was sure nothing would induce him +to do so.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi further asked whether Klootz thought he +or General Hicks was the more powerful, to which +Klootz answered that he thought the Mahdi would be<a name="Page_84" id="Page_84"></a> +successful; but that he would probably lose a number of +his followers, as Hicks's force was well supplied with +good firearms, to which Wad Suleiman added, "Death +will be our reward."</p> + +<p>The Mahdi seemed delighted with the news he had +received, and ordered a plate of fried meat to be brought, +which he shared with us, eating with his fingers. It +was considered a very high favour when he touched the +plate with his hand, and handed a small piece of meat +to those who sat with him, and this favour he conferred +on us. It was rather striking that he should have done +this, for many Moslems consider it wrong even to eat in +the presence of Christians. When the meal was over he +dismissed us, and Klootz was handed over to Stambuli +till further orders.</p> + +<p>Just as we got outside the hut, Klootz and I were +called in again. The Mahdi was now quite alone. He +ordered us to sit down on the floor, and then whispered +in my ear, "Tell this man he may count on the best of +treatment if he will turn Moslem; if not, he must die." +I explained this to Klootz in German, and he replied +that he was quite prepared to do anything the Mahdi +required; whereupon the latter presented him with his +shoes and a jibbeh, and named him "Mustafa," as it +struck him that there was a similarity of sound between +Mustafa and Gustav.</p> + +<p>When we left the hut we found an enormous crowd of +people all clamouring to know what the Englishman had +said. Of course everyone wanted to see him, and it +was impossible for us to move a step. Stambuli, therefore, +procured a horse, mounted Klootz upon it, and in +this manner we proceeded to Stambuli's house.</p> + +<p>We did not at first believe in Klootz's statement, and +thought that he must have purposely given the Mahdi +false information, so as to gain favour and save his own +skin; but when we were alone together, I bound him +by a solemn oath to tell me the absolute truth, and, to +my astonishment, he told me he had nothing to add to +what he had already said. It is impossible to describe +our misery when we heard Klootz's report. We had<a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"></a> +counted for months on the success of the expedition to +deliver us from the hands of our enemies, and now all +our bright hopes were rapidly fading away, and again a +gloomy future yawned in front of us.</p> + +<p>General Hicks left Rahad on the 26th of October, +and arrived at Aluba on the 29th; here he received the +Mahdi's letter summoning him to submit. Of course +this was taken no notice of, and on the 3rd of November +the army advanced towards Kashgeil, which is about +twelve miles south of El Obeid.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Mahdi had been collecting his +followers, and doing all in his power to inspire them +with wild fanaticism; anyone who saw the enormous +hordes of savages which were brought together, must +have trembled for the fate of Hicks. It was said that +the Mahdi had been promised the assistance of 40,000 +angels from paradise, and everyone quite believed in the +truth of this assertion. Anyone beholding this immense +multitude of fanatics of every race and age, even +though he had formerly been a disbeliever in the Mahdi, +must now have been convinced of his divinity. The uneducated +masses of the Sudan are entirely governed +by the influence of external appearances, they had never +heard or seen anything of this description before; now +heralds were going from end to end of the camp foretelling +the death of everyone who refused to follow the +Mahdi.</p> + +<p>On the 1st of November, Mohammed Ahmed quitted +El Obeid, and everyone—man, woman, and child—followed +him. Every house was evacuated, and woe +to him who attempted to hide himself! Wad Gubara +and his flag alone remained behind as garrison of El +Obeid. The throng, noisy bustle and din of the camp +suddenly gave way to almost absolute silence—the +silence of the grave. The days which followed were for +us a period of terrible anxiety. Although we felt almost +certain that a terrible catastrophe was about to take +place, yet we still had a slight hope that, with the help +of European leaders, good rifles, and machine-guns, the +result might be different. Abu Anga, who had separated<a name="Page_86" id="Page_86"></a> +from his Jehadieh (black troops) just the day before, +now joined the powerful division of Abdel Halim, and +on the 3rd of November the Mahdi's followers also joined +this division, whilst the Mahdi himself, accompanied +by his Khalifas, set out for Birket.</p> + +<p>It was on the 3rd of November that the action +actually began, for, in accordance with the Mahdi's +orders, his followers had gradually completely encircled +the troops, who were now opposed by black soldiers +with Remington rifles, Wad en Nejumi's Gellabas, and +the flags of Abdel Halim, Sherif Mahmud, and many +others. In the attack which occurred on this date, the +Dervishes were forced back with the loss of Fauzi, one +of the Mahdi's katibs, Elias Pasha's son, and the son +of Hajji Khaled; but General Hicks's losses were considerably +greater; he had also run short of water, and +was doing his utmost to dig wells, though he did not +know that within fifteen minutes' walk of him there +was a large reservoir of rain-water. What days of +terrible anxiety these must have been for the principal +officers, and especially for General Hicks, on whom the +entire responsibility rested!</p> + +<p>Major Herlth's diary stops abruptly on the 4th of +November; he writes on that day that Dr. Georges Bey +was wounded the previous day and died shortly afterwards. +As far as I can remember, the Major then +continues:—"These are bad times; we are in a forest, +and everyone very depressed. The general orders the +band to play, hoping that the music may enliven us a +little; but the bands soon stop, for the bullets are flying +from all directions, and camels, mules, and men keep +dropping down; we are all cramped up together, so the +bullets cannot fail to strike. We are faint and weary, +and have no idea what to do. The general gives the +order to halt and make a zariba. It is Sunday, and +my dear brother's birthday. Would to God that I +could sit down and talk to him for an hour! The +bullets are falling thicker...."</p> + +<p>Here the writer suddenly breaks off; possibly a +bullet had penetrated his weary heart.<a name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></a></p> + +<p>The ring of encircling Dervishes was gradually drawing +in and enclosing the ill-fated troops. The greatest +destruction was done by Abu Anga's men who may +be said to have destroyed the army; hidden behind +shrubs and bushes, they fired incessantly at very close +range into the midst of the Egyptians. One of Abu +Anga's men told me that he alone had fired one hundred +and fifty rounds. On that terrible Sunday General +Hicks had to abandon a number of guns, for he had no +mules to carry them. Dire confusion prevailed everywhere, +the troops were suffering terribly from thirst, +discipline was gone, and the men could not even lay +their guns properly.</p> + +<p>Klootz, whom the Khalifa Abdullah took with him, +told me that he was some way from the place where the +actual fighting was going on, and that the shells were +striking the branches overhead. It would seem that +the army made three attempts to break through the +Dervish lines, but failed, and Klootz told me that the +bodies were scattered in three large heaps extending +over a distance of nearly two miles. The largest heap +was in the forest of Shekan near Kashgeil, and it was +here that the Dervishes fell on the remainder of the +force and the European officers, and killed them with +their lances on the 5th of November.</p> + +<p>According to the evidence of the Dervishes themselves, +the European officers fought most heroically. +General Hicks was one of the last to fall; he had +emptied his revolver, and, holding his sword in his +right hand, waited for the rush of the enemy; he was +soon surrounded and his horse wounded in the back; he +then dismounted and fought most gallantly with his +sword until he fell, pierced by several spears. The +heroism of these brave men was the admiration of all. +After the massacre the bodies were stripped and mutilated. +Even long after the battle those who were +present used to talk of the terrible spectacle of all these +bodies lying with their mouths gaping open and covered +with blood. These savages used to plunge their spears +into the bodies of the dead so as to dip them in the<a name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></a> +bloody entrails of their enemies, and for long after they +talked and revelled over the yellow-looking fat of the +"Turks," which protruded through their gaping wounds. +Baron Seckendorf, who was remarkable for his enormous +size, had been beheaded, and his head was taken to the +Mahdi; it was thought that he must have been General +Hicks. A few escaped by hiding themselves under the +heaps of dead bodies or behind guns or waggons; at the +end of the action these were all collected, and numbered +one hundred persons. During the actual fighting no +quarter was given. An Egyptian soldier pursued by +some Dervishes fled towards the Khalifa Sherif and +begged to be spared; but the latter laughed at his fear, +and he was at once despatched with spears.</p> + +<p>The Dervishes then collected their dead and laid +them out in a line. It seems almost incredible to say +so, but there were only three hundred and fifty in all +killed. The Mahdi offered up a prayer over them, and +then they were buried.</p> + +<p>The dead bodies of the Egyptians were left a prey to +the vultures and hyenas. Klootz, who said that he +understood doctoring, was permitted by the Mahdi to +collect all the medicines in the field, and when doing so +he was enabled to examine the bodies of the Europeans. +He told me that it was with the greatest difficulty he +kept himself from breaking down when he saw the +mutilated corpses of those with whom he had but a +short time ago laughed and spoken. The body of a +soldier was seen hanging between earth and sky; he +had evidently climbed up an Adansonia tree in search of +water, when a bullet must have killed him, and in falling +he was caught by the branches.</p> + +<p>Amongst those who escaped was a man named Abderrahman +Ben en Naga Bey, whose father, then in El Obeid, +had entreated the Mahdi to spare him. A few days +before the catastrophe he was found writing letters to +Omar Wad Elias Pasha, then with Abdel Halim's force; +in consequence he and his men had been put in irons, +and it was Ala ed Din Pasha's intention to execute him; +but Hicks would not allow it, saying that he would be<a name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></a> +fairly tried after El Obeid was captured. Ben en Naga +was in the thickest of the fight, and had already lost an +eye, when his father's slaves succeeded in reaching him +and saving his life.</p> + +<a name="baggara"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:450px;"><img src="images/p089.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="340" height="435"> +<p class="caption2">A BAGGARA EMIR, PRESENT AT THE ANNIHILATION OF THE HICKS +EXPEDITION, AND AFTERWARDS CAPTURED AT TOSKI.</p></div> + +<p>The Mahdi and his followers were greatly delighted, +for they had not calculated on such a complete victory, +and a messenger was at once despatched to El Obeid to +order a salute of one hundred guns to be fired.</p> + +<p>It was early on Tuesday morning, the 6th of November,<a name="Page_90" id="Page_90"></a> +that the thunder of the guns was heard in the camp, +and our alarm at this terrible news can well be understood. +Our bright hopes, which enabled us to support +a wretched existence for more than a year, were rudely +dashed to the ground. We now gave up all idea of the +Government sending a second expedition. It was clear +that Khartum must look to its own safety, and as the +Mahdi had in the first instance gained possession of +Kordofan through his victory over Yusef Pasha Esh +Shellali, so now his annihilation of General Hicks's force +placed almost the entire Sudan in his hands.</p> + + +<a name="Page_91" id="Page_91"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE MAHDI'S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO EL OBEID.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Fall of Darfur—Slatin surrenders—The Mahdi's divinity credited +after the annihilation of Hicks—King Adam of Tagalla—Stambuli's +kindness to the European captives—Gordon writes to +the Mahdi—Power's letter—The sisters seized and distributed +amongst the emirs—They are tortured—The missionaries turned +into slaves—The terrible journey to Rahad—The Greeks come +to the help of the sisters—The proclamation concerning the +treatment of priests and hermits by Mohammedans—The Mahdi +at Rahad—Ohrwalder's interviews with the Mahdi concerning +religion—The Dervishes attack the Nubas.</p> + + +<p style="text-indent: 0em;"><span class="firstwords">The</span> Mahdi remained seven days with his entire force +at Birket, so as to collect families and stragglers and to +take possession of the loot which the greedy Arabs +had seized and refused to give up. Several of the latter +were flogged, and seven slaves belonging to the Mahdi's +uncle, Sayid Mohammed Taha, suffered the loss of a +hand and a foot because they had kept for themselves +some of the Mahdi's booty.</p> + +<p>The loot referred to consisted of war material, such +as Krupp guns, machine guns, and Remington rifles, +besides a number of axes, pickaxes, and shovels, which +were required for making zaribas; a quantity of money, +watches, and clothing, was also included, and the whole +was carried off to the beit el mal.</p> + +<p>Some of the dead bodies were secretly set fire to, so +as to make the ignorant people think that these unbelievers +were being consumed by hell-fire. General +Hicks's white horse was handed over to Klootz with +orders to cure the wound in its back.</p> + +<p>At length the pestilential smell of thousands of dead +bodies of men and animals drove the conquerors forward.<a name="Page_92" id="Page_92"></a> +The Mahdi's entry into El Obeid was a scene of wild +enthusiasm and excitement. The many-coloured flags +came first, then followed thousands upon thousands of +Dervishes moving to the ever-swelling murmur of "La +Ilaha il'lallah" ("There is no god but God"), whilst others +danced out of the ranks and shook their blood-bespotted +spears, uttering fearful yells. After them followed the +cavalry with the three Khalifas. Every now and then +a halt was made, when a number of riders would dash +forward at full gallop, poising their lances ready for the +thrust, and then would return to the ranks amidst the +loud applause of the others.</p> + +<p>After the cavalry followed a few prisoners, the +wretched remnant of Hicks's army. Most of them were +naked, and were being dragged forward under the continual +insults of the Dervishes; then came the guns +drawn by wounded mules, and last of all came the +Mahdi himself, riding a magnificent white camel, and +surrounded by his most fanatical adherents, whose +monotonous "La Ilaha il'lallah" resembled the sound +of a rushing stream. Clouds of dust filled the air, and +as the Mahdi passed by, the spectators threw themselves +down and kissed the ground, whilst the women shouted +"Mahdi Allah" ("The Mahdi of God").</p> + +<p>Such a scene of wild triumph had never before been +witnessed. The Mahdi was now honoured almost as a +god. This victory gained for him an enormous increase +of power and respect. The fear of his name sped like +wildfire throughout every province and district in the +Sudan. He was now regarded as the true Mahdi, +every Moslem believed in him, and all doubt was put +aside.</p> + +<p>At the battle near Shekan numbers of people said +they saw the angels whom the Mahdi had summoned +to fight against the Turks. He now became the object +of almost superhuman adoration; even the water with +which he washed himself was handed by the eunuchs +to the believers, who drank it with avidity as an antidote +to all ills and diseases.</p> + +<p>After a time the captured Egyptians were released,<a name="Page_93" id="Page_93"></a> +and many died in a state of beggary in the market-place +at El Obeid. The captured blacks were distributed +amongst the beit el mal soldiers, and were +known by the name of "Hiksani," for example, Morgan +Hiksani. It was one of the Mahdi institutions that +slaves should—besides their own names—bear also the +names of their masters. Our Delen blacks were also +given my name, "Yusef." Of course it would have +been more correct if they had called them after our +chief, Luigi Bonomi, but the Arabs found this name +rather difficult to pronounce.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi now became more imperious, and his +success made him bolder and more confident. He despatched +letters to various parts of the world, proving +the divinity of his mission by his success in arms, and +summoning all to rise against the Turks. He wrote very +strongly to the inhabitants of the Gezireh, threatening +them with fire and sword if they refused to rise against +the Government and join him.</p> + +<p>Having rid himself of his enemies, the Mahdi now +turned his attention to Darfur. He appointed his uncle, +Zogal Bey, who was known as Sayid Mohammed +Khaled, emir of Darfur, and sent him to that province, +accompanied by Abdel Samad, the son of Ahmed Sharfi, +and Omar Wad Elias.</p> + +<p>Khalifa Sherif, immediately after the victory over +Hicks, urged the Mahdi to advance to the White Nile +and attack Khartum, which he might easily have done, +but the Mahdi was anxious first of all to secure Darfur, +and he also wished to rest on his laurels a little longer. +He wrote to Slatin Bey informing him of the destruction +of Hicks's army, and he also forced Klootz to write to the +same effect. Zogal started on the 16th of December, 1883, +and proceeded in the first instance to Dara, where Slatin +was at that time. He then sent in a messenger with +the Mahdi's letter, in which he was called upon to surrender. +Zogal well knew that this was a mere formality, +for Slatin was quite unable to hold out any +longer, and he had only five cartridges per man left; +his men too refused to make any further stand. Slatin,<a name="Page_94" id="Page_94"></a> +therefore, on receipt of the letter, rode out to Zogal and +submitted. The Dervishes then entered Dara, and as +usual began to plunder. Zogal subsequently proceeded +to El Fasher, which was at that time commanded by +the Mudir, Said Bey Guma, who had put the town in a +state of defence.</p> + +<p>In spite of the wells being beyond the lines, Said Bey +offered a resistance which from the outset was hopeless; +seven days later, that is to say on the 15th of January, +1884, he surrendered. Kebkebieh also yielded to Zogal, +and Omshanga had already submitted. Thus the populous +and valuable province of Darfur, which had cost Egypt +much blood and money, was entirely lost in the short +space of eight days. In the meantime the Mahdi had +despatched his son-in-law, Wad el Beshir, to the Gezireh +to head the revolt against the Government in that +district.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi showed his wisdom in never attempting +to invade a district which had not previously declared +in his favour. When he heard of the submission of El +Fasher and Dara, he despatched Abu Girgeh to undertake +the siege of Khartum. The latter left with only +a small body of troops, but numbers joined him on the +way, especially when he reached the White Nile; so +that he was not afraid of advancing towards the capital.</p> + +<p>Thus through his victory at Shekan, the Mahdi had +virtually made himself master of the whole Sudan from +the Red Sea to the boundaries of Waddai, and from the +Bahr el Ghazal to Dongola. All eyes were turned to +him, and the majority of the people believed him to +be the true Mahdi; some thought he must be a great +magician. Even now at the present time, when he has +already been six years in his grave, and the fallacy and +misery wrought by Mahdiism are thoroughly admitted, +still his wonderful success is attributed to witchcraft. +His own countrymen—the Danagla—although they +now admit he was not the Mahdi, say that he was +undoubtedly a very holy man, and was supernaturally +endowed by God with extraordinary authority and +wisdom. Amongst others who feared the Mahdi's power<a name="Page_95" id="Page_95"></a> +was King Adam of Tagalla, who with his wife, child, +and slaves, came down from his mountain retreat and +surrendered.</p> + +<p>For a long time the King's Kadi had endeavoured to +convince his master that Mohammed Ahmed was not the +true Mahdi, and did his utmost to dissuade him from +joining; but after the defeat of Hicks, Adam delayed +no longer, and moreover took his Kadi with him. When +they reached Melbeis, about three hours' journey from +El Obeid, the Kadi deserted, but he was recaptured, put +in chains, and brought with the king to El Obeid.</p> + +<p>On their arrival near the town, Khalifa Abdullah +went out with a large retinue to meet Adam, who had a +great reputation throughout Kordofan, and greeted him +most cordially. A salute was fired, and every one +rejoiced at the Mahdi's bloodless victory. King Adam +was warmly welcomed by the Mahdi, given a special +place to live in, and treated with the greatest respect. +To gain still more favour in the Mahdi's eyes, Adam +sent him six of his prettiest young girls as concubines. +After a short time, however, the mountain king seemed +to tire of residence in El Obeid and began to suffer from +melancholia. In his mountains he was absolute master, +here in El Obeid he was nothing but a slave. At first +he thought he would be permitted to return to his +mountains, but soon he had to give up all hope of this; +and before long he realised that one of the first principles +of Mahdiism was that those who were fortunate +enough to behold its light would never be permitted to +wander back into darkness. Now he bitterly repented +that he had not accepted his Kadi's advice, while the spies +by whom he was surrounded soon let the <a name="tn_png_111"></a><!--TN: "Madhi" changed to "Mahdi"-->Mahdi know +what the Kadi's opinions were; and when Khalifa +Abdullah learnt that he meditated flight, he at once +had him seized and beheaded. Thus was the unfortunate +Adam intimidated; then his horses were taken +from him, and last of all, to save his life, he had to sell +his wives.</p> + +<p>Almost all the inhabitants of Jebel Nuba sent +messengers to say that they were the Mahdi's subjects.<a name="Page_96" id="Page_96"></a> +Even in Khartum already numbers were inclined to +him. In proof of this statement, the case of the +Sub-Mudir of the town, Wad Gesuli, may be quoted. +When this individual heard of Gordon's arrival at +Berber, he at once fled from Khartum and came to El +Obeid, where he threw himself at the Mahdi's feet and +assured him that the inhabitants of Khartum to a man +were on his side.</p> + +<p>All hope of release now seemed at an end. Our pitiful +condition was somewhat lightened through the kind +offices of our Syrian friend, George Stambuli, who was +both the Mahdi's favourite and our benefactor at the +same time, and he supplied us with the necessaries of +life. The sisters made jibbehs (Dervish coats), which +Stambuli sold and gave us the proceeds. We obtained +the material chiefly from the clothes of the soldiers who +had been killed, and from the officers' tunics. O'Donovan's +mackintosh and some other articles of clothing +which Klootz recognised came into our hands and were +soon cut up. Most of the clothing was stained with +blood, which we were obliged to wash out; but what +bitter thoughts occupied our minds in this sad task!</p> + +<p>Towards the end of January 1884 an unfortunate +incident occurred which brought us into difficulties. +One of Stambuli's female slaves, having come to an +understanding with his Dongolawi servant, went to the +Khalifa Abdullah and reported that her master was a +Christian, and prayed daily. Stambuli's suspicions were +aroused, and that evening he hid away everything which +could be brought up against him, except a small silver +cross which his little daughter wore round her neck. +Almost before dawn his house was surrounded by a +number of Dervishes, and Nejumi with Wad Suleiman, +who had been ordered to take possession of his house, +broke into it and began a thorough search.</p> + +<p>Stambuli who, since the fall of El Obeid, had never +been questioned, had his house full of all sorts of things, +and was also in possession of a quantity of gum and +ostrich feathers. The house was turned upside down, +but nothing of an implicating nature could be found<a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"></a>: +the slave had, however, mentioned the little girl's cross, +and the inquisitors demanded to see the children; when +they saw the cross they at once asked what it was. +Stambuli replied that it was an ornament which had no +special signification, and Wad Suleiman then pulled it +off the child's neck and kept it.</p> + +<p>I must here remark that numbers of people were very +envious and jealous of Stambuli, and did not at all care +to see a white man in possession of all this property; +they therefore took every occasion to rob and steal +from him. Stambuli was now put into chains, whilst his +property was carried off to the beit el mal. It was +decided that he was to be beheaded, but his Syrian +countrymen and the Greeks consulted together, then +went to the Mahdi and begged for his life. They were +kindly received by the latter, who gave them some hope, +and fifteen days later Stambuli was pardoned. He was +obliged to appear before the Mahdi with a shebba (<i>i.e.</i> a +long piece of forked wood in which the neck was placed, +and which had the effect of forcing the head back), and +in this condition he was obliged to implore the Mahdi's +forgiveness. His property was never returned to him, +and he could support us no more.</p> + +<p>Father Bonomi seized this opportunity to write to +the Mahdi and beg for our release, which he had so +frequently promised. The Mahdi wrote several kind +words on the reverse of the petition, but they meant +nothing; he said Father Bonomi was aware with what +affection he regarded him, and that, therefore, he could +not bear the thought of losing him. At the same time +he instructed Wad Suleiman to give us whatever was +necessary for our sustenance from the beit el mal; this +occurred on the 5th of February, 1884.</p> + +<p>Just at this time, when all hopes of release seemed at +an end, God sent us light in the midst of our darkness. +Some people arrived from Khartum and reported that +Gordon Pasha had reached there and had been received +with great enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The alarm with which this news was received by the +Mahdi and his adherents, and the delight which it<a name="Page_98" id="Page_98"></a> +occasioned to those who still hoped for deliverance, can +readily be understood. The Mahdi, who thought the +Sudan was actually in his grasp, was thoroughly upset, +for it was generally believed that Gordon had brought +Englishmen with him. A few days later he received +a letter from Gordon, and the anxiety to know what it +contained was enormous. Nothing else was talked +about, and when the Mahdi ordered the letter to be +read in public the disappointment was very great.</p> + +<p>In this letter Gordon offered the Mahdi the whole of +the Western Sudan, of which he said he should be +considered the Sultan. He authorised the continuance +of the slave trade, and free transit to all pilgrims going +to Mecca; and, in conclusion, he asked for the release +of the prisoners. The Mahdi laughed at Gordon's +proposals, and thought him a very cunning unbeliever, +who was attempting to delude him with vain promises +merely to gain time. He could not understand how it +was Gordon came to offer him what he already possessed +some time ago; and he remarked that the very ground +on which Gordon was standing was practically in his +hands. The fact that Gordon had brought no troops +with him served to further increase his pride, and his +reply was couched in the following terms:—He said +that when he was at Abba Island he had warned the +Government officials that if they refused to recognise +him as the Mahdi, they would undoubtedly perish. He +had repeated the same warning to Yusef Pasha Esh +Shellali, and to Hicks Pasha. He informed him of the +surrender of Darfur, and concluded by saying that he +had no desire for worldly benefits. His object was to +reform the people, and he invited Gordon to come and +join him. With the letter the Mahdi sent him a complete +set of Dervish garments, <a name="tn_png_114"></a><!--TN: Comma removed following "viz."-->viz. a jibbeh, takia, turban, +girth, and pair of sandals.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Mahdi had despatched the emir Abu +Anga with some troops, also the emirs Wad Nejumi and +Abdullah Wad en Nur to Jebel Dair, where the king +(Mek) Kumbo was still offering resistance. It was +thought that the number of troops would alarm these<a name="Page_99" id="Page_99"></a> +mountaineers; but they successfully resisted the first +attack, and then withdrew to their mountain fastnesses +where the troops could not follow them.</p> + +<p>On the 23rd of March, 1884, a man arrived from +Khartum with a small note from Consul Power. It was +written in English on one side, and in French on the +other: "Courage pour un peu. Gordon est ici. Courage +tout ira bien," was what this good man wrote. He also +asked for the names of the survivors of Hicks's expedition, +and the names of the European prisoners in +Kordofan. We answered all his questions. These few +words of the consul gave us no little comfort and +encouragement.</p> + +<p>The time of the Mahdi's departure from El Obeid was +now drawing near. The crowd of people who had been +collected was so enormous that the water in the wells +was insufficient, and rose greatly in price, and anyone +with slaves had to pay dearly for the luxury.</p> + +<p>Disturbances frequently took place round the wells, +and often people fell in. The wells were from 150 to +160 feet deep.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi's further stay at El Obeid was now useless, +and he decided to advance on Khartum. He issued a +proclamation summoning all people to join him, and +heralds were despatched in all directions with the +Mahdi's orders. At the same time it was announced +that all people should follow in the Mahdi's track via +Rahad, and Arabs living to the north and east of El +Obeid were instructed to fall upon any travellers, put +them in chains, and drag them to that town.</p> + +<p>Provisions now became very cheap, such as coffee, +wheat, dates, &c.; but, on the other hand, the rates of +hire of camels and donkeys increased enormously. +Money was distributed to everyone for the journey.</p> + +<p>With regard to ourselves, however, as we were not +permitted to leave, we resolved to try and escape; but +this was most difficult, for we were avoided by everyone +and no one dared associate with us. We managed, +however, to procure a trustworthy man, who succeeded +in getting us camels and guides; but God had disposed<a name="Page_100" id="Page_100"></a> +otherwise. Khalifa Abdullah, accompanied by a number +of followers, suddenly appeared at our huts on the 28th +of March, and Father Bonomi, brother Joseph Rognotto +and myself were summoned before him. We found him +seated on his sheepskin in the midst of a circle of emirs, +and when he had beckoned to us to sit down, he then +began to address to us a heap of questions, all leading +up to the one important point—that we should accept his +faith. His arguments were valueless, and had no effect +upon us, so we were sent back to our huts.</p> + +<p>That evening, at about sunset, some thirty men, +mounted on horses, broke into our humble abode, +and said that they had orders to remove the sisters, +assuring us with mock modesty that no harm should +happen to them. We, however, well knew what would +happen, and absolutely refused to be separated, saying +that if they wished they could kill us, and cut off our +heads; but that it would be a cruel shame for the +Mahdi to ill-treat these poor women after all his solemn +promises and assurances. But of what avail could our +protests be against brutal violence! They forced their +way in, seized the sisters, and took them before the +Khalifa Abdullah. He and Khalifa Sherif used every +means of cruel barbarity to shake the faith of these poor +sisters, and the latter, seizing a pair of scissors, which +one of the sisters was carrying, cut the partition between +her nostrils. The Khalifa's wives also howled and +insulted them in every base way, and then they were +distributed amongst the emirs, and sent to Rahad.</p> + +<p>We spent that night in our own huts, but early the +following morning the Dervishes came and took us to +the Khalifa, who made us over to various emirs. My +master was to be Abdullah Wad en Nur; but as at that +time he happened to be at Jebel Dair, I was made over to +his brother Makin, who was then occupying Mohammed +Said Pasha's house. Father Bonomi, together with the +little property we had left, was put into the beit el mal; +but my diary, which I had now written for the third +time, also Herlth's diary, General Hicks's Bible and +prayer book, and a sandwich case and small bundle,<a name="Page_101" id="Page_101"></a> +belonging to O'Donovan, were all lost. We were now +exposed to ill-treatment and insult from all sides. The +Mahdi's three sons, ranging from seven to ten years of +age, used to come and insult me daily; but I cannot +mention the details, which will for ever remain engraven +on my memory.</p> + +<p>At length, on the 7th of April, 1884, the Mahdi set +out, and we with him. The huge camp, swarming with +thousands and thousands of people, became empty in a +few days, and each one, as he left his hut, set fire to it, +so that nothing was to be seen but clouds of smoke and +flames darting upwards to the sky.</p> + +<p>Just as we were leaving I was made over to another +master, Idris Wad el Hashmi. When I arrived at his +house, I found everything ready for the journey; numbers +of well-bound books were lying about on the floor. +I picked one up, and found it was 'The Soldier's Pocket +Book,' by Lord Wolseley. I would like to have searched +amongst these books for a diary, but they turned me +out: Idris had taken them out of some good leather +trunks, which he had filled with his own effects. Three +days after the Mahdi's departure my master and I +quitted El Obeid. The road to Rahad was one uninterrupted +stream of human beings—men, women, and +children; camels carrying the household goods, on the +top of which were fastened angaribs, on which women +were seated; oxen and donkeys, all heavily laden; +numbers of Arabs were driving along their flocks with +them; here one would see a camel fallen prone under +its heavy load, there a child or a slave vainly seeking +in the crowd for his lost master. Of course I had to +walk, and to act as a camel-driver as well, subject +to continual insult and threatening. I moved along as +best I could; the Arabs applauded my master's good +sense in making me his camel-driver, and urged that I +should carry a load as well. We had to halt frequently, +as the camels were so heavily laden.</p> + +<p>The burning sun and fatigue were terribly oppressive, +and it is always a wonder to me how I escaped sunstroke. +As to food, I had a share of my master's<a name="Page_102" id="Page_102"></a> +horses' meal. In the evening I was obliged to clean +the dokhn, which was given to the horse, and the +pangs of hunger made me covet even this, while I was +obliged to ask my master's slave to occasionally give me +a gulp of water; indeed, this slave pitied my wretched +state.</p> + +<p>It took us three days to reach Rahad, though, under +ordinary circumstances, the journey could easily be +performed in one and a half days. The burning sand +had blistered my feet, and caused my legs to swell. +One day I saw the unfortunate King Adam, of Tagalla, +riding by; he was mounted on a mule, and his feet +heavily chained. They thought that the sight of his +native mountains might make him wish to desert. +Soon after his arrival at Rahad the poor king died, +heart-broken, and to him death must have come as a +happy deliverance; while to us, who also longed for it, +death would never come.</p> + +<p>Rahad is situated in a depression, which in winter +becomes a swamp; the water remains standing for some +time, and there are numerous wells, which are sufficient +for a large number of men and animals. During the +dry season, Rahad is a centre in which large numbers of +Arab tribes collect, and about four hours to the south +rises the great Dobab mountain (called by the Arabs +Dair, because of its semicircular shape). Dobab is +perhaps the best naturally-fortified hill of the entire +Nuba group. It is accessible from one side only, and is +easily defensible; there are quantities of water, which +would enable the inhabitants to stand a prolonged siege. +The circumference of the base of the mountain is about +eighteen miles, and the inhabitants live on the top.</p> + +<p>Already the Dervishes had constructed their rude +barracks under the shady trees of Rahad, and soon an +enormous camp sprang up. Shortly after my arrival, +I was again obliged to change masters; the one with +whom I had recently been was not really bad, but my +new master, Abdel Halim Wad Id, was a very great +and fanatical emir.</p> + +<p>Before, however, I proceed to describe the events<a name="Page_103" id="Page_103"></a> +which occurred at Rahad, I must give a brief outline of +what had happened to the sisters since they were so +cruelly wrenched away from us. They had set out +from Rahad with the various emirs amongst whom they +had been distributed; on the journey they suffered +greatly; they were obliged to walk the whole distance +barefooted, over thorns and burning sand; they underwent +the agonies of hunger and thirst, and some of +them had to carry loads; one of them, for a whole day, +had not a drop of water to drink. These brutal savages +were continually beating, insulting, and abusing them, +and when, tired and weary, they sat down for a +moment, they were driven forward under the lash of +the cruel whip. On their arrival at Rahad they scarcely +looked like human beings, with their faces all scorched +and peeled by the burning sun; and here new tortures +awaited them. One of them was suspended from a +tree, and beaten on the soles of the feet until they +became swollen and black, and soon afterwards the +nails dropped off. In spite of all this suffering, and +notwithstanding the continual threats of these barbarians +that they would be violated, these sisters clung +firmly to their faith and belief.</p> + +<p>One night, one of the sisters succeeded in escaping to +the Mahdi's hut, and, forcing her way into his presence, +appealed vehemently to him against the cruel treatment +which she and her companions were suffering at the +hands of his tyrannical emirs, and that their only fault +was that they resolved to adhere to their own faith. +Under other circumstances the Mahdi would never have +forgiven this bitter reproach, but when he saw this +poor sister wounded and bleeding, he pretended that he +knew nothing of the matter, and at once ordered all the +sisters to be brought to his enclosure, where they were, +to some extent, safe from ill-treatment; yet they were +in constant terror of being dishonoured, and therefore +decided to seek the protection of some of the +Greeks who were in favour with the Mahdi, and who, +at the sisters' request, sought his permission to take +charge of them and care for them. The Mahdi, who<a name="Page_104" id="Page_104"></a> +really pitied them from his heart, sanctioned the proposal +of the Greeks, to whom the sisters were duly +handed over; but it was not, of course, admitted that +pity for them had induced this decision.</p> + +<p>It is a well-known fact that in the Kuran the Prophet +Mohammed enjoins respect and toleration of the ministers +of Christianity, whom he calls "Rahban," or pious +persons consecrated to God's service; and, moreover, +he tells his followers that it is their duty to do so. In +support of this I may here quote a translation of the +celebrated passage which occurs in the manuscripts +kept in the Greek convent on Mount Sinai. It is as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"In the name of the merciful God, Mohammed Ibn +Abdullah issues this proclamation to all. He announces +that he is the trusted one of God, by whom he has +been placed over his creatures. No one, therefore, can +shelter himself under the plea of ignorance.</p> + +<p>"I have written this proclamation in the form of an +order to my nation, and to all Christians in the East +and West, far and near, young and old, known and +unknown. He who fails to follow the instructions laid +down in this order is conducting himself contrary to +God's will, and renders himself liable to a curse, whoever +he may be, whether Sultan or any other Moslem.</p> + +<p>"If a priest or a monk retire to a mountain, grotto, +cave, plain, desert, city, village, or church, I myself am +prepared to follow them with my army and my subjects, +to protect them against any enemies they may meet, for +these priests are my rayas (subjects), and I myself will +prevent any harm coming to them. Taxes shall not be +taken from them, except those which they may give of +their own free will and accord, not being compelled to +do so by any one. It is not permissible to remove a +bishop from his bishopric, a priest from his church, or a +monk from his retreat. No objects shall be removed +from their churches and used in the construction of +mosques, nor, indeed, for the construction of the houses +of Mussulmans. Whoso doth not act in accordance +with this, acteth contrary to the law of God and His<a name="Page_105" id="Page_105"></a> +Prophet. It is forbidden to burden bishops or other +holy men with taxes. I shall uphold these their privileges +everywhere, on land or sea, in the East or West, +North or South. They shall enjoy my favour and +protection against anything harmful, disagreeable, or +unpleasant to them.</p> + +<p>"Those who cultivate on mountains or distant places +shall not be burdened with the tithe or tenth-tax, even +if they give it of their own free will and accord, provided +that what they cultivate is for their own maintenance. +If there is a scarcity of corn, they shall be +supported each with one quart of corn for each house. +It shall never be necessary for them to go to war or to +pay tribute. Those in possession of unmovable goods +shall not pay more than twelve drams of silver annually. +No one shall be burdened. No discussions will take +place with those who follow the teaching of the Gospels, +they should rather be in some degree sympathized with +so as to put aside all enmity and to cause the wings of +mercy to spread out.</p> + +<p>"Should a Christian woman go amongst Moslems, +they shall treat her well and permit her to go through +her prayers in church, and allow nothing to come +between her and her religion. Whoso acteth contrary +to these orders acteth in rebellion to God and His +Prophet.</p> + +<p>"Christians should be supported in the maintenance +of their churches and houses; their religion should help +them to do so. It is not their duty to carry arms, the +Moslems shall do that for them, and Moslems should +ever hold firmly this order until the world's end.</p> + +<p>"The witnesses who confirm the truth of this proclamation, +which is hereby issued by Mohammed Ibn +Abdallah, the messenger of God to all Christians, which +proclamation is to seal their privileges, are, Ali Ibn Abu +Taleb, Bakr Ibn Ali Kohaifi, Omar Ibn El Khattab, +Othman Ibn Affan, Abu El Darda, Abu Horeireh, +Abdullah Abu Masaud, Abbas Ibn Abdel Muttaleb, +Fodeil Ibn Abbas, Zoheir Ibn Awan, Talaat Ibn Obeidallah, +Saad Ibn Maaz, Saad Ibn Obadi, Tabet Ibn Kais,<a name="Page_106" id="Page_106"></a> +Abu Khayetma, Hashim Ibn Omaya, Hareth Ibn Tabet, +Abdallah Ibn Amr Bin el Aas, Amr Ibn Yasin, Moazzam +Ibn Koreishi, Abdel Azim Ibn Hassan.</p> + +<p>"This proclamation is written by the hand of Ali +Taleb on the 3rd Moharrem of the second year of the +Hejira corresponding with the 1st of August, 622 of the +Christian Era. It is signed by the Prophet himself.</p> + +<p>"Blessed be he who followeth the contents thereof, +and cursed be he who acteth contrary to them."</p> + +<p>No doubt the precepts enjoined in the above proclamation +weighed with the Mahdi in his decision to +hand over the sisters to the Greeks, and thus it was +that the danger was for the time tided over. Later on, +when Khartum fell and hundreds of the young women +who had been in the harems of the principal people of +the town fell into the hands of the emirs, the persecution +of the sisters was entirely stopped, and in +retirement they at length secured some rest and +quietude, gaining their daily bread by sewing and +other handiwork.</p> + +<p>After this digression, let us return to Rahad, where +numbers of straw huts were now erected. A market +was opened and provisions were cheap. Various Arab +tribes—the Dar Homr, Bederieh, Ghodiat, Baggara +Howazma, Miserieh, and Dar Nauli—streamed hither +with their flocks and herds, and soon the camp extended +greatly. Sherif Mahmud, whom the Mahdi had +left behind in El Obeid, was instructed to send all the +people on from there.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi set up his abode between two large trees, +and the Khalifas lived around him. The combined +movements of this enormous crowd were most impressive. +At prayer-time thousands upon thousands of +Dervishes ranged themselves in well-ordered lines +behind the Mahdi, and the shout of "Allahu Akbar" +resounded through the air. Often the singers of the +Mahdi's praises would go on till long after midnight, +and thus did he continue to inspire his gigantic +audience.</p> + +<a name="father"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:450px;"><img src="images/p107.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="409" height="546"> +<p class="caption2">FATHER OHRWALDER'S INTERVIEW WITH THE MAHDI AT RAHAD, +CONCERNING RELIGION.</p></div> + +<p>I was also twice summoned by the Mahdi; on one<a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"></a><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108"></a><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107"></a> +occasion two of his body-guard rushed up to me quite +out of breath, just to show how expeditiously they carried +out the Mahdi's orders, and brandishing their swords +over my head shouted, "Get up, the Mahdi wishes to +speak to you." As a matter of fact I had no desire to +see him, but I had to get up, and this I did as slowly +as I possibly could, and then I was pushed forward in +the direction I had to go. At length I reached the +two large trees, and sitting down beside them I leaned +against the roots. The Mahdi had not arrived. Close +to me was a hut roughly built of dokhn reeds, which I +was told was the fort, around which a small thorn zariba +had been constructed to keep off the crowding Dervishes +who were collected in their thousands, most of them +seated in long lines on the sand and repeating their +"subhan allah." The Mahdi's huts and tents were close +by.</p> + +<p>It was then the time for noonday prayers, and as the +Mahdi approached there was a short buzz and hum +followed by a deep silence.</p> + +<p>When the Mahdi came to the place where the sheepskin +was stretched out on the ground, a slave came +up and took off his sandals, after which he conducted +prayers. These over, he turned round and greeted me. +Then some of his favourites came forward and presented +petitions to him, some of which he approved at once by +writing a few words on the back of the paper, while the +remainder were put aside for consideration.</p> + +<p>Since the occasion on which the Mahdi had interviewed +Klootz, I had not seen him. I now saw a +considerable change in him; he had grown much +stouter, but he still wore the same clothes of rough +damur, consisting of drawers, jibbeh, girth, and turban. +His conversation soon turned on religion, and he asked +me if we Christians used the "Hamdu" (a form used by +the Moslems as they bow in prayer) in our prayers. I +replied that not only had we one but several, and at his +request I repeated the Lord's Prayer in Arabic.</p> + +<p>This created much surprise amongst the ignorant +listeners, who believe that Christians do not know how<a name="Page_110" id="Page_110"></a> +to pray, and I was thought quite "fasich" (<i>i.e.</i> educated). +After a long conversation on the Psalms of +David, the Mahdi said, "I know that you Christians are +very good people, and that you feed the hungry." He +then told me about "deeds of mercy," and added that +all such acts were useless, as anyone who did not believe +in the Mahdi was but "wood for the fire." Our conversation +was interrupted by the Aser or afternoon +prayers, after which the Mahdi again held a reception. +Amongst others a small dwarf appeared, and the Mahdi +spoke to him about his tribe and asked if he were +married. The dwarf replied that he had come to ask for +a wife, and explained that the possession of one was the +desire of his heart, whereupon the Mahdi gave orders +that he should at once be provided with one. He then +rose up to leave, and I was permitted to go home.</p> + +<p>On the following day I was again summoned before +him, and he explained that through the noonday prayers +he knew he should win over the whole world. He said +that God had given him a period of forty years (as a +matter of fact he only lived four years, but a cypher +more or less is of no consequence) during which he +should make all people believe on him and acknowledge +that he was the Mahdi. He added that after the subjugation +of the Sudan he would take Egypt, which +would only offer a weak resistance, and that afterwards he +would attack Mecca, where the most bloody battle which +the world had ever seen would take place; from Mecca +he should proceed to Jerusalem, where Jesus Christ +should descend from heaven. "Of course," I said, +"Christ will possess all the characteristics which the +Gospel attributes to Him;" but the Mahdi continued, +"Would Christ not fight with anti-Christ? If I do not +believe in Him He will kill me."</p> + +<p>The Mahdi then asked me if I ever had dreams, and +I replied that even if I did have dreams I did not +believe in them. Then the Mahdi turned round to those +who were near and said, "Assuredly the Turks do not +believe in dreams, or they would have admitted that I +am the Mahdi." It is said that Mahmud Bey Ahmedani,<a name="Page_111" id="Page_111"></a> +Mudir of Khartum, who had accompanied Hicks and +had fallen near Shekan, had seen the Mahdi's shadow +on the wall surrounded with a halo of light, but in his +obstinacy he still refused to acknowledge him.</p> + +<p>Just then a Sherif of Syria came in, and, making +obeisance to the Mahdi, said, "Sire, you are my relation!" +(By this he meant that as he belonged to the +Prophet's tribe, and as the Mahdi had sprung from the +Prophet, that therefore they were connected.) The +Mahdi was much gratified by this flattery, and ordered +Wad Suleiman to give him fifty dollars and a concubine. +The conversation was then turned on Gordon. The +Mahdi remarked he was full of pity for him, for he said +that he was convinced it was the Ulema's arguments +which had made Gordon believe that he was not the true +Mahdi. He then asked me what was the object of the +wires with which Gordon had surrounded Khartum. I +replied that I knew nothing of the art of war, but others +said that this was telegraph wire, which Gordon had +put down so that in case of attack the horses would +stumble over it. The Mahdi smiled, and remarked that +God was more mighty than all the tricks and artifices +of Gordon.</p> + +<p>It was now evening, and the Mahdi got up to go, so I +went home, and when I returned to Sheikh Idris, several +came up and congratulated me for having had the good +fortune to talk with the Mahdi. For my own part I +would gladly have dispensed with this good fortune. +When I was summoned the next day I sent word that +I was very ill, and by this means secured some rest.</p> + +<p>Whilst at Rahad, the Mahdi's eyes were continually +directed on Jebel Dair, and when Abu Anga and the +emirs who were sent to subjugate these districts, returned, +defeated in their attempts to scale the mountain, +the Mahdi then despatched every man fit for war +to reinforce him. He excused himself for this unusual +measure by saying that all persons should be exercised +in war, and that, moreover, this was penance to those +who had only recently joined him, to purify them from +the sin of not having joined him earlier. As a matter<a name="Page_112" id="Page_112"></a> +of fact, these Arabs were a source of great trouble +and annoyance to the Mahdi, for they did nothing +but wander about the market-place begging, and it +was no small difficulty to keep such vast crowds in +order.</p> + +<p>The war against the Nubas was waged in the most +cruel manner; the proud Dervishes were incensed at +the stubborn resistance of these poor black slaves, as +they used to call the Nubas. On one occasion, when +the Dervishes, led by Abu Anga and followed by the +Gellabas, attempted to ascend the mountain, the Nubas +allowed them to advance some way and then pounced +down upon the Gellabas in the narrowest pass; these +men were badly armed, and four hundred of them were +killed. Abu Anga seeing this beat a rapid retreat, and +on coming into the pass was implored by the wretched +wounded Gellabas to carry them away, but Abu Anga's +men jeeringly replied that they must die "in God's +cause," and left them to the tender mercies of the Nuba +lances.</p> + +<p>I may here remark that there was great ill-feeling +between the blacks and the Dervishes, for the black +soldiers complained that they were always placed in the +forefront of the battle. In another attack the Dervishes +succeeded in reaching the Nuba village, burning +the huts, killing a large number of them and carrying +off their wives and children as captives to Rahad, where +they were sold as slaves. On this occasion Nur Angar +cut off the heads of three Nubas who had already submitted, +while Abu Anga's men seized the little children +by the feet and dashed their brains to pieces on the +rocks. At Rahad a special zariba was built for the +Nuba captives, who were driven like cattle into a pen +to be sold. These poor creatures, without covering from +the sun or rain, suffered terribly from hunger and thirst; +each evening they were given a handful of dhurra and +some water, but that was quite insufficient, and in a +few days mothers had to see their children slowly +starving to death, while the little suckling babes gathered +round their mothers in the vain search for food. Each<a name="Page_113" id="Page_113"></a> +morning the guards looked in to inquire if there were +any dead or dying, and then ordered the wretched survivors, +who had scarcely the strength to get up, to drag +out their dead and dying friends and relations.</p> + +<p>It would take a long time to tell of all the horrible +atrocities and cruelties which these poor Nubas suffered +at the hands of the Dervishes—and why? because they +tried to retain their freedom and defend their fatherland, +refusing to follow that base liar who called himself the +Mahdi, to the siege of Khartum. Amongst the captives +in the zariba was a man and his wife and two small +children. The sight of his starving children was breaking +the father's heart; the view of his native mountain so +affected him that he became desperate, and knowing +that he would probably be separated from his wife and +children and sold the next day, he took a terrible +resolution: in the middle of the night he embraced +his wife, kissed his little children, and then plunged +his knife into each of them, preferring rather that +they should die than become slaves; he then broke +out of the zariba and fled, the guards fired and missed +him; thus the wretched man succeeded in reaching his +beloved hills.</p> + + +<a name="Page_114" id="Page_114"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">FATHER OHRWALDER'S VIEWS OF GORDON'S MISSION.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Ohrwalder describes his treatment at the hands of various masters—The +Nubas surrender and afterwards desert—News from Khartum—The +capture of the English mail—Its arrival at the +Mahdi's camp—The Mahdi decides to advance on Khartum—Brief +review of events in Khartum and Berber—Ohrwalder's +views on Gordon's mission—The Mahdi sets out for Khartum—Mohammed +Ali Pasha's defeat and death—Colonel Stewart, +Mr. Power, and others leave Khartum in ss. "Abbas"—Description +of their wreck and treacherous murder.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">The</span> war with Jebel Dair dragged on a long time; the +Nubas fought with desperate courage. I used to hear +of their bravery from the Dervishes who frequented my +master's house. After about a month my master was +sent to Birket, where he was ordered to collect the Arabs +and send them on to Rahad. At this place he practised +unprecedented cruelty. A man found drinking marissa +he ordered to be flogged with eighty lashes, until the +poor victim's bowels fell out. During his absence I +was sent back to my old master, Sheikh Idris, where I +continued to lead a wretched existence, eating out of +the horses' nose-bag and quenching my thirst from the +share of water which was allotted to the animals. The +ground was my bed, the sky my roof.</p> + +<p>Every morning when I got up I had to shake off the +scorpions from my clothes, into which they had crept +during the night. It is curious that the sting of these +animals, which at other times was always most painful, +caused me little trouble or irritation. The filth in the +camp, owing to the entire absence of all sanitary rules, +caused the flies to increase prodigiously; eating during<a name="Page_115" id="Page_115"></a> +the daytime was impossible, for one would have eaten +as many flies as food.</p> + +<p>I still suffered threats and insults here as in other +places, and many a time did I intentionally put my +head in danger in the hope that death would release me +from these savages. Sheikh Idris was annoyed at my +ill-treatment, but what could one man do with these +hordes of fanatics? One day after a review I was asked +by Idris to have breakfast with him in his hut; after +breakfast he began to talk confidentially with me, and +said that the Prophet Mohammed had expressly forbidden +the ill-treatment of priests and hermits. He then +said that Egypt had lost the Sudan, and that Gordon +would not be able to withstand the Mahdi; most of +the fikis and sheikhs had already submitted to the +Mahdi, and the Sudan was in their hands. When I +pointed out the great difficulties he would have in +traversing the deserts to Wadi Halfa, he remarked that +the Mahdi's undertaking was not likely to be hindered +by the death of a few thousand men? I then argued +that it was most unlikely that the white Moslems would +ever accept a black Mahdi; and that, moreover, according +to the traditions, the Mahdi would appear in Mecca. +He replied, "God is the Lord of all," by which he meant +to say that God can make a black Mahdi.</p> + +<p>We had a long conversation about the Mahdi, and it +seemed to me that Sheikh Idris did not believe in him, +but had merely joined him in the hope of gain and +rewards. Idris also added, "By what right should we +be ruled by the Turks? can we not govern ourselves?" +If there had been many more sensible and enlightened +men like Sheikh Idris, it is probable that Mahdiism +would have taken a very different form; but Idris was +an exception—most of the principal emirs were uneducated +and ignorant savages. It was God's will that +this Idris should fall later on in the battle of Argin in +1889, fighting against Wodehouse Pasha.</p> + +<p>A few days after this conversation, my original +master, Abdullah Wad en Nur, arrived from Jebel Dair +to obtain the Mahdi's instructions as to the future con<a name="Page_116" id="Page_116"></a>duct +of the war. The Mahdi presented him with a +very good horse. Khalifa Abdullah asked him what he +intended to do with me, and advised him that when he +again went to the Nuba country he should take me +with him and put me in the front so that the Nubas +might kill me. Sheikh Idris told me this, and Khalil +Hassanein, Roversi's old clerk, who had obtained a +good place in the beit el mal, brought me three dollars +for the journey. I was delighted with the idea of a +change, for I could not have been worse off than I was +at Rahad.</p> + +<p>At first I was handed over to a fiki, who bothered me +with his useless and nonsensical talk; his name was +Mahmud, and he came from Tuti Island, near Khartum; +he joined the Mahdi after Hicks's defeat, and brought a +donkey and a few dollars with him. The first thing he +did was to sell his donkey and purchase a concubine, +but in two days the latter purchase ran away, so he lost +both his donkey and his money. He then joined the +Khalifa Abdullah, who recommended him to Idris as a +good man to instruct me in the right way; but instead +of convincing me of the Mahdi's divinity, I very soon +convinced him of the reverse, and it was by no means +difficult to do so; the fiki used frequently to go to the +beit el mal to try and get a concubine, but no one took +the smallest notice of him. On the other hand he used +constantly to see the numerous concubines of Idris, who +was rich, while he was but a poor man. From this I +made him understand that the chiefs of Mahdieh sought +only how they could best gain riches and honour at the +expense of their poorer brethren. Soon afterwards he +fell sick at Rahad, and there was no one to look after +him or care for him; I knew that in his heart he had +had quite enough of the Mahdi, but he was ashamed to +acknowledge it before me. One night, not hearing his +voice in the miserable hut which had been given to +him, I looked in and found him lying stretched out +dead on the ground. I felt sorry for the poor creature +who had died away from his own home.</p> + +<p>Another reason which made me glad to go away to<a name="Page_117" id="Page_117"></a> +Dair, was that I was ill and suffering much from my +old complaint, which forced me to frequently retire +outside the camp amidst the jeers of the Arabs; but +suddenly the ray of hope which had come to me with +the thought of a change to the mountain, was as +suddenly extinguished, for it transpired that Idris had +arranged with Abdullah, without my knowledge, to +leave me at Rahad.</p> + +<p>The war against the Nubas was continued, and from +Rahad I could see the columns of smoke ascending, +showing where the villages had been burnt by these +cruel Dervishes. At length these poor but brave +mountaineers, overwhelmed by superior numbers, became +discouraged, and agreed to submit on condition +that they should remain free, and be allowed to live in +their mountains. The Mahdi approved, for the Dervishes +were quite worn out with their long and bloody war. +The brave inhabitants descended from their hills—men, +women, and children—in astonishing numbers, and +established themselves at the foot of the mountain, and +near the Dervish camp, while Mek Kumbo and the +principal chiefs went to the Mahdi to take the Bea'a +(oath of allegiance).</p> + +<p>There was now great rejoicing. The Mahdi received +them kindly, gave them presents, and handed back to +them those who still remained in the beit el mal; but +before they left his presence he ordered them and their +wives and children to follow him to the White Nile. +This was quite contrary to the agreement made between +them, but the Mahdi cared little about honour and +keeping his word, his main object was to attain his +point by any fraud or deception he could practise. The +Nubas promised to do so, and went back to their camp; +but on talking to their people, they agreed to escape +during the night, preferring rather to starve in the +caves and recesses of their own mountains, than to leave +their native country. Like one man, they rose and fled +to the hills, and the fight was once more renewed. +Many of them fought with the most stubborn desperation; +several were killed, but the Dervish loss was also<a name="Page_118" id="Page_118"></a> +very heavy. The Nubas retired into the inmost recesses +of the hills, where the enemy could not possibly follow +them. On one occasion the Dervishes all but captured +Mek Kumbo; his horse and lance fell into their hands, +but he himself escaped.</p> + +<p>At length, thoroughly exhausted by this tedious and +interminable war, they returned to Rahad; but heavy +rain had fallen, the Khor was now a rushing torrent, +and here hundreds of Mahdiists were drowned—victims +to their rash fanaticism—for they believed that the +Mahdi's power could save them from the wild impetuous +stream. Many of them crossed on angaribs +(native beds), to each post of which an inflated skin was +attached.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of June, 1884, Slatin Bey arrived at +Rahad. The Khalifa Abdullah ordered the big war-drums +to be beaten, and the whole of the cavalry left +the camp to meet him and escort him in. The Mahdi +received Slatin very kindly, and he was attached to +Khalifa Abdullah's followers.</p> + +<p>Abdullah delighted in collecting foreigners around him. +One day Father Bonomi and I were summoned by +Abdullah to meet Slatin, and this gave me a chance of +meeting Father Bonomi, whom I had not seen for +months.</p> + +<p>It was about this time that Marietta Combotti, one of +our black girls, came from Khartum to Rahad. After +Hicks's defeat we sent her to Khartum to inform our +people there about our condition and about the Mahdi's +power, and urged everyone to leave Khartum as soon +as possible. We gave her some letters which were sewn +into the end of a mat. Consul Hansal had assisted +Combotti in every way, and had given her several things +for us, such as clothes, money, and medicines. She had +suffered greatly on the journey, had been put in chains, +and all she had succeeded in saving was her money. +She had been away seven months.</p> + +<p>Amongst other things Consul Hansal sent us a photograph +of our new and highly-honoured bishop, Monsignor +Imbrien, of the Tyrol. Marietta also brought a letter from<a name="Page_119" id="Page_119"></a> +the consul to me describing the condition of Khartum, +and the defeat of Baker Pasha, about which we had +heard nothing. The consul further added: "We hope +that the English will energetically push forward into +the Sudan, or we shall be lost. Our condition is +desperate." This letter was dated early in January, +1884. Hansal also sent us the <i>Tyroler Volksblatt</i> newspaper, +published in Posen, and in it I was surprised to +read an account of my own death. The paper said +I had been captured by the Mahdiists, and had died of +fatigue and ill-treatment. So my friends believed I was +dead! and, indeed, I felt then that death could not be +far distant. My complaint was worse than ever, and I +was suffering from scurvy as well. We did indeed feel +grateful to the unfortunate Hansal who had done all +he could to alleviate our distress; but God has disposed +otherwise. How I wish poor Hansal had taken our +advice and gone home.</p> + +<p>The state of moral darkness in which we lived, the +constant insults, being gazed upon by such multitudes, +being at the mercy and sport of these savages, just as if +one were a monkey or other curious animal, all had a +dulling effect on one's spiritual nature, and I felt that +I must be losing my mind; but yet in all these trials +and afflictions God did not leave us. Again a ray of +hope shone through the obscurity.</p> + +<p>We had already heard something about English +troops, but the information was very vague. One of +the Mahdi's messengers, who took the Mahdi's answer +back to Gordon in Khartum, told me that Gordon had +received him well, had given him some bakshish, not +like the God-forsaken Mohammed Said Pasha, who had +executed the Mahdi's messengers; but, prior to his +departure, Gordon had warned him in the following +words:—"Go, tell the Mahdi that I have only to stamp +my feet on the ground, and thousands of Englishmen +will at once spring up." I believed this story, for I did +not think the messenger was clever enough to invent it; +besides, I felt sure that Gordon must have known quite +well that he alone was utterly unable to extinguish the<a name="Page_120" id="Page_120"></a> +fire of this gigantic revolt. But at length all these +reports were fully confirmed.</p> + +<p>It was Friday. The Khalifas were out on parade, +when two camels, carrying an English mail, arrived. +Khalifa Abdullah at once left the review, and sent for +Klootz to read the letters. Klootz came at once to me +and said that an entire English mail for Gordon had +been captured near Omdurman. It was clear from +several letters that English troops were advancing into +the Sudan from three directions; that is to say, from +Suakin to Berber, from Korosko to Abu Hamed, and from +Dongola, where there were 20,000 infantry and 10,000 +cavalry. There was a telegram from Cairo to Assuan +announcing General Graham's advance; a touching +little letter from a young girl to her father in Khartum, +whose name I forget. In this letter she told of the +alarm she felt for her father's safety, and how she +prayed daily that her father might not meet the same +fate as General Hicks. In another letter Gordon was +informed that £60,000 had been sent to him.</p> + +<p>All these letters had been sent from Berber to General +Gordon by Joseph Cuzzi, who had written a letter to +Gordon to that effect in Italian. One letter said that +it was well known that the Khalifa Abdullah was the +moving spirit of the revolt, and that the Mahdi merely +supplied the religious element; but Klootz did not +translate this in the Mahdi's presence. When the latter +got up to go, Klootz translated this sentence to the +Khalifa Abdullah, who was delighted with this flattering +remark. Cuzzi's Italian letter was concealed by Klootz, +who afterwards brought it to me. In this letter Cuzzi +briefly informed General Gordon that he was forwarding +the letters; that he had sent a messenger to Sawakin to +come to an understanding with General Graham, and +that the rebels at Abu Hamed had seized a number of +the Government boats. He added that Gordon should +have no anxiety about Berber, as long as Hussein Pasha +Khalifa was Mudir. But in this matter he proved to +have been completely deceived.</p> + +<p>The general import of all these letters convinced the<a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"></a> +Mahdi that the English were in earnest. He therefore +decided to take no action for a time, and to remove the +camp to the foot of the mountain, where it was his +intention to await their advance.</p> + +<p>But soon after came the news that Berber had fallen, +and that General Graham had returned to Sawakin, and +this decided the Mahdi to advance on Khartum.</p> + +<p>The Nubas now began to give some difficulty. +No sooner had the Dervishes abandoned their camp +at the foot of the mountain, than the Nubas rendered +all roads in the vicinity of Rahad, and for a considerable +distance, unsafe. Slaves going out to gather +wood or straw were suddenly swooped down upon +by these bold mountaineers, who killed or captured +them. In this way they revenged the cruelties which +they had suffered. The Mahdi was quite unable to +subdue these blacks, and his failure to do so was a great +blow to his pride.</p> + +<p>I may here remark that at this period of the Mahdieh +religion, violation of moral laws was very severely +punished. One of the Mahdi's bodyguard caught <i>in +flagrante</i> in the practice of a species of immorality by +no means uncommon in Eastern countries, both culprits +were led out in chains and beheaded in the presence of +the assembled multitudes.</p> + +<p>Before following the Mahdi on his march to Khartum, +it is advisable here to take a brief review of the events +which had occurred in Khartum, Berber, and the +Gezireh.</p> + +<p>The catastrophe which had overtaken General Hicks's +force filled the inhabitants of Khartum with indescribable +dismay. Several of them returned to Egypt, and +the members of the Austrian Mission, with their blacks, +quitted Khartum on the 11th of December, 1883. Fortunate +were those who seized this chance of escape +before the roads became blocked!</p> + +<p>General Gordon's arrival in Khartum gave fresh life +and hope to the inhabitants. Great were the rejoicings, +and a magnificent reception was prepared for the long-expected +deliverer. This reception took place on the<a name="Page_122" id="Page_122"></a> +18th of February, 1884, and must have greatly encouraged +General Gordon in his undertaking; but it was not +Gordon's individual presence which so greatly inspired +the people. What could Gordon do alone, against the +now universally worshipped Mahdi? The nature of the +revolt was not political; the Sudanese had no intention +of establishing an empire under the Mahdi's rule, and, +even had this been the case, it is very improbable that +Gordon's mediation would have been of any avail.</p> + +<a name="gold"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><img src="images/p122.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="142" height="198"> +<p class="caption2">THE GOLD MEDAL STRUCK BY GORDON TO COMMEMORATE THE +SIEGE OF KHARTUM.</p></div> + + +<p>The movement was a religious movement, and was +not limited to the Sudan alone; the Mahdi's intention +was to subdue the world. He was a prophet, and in his +own and the estimation of his followers he was a greater +man than the Prophet Mohammed. The world was to +come to an end in his time. Had Gordon only known +beforehand how boundless was the wild fanaticism, and +how completely the Mahdi's followers were intoxicated +by it, he would never have accepted the mission. As +it appeared to us in Kordofan, and to the Mahdi himself, +Gordon's undertaking was very strange; it was just +as if a man were attempting to put out an enormous +fire with a drop of water. Gordon's name alone could +not suppress the revolt, and it was not on account of his +name that the Khartum people rejoiced at his arrival;<a name="Page_123" id="Page_123"></a> +it was because they looked on Gordon as an English +representative, and that he was only the precursor of an +English expedition sent to take possession of the Sudan +for England. That is what made the people glad, and +caused them to put aside all idea of departure. Had +they not been certain that an English expedition was +coming, not a soul would have remained in Khartum, +and I have no hesitation in saying that had the Egyptian +Government not sent Gordon, then undoubtedly the +evacuation originally ordered could have been carried +out without difficulty.</p> + +<p>Those who escaped massacre in Khartum have often +told me that they were perfectly ready to leave, and it +was only Gordon's arrival that kept them back; but +Gordon's arrival without troops had rather disappointed +them. Had he been accompanied by five hundred +British bayonets, his reputation in the Sudan might +have been maintained, and probably the Mahdi would +never have left Kordofan.</p> + +<p>Gordon himself committed a mistake, by which he +gave a death-blow to himself and his mission. On his +way to Khartum he stopped at Berber and interviewed +the Mudir Hussein Pasha Khalifa; he imprudently told +him that he had come up to remove the Egyptian +garrisons, as Egypt had abandoned the Sudan. At +Metemmeh also—a strong place between Berber and +Khartum, and the headquarters of the powerful Jaalin +tribe—he committed a similar imprudence, by giving +the same information to Haj Ali Wad Saad, the emir of +Metemmeh.</p> + +<p>This Haj Ali was a man held in great respect, on +account of his just dealings, and afterwards, when he +died in Omdurman, there was public mourning for him. +The fact, indeed, that the Khalifa had pardoned him +after "marissa" had been found in his house, sufficiently +indicates how greatly he was respected. Both Haj Ali +and Hussein Pasha Khalifa informed all their principal +people about the decision of the Government, and it +was this announcement that made these faithful sheikhs, +who were then trembling in the balance, throw in their<a name="Page_124" id="Page_124"></a> +lot with the Mahdi. Why should they remain loyal to +a Government which had decided to give up their land? +Had they remained faithful, what had they to expect +when the Mahdi prevailed? It was this announcement +of Gordon's which was the main cause of the fall of +Berber, which place was essential for Gordon's plan of +operations.</p> + +<p>Haj Ali, shortly before his death, and when in great +suffering, reviewed the misery which the Mahdi had +brought upon the Sudan, and the part he himself had +taken in it, and he then said that it was nothing but +the knowledge of the intention of the Government to +abandon the Sudan which made him join the Mahdi. +"How," he said, "could I have remained loyal to a +Government which I knew intended to leave me in the +lurch afterwards? I would only have been paving the +way for the Mahdi's vengeance."</p> + +<p>At the time Haj Ali said this he was in doubt about +the Divine nature of the Mahdi, and spoke openly to +people on these matters. "But," he added, "at that +time every one thought only of himself. Gordon +thought only how he could save himself and the +Egyptians, and we thought how we could save ourselves +and avert the Mahdi's vengeance by taking his part; +so we went to Berber, joined with the Ababdeh, besieged +and took the town, and then cut Gordon's communications +with Egypt."</p> + +<p>Gordon was soon destined to see with his own eyes +what a fatal mistake he had made, but only when it was +too late.</p> + +<p>No notice was taken of Gordon's peaceful proclamations; +the revolt was now widespread, and masses of +fanatical Dervishes were gradually encircling Khartum. +Mohammed Wad el Besir, the sheikh El Obeid—a man +held in great respect in the Gezireh—his sons, and the +Fiki Medawi advanced on the town from the south. +On the 16th of March, 1884, Gordon's troops were heavily +defeated, and their leaders were executed by Gordon for +treachery.</p> + +<p>Another blow fell on Gordon by the surrender, at<a name="Page_125" id="Page_125"></a> +Fedasi, of Saleh Wad el Mek, with 1,400 men, to the +emir Abu Girgeh. Still Gordon did not despair of +success, and it was his individuality which inspired the +inhabitants of Khartum with hope.</p> + +<p>Saleh Wad el Mek's surrender greatly encouraged the +Dervishes. Rebels were also gathering to the north of +Khartum. The Jaalin of Metemmeh and the Ababdeh, +as I previously stated, prepared to attack Berber. +Hussein Pasha Khalifa, Sheikh of the Ababdeh, who +had been Mudir there since the 18th of December, 1883, +remained faithful to the Government, but his subordinates +paid no attention to him; and it was largely +due to the influence of these officials that numbers of +local sheikhs joined the Mahdi.</p> + +<p>The Ababdeh, Barabra, and Jaalin, under the supreme +command of Mohammed el Kheir, now besieged Berber. +Eight days later the town was taken by storm, and +most of the garrison and a number of inhabitants were +massacred. Joseph Cuzzi had attempted to escape, but +he was caught and sent to Khartum to endeavour to +induce Gordon to surrender. He was subsequently +sent on to the Mahdi at Rahad.</p> + +<p>Gordon's communications with the north were now +cut. After Saleh Pasha's surrender, the number of +besieging Dervishes increased greatly, and Abu Girgeh +growing bolder, seized the village of Buri, where he +built a fort and began to shell the town. Gordon +therefore, on the 2nd of May, sent out a considerable +force, which attacked Abu Girgeh, drove him out of his +position, and all but succeeded in capturing him. Thus +did Gordon, although hemmed in on all sides, maintain +a bold front, and employed every art of war to keep the +Dervishes from investing the town more closely.</p> + +<p>To return now to the Mahdi at Rahad. He was at +this time in full preparation for departure to the siege +of Khartum, and, as usual, he despatched Abu Anga, +Wad Nejumi, Wad En Nur, and Wad Gubara, with all his +best troops in advance. As I have previously related, +Cuzzi, who arrived at Rahad at the end of June, had +been previously sent by the Dervishes to Khartum to<a name="Page_126" id="Page_126"></a> +try and induce Gordon to surrender, and Gordon had +given strict orders that he should not be permitted +within the walls. When, therefore, he arrived at +Rahad, the Mahdi received him very well, loaded him +with presents, and then sent him back with George +Clementino to Khartum as bearer of letters to Gordon. +He arrived at the Dervish camp at the same time as +Nejumi. Clementino was permitted to converse with +the Greek consul, Leontides, but Cuzzi returned to +Berber.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi passed the month of Ramadan in Rahad, +and it was not until the 8th of August that he set out for +Khartum. The whole population, like a swarm of +bees, accompanied him on the same road which Hicks +had taken. The people joyfully undertook this long +journey through pathless districts, and at a time when +the rainfall was heaviest. Camels, too, were expensive +and difficult to procure; but, in spite of all these +obstacles, fanaticism was more pronounced than ever. +There were in all upwards of 200,000 people, and at +Shirkeleh the cavalry numbered 4,000. To defeat such +an enormous force as this, a European expedition was +necessary, not the weak force at Gordon's disposal.</p> + +<p>Throughout the entire route fresh cavalry joined, +whilst the herds of cattle which the Arabs drove along +served as food, and meat was then cheap enough. +Numbers of animals died during the march, and the +road was plainly marked by an unbroken line of dead +camels, donkeys, horses, and oxen. The route lay from +Shirkeleh to Shatt, and thence to Duem. Here a +halt was called for a few days to collect stragglers. All +notion of working in the fields was abandoned, and +agricultural pursuits were entirely dispensed with. Thus +it happened that on the Mahdi's arrival at Omdurman +the Dervishes were in great want of grain.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi arrived at Omdurman on the 23rd of +October, 1884, but the whole of the stragglers did not +reach it till early in November. Everything had been +prepared. Gordon was surrounded by numerous enemies, +still he did not despair.<a name="Page_127" id="Page_127"></a></p> + +<p>In August both Niles had risen considerably; the +Blue Nile had arrived almost at its full height, while +the White Nile had overflowed its low bank, and now +swept past Fort Mukran and the houses in Khartum. +So high was it, that a dam had to be constructed to +keep the water within bounds. At high Nile the White +river is very broad; and at a later date, when I crossed +over from Omdurman to the roughly built fort which +has long since been destroyed, I was sea-sick. But as +the river fell it left the ditch full of mud, and this +proved a source of great danger. When the river was +high, Gordon made several successful counter-attacks. +Mohammed Ali Pasha went up the Blue Nile to a place +near Gereif, and on the 30th of August fell upon the +Arabs, utterly defeating them. This brave leader also +attacked the old Sheikh El Obeid at Halfaya, and +captured a quantity of dhurra and cattle. Khartum +breathed once more, and it seemed as if all would be +well; the bands played in the evening, and the town +was full of joy, which, alas, was soon to be turned to +sadness.</p> + +<p>Mohammed Ali Pasha, emboldened by his late +successes, advanced again on the Sheikh El Obeid, +whom he defeated near El Eilafun; but, advancing into +the desert to renew the attack on the 4th of September, +he and upwards of 800 of his troops fell into an ambush +and were slaughtered. This proved a very severe blow to +Gordon, and Khartum being now closely invested, he +decided to send a steamer north to communicate with +the Government, and give them full information of the +state of affairs.</p> + +<p>As the Nile was now high, it was thought the small +steamer <i>Abbas</i> would be able to make her way safely to +Dongola. The <i>Abbas</i> left Khartum on the 10th of +September, and was accompanied by two other steamers +towing boats, in one of which were a number of Greek, +and in the other Syrian merchants. These steamers ran +the gauntlet of shot and shell till past Berber. When a +short way beyond that town, the steamers <i>Mansureh</i> +and <i>Safia</i> turned back, and reached Khartum only with<a name="Page_128" id="Page_128"></a> +the greatest difficulty, being fired upon throughout +almost the entire distance. The <i>Abbas</i> continued her +journey north, and drew up for the night at a small +island. The two boats which had been cast off when +the other steamers left, now passed the <i>Abbas</i>, but were +driven on to some rocks by the wind, and here they had +to stop for the night to repair. The next morning the +<i>Abbas</i> passed them, and Colonel Stewart urged them to +push forward. The Greek boat started, but it was some +time before the Syrians could set sail; and again they +were driven on to the rocks, where they remained firmly +fixed.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the Dervishes at Berber, who had +gained possession of the steamer <i>El Fasher</i> when the town +fell into their hands, at once sent her off in pursuit, together +with two large sailing boats. The <i>Fasher</i> soon came up +with the wrecked Syrian boat, which now made a sign +of truce, was boarded and taken possession of. The +Dervishes, having obtained all information, left one of +their boats in charge of their capture, and then pursued +the Greek boat, with which they soon came up, and, +having secured her, the <i>Fasher</i> continued her pursuit of +the <i>Abbas</i>. She proceeded almost as far as Abu Hamed, +but here the captain refused to take her any further, as +he feared running her on to a rock. So she returned to +Berber with her captured boats, in which there were in +all twelve Greeks and fifteen Syrians. Of the latter, +eight were males, five females, and two children.</p> + +<p>The steamer <i>Abbas</i>, after passing Abu Hamed, entered +the Wadi Gamr cataracts, which are very rocky and +dangerous, and here she struck on a rock near the village +of Hebbeh, the inhabitants of which belong to the +Monasir tribe. Colonel Stewart had the baggage disembarked +on an island, on which the travellers now took +up their abode until the expected Greek and Syrian +boats should arrive; but, after waiting two days, +Stewart sent his interpreter, Hassan Husni, with Mohammed +Hilmi Gorab and the captain, ashore, with instructions +to see the sheikhs, and, by the offer of presents +and the promise of a good reward from the Government,<a name="Page_129" id="Page_129"></a> +to induce them to supply camels to enable the shipwrecked +party to continue their journey to Dongola.</p> + +<p>These messengers were well received by Sheikh +Suleiman Wad Naaman, and neither he nor his people +were wearing jibbehs; they asserted that they were +thoroughly loyal to the Government, and added that it +was only the arrival of Sheikh Heddai that had made them +pretend to be against the Government. Suleiman said +that he would assist the shipwrecked passengers with +the greatest pleasure, and so well did he conceal his wicked +treachery that the messengers returned to Stewart +greatly elated with their success. But in the meantime +Suleiman had prepared a treacherous trap, into which +the over-confident passengers blindly fell. He sent +secret orders to all the people round about to prepare +for a fight, and then drove some camels along the river +bank, to show that he was preparing for the journey. +Colonel Stewart ordered all the spare ammunition to be +thrown into the river, and then landed with the other +passengers.</p> + +<p>Suleiman invited him and the consuls, Power and +Herbin, to go into his house, so as to make final +arrangements with the camel-owners, and at the same +time he begged them to remove their arms, as the Arabs +might get alarmed and make difficulties about hiring +their camels. An artillery captain who was with +Stewart begged him not to let go his arms, as there +might be treachery; but Stewart laughed at his fears, +and he, with the two consuls and the interpreter, entered +the house, while the others remained outside; they still +retained their revolvers. Suleiman begged them to be +seated, and proceeded to present to them a number of +Arabs, who, he asserted, were the camel-owners.</p> + +<p>The traitor had dates brought to them, and, so as not +to offend him, they took some. Then Suleiman stood +up and lifted his leather water-bottle, which was the +prearranged signal for the Arabs to rush out of their +hiding-places and attack the guests. In a second the +house was full of armed men, who called upon them to +throw down their revolvers and submit; but before<a name="Page_130" id="Page_130"></a> +they had even time to do this, the Arabs rushed upon +them with their swords. Consul Herbin, who was +standing near the door, was the first to fall; his head +was chopped off with an axe. Consul Power and Colonel +Stewart were soon cut to pieces. The interpreter, +Hassan, begged to be spared, crying out, "I am a +Moslem! I am a Moslem, and my name is Hassan!" +So he was not killed, but received a wound in the +shoulder. The murderers then rushed off to the river +bank to attack the others, who were soon killed, except +two artillerymen, who jumped into the river, and a few +servants. It was said that the interpreter, Hassan, had +arranged the betrayal, and I was afterwards told that +when he got into difficulties later, he sent a petition to +Mohammed el Kheir, in which he said that he was +entitled to reward for having secured Colonel Stewart's +death. He is still living in Omdurman.</p> + +<p>Suleiman sent all the correspondence he captured to +the Mahdi, who thus became thoroughly aware of +Gordon's desperate condition. On the 22nd of October +he wrote to Gordon, informing him of the event, and +summoned him to submit, as he had no hope of receiving +any relief.</p> + +<p>This catastrophe was another terrible blow to Gordon. +He had counted on Stewart being able to inform the +Government of the straits to which Khartum was +reduced, and the necessity of sending immediate help. +The state of Khartum now became very serious. Nejumi +and the other forces were clustering round Kalakala; +there was daily fighting, and bullets fell in the streets +of Khartum. There were upwards of 10,000 Dervishes, +extending from Kalakala to Buri. Wad Gubara and +Wad Sheikh el Obeid had their camp at Khojali, on the +right bank of the Nile, to the north. Thus was +Khartum surrounded by hordes of fanatical Arabs, who +attacked the starved and forsaken town from morning +till night.</p> + + +<a name="Page_131" id="Page_131"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE SIEGE AND FALL OF KHARTUM.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">The surrender of Omdurman fort—Gordon's dispositions for defence—His +great personal influence—The night before the assault—The +attack and entry of the Dervishes—Gordon's death—The +adventures of Domenico Polinari—The massacre in Khartum—How +most of the Europeans died—Ruthless cruelty and bloodshed—The +fate of the wives and daughters of <a name="tn_png_147"></a><!--TN: Extra dash removed after "Khartum"-->Khartum—Ohrwalder's +views on the situation in Khartum and the +chances of relief by the British Expeditionary Force—His +description of the town three months after the fall.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">The</span> Mahdi camped on the south side of Omdurman fort, +and at once began to direct the siege, the command +of his troops was vested in Abu Anga; but he did +not dare to send his black troops, who had previously +fought in the Egyptian service under Gordon, against +Khartum, fearing that, owing to the influence which +Gordon had formerly exercised over them, they might +desert to him.</p> + +<p>Omdurman Fort, which was then under the command +of Faragallah Pasha, was soon reduced to great straits, +and the Mahdiists threw up trenches, in which they were +comparatively safe from the continuous fire. Eventually +they succeeded in entrenching themselves between the +fort and the river, thus cutting the communications, +which Gordon was unable to restore. Consequently, +the garrison soon began to starve; but they still fought +courageously, and inflicted great loss on the Dervishes. +Amongst the latter was a certain emir, named Mohammed +Wad el Areik, who, while in the act of laying a gun +at Omdurman, was struck in the back of the neck by a +bullet. He was visited by the Khalifa Abdullah, who +promised that he should recover; but, in spite of this +promise, he died the following day.<a name="Page_132" id="Page_132"></a></p> + +<p>Faragallah, having now no food left, was obliged to +surrender, and thus the Mahdi was enabled to press the +siege of Khartum more closely than ever.</p> + +<p>The town itself was full of traitors; almost all the +important townsmen had written to the Mahdi from +time to time, to the effect that they wished to submit +to him, and that they believed in him. Gordon was, so +to speak, alone in the midst of enemies, but the expected +arrival of the English kept the inhabitants from surrendering.</p> + +<p>Every day Gordon invented some means of making +the people believe that their deliverers were near; he +frequently had the walls placarded with announcements +that they were very near Khartum, but all his promises +came to nothing.</p> + +<p>Gordon was almost superhuman in his efforts to keep +up hope. Every day, and many and many a time +during the day, did he look towards the north from the +roof of the palace for the relief which never arrived. He +overcame the want of money by issuing paper bonds; +but soon the people refused to accept them, and to +enforce his order he sent fourteen merchants to the east +bank, just in front of the enemy's guns; this he did to +frighten them, and when they agreed to accept the +bonds he had them brought back to the town. To +further strengthen the belief of the people in the speedy +arrival of the English, he hired all the best houses along +the river bank, and had them prepared for their occupation. +He was sure they would come—but when? The +time was pressing. How eagerly he searched the distant +horizon for the English flag he longed to see, but every +day he was doomed to disappointment.</p> + +<p>The troops were famine-stricken, and began to lose +heart, whilst the enemy without the walls daily grew +bolder in anticipation of the plunder they hoped so soon +would be theirs. From Buri to Kalakala the Dervishes +extended in one unbroken mass, whilst their hundreds +of noggaras never ceased beating in Gordon's ears night +and day.</p> + +<p>The town was closely hemmed in on three sides.<a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"></a> +Wad Gubara on the north was near enough to shell his +palace; and under the hole where the first shot struck +the wall Gordon inscribed the date as a remembrance. +None of us can realize how heavily his terrible responsibilities +weighed upon him. Despair had seized upon +the town. The unreliable nature of the Sudanese was a +constant source of anxiety to him, and enhanced the +critical situation. Those in charge of the biscuits and +dhurra stole quantities of it on every possible occasion, +and tried to deceive Gordon by assuring him that there +were millions of okes in store, when in reality there was +almost nothing. In their endeavours to enrich themselves +they forgot that they were only preparing the +way for their ultimate destruction.</p> + +<p>The officer in charge of the dhurra store was arrested +and brought before a Court of Inquiry; but Gordon had +to point out to those who were making the investigation +that they should not inquire too critically into the +matter. He knew all that had taken place, but he was +powerless to stop it. He won the people's hearts by his +generosity; and even to this day all who knew him +never cease speaking of his kindness. His endeavours +to recompense the Greeks for their honesty are affecting +in the extreme. He elaborated numerous plans for +their escape. His first intention was to place a steamer +at their disposal to convey them to Emin Pasha in +Equatoria; and, to avoid ill-feeling and jealousy, he +made known his plans to them at a public meeting, +remarking that as most of them were natives of the +Greek islands, they had necessarily considerable experience +of boats and navigation, and that therefore it +became their duty to patrol with the steamers on the +Blue and White Niles, and watch the enemy's movements; +but secretly he warned them that they should +be in readiness, as soon as they saw Khartum was lost, +to set off and join Emin Pasha.</p> + +<p>This plan did not, however, please the Greeks, so +Gordon proposed another, which was that, in case of +great danger, they should proceed north; and for this +purpose he kept a steamer moored off the palace, well<a name="Page_134" id="Page_134"></a> +stocked with biscuits and other necessaries. To enable +them to get their families on board during the night +without the other townspeople knowing about it, he +gave orders that after 9 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span> all traffic along the roads +leading to the Blue Nile should be stopped, and that no +persons were to be allowed out of their houses after that +hour. In this way, should the Dervishes enter the town +by night, the Greeks could easily escape to the steamer, +start down stream, and meet the English. Some of +them resolved that, should the Mahdiists effect an +entrance, they would forcibly carry off Gordon and put +him on board the steamer, for they felt sure he would +not leave Khartum of his own accord. Everything was +carefully prearranged and considered; and all would +have been well but for a disagreement amongst the +Greeks themselves, which mainly arose through the +phlegmatic and short-sighted conduct of their consul +Nicola Leontides.</p> + +<p>On that fatal Sunday evening one of the principal +Greeks came to the consul and begged him urgently to +spend that night on the steamer. The consul refused, +arguing that there was no imminent danger, and that +he was sure the troops could hold out a few days longer. +The Greek argued in vain, and at length left him; and +that was the last time they saw each other.</p> + +<p>That night proved to be the last night on earth for +Gordon and thousands of others. While they were +sleeping soundly, and dreaming perhaps of the arrival +of the English, the Dervishes were creeping like snakes +towards the parapets. It is hardly likely Gordon could +have slept. For two days he had remarked considerable +movement in the Mahdi's camp; he had observed +numbers of boats passing to and fro on the White and +Blue Niles. He could not have doubted that the Mahdi +was preparing to strike the final blow. And so it +proved, for he was planning the assault on Khartum. +He had received news of the destruction of his troops at +Abu Klea and Abu Kru, and of the advance of the +English.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi was convinced that if one Englishman<a name="Page_135" id="Page_135"></a> +reached Khartum his chance of success was gone, and +that he must retire to Kordofan. That was his reason +for attempting the assault. Gordon, on the other hand, +expected the arrival of the English at any moment; +and while he was counting the hours which might +elapse ere they could reach him, his enemies were +shaking their lances with which they should pierce him.</p> + +<p>The moon had gone down, deep obscurity reigned; +and now the Dervishes stealthily advanced in perfect +silence towards that portion of the defence which had +been destroyed during the high Nile, and which, as the +river receded, had left an open space in which ditch and +parapet had almost disappeared. Here there was little +to impede their entry; and the Dervishes, shouting +their wild battle-cry, dashed in wild disorder over this +open ground.</p> + +<p>Farag Pasha commanded the whole of this portion of +the defences. Many people in the Sudan, more especially +those who used to be in the Government service, +say that Farag Pasha betrayed the town; but the fact +that he was killed almost immediately after the fall +points to his not having done so.</p> + +<p>It is a well-known fact that many of the senior +officers were wavering, and numbers of Khartum +merchants were in correspondence with the Mahdi. It +is possible that their action may have assisted the +Dervishes. The latter naturally assert that Khartum +was captured entirely by force of arms, for any acknowledgment +on their part of treachery within the town +would tend to detract from the effect of the Mahdi's +success. The matter stands thus: the parapet which +had been destroyed had never been repaired. This was +not Gordon's fault; in his desperate position he could +not be everywhere. It is a thousand pities that he had +not a few trusty European officers with him. With the +exception of this defective portion near the White Nile, +the whole line of defence was almost impregnable; the +ditch was so deep and the parapet so high that it would +have been next to impossible to cross it.</p> + + +<a name="dervish"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><img src="images/p136.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="360" height="530"> +<p class="caption2">A DERVISH EMIR, PRESENT IN THE ATTACK ON KHARTUM, AND +AFTERWARDS CAPTURED AT TOSKI.</p></div> + + +<p>On coming through the open space the Dervishes<a name="Page_137" id="Page_137"></a><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136"></a> +broke up into two parties. One party dashed along the +parapet, breaking all resistance, and slaughtering the +soldiers in all directions; the other party made for the +town. The inhabitants, roused from their sleep by the +shouts of the Arabs and the din of rifle-shots, hurried +out, anticipating what had occurred. Like a pent-up +stream suddenly released, over 50,000 wild Dervishes, +with hideous yells, rushed upon the 40,000 inhabitants +of Khartum, besides the 5,000 soldiers—all that was +left of the 9,000 at the commencement of the siege. +The only cry of these fanatical hordes was "Kenisa! +Saraya!" ("To the church! the palace!")—<i>i.e.</i> the +Austrian Mission Church and Gordon's palace, where +they expected to find treasure stored up in the cellars, +and priests and sisters.</p> + +<p>The surging mass threw itself on the palace, overflowed +into the lovely garden, and burst through the +doors in wild search for their prey; but Gordon went +alone to meet them. As they rushed up the stairs, he +came towards them and tried to speak to them; but +they could not or would not listen, and the first Arab +plunged his huge spear into his body. He fell forward +on his face, was dragged down the stairs, many stabbed +him with their spears, and his head was cut off and sent +to the Mahdi.</p> + +<p>Such was the end of the brave defender of Khartum. +When I came from El Obeid to Omdurman I visited +Khartum, and went to the palace, where I was shown +some black spots on the stairs which they told me were +the traces of Gordon's blood.</p> + +<p>On Gordon's head being brought to the Mahdi, he +appeared to have been much displeased at his death—not +because he felt pity for him, but he believed that +Gordon might join his army. Had he not done so, he +would have imprisoned him and reduced him to slavery. +It was much better that Gordon should have died when +he did than have remained a captive in the hands of +these cruel and fanatical Arabs. Gordon's head was +hung on a tree in Omdurman, and the wild multitude +rejoiced in heaping curses on it and insulting it.<a name="Page_138" id="Page_138"></a></p> + +<p>After the palace, the Mission building was the next +principal object on which the wild, plunder-seeking +Arabs vented their fury. General Gordon had some +time previously hired this building, which was of stone +and bomb-proof, and turned it into a powder magazine +and ammunition store. The Dervishes killed the guards +mounted outside the garden, and then broke in, while +others clambered over the high wall. A black who was +employed in the Mission garden was lying on the point +of death on his <a name="tn_png_154"></a><!--TN: "mattrass" changed to "mattress"-->mattress in the garden; the Dervishes +ended his life by ripping open his body.</p> + +<p>The Mission gardener, brother Domenico Polinari, +who had been left to take charge of the Mission +property, on the first alarm, had rushed to the main +gate of the garden to see what was the matter. He +opened the gate slightly, and, seeing an array of lances, +he slammed to the gate with all his might, and fled to a +small hut in the garden which was full of hay, and he +hid himself in the corner underneath the hay. Several +slaves who were working in the garden followed his +example; but they did not stay long, for, thinking it +was not a sufficiently good hiding-place, they were +running off to another hut when they were fallen upon +and massacred. Domenico heard their shrieks and the +click of the sword which beheaded them from his place +of concealment; but he dared not move from the spot, +though half choked with the dry grass in which he lay. +Several Dervishes entered the hut and thrust their +spears into the hay to search for any one in concealment.</p> + +<p>One can realize the terror of poor Domenico as the +naked spear-heads were forced through and almost +touched him. He lay, however, undiscovered for some +hours, and at last the noise and din of rifle-shots grew +less. Though suffering agonies from thirst, he still did +not dare to move till close on midnight, when he +emerged from his bed of hay. All was still, the +stillness of death. He could see the Dervish guard +fires; and, as he crept along, he stumbled over the +dead body of the black who had been working in the<a name="Page_139" id="Page_139"></a> +garden. Horror-stricken, he slowly moved forward +again. At every step he saw a dead man, all of them +labourers and watchmen who had attempted to escape +when the Dervishes entered. Creeping under the +shadow of the large lemon-trees, he reached the main +gate, above which was a small hut which had been +occupied by one of the black families belonging to the +Mission. The windows of the hut looked into the +garden, and Domenico scrambled through one of these +into the room. Here he found one of the women, +Halima, and begged her to give him some bread and +water. He questioned her about the entrance of the +Dervishes and the fate of the inhabitants. She replied in +a few words that the town had been stormed, and numbers +of the inhabitants, as well as General Gordon, Consul +Hansal, and most of the Europeans, had been killed.</p> + +<p>This was a new shock to the already terror-stricken +Domenico. He threw himself on the bed and begged +that Halima would not betray him; but she, fearing to +be found out, crept out of the hut, went up to the +Dervishes who were collected round the camp fire, and +told them that there was a Turk in her cottage. Some +of them jumped up, and, following Halima into the hut, +they drove out the unfortunate Domenico with the butt +ends of their lances. He was brought in front of the +camp fire and carefully searched for money; but he at +once drew forty pounds out of his pocket, which he +distributed amongst them, and they were satisfied and +did not ill-treat him.</p> + +<p>On the following day he was taken before Ahmed +Wad Suleiman, the Emin beit el mal, who made full +inquiries of him regarding the Mission money. Domenico +said that when the Mission left Khartum they +took all the money with them, and had left nothing. +Domenico was then sent to the garden to work there +for his new master, but soon afterwards was betrayed a +second time, and fell into grievous trouble and danger.</p> + +<p>A few days before the fall of Khartum he had buried +£150 in the garden, intending to make use of it when +the needful time came; but one of the blacks who was<a name="Page_140" id="Page_140"></a> +working at the steam-pump in the garden, to whom +Domenico had confided his secret, and who was one of +the garden labourers who had escaped the massacre, +went and told Ahmed Sharfi (one of the Mahdi's +nearest relations) that Domenico had concealed money. +This he did to ensure his own safety, for the Dervishes +had been greatly disappointed in the quantity of loot +they expected to find. In the palace they had discovered +only paper money, and in the Mission some +furniture, instead of the treasure they had been led to +expect. Ahmed Sharfi was therefore much pleased +with the black's information, himself came to Domenico +and asked to be shown the place where the money was +buried. In vain Domenico protested that he had given +all the money to Gordon. He was at once knocked +down and flogged with a kurbash; but the first stroke, +which drew blood, made him cry for mercy; he disclosed +the hiding-place, and, when Ahmed Sharfi had secured +the money, he was released.</p> + +<p>The ruthless bloodshed and cruelty exercised by the +Dervishes in Khartum is beyond description. I will +briefly describe the deaths of the best-known people. +Nicola Leontides, the Greek consul, who, on account of +his amiable character, was much respected in Khartum, +had his hands cut off first, and was then beheaded. +Martin Hansal, the Austrian consul, who was the oldest +member of the European colony, was alive up till 2 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, +when some Arabs from Buri, led by his chief kavass, +who was on bad terms with him, entered the courtyard +of the house, and, on Hansal being summoned to come +down, he was at once beheaded. At the same time +Mulatte Skander, a carpenter who lived with him, was +killed in the same way. His body, together with that +of his dog and parrot, were then taken out, alcohol +poured over them, and set fire to. After a time, when +the body had become like a red-hot coal, it was thrown +into the river.</p> + +<p>Human blood and ruthless cruelty alone seemed to +satisfy the Dervishes. The Austrian tailor, Klein, on +making the sign of the cross, had his throat cut from<a name="Page_141" id="Page_141"></a> +ear to ear with a knife which was used to slaughter +animals, and his life-blood was poured out before the +eyes of his horror-stricken wife and children. Not +satisfied with the death of the father, they seized his +son, a youth of eighteen, and, burying their lances in +his body, they stretched him out at his mother's feet, a +corpse! They then took counsel as to how they should +kill the next son, a lad of fifteen. But by this time +the mother, a daughter of Cattarina Nobili, of Venice, +was worked up into a state of mad despair. Seizing +her son of five years old with her right hand, while she +held her suckling babe to her breast with her left, she +fought against these murderers like a tigress being +robbed of her young, and they could not wrest her +children from her; but they seized her daughter, a girl +of eighteen, who became the wife of an Arab.</p> + +<p>The son-in-law of Doctor Georges Bey (who had been +killed in the Hicks's expedition) was roused from sleep +by the noise of the Arabs breaking in. He rose from +his bed, and, making the sign of the cross, rushed to +the window, where he shouted "Aman" ("Security of +life"); but a bullet struck him in the forehead, and he +fell dead at the feet of his young wife. The Dervishes +forced their way into the house, broke in the door of the +room where the dead man lay stretched out on the bed, +killed another Greek, and clove open the head of the +little son, a boy of twelve years of age, with an axe, +scattering his brains over his unfortunate mother, who +was sitting beside him. She saved her little son of six +months old by saying he was a girl. The mother herself +was not killed, as she was with child, but she was +reserved to become the wife of Abderrahman Wad en +Nejumi.</p> + +<p>Aser, the American consul, fell down dead on seeing +his brother beheaded before his eyes. The males of +most of the Coptic families were massacred, but the +women were spared. I know several of these poor +women who, from continuously weeping over the cruelties +of that terrible 26th of January, have become quite +blind.<a name="Page_142" id="Page_142"></a></p> + +<p>Those men whose lives were spared have to thank +Providence that either they fell into the hands of those +less cruel than their comrades, or that they did not quit +their houses for two days, at the end of which time +the first wild passions of these murderers had cooled +down.</p> + +<p>The fate of seven Greeks was a sad one; these were +all together in one house, for, through a merciful +Providence, they had fallen into less cruel hands. It +was past noon, and they were rejoicing at having +escaped from the general massacre. Then a certain +George Clementino entered. This Clementino had +originally come from El Obeid, and had frequently been +sent by the Mahdi with messages to Gordon, and when +he returned from Khartum to the Mahdi, the latter +treated him with much favour.</p> + +<p>When the capture of Khartum was known in Omdurman, +Clementino hastened to the town, with the +intention of rescuing any compatriots he could find, and +he soon heard of the seven surviving Greeks. Full of +delight at their safety, he congratulated them, and +advised them to make their way to the house of +Manoli, the Greek who, with his wife and nephew, had +escaped by concealing themselves in the dove-cot.</p> + +<p>It was Clementino's intention to collect all the Greeks +here, and then take them to Omdurman. The seven +Greeks trusted to their compatriot's name and influence +to protect them, but Dervishes were on the watch to +stop them. As they were following Clementino to +Manoli's house, which was only a short distance off—indeed, +they had only gone a few steps—they were +met by a party of Ahmed Sharfi's Danagla, who +were searching the streets filled with the dead and +wounded, with the object of giving the <i>coup de grâce</i> to +any who might still be alive.</p> + +<p>When these murderers espied the party of white men +from a short distance, they shouted, "Look! Some of +these dogs, these unbelievers, are still alive," and, full +of anger, they rushed upon the unfortunate Greeks. +Clementino begged and prayed that they might be<a name="Page_143" id="Page_143"></a> +spared, but they were beheaded before his eyes, and he +himself barely escaped with his life. Pale, terror-stricken, +and trembling, he fled to Omdurman, and for +some months he lay on the point of death, so great had +been the shock of witnessing the massacre of his fellow-countrymen.</p> + +<p>Numbers even of women and little children were not +spared, and the torture which the survivors had to +undergo, to force them to produce their money, are +scarcely credible. Ibrahim Pasha Fauzi (the favourite +of Gordon) was tied for several days to a date-palm and +flogged till he gave up all his money. The old widow +of Mustafa Tiranis was flogged almost to death. She +was a rich Circassian lady, and had supplied Gordon +with money in donkey loads, and had been decorated by +him with the Khartum medal.</p> + +<p>Slaves were most cruelly tortured, beaten, and +forced to disclose the hiding-places of their masters' +money and treasures. The Shaigieh tribe in particular +was most harshly dealt with; this was the only tribe +which remained loyal to the Government, and even +eight days after the fall of Khartum, if a Shaigi was +seen, he was instantly killed; hence the Dervish proverb, +"Esh Shaigi, Wad er Rif el Kelb ma yelga raha +fil Mahadieh" ("The Shaigi, the Egyptian, <i>i.e.</i>, the white +one, the dog, no rest shall he find in Mahdieh").<a name="FNanchor_G_7" id="FNanchor_G_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_G_7" class="fnanchor">[G]</a></p> + +<p>Farag Pasha did not live long after the fall; some +still said he had betrayed the town, and the Dervishes +were furious with him because, some ten days before the +assault, during one of the preliminary attacks, he had +shot Abdullah Wad en Nur, an emir of great repute, +and much beloved by the Ansar. Farag was summoned +before Wad Suleiman, who ordered him to produce all +the money he had. Incensed at his treatment and at +the charge of treachery, he fell into a hot dispute with +Wad Suleiman, who had him forthwith beheaded as an +unbeliever and an obstinate man. If he was really a<a name="Page_144" id="Page_144"></a> +traitor, he richly deserved his fate; but if not, his death +was that of a brave man.</p> + +<p>When the massacre in Khartum was at an end, the +Mahdi himself gave orders that the survivors should be +spared, but the wild fury of these fanatical Arabs had +been satiated at the cost of 10,000 lives; the streets +were filled with headless corpses, which were left +unburied until the plunder had been distributed.</p> + +<p>The whole of Khartum was now divided up amongst +hundreds of emirs and their mukuddums. Every emir +planted his flag in the midst of the quarter captured by +his men, and then the work of collecting the survivors +was begun. Ahmed Wad Suleiman ordered all free +women and slaves to be brought to the beit el mal; +here the young and good-looking fair women were +locked up in a separate enclosure, the good-looking, +unmarried Sudanese girls in another zariba, and in a +third were placed black slave girls, suitable as concubines.</p> + +<p>It is deplorable to think that at such a time were +found certain of the well-known townsmen of Khartum +who assisted the Dervishes to lay hands on all the +prettiest girls in Khartum; through their intermediary, +many of the women who had cut off their hair, and in +other ways concealed their beauty and sex by disguising +themselves as men, fell into the hands of the Ansar.</p> + +<p>May God's curse fall on those wicked traitors who +delivered up these unfortunates in order to gain favour +with the Mahdi! What sufferings these miserable +creatures underwent when they lay huddled together +like cattle in a pen, awaiting their cruel fate! Many +of them were still in their silken robes, all bespattered +with the blood of their husbands and children, and +there they lay, awaiting their turn to become the wives +of those who had murdered their husbands and their +offspring!</p> + +<p>The first selection was, of course, made for the Mahdi, +who took for himself all girls of five years of age and +upwards, who, in a few years' time, he would take to +his harem; then came the turn of the three Khalifas,<a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"></a> +whose selections were made especially under the direction +of Wad Suleiman; then followed the emirs, each in +the order of his rank, and one by one they made their +choice of these wretched women. Those that were left +were distributed amongst the Ansar. Then were openly +enacted sights which would have melted hearts of +stone. The weeping and lamentation of the white +women, as they prayed and besought the pity of their +masters, the rough jeering and foul replies of these +monsters, it is all too horrible to relate.</p> + +<p>The old unmarried women were given a few rags +with which to partially cover themselves, and were sent +to Nejumi's camp, where they were kept in captivity +for a few days. All suffered the agonies of hunger and +thirst, heat and cold. Little babies, not yet weaned, +were left to die of hunger, and for weeks after the fall +young widowed mothers could be seen wandering naked +through the market at Omdurman, begging. Some +poor women brought forth children in the streets, and +there they would lie, mother and child, naked and +foodless, until death came as a happy release from their +misery.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi had directed that all gold and silver +jewellery, precious stones and ornaments, should be +collected in the beit el mal; but of course most of this +had already found its way into the pockets of the emirs; +and, in spite of the Mahdi's most stringent orders, and +his threats that those who concealed the booty would be +punished in hell-fire, still the Ansar kept the loot and +risked the eternal flames.</p> + +<p>Considerable quantities of treasure were, however, +collected in the beit el mal, for Khartum was wealthy, +and the women especially had quantities of gold and +silver ornaments; but so much loot soon reduced the +currency, and a sovereign was now valued at two and a +half dollars. Every penny was extracted from the +prisoners by the lash, and all were reduced to complete +beggary. They were then sent to Nejumi's camp; and +on their way thither they were again beaten and +searched. They were kept a few days longer as<a name="Page_146" id="Page_146"></a> +prisoners in that camp, and then those who had the +fortune to meet with relations or friends who had been +released would weep together over their wretched state. +The confusion was terrible. Women wandered through +the camps in search of their children, children sought +their parents; but how few ever found them!</p> + +<p>After a time all the prisoners were permitted to live +in Omdurman, where they eked out a miserable existence +by begging; but hunger, disease, and all the +sufferings they had undergone carried off hundreds. +For days they remained naked, scorched under the +burning sun by day, and perished with cold at night. +How could people accustomed to ease and comfort bear +up against such hardships?</p> + +<p>When at length all the houses in Khartum had been +evacuated, the furniture, &c., removed, and their owners +robbed of all they possessed, the effects were sold from +the beit el mal at a low price. The various coloured +stuffs were cut up and utilised for making the patches +on the jibbehs (Dervish uniform), gold brocades were +purchased by those who knew their real value for a +mere trifle, and the gold melted down and made into +ornaments. Mirrors and looking-glasses were chopped +in pieces with axes, and valuable china and pottery +articles, which might have been sold for much, were +smashed in pieces. The beautiful Khartum gardens +were divided up amongst the chiefs; the Khalifa +Abdullah became the possessor of Gordon's garden, +Khalifa Sherif took that of the Roman Catholic Mission, +and Khalifa Ali Wad Helu became owner of Albert +Marquet's. Every emir selected the best house he +could find, and there he installed himself with his wives +and slaves; while the Ansar took the houses of the +poorer Copts and Egyptians. But Omdurman, and not +Khartum, was now considered the Dervish capital.</p> + +<p>Intoxicated by their success, and insatiable in their +desire for women and plunder, the Dervishes had forgotten +altogether about the English, for whom Gordon +had waited so long. How cruel is fate! Two days after +the fall, on the 28th of January, 1885, two steamers were<a name="Page_147" id="Page_147"></a> +seen slowly making their way along the western shore +of Tuti Island.</p> + +<p>Khartum and Omdurman were electrified; a consultation +was quickly held, and it was at once decided to +prevent their landing. The English could be seen +searching in all directions for some sign to show them +that Gordon was still alive; but the only answer they +got was the rain of thousands of bullets fired from +thousands upon thousands of rifles and guns at Omdurman +and Fort Mukrun. All rushed to the river bank. +The women, seizing sticks and waving them over their +heads, shrieked and yelled like hyenas, "Mót lil Inglez!" +("Death to the English!") and they were prepared to +rush at them with their sticks if they attempted to land. +When the English saw this, they could have had little +doubt as to what had happened; they turned back and +disappeared. The rage of the Dervishes at their departure +was unbounded. They rained bullets and shell +after them; but they were soon out of sight.</p> + +<p>Let us now consider for a moment the chances of +success of the English relief expedition. The defeat at +Abu Klea struck terror into the Mahdiists gathered +round Khartum; the arrival of some wounded men at +Omdurman added to the general alarm. Had twenty +redcoats arrived at Khartum, it would have been saved. +Their presence would have given fresh courage to the +inhabitants; and, confident of their approaching deliverance, +they would have striven might and main to +hold out longer. General Gordon, assisted by the advice +and energy of a few English officers, would have completely +regained his influence. It is true, indeed, that +the soldiers were weary of the long siege and continual +fighting, and they had lost all faith in Gordon's repeated +promises that the English were coming. They became +heart-broken and in despair; but Khartum was not for +long in the state of distress which prevailed in El Obeid +before that town fell. In Khartum they had only been +eating gum for a few days previous to the fall, while +in El Obeid they had existed on it for months, and +had practically nothing else to live upon.<a name="Page_148" id="Page_148"></a></p> + +<p>Had the Khartum people but seen one Englishman +with their own eyes, they would have taken fresh +courage, and would in all probability have held out +for another month, until the relief for which they had +waited so long was a <i>fait accompli</i>. The Mahdi would +not have dared to assault Khartum; and even if he +had, it is most probable he would have been beaten +back. Many survivors of Khartum often said to me, +"Had we seen one Englishman, we should have been +saved; but our doubt that the English were really +coming, and the feeling that Gordon must be deceiving +us, made us discouraged, and we felt that death would +be preferable to the life of constant war and daily +suffering we were leading during the siege."</p> + +<p>The unaccountable delay of the English was the cause +of the fall of Khartum, the death of Gordon, and the +fate of the Sudan. The Mahdi only made up his +mind to attack when he heard that they had delayed at +Gubat. He did not begin to cross over his troops till +the 24th of January, and it was not till Sunday night +that the crossing was complete. He could not have +attacked earlier than he did. When the first news of +his defeat at Abu Klea reached him he wished to raise +the siege and retire to Kordofan. If the English had +appeared at any time before he delivered the attack he +would have raised the siege and retired. Indeed, it was +always his intention to revisit El Obeid before he made +his attack.</p> + +<p>Even to the present day people in the Sudan cannot +understand the reason for the delay. Some say that +the English general was wounded at Abu Klea, and was +lying insensible, and that those who were acting for +him did not dare to undertake any operations until he +was sufficiently recovered to be able to give his own +orders.</p> + +<p>The Sudanese wondered why Europeans, who generally +take precautions for every eventuality, should not have +done so in this case. Others thought that Kashm el +Mus Pasha must have urged the English to attack the +Arabs about Metemmeh and Shendi, in revenge for the<a name="Page_149" id="Page_149"></a> +persistency with which they had attacked and harassed +the steamers. The above are only some of the many +reasons by which the Sudanese seek to explain the +delay after the battle of Abu Klea.</p> + +<p>When the English were convinced that Khartum had +fallen, they retreated north. Once the town had fallen, +the little English fighting force was in the gravest peril; +the Mahdi had now his entire force at his disposal to +combat them. He at once despatched Nejumi and a +large number of his best emirs with a large force; and +had not the English already retreated before he reached +Metemmeh, they could not have escaped.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi was furious when he heard that the +English, who had killed such numbers of his best troops, +had retired; and, though the latter failed in their +object, still their bold attempt to snatch the prey from +the lion's mouth must remain for ever a grand exploit. +The bravery of the English in advancing on Khartum +with such a small number of men is always a source of +wonder to the Sudanese. But, alas, what a useless +sacrifice of blood and money! The relief came too +late.</p> + +<p>The memory of Gordon, the heroic defender of +Khartum, is still held in respectful remembrance in the +Sudan. His bravery, generosity, and voluntary self-sacrifice +have won the admiration of his bitterest enemies. +It is the common saying amongst Moslems, "Had +Gordon been one of us, he would have been a perfect +man." I will now give a slight sketch of the events +subsequent to the fall, and the fate of the town.</p> + +<p>After the retreat of the English, the new masters of +Khartum settled down and made themselves comfortable. +The Ashraf, <i>i.e.</i> the Mahdi's relatives, especially made +themselves at home in the best houses and gardens, the +best dancers entertained them by night, and they lived +a life of ease and luxury. After the death of the +Mahdi, which occurred on the 22nd of June, 1885, his +successor, the Khalifa Abdullah, looked on the prosperity +of Khartum with jealous eyes.</p> + +<p>When I arrived in Khartum from El Obeid in April<a name="Page_150" id="Page_150"></a> +1886, I visited every part of the town, and examined it +most carefully; very few houses had been destroyed, +and the town was thickly populated. I also visited the +lines of defence between the Blue and White Niles, they +extended about six kilometres. The impression I +gathered from the appearance of the ditch, which at +that time had been much damaged by the heavy rains, +was that it could not have been crossed, except near the +White Nile where it was quite choked up with mud and +sand. At various points along the line there were +strongly-built forts manned with guns, and a little in +rear of the parapets were high structures which commanded +the ditch; behind every loophole were small +mud shelters, evidently made by the troops to protect +themselves from the cold and strong winds.</p> + +<p>The Messalamieh gate was built of burnt bricks and +cement and was then in a good state, but the iron gate +lay unopened against the side of the ditch. I counted +about 150 bodies along the parapet; there they lay, +shrivelled up like mummies, while rats and mice had +made their homes in them. In one place I saw two +bodies tied together by the feet, they had evidently +been killed in this position. It was impossible to +distinguish the Egyptians from the blacks, for the sun +had burnt up and shrivelled the skin into one black +colour. Here, where there had been such bustling +activity, now only the stillness of the tomb prevailed. +As one walked along, lizards and other reptiles would +creep from beneath the skeletons and dart off to take +refuge under others.</p> + +<p>I strolled on from the Messalamieh gate to the +European cemetery. Here what desolation and desecration +met my eyes! The crosses had been smashed to +pieces and lay strewn about in little bits. Graves had +been dug up and the bodies pulled out. I recognised +from their clothes three who had died in January 1881. +The grave of Bishop Comboni, who had died on the 11th +of October, 1881, and had been buried in the Mission +garden, had also been opened, but the obelisk erected to +his memory by the townspeople of Khartum had not<a name="Page_151" id="Page_151"></a> +been destroyed. The church bells had been pulled +down, but lay there in the garden undamaged.</p> + +<p>Shortly after my visit, Khartum was reduced to ruins. +The Khalifa Abdullah, jealous of the Ashraf, who had +completely established themselves in the town, and +whose actions he could not therefore sufficiently supervise, +determined to order its evacuation. In August +the command was given to all to quit the town within +three days; it was carried out at once, and on the +fourth day the destruction of Khartum began. Houses +were pulled down, the wood of the windows, balconies, +and doors was transported to Omdurman, and within a +very short time the whole place was in ruins; the burnt +bricks were for the most part brought to Omdurman; +the only buildings which were spared were the Arsenal, +in which work still continues to be done, Gordon's +palace, and the Mission house. In fact, Khartum is +now nothing but a heap of mud ruins, here and there a +wall is left standing, everywhere large prickly thorn +bushes have sprung up and cover as with a veil the sad +remnants of the once thriving and populous metropolis +of the Sudan.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_G_7" id="Footnote_G_7"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_G_7" class="fnlabel">[G]</a> According to the Mahdi doctrine, dogs, being considered impure +animals, are destroyed; but this subject will be considered in another +chapter.</p></div> +</div> +<a name="Page_152" id="Page_152"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE MAHDI'S LAST DAYS.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Ohrwalder's criticisms on certain events connected with the defence +of Khartum—The Sudan devastated by small-pox—The Mahdi +gives way to a life of pleasure—Description of his harem life—The +Mahdi sickens and dies—The effect on his followers—The +Khalifa Abdullah succeeds—Party strife and discord—Abdullah +prevails—Events in Sennar and Kassala.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">Looking</span> back on the events which occurred during the +siege of Khartum, I cannot refrain from saying that I +consider Gordon carried his humanitarian views too far, +and that this excessive forbearance on his part both +injured the cause and considerably added to his +difficulties. It was Gordon's first and paramount duty +to rescue the Europeans, Christians, and Egyptians from +the fanatical fury of the Mahdi, which was specially +directed against them. This was Gordon's clear duty, +but unfortunately he allowed his kindness of heart to be +made use of to his enemy's advantage.</p> + +<p>Khartum during the siege was full of the wives, +relations, and children of men who had joined the +Dervishes, and were foremost in their efforts to harass +and attack the town. These crafty people thus assured +themselves that should the Mahdi be victorious, their +loyalty to him would ensure the safety of their families +and property in Khartum, while, on the other hand, +should Gordon be victorious then their wives and +families would be able to mediate for them with the +conquerors. Thus in his kindness of heart did Gordon +feed and support the families of his enemies. It was +quite sufficient for a number of women to appeal to +Gordon with tears in their eyes, that they were starving, +for him to order that rations of corn should at once be<a name="Page_153" id="Page_153"></a> +issued to them, and thus it was that the supplies in +the hands of the Government were enormously reduced.</p> + +<p>Had Gordon, in the early stages of the siege, relieved +Khartum of the presence of these people, as he subsequently +was forced to do, he would have had supplies +sufficient to prolong the resistance of his troops far +beyond the limits at which they had arrived when the +assault took place, and, after all, should not Gordon's +first care have been for his troops? His men clamoured +against the lavish way in which Gordon distributed +what should have been their rations amongst the +families of the besiegers, but it was of no avail.</p> + +<p>Gordon should have recognised that the laws of +humanity differ in war from peace time, more especially +when the war he was waging was especially directed +against wild fanatical savages who were enemies to all +peace. He was entirely deceived if he believed that by +the exercise of kindness and humanity he was likely to +win over these people to his side; on the contrary, they +ridiculed his generosity and only thought it a sign of +weakness. The Sudanese respect and regard only those +whom they fear, and surely those cruel and hypocritical +Mahdiists should have received very different treatment +to civilized Europeans.</p> + +<p>I also think that Gordon brought harm on himself +and his cause by another action which I am convinced +led to a great extent to his final overthrow. Such men +as Slatin, Lupton, Saleh Wad el Mek, and others had +offered at the risk of their lives to come and serve him. +It is almost certain that some means could have been +found of rescuing from slavery these brave men who +had defended their provinces with the greatest determination +against treachery from within and overwhelming +numbers from without, and they could have +rendered him most valuable and useful services. None +knew better than these men the weak and the strong +points of the Mahdi's rule and his method of warfare, +and it is quite possible that they might have been +able to alter the fate of Khartum. In the Mahdi's camp +they were looked upon as brave and skilful leaders,<a name="Page_154" id="Page_154"></a> +indeed they were feared, and that is why they were put +in chains, as it was thought they might attempt to +escape. Had they been permitted to enter Khartum +they would not only have been able to assist in the +Mahdi's overthrow, but they would have been able to +encourage the garrison.</p> + +<p>Gordon would not, however, even vouchsafe an +answer to the letters of appeal these men wrote to him. +He could not have believed they were traitors, such an +idea could not have entered into the mind of an +European. The Mahdi never for an instant doubted +their inclinations, and treated them with the greatest +mistrust; but even to these savages the idea of killing +men who had been loyal to the Government, and had +fought bravely for their provinces, was objectionable, +unless they could have produced a really valid reason +for doing so. How was it possible Gordon could be for +an instant in doubt as to the inclinations and intentions +of these men? I feel strongly on these points, and +therefore cannot refrain from mentioning them.</p> + +<p>After the fall of Khartum only two strong places +remained in the hands of the Government, Kassala and +Sennar, both of which were closely besieged. The +English had retired north, and the Mahdi could rest at +last, assured that he was now possessor of the Sudan.</p> + +<p>The enormous multitudes around Khartum had been +engaged during the whole of the winter season in war, +consequently cultivation was neglected, and had it not +been for the quantities of cattle available, a disastrous +famine must have occurred. As it was, there was a +great deal of distress, and numbers died of starvation. +Famine and war had brought disease in their train. In +addition to fever and dysentery, small-pox, which in the +Sudan is endemic, increased with fearful rapidity. In +Omdurman hundreds died, and the principal business of +the beit el mal was distributing "kafans" (shrouds).</p> + +<p>It was curious that the Sudanese, who much dread +this disease, should have attributed it to the English; +but that they did so is a fact, and this is how it came +about. When the English retired, from Gubat, they<a name="Page_155" id="Page_155"></a> +left behind them a quantity of preserved stores and +tinned meat. The Dervishes, in spite of the belief that +they contained pork, which is an abomination to them, +were so hungry that they consumed almost everything +they found, and it is said that almost immediately +afterwards they were attacked by small-pox, which gave +rise to the idea that the English had mixed their food +with the germs of the disease, and this was implicitly +believed in.</p> + +<p>Owing to the prevalence of small-pox in Omdurman, +many people fled to Kordofan, Darfur, and other places, +and consequently caused the disease to spread over the +whole country. Several false doctors, with the sole +object of making money, guaranteed to check the +disease by inoculation; but as the inoculated matter +was frequently in itself diseased, the epidemic was still +further increased.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this national calamity, the Mahdi +now gave himself up to a life of ease and luxury, in +which the unfortunate women captured in Khartum +played a prominent part. He represented that all those +who died of small-pox were suffering God's punishment +for being evil-minded or having appropriated the booty. +People believed what he said, and would still believe +him, if he were alive and told them even more incredible +things. The capture of Khartum had, of course, raised +his prestige enormously, and now the belief in his +Divine message needed no further confirmation. Before +the assault took place he said that he would divide the +river into two parts, just as Moses had divided the Red +Sea, so that his followers could cross to Khartum on dry +land if they failed to take it by assault. His promise, +too, that very few should fall by the sword, not only +encouraged them in the attack, but its verification +served only to further prove his divinity. His uncle, +Sayid Abdel Kader, up to the time of the fall of +Khartum, still doubted that he was the true Mahdi; +but, once the town was taken, he doubted no longer.</p> + +<a name="egyptian"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:356px;"><img src="images/p156.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="356" height="453"> +<p class="caption2">AN EGYPTIAN HAREM WOMAN.</p></div> + + +<p>All this success increased the adulation and worship +of the Mahdi to an extraordinary extent, and as for<a name="Page_156" id="Page_156"></a> +himself, although he was continually warning his followers +to despise the good things of this world, and to +abandon all luxurious modes of life, he surrounded +himself with every sort of comfort and luxury, appreciating +to the utmost the very pleasures which he +declaimed so violently. He urged moderation in eating +and drinking, yet he secured for himself every dainty +which Khartum could possibly produce. He now wore +shirts and trousers of the finest material, and, before<a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"></a> +putting them on, his wives were obliged to perfume +them with incense and other costly fragrances. His +wives attended on him in turns, but no regularity was +preserved. They anointed his body with all sorts of +precious unguents, but his speciality was the expensive +"Sandalia" (a perfume prepared from sandal-wood and +oil), and so saturated was he with these perfumes that +when he went forth the air was laden with sweet-smelling +odours.</p> + +<p>The courtyard of his harem was full of women, from +little Turkish girls of eight years old to the pitch-black +Dinka negress or copper-coloured Abyssinian; almost +every tribe in the Sudan supplied its representative, so +that one might say the entire Sudanese woman-world +was to be seen here.</p> + +<p>Amongst this vast concourse four only were lawful +wives; the remainder were considered as "ghenima," or +booty, and were looked upon as slaves and concubines. +His principal wife was called "Aisha," or, as she is +better known in Omdurman, "Om el Muminin" (the +Mother of the Faithful). She was a woman of considerable +influence, for the wives of all the principal +emirs visited her, and she was assisted by them in +elaborating an extensive system of espionage. Alas, +how many unfortunate girls were left weeping day and +night for their miserable state, robbed by this Aisha of +their happiness and liberty!</p> + +<p>The Mahdi's dwelling was built for the most part of +the captured loot. From the boards of General Hicks's +stable he had two huts built, and near these a hut made +of mortar and a small magazine. This man, who +hitherto had but a small straw mat, now lay on fine +bedsteads originally brought from Jedda and captured +in Khartum, while the floors were spread with Persian +carpets. Here was this Divine Mahdi leading indoors a +life of the most immoderate uxoriousness, whilst outside +his fanatical followers hailed him as the direct +messenger of God, sent to purge the world from the +evil practices of the hated Turk.</p> + +<p>Two persons whom I knew well, and who had visited<a name="Page_158" id="Page_158"></a> +the Mahdi less than three weeks before his death, gave +me an account of the sort of life he was then leading. +It was the month of Ramadan, the great fast, and any +one who failed to keep it strictly was punishable by +death. From noon till midnight people used to crowd +to the mosque, which was then only a large enclosure +surrounded by a zariba. Thousands of Dervishes could +be accommodated in this large rectangular space, in +which the clash of a forest of spears indicated their +impatience to see the Mahdi as he came to prayers; +they had seen him hundreds and hundreds of times +before, but they seemed never tired of gazing at +him, and often fought to get a place near the mihrab +(niche) where he prayed.</p> + +<p>Whilst the impatient murmur of thousands of voices +indicates that the time of his approach has almost +arrived, let us for a moment turn into the Mahdi's +harem, and here is a true picture of what my friends +there beheld. The Mahdi reclining on a magnificent +carpet, his head propped up by a pillow covered with +gold brocade; he is clothed in a linen shirt of finest +texture, a pair of drawers, and a gallabieh; his shaved +head covered by a takia of embroidered silk. Upwards +of thirty women stand around him; some fan +him with great ostrich feathers, others gently rub his +feet (a practice in which the Sudanese delight), without +in any way disturbing his slumber; others gently +smooth his hands, and Aisha lies beside him, covering +his head and neck with loving embraces.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile hundreds of Ansar are shouting outside +his zariba, impatiently awaiting his blessing, and +anxiously expecting to hear his voice. The eunuchs +are trying to drive off this importunate crowd with +whips, but they will not leave until they have obtained +the earnestly sought blessing. At length one of the +eunuchs enters, and receives from Aisha the blessing, +which she gives without disturbing the Mahdi. He +then returns and tells the impatient crowd that the +Mahdi is at present in deep contemplation, but that he +is graciously pleased to give them his blessing, which is<a name="Page_159" id="Page_159"></a> +then repeated. This is the signal for a wild shout of +joy, and then they return to the mosque to range +themselves in their appointed lines for prayers. And +now those who were not present to receive the blessing +press forward to touch the others, and thus obtain some +of its virtue.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi is gradually sinking from his half doze +into a sound slumber, when Aisha very gently rouses +him and tells him that the appointed time for ablutions +and prayers is already passed. The women now assist +him to rise, his red shoes are brought, and then he +proceeds to the place of ablution, followed by four +women carrying his water-bottle. On his return the +women throw themselves down frantically on the spots +which his feet have touched, and struggle with each +other in their endeavours to embrace the ground on +which he has trodden.</p> + +<p>It is believed that the earth touched by the Mahdi's +foot has healing properties, and has, moreover, the +effect of ensuring a quick and painless delivery; it is +therefore distributed amongst holy women, and even to +this day is carefully preserved for the purpose which I +have cited. Not a drop, too, of the water with which +the Mahdi has washed is allowed to be wasted, but is +hoarded with the greatest care, and drunk as an unfailing +remedy for every sort of illness and malady.</p> + +<p>But to return to my friends' description. The +Mahdi's ablutions over, his son Bashra runs up to him +and shows him a golden ring his mother has given him. +Bashra asks permission to wear the ring, but the Mahdi, +who has by this time noticed the presence of two +strangers, says, "Oh, my son, only the Turks wear +such ornaments, because they love the things of this +world; but it is not becoming in us to wear such +ornaments, which are perishable; we strive to obtain +things imperishable. Give the ring back to your +mother." The little hypocrite well understands what +his father means, and obeys.</p> + +<p>Aisha then clothes the Mahdi in his Dervish jibbeh, +girdle, and turban, and in this godly raiment he marches<a name="Page_160" id="Page_160"></a> +off to the mosque. As he quits the palace, his bodyguard +surround him and keep off the crowd. On +reaching the mihrab he is received with a shout by the +assembled multitude. After prayers he gives a short +sermon, and then returns to his wives.</p> + +<p>Thus did the Mahdi enjoy the sweets of victory +indoors, whilst outside he practised the most abominable +hypocrisy. Most of his principal emirs (with the exception +of his uncle, Sayid Abdel Karim, who had been +sent to reduce Sennar) followed in their divine master's +footsteps, and led a life of pleasure and debauchery. +Sometimes the Mahdi used to cross over to Khartum +and disport himself in Gordon's palace, whither he +ordered a portion of his harem to be transferred.</p> + +<p>But all this good living and unbridled sensuality +were to be the cause of his speedy dissolution. He +grew enormously fat. The two visitors, whom I mentioned +above, saw him only eight days before his death, +and told me that they believed then he could not live +much longer. Early in Ramadan he fell sick, and +soon became dangerously ill. The hand of God's +justice fell heavily upon him; and it was decreed that +he should no longer enjoy the empire which he had +raised on the dead bodies of thousands of the victims +to his wretched hypocrisy and deceit.</p> + +<p>It is, indeed, terrible to think of the awful misery +and distress brought upon his own country by this one +man. His disease grew rapidly worse; he complained of +pain in the heart, and died, on the 22nd of June, 1885, +of fatty degeneration of the heart. Some say that he +was a victim to the vengeance of a woman who had +lost husband and children in the fall of Khartum, and +who repaid the Mahdi's outrage on her own person by +giving him poison in his food. This may be so; and +it is true, poison is generally used in the Sudan to put +people out of the way; but I am rather inclined to +think that it was outraged nature that took vengeance +on its victim; and that it was the Mahdi's debauched +and dissolute mode of life which caused his early death. +He died in the mortar hut, which I previously de<a name="Page_161" id="Page_161"></a>scribed; +and his adherents gave out that he was about +to travel through the heavens for a space of three +years. People were not allowed to say "The Mahdi is +dead," but "El Mahdi intakal" (<i>i.e.</i> "The Mahdi has +been removed").</p> + +<p>The shock of his death was terrible. The wild fanatics +were, so to speak, struck dumb; their eyes were +suddenly opened; and their very confusion showed that +they had realized, the Mahdi was a liar. Omdurman +was full of suppressed murmuring; and the people were +collected in groups, talking of this awful catastrophe.</p> + +<p>Those who were oppressed believed that the sudden +collapse of Mahdieh must result in a revolution. No +one believed that the Mahdi's party could continue +ruling in his name. Would that some good man could +have been found to rapidly seize this opportunity of +putting himself at the head of the anti-Mahdiists; he +must have been successful!</p> + +<p>The confusion in the Mahdi's household was beyond +description; his women wept and wailed in the wildest +grief. Ahmed Wad Suleiman and the Mahdi's nearest +relatives prepared a grave immediately beneath the bed +on which he had died; the body was washed, wrapped +in a shroud, according to the Moslem custom, and, in +the presence of the Khalifas and all the members of +the Mahdi's family, it was lowered into the grave, +amidst the lamentations and wailing of the enormous +crowd collected outside the building. Before the grave +was filled in, the body was sprinkled with perfumes; +then each person present took a handful of earth and +threw it into the grave, amidst murmurs of "Ya +Rahman, Ya Rahim!" (<i>i.e.</i> O merciful, O gracious God!) +A simple monument was erected over the tomb.</p> + +<p>Thus ended the Mahdi—a man who left behind him +a hundred thousand murdered men, women, and children, +hundreds of devastated towns and villages, +poverty, and famine. Upon his devoted head lies the +curse of his people whom he had forced into a wild +and fanatical war, which brought indescribable ruin +upon the country, and which exposed his countrymen<a name="Page_162" id="Page_162"></a> +to the rule of a cruel tyrant, from whom it was impossible +to free themselves.</p> + +<p>Before his death, the Mahdi had nominated the +Khalifa Abdullah as his successor; he saw that this +was the only man capable of holding in check the +rapacious Sudanese tribes, and of governing the strange +empire which he had raised; but the selection of this +"foreigner" was a bitter disappointment to the Danagla +and Jaalin, who, hitherto rulers, had now to become +the ruled; and from whose hands their authority was +transferred to the cruel and tyrannical Baggaras, who +henceforth became the conquerors of the Sudan, and +who governed its inhabitants with a rod of iron.</p> + +<p>In nominating the Khalifa Abdullah, the Mahdi +threw the firebrand of discord amongst the hitherto +united ranks of Mahdieh, and thereby greatly weakened +his cause. It was hard for the Mahdi to die, just when +he had established an empire stretching from the +Bahr el Ghazal to Egypt, and from Darfur to the +Red Sea; he had neither had the time nor the inclination +to try and govern it; his mission had been the +destruction of all existing forms of government; and +he had carried it out to the letter.</p> + +<p>Immediately after the Mahdi's death, the Khalifa +Abdullah summoned a meeting, and then and there +insisted on the two Khalifas and the Ashraf acknowledging +him as the Khalifat el Mahdi (or Mahdi's +successor). After a long discussion it was at length +agreed to, and he gave a solemn assurance that he +would follow absolutely in the Mahdi's footsteps. Just +at this time the agitation was too great for him to +think of introducing the selfish and ambitious plans +which he had already formulated. Moreover, Sennar +and Kassala were still holding out; it was therefore +the first necessary step to be most conciliating on all +sides, and to all parties.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi's name was still paramount in inspiring +fanaticism; and therefore the Khalifa's watchword became +"Ed din mansur" (Religion is victorious); thus +he sought to establish unity and concord by means of<a name="Page_163" id="Page_163"></a> +the new religion which the Mahdi had founded, and +which, now that its originator was dead, he sought to +make unassailable.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, discord very soon sprang up. The +Khalifa Sherif and the Ashraf were furious at being +out of power, and they could not long conceal their +discontent. Each Khalifa now did his utmost to show +his independence of the other; each of them rode +about in Omdurman in the greatest splendour, as if +he were a king, and ordered his own great war-drum +to be beaten. Jealousy, hatred, and discontent spread +rapidly amongst the people; and soon Omdurman was +divided into two distinct camps: Khalifas Sherif and +Ali Wad Helu in the one, and Khalifa Abdullah in the +other.</p> + +<p>Both parties now prepared for battle. Abdullah had +the Baggaras and blacks, under Fadl Maula (Abu +Anga's brother). There were frequent disputes in the +market-place; and every day it was thought a fight +must take place. At length matters reached such a +stage that Abdullah challenged the two other Khalifas +to fight on the open plain, on which the great reviews +usually take place, just outside the town.</p> + +<p>The two parties collected their entire forces; but it +was evident the Baggaras were by far the stronger; +and as they marched out they shouted "Môt el Gellaba" +("Death to the Gellabas!" <i>i.e.</i> the Danagla, in contradistinction +to the Baggara). Khalifa Wad Helu +now acted the part of mediator, and went across to +confer with Abdullah; the troops of the latter were +drawn up in battle-array, and quite prepared for the +fray. Khalifa Sherif feared to enter the lists alone, +and therefore he submitted; he was obliged to hand +over his soldiers, arms, ammunition, flags, and war-drums, +which Abdullah took possession of, and was +allowed to retain only fifty men, with firearms, as a +bodyguard.</p> + +<p>Thus Abdullah constituted himself the one and only +ruler, and showed that he was quite resolved to allow +no one else to share his authority with him. Gradually<a name="Page_164" id="Page_164"></a> +he reduced the power of the two other Khalifas and +of the Ashraf, and in a short time they became men +of little influence. The Mahdi's two uncles, Abdel +Karim and Abdel Kader, who showed the most open +and violent animosity, were at once thrown into chains, +their houses destroyed, and themselves declared enemies +of the Mahdi; and, as we shall presently relate, he +ordered Abu Anga to secure Zogal and put him in +prison.</p> + +<p>Whilst all these disturbances were going on in Omdurman, +the two places, Sennar and Kassala, in which +Government troops were still holding out, were now in +the greatest straits; and I will here give a brief account +of the events which occurred.</p> + +<p>Sennar had suffered from the Mahdiists for a very +long time. Ahmed Wad el Makashef had besieged it +in 1883; Abdel Kader Pasha, Governor-General of the +Sudan, had advanced to its relief with a large force, had +defeated the Makashef, and then raised the siege. +Abdel Kader himself was wounded in this fight, and his +watch was broken to pieces by a bullet. Sennar and +Khartum were once more in communication. It is +unfortunate that Abdel Kader, who was greatly feared +by the Sudanese, was recalled to Egypt.</p> + +<p>In 1884 the rebels again attacked Sennar, but were +repulsed. It was then besieged by El Mehrdi Abu +Rof, who succeeded in defeating the Egyptian troops +under Nur Bey. I shall presently relate how this +Mehrdi was afterwards treated by the Sudanese.</p> + +<p>Some say that the fall of Khartum had a very +discouraging effect on the gallant garrison of Sennar; +but this was not so—they determined to make a stand. +The Mudir, Hassan Sadik, who had been put in chains +by Nur Bey, volunteered, if he should be released, to +attack the rebels, and, in fact, he succeeded in driving +them off; but on his return to the town he fell into an +ambush and was killed. Brave Nur Bey again pursued +the enemy, and succeeded in inflicting a further defeat +on them.</p> + +<p>Abdel Karim now arrived with a large force, and<a name="Page_165" id="Page_165"></a> +summoned the garrison to surrender. Nur Bey refused, +and on the 16th of June the city was assaulted; but +Abdel Karim was driven back, and was himself wounded +in the thigh. He then decided to make the garrison +capitulate by famine. The siege was pressed very +closely, and on the 18th of July Nur Bey made a +successful sortie, inflicting considerable loss on the +enemy; but he too was wounded in the leg, and was +rendered permanently lame.</p> + +<p>The determined defence of the town now induced the +Khalifa to despatch Wad En Nejumi with large reinforcements. +Meanwhile the garrison had been suffering +greatly from famine, and Nur Bey had decided to make +a last sortie, which should be under the command +of Hassan Bey Osman; but this proved unsuccessful, +the commander was killed on the 19th of August, +1885, and Nur Bey was forced to capitulate. Of the +3,000 men of whom the garrison had originally +consisted, 700 only remained—a tangible proof +of the vigorous and determined resistance they had +made.</p> + +<p>It is thought throughout the Sudan that the defence +of Sennar was most praiseworthy. Nur Bey still lives +in Omdurman. Only last year his old wound was cut +open to remove the splinters of bone. He was better +again when I escaped, but is still lame. Wad En +Nejumi arrived two days after the fall of the town and +found it in ruins. All that is left of Sennar are a few +mud and sand heaps, and its very name has ceased to +exist, although early in this century it was better +known even than Dongola or Kordofan.</p> + +<p>Kassala alone was left. This town is situated on the +Khor el Gash, not far from the Atbara River, and about +midway between Khartum and Massawah. It had a +population of 13,000, and was surrounded by a wall. +Here the celebrated moslem, Sid el Hassan, is buried, +and a dome is erected over his grave. This man was +greatly venerated in the Eastern Sudan; and if any one +swears by his name, it is believed that he must be +speaking the truth. One of his pupils, whom I met in<a name="Page_166" id="Page_166"></a> +Omdurman, told me of his miracles, of which I will +quote one or two examples. One day he was preaching +a sermon; and when it was over, several of the listeners +came to him and begged for alms. Sid el Hassan +struck his knee, and forthwith a number of dollars fell +out—the exact sum for which the beggars had asked. +Amongst the bystanders was a poor shame-faced man, +who immediately begged that he might have one dollar. +Sid el Hassan again struck his knee, and one dollar fell +out, which he at once handed to the man, saying, "This +is for the poor shame-faced one." The man at once fell +at his feet and gratefully kissed his hands. All who +were present were greatly astonished at this miracle, +and some, bolder than the rest, approached Sid el +Hassan and touched him, when they found, to their +wonder, that he felt just like a sack full of dollars.</p> + +<p>On another occasion two travellers arrived, with the +intention of making a map of the country. Having +failed in their purpose, they applied to Sid el Hassan +for advice, and, after offering them food and drink, he +handed to them the map they required. He performed +many different miracles, and was, moreover, a very +tolerant man, rendering the Government many valuable +services, especially when he succeeded in stopping a +revolt of the soldiers. During all the recent events, his +relations remained perfectly loyal.</p> + +<p>But to return to my narrative. When Osman Digna +came to the Sawakin neighbourhood, he sent the emir, +Mustafa Hadal, to commence the siege of Kassala; but, +as the Shukrieh tribe supplied quantities of corn, it was +enabled to stand a very prolonged siege. In January +1884, it was assaulted, and the Mudir suffered serious +loss. The Arabs, who had hitherto remained loyal, +seeing no hope of help from the Government, also +deserted.</p> + +<p>The siege was now more closely pressed, and the +suburb of Khatmieh was nearly captured; but the +enemy were at length driven back. A treaty was +concluded with Abyssinia to relieve the Egyptian +garrisons and bring them through that country to Mas<a name="Page_167" id="Page_167"></a>sawah; +and though at that time all the donkeys in the +town had been eaten, they still hoped for relief.</p> + +<p>In June 1885, the city was hemmed in on all sides, +and was in a desperate condition. Nevertheless the +attempted assault on the 15th of the month was successfully +repulsed, and the Mudir pursued the enemy, of +whom he killed 300. He also succeeded in capturing +1,000 head of cattle. This enabled the town to hold out +for a short time; and the news of the Mahdi's death +served to further encourage the garrison.</p> + +<p>But at last the town was reduced to absolute starvation, +and, on condition that the lives of the inhabitants +should be spared, the Mudir surrendered. No sooner, +however, were the arms given up than the conquerors +began to pillage the town and inflict all sorts of +cruelties on the people. Osman Digna, who was at that +time furious on account of his defeat by Ras Alula on the +22nd of September at Kufit, vented his wrath on the +unfortunate Mudir, Ahmed Bey Effat, Hassan Agha, +and Ibrahim Eff Shawki, and also on two Greeks, Stello +Apostolidi and Tadros Manioseh, whom he caused to be +beheaded on the 30th of September, 1885.</p> + +<p>From that time Kassala remained under Osman +Digna; but in 1886, when the latter was fully occupied +in his operations against Sawakin, the Khalifa sent Abu +Girgeh there as emir. When Abu Girgeh was subsequently +sent to Tokar, Sayid Hamed became emir of +Kassala, which from that time formed a part of the +province of Galabat, of which Sheikh Nasri, of the +Bederieh tribe, became emir.</p> + +<p>Abu Girgeh was eventually sent to Berber to replace +Osman Wad Dekeim, who had fallen into disgrace. +This Osman was very anxious to marry a pretty woman +he had seen in Berber, and had frequently visited her in +the hope that she would consent; but the woman, who +did not want to marry him, decided on a stratagem, and +agreed to have a rendezvous on a certain day. She, +however, told her brothers and relations to lie in wait; +and when Osman arrived at the appointed hour, and +was almost sure that he had succeeded, the brothers sud<a name="Page_168" id="Page_168"></a>denly +broke into the hut and thrashed him so soundly +that he made off, and resolved not to urge his suit a +second time.</p> + +<p>Abu Girgeh did not long remain on good terms with +this low Arab, and soon they were both recalled to +Omdurman; the former was again sent to Kassala, +where he accused Nasri of having oppressed the inhabitants, +and appropriated a quantity of money; the latter +fled to Omdurman, where the Khalifa pardoned him.</p> + +<p>Sayid Hamid also quarrelled with Abu Girgeh, and +just before I left the Sudan I was told that the Khalifa +had recalled him on suspicion that he was in league with +the Italians. It is generally believed in the Sudan that +Italy will shortly take possession of the weakly defended +Kassala, but accurate information of occurrences in the +Eastern Sudan is more likely to be received in Cairo +than in Omdurman.</p> + + +<a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE ESCAPE OF FATHER BONOMI.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Ohrwalder continues to describe his personal experiences—Mahmud +the emir of El Obeid—His unsuccessful attempts to entrap the +Nubas—The arrival of Olivier Pain in El Obeid—His motives +in joining the Mahdi—His journey towards Omdurman—His +sad fate—Lupton Bey arrives at El Obeid from the Bahr el +Ghazal—He is sent to Omdurman and thrown into chains—Life +in El Obeid—The escape of Father Bonomi—Ohrwalder's +solitude—The death of the Khojur Kakum.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">I must</span> now return to the narrative of my own personal +experiences, which I broke off in order to follow those +events of the Mahdi's career in which I did not take +part.</p> + +<p>Before the Mahdi left Rahad, I was again handed +over to yet another master; this was Sherif Mahmud, +the Mahdi's uncle, and Governor of Kordofan, and I was +put into his charge when he came to Rahad to see the +Mahdi off. I stayed a few days with Mahmud at Rahad. +I was then in a wretched state of health; to my horror +I discovered black spots on my body, my teeth were +chattering, and then I knew that I had scurvy. I +longed to escape to the Dobab hills, but my guards +were always with me, and I could not succeed.</p> + +<p>At length Mahmud started back for El Obeid, and he +gave me one of the few surviving mules of the Hicks +expedition, which had been wounded by a bullet in the +neck and which had never healed. The heavy rain had +entirely changed the aspect of the country, which was +now a mass of green, and under any other circumstances +the journey would have been pleasant enough. We +were twice overtaken by terrible thunder-storms, which +obliged us to halt, as the heavy rain made travelling<a name="Page_170" id="Page_170"></a> +impossible; at night we had to sleep on the wet +ground.</p> + +<p>As we approached El Obeid we heard the war-drums +beating, to announce the Governor's arrival. The great +sandy plain around was transformed into green fields +planted with dokhn. We halted for a time under the +leafy Adansonia tree, under which the Mahdi's tent +had been pitched, and I noticed that the entire bark of +the tree had been peeled off. I afterwards learnt that +the people believed the Mahdi's presence had hallowed +the tree, and that in consequence the bark had been +stripped off and boiled, the liquid being used as medicine +or for witchcraft purposes.</p> + +<p>Only a few huts were left standing in El Obeid, and +Mahmud went to live in the Mudirieh. He had a great +reception on his arrival, and the most profuse flattery +was showered upon him. It was the usual thing to say +that "during his absence the town had been as still as +the grave and as dark as night, but, thanks be to God, +on his return light was once more restored," &c., &c. +The Sherif delighted in this adulation.</p> + +<p>A few days after our arrival, Father Bonomi was +brought from Rahad to El Obeid in chains, and he and +I were given a small hut in the midst of his slaves' +quarters, where it was thought we would be in safe +custody.</p> + +<p>Sherif Mahmud was a small thin man about fifty +years of age, full of wiry strength and with evil, +malignant-looking eyes. He had formerly been a slave-dealer +in Dar Fertit and had then joined Zubeir Pasha's +army. Even at Abba he was one of the Mahdi's most +fanatical adherents. He pretended to hate the things +of this world, was always poorly dressed, and before +others always eat of the worst and humblest food. But +he was inordinately proud, and loved the power of +commanding. During his prayers he used to throw +about his arms and legs and shout "Hoa! Hoa!" ("It is +He! it is He!" <i>i.e.</i> God). His followers used to say that +when he did this he saw God in his vision; but others +who knew him of old laughed at these antics, though at<a name="Page_171" id="Page_171"></a> +the same time they were afraid of him and indulged +him with flattery. He was excessively severe and strict, +but was impartial in his administration of justice.</p> + +<p>He dealt very severely with the robbers who now +infested El Obeid, and cut off a number of hands and +feet. He thoroughly believed in the Mahdi's divine +message, and had the reputation of being the bravest +of the family. He had received a bullet wound at +Gedir, and at Shekan he was always in front, carrying +a flag, until he disappeared in the smoke; he fell pierced +by two bullets and was thought to have been killed; +after the battle, however, his people found him lying on +the ground with both legs broken; but he recovered. +He carried such a number of arms that men laughed +at him. In addition to the two broad-bladed spears, he +carried two smaller ones, as well as a number of javelins +in a quiver; from his shoulder hung his sword and a +small Remington rifle, while his girdle was stuck all +over with revolvers and knives. Women always fled +out of his path, for he whipped them ruthlessly; +sometimes he would dash amongst a crowd of women +on his horse and lay about him right and left. He had +a very choice harem, and amongst his women was a +young Egyptian girl; it is the great desire of a +Mahdiist to possess a fair woman, and they often +have recourse to the most violent and cruel practices in +order to acquire what they want.</p> + +<p>Mahmud frequently went through his prayers with +his wives and concubines, and on one occasion they +began to laugh, in consequence of which the Egyptian +girl was sent away and the rest flogged. From this date +he took an intense dislike to all the fair-skinned people, +and the few Egyptian families who still lived in El +Obeid were banished from <a name="tn_png_187"></a><!--TN: Period added after "it"-->it.</p> + +<p>He flattered himself that neither Abu Anga nor +Nejumi understood how to wage war against the +Nubas, and therefore he once more determined to +attack these mountaineers; but he set about it in a +very different manner from his predecessors. He armed +400 Takruris and instructed them to encamp at the foot<a name="Page_172" id="Page_172"></a> +of the mountain; they were to say they were at enmity +with the Dervishes and desired the friendship and +assistance of the Nubas.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Mahmud pitched his camp at Rahad, and +was in constant readiness for the attack. At first the +Nubas were inclined to fall into the trap, and made a +treaty of friendship with the Takruris; but they too +had recourse to a still more successful stratagem, and +when the Takruris seemed quite certain of their prey, +the Nubas suddenly fell upon them during a wild, +stormy night and killed almost all of them, very few +escaped, and Mahmud was obliged to return crestfallen +to El Obeid.</p> + +<p>On the 15th of August, 1884, a great surprise came +upon El Obeid. Quite unexpectedly, at about two o'clock +in the afternoon, a European and three Arabs, mounted +on good camels, entered the open yard of the Mudirieh, +where Ali Bakhit, the chiefs, and a number of Dervishes +were assembled. The European dismounted, and boldly +advanced towards the crowd. He was tall, and gave +one the impression of being a powerful and energetic +man; he had a fair beard, and his face was very +sunburnt. His appearance made a great commotion +amongst the Dervishes.</p> + +<p>Immediately all sorts of wild rumours were flying +about; some said he was the King of France; others +that he was one of the principal ministers of that +nation. He wore a jibbeh, white cap and turban, and +at once was directed to Ali Bakhit. Being unable to +speak Arabic, Father Bonomi was immediately summoned +to act as interpreter; but he had much difficulty in +making himself understood.</p> + +<p>The stranger informed Bonomi that he had marched +from Dongola to El Obeid in thirteen days; that he +had escaped from Dongola, as the English had endeavoured +to thwart him in his projects; that his name +was Olivier Pain, and that he was the bearer of letters +from Zubeir Pasha to the Mahdi; but that fear of the +English had obliged him to destroy them. He said +that he came in the name of France, to place his<a name="Page_173" id="Page_173"></a> +nation's submission in the Mahdi's hands; and that he +was prepared to assist the Mahdi, both by advice +and, if required, by deeds.</p> + +<p>After this statement Olivier Pain was searched, and +at once relieved of his money; a small hut was then +pointed out, in which he was to live, in charge of a +guard; the three guides were also secured in another +place. The Dervishes did not credit Pain's statement; +they could not believe it possible that a European +would voluntarily come into the Sudan to join the +Mahdi; they entirely distrusted Europeans, whose +mental superiority they thoroughly recognised; they +therefore concluded that Pain was a spy sent by the +English to take stock of the situation.</p> + +<p>On the following day Bonomi was again summoned; +the various articles Pain had brought with him were +laid before him, such as books of travels in the Sudan, +an Arabic dictionary, a Kuran in French, a few maps, +letters, and a passport. Bonomi had to explain these +various articles to the Dervishes, who were not a little +surprised about the maps of the Sudan, and more +especially that of Kordofan. It is true there was +nothing found in Pain's baggage of a suspicious nature; +still, the Dervishes did not trust him; and he was +kept under a very strict guard; we were not permitted +to visit him.</p> + +<p>The next day Pain complained of the bad food he +was given; but the Dervishes gave him wholesome +instruction: they told him that the true adherents of +the Mahdi were dead to the things of this world. +Poor Pain's mind must have been sadly disabused by +this reception.</p> + +<p>The Dervishes were full of curiosity about this strange +Frenchman's doings and intentions, and kept worrying +us to know why he should have come; but it was also a +mystery to us; and when they asked him, he always gave +the same answer—"The whole of the European nations, +more especially France, and with the one exception of +England, entirely sympathised with the Mahdi." He +was asked if the Senussi had risen against the un<a name="Page_174" id="Page_174"></a>believers +in Egypt; but he replied that the Senussi +feared the English. When asked what the English +were doing, he replied that they were building forts +at Assuan; whereupon Ali Bakhit observed—"May +God destroy their forts." But, question as they would, +Pain's arrival and his reasons for coming still remained +a mystery to them. He was therefore sent, in charge +of a large escort, to Mahmud at Rahad; Mahmud +received him well, gave him a horse and a female slave, +and sent him on to the Mahdi, who was then on his +march to Omdurman.</p> + +<p>On the 28th of August Pain arrived at Aigella, where +one of our El Obeid Mission brothers was staying; the +latter at once inquired of Pain what he was going to +do. On this occasion, it appears, he spoke more openly; +he asked if the brother understood French; but the +latter replied that he could not speak it, though he +understood it. Then Pain proceeded to say that he +was correspondent of a newspaper, and came to see +the Mahdi and his empire, about which he intended +to write full accounts to his paper.</p> + +<p>This brother endeavoured to explain to him the +difficulties he would be sure to meet with, and on what +dangerous ground he was treading, adding that it was +most unlikely he would ever return; but Pain replied +that if he succeeded in his undertaking, he would +receive an immense reward; and that hitherto the +Dervishes had not treated him badly; moreover, he +was full of energy, and would not give up hope of +escape in the future. Pain also explained to the brother +the difficulties with which the English expedition would +be sure to meet, and how he believed Khartum would +certainly be lost.</p> + +<p>Pain caught up the Mahdi at the village of Busata. +Various were the surmises of those in camp regarding +his intentions. Slatin, Klootz, and the other Europeans +were especially perplexed. Olivier Pain had imagined +that the immense services which he would be able to +render the Mahdi would cause the latter to receive him +with open arms; but the poor man was sadly deluded.<a name="Page_175" id="Page_175"></a> +He was presented to the Mahdi, who greeted him coldly, +and asked him his reasons for coming. Pain replied—"To +acknowledge you as Mahdi, and to lay before you +the submission of the French nation." The Mahdi +gave an ironic smile, as much as to say he did not +believe a word Pain was saying; and then he ordered +Abu Anga to take charge of him, guard him most +carefully, and permit no one to see him.</p> + +<p>During the march to Shatt, Klootz managed to +approach Pain, and began talking to him; but for +this disobedience he was at once seized and put in +chains. On Slatin's representations, however, to the +Khalifa Abdullah, he was released.</p> + +<p>At Shatt, Pain began to suffer from dysentery and +fever, brought on by over-fatigue and bad water. The +Mahdi permitted Slatin to visit him; and Pain's wretched +condition so disturbed Slatin that he begged the Mahdi +to give him a little money, with which he could buy +some better food, which it was absolutely necessary +Pain should have.</p> + +<p>But his disease became worse; and it was with the +greatest difficulty he could continue his march to Om +Sadik. Here his condition became hopeless; he explained +that he could go on no longer, and begged for some +medicine. The custom in the Sudan is to drink melted +butter; and after Pain had taken a little, he was +placed on a camel; but it had scarcely gone a few +steps, when he was seized with a fainting fit, and fell +off. As he lay unconscious on the ground, and was +deathly pale, his guards believed that he must be +dead; so they dug a rough grave, in which poor Pain +was laid, covered him over with sand, and then hurried +on. It is quite possible the unfortunate man was not +dead. They marked his grave by planting his stick +in the sand, and tying his sandals to it. This event +occurred on the 15th of November, 1884.</p> + +<p>Early in September, Lupton Bey, Mudir of Bahr el +Ghazal arrived at El Obeid; he had been permitted to +retain his property, and he was most kind to us; indeed, +I have no words to express our gratitude to him for his<a name="Page_176" id="Page_176"></a> +unvarying generosity to us. He told us a great deal +about his own fights, and related how, after the destruction +of General Hicks, the Mahdi had despatched the +two slave-dealer brothers Karamallah and Kirkesawi +from Dongola to the Bahr el Ghazal. Karamallah had +summoned Lupton Bey to surrender; but Lupton, as +his letters to Emin Pasha show, determined to fight; his +subordinate officers, however, almost all deserted him, and +joined the Mahdiists, and the few who remained loyal +eventually refused to fight. Indeed, I have seen the +actual document they drew up and signed to that effect. +Lupton, who at that time was thoroughly exhausted by +his constant warfare against the Dinkas, had therefore +no alternative but to submit, which he did on <a name="tn_png_192"></a><!--TN: "the the" replaced by "the"-->the +28th of April, 1884.</p> + +<p>A few days later Lupton, with his kavass and clerk, +were sent as prisoners to El Obeid, <i>viâ</i> Shakka. His +arrival was a welcome addition to our little circle, and +it was a very great comfort to us to have the society +of such a genuine and kind friend as Lupton in these +times of trial. He remained with us for about a month; +at that time we had daily information about the +movements of the English expedition, and we now +hoped that the time for our deliverance was approaching. +Many of the Mahdiists themselves were getting +tired of the new <i>régime</i>, which gave neither rest nor +security of property to anyone. It was through these +malcontents that we obtained news which gave us food +for argument and speculation during the long and weary +days of our captivity.</p> + +<p>This life of a slave was terribly obnoxious to poor +Lupton, who frequently gave way to bursts of indignation, +and in one of these Sherif Mahmud arrested him, +and in the first week of October he despatched him +under escort to the Mahdi. On his arrival at Omdurman +he was put in chains, where he remained for ten +months, as he had attempted to escape to Khartum. +During this period of captivity, Lupton underwent +terrible sufferings, which I could not possibly describe.</p> + +<p>Shortly after Lupton left us, we received a letter<a name="Page_177" id="Page_177"></a> +from Slatin, saying that Gordon intended holding out +until the English arrived, at the same time he urged us +to try and obtain leave to come to Omdurman; but +this was impossible. Another friend also told us that +he hoped shortly to be able to effect our release; but in +his letter he wrote in such a manner that we alone were +able to grasp his meaning, for he feared that what he +had written might fall into the hands of the Dervishes.</p> + +<p>Our anxiety can readily be understood, for we felt +certain that if the English were victorious, we should +be killed in revenge. Sherif Mahmud had already +received orders from the Mahdi to encamp outside the +town, and be prepared for any eventuality. So our days +passed in a whirl of hopes and fears, and death would +have been welcome.</p> + +<p>But now a new disaster occurred; the circumstantial +account of the death of Colonel Stewart and his party, +and the fact that the state of Khartum was rapidly +becoming desperate, made us full of doubt as to Gordon's +fate. The fall of Omdurman further confirmed our +fears, and we trembled to think that Khartum +would fall before the English arrived. The prolonged +resistance of the town, and the knowledge that the +English were almost there, caused no small alarm +amongst the people in El Obeid; when, therefore, Sherif +Mahmud ordered a salute of one hundred guns to be +fired to announce a great victory, the reaction was +tremendous.</p> + +<p>The news of the fall of Khartum and of the English +victory at Abu Klea reached El Obeid the same day. +Mahmud held a great review, and the Mahdiists were +wild with joy. Thus the last bulwark of Egyptian +authority in the Sudan had disappeared; the English +turned back and left the Sudan to its fate. The Mahdi +rested for a time on his laurels, and occupied himself +with bringing into subjection the few who still +resisted.</p> + +<p>Sherif Mahmud now determined to make himself +famous for his bravery, and resolved to conquer the +whole of Nuba, and convert the inhabitants. As a first<a name="Page_178" id="Page_178"></a> +step, he proceeded with a force of two thousand men +straight to Delen; these good people had been left unmolested +since Mek Omar had taken his departure, and had +gone back to their peaceful ways and former mode of +life, which consisted largely of breeding swine, planting +tobacco, and drinking marissa to their heart's content.</p> + +<p>The Baggaras, who lived in Nuba, and of whom many +had been unwillingly forced to follow the Mahdi, were +getting somewhat tired of the new faith. Khojur Kakum +was just in the same position as before, and had gained +considerably in reputation, as he had foretold correctly +how the Mahdi would conduct himself. Mahmud duly +arrived at Delen, and encamped at the foot of the hills.</p> + +<p>On Mahmud's departure, we thought the time had at +length arrived when we might attempt to escape, for +long ago we had projected a plan to get the Kababish +to assist us. Formerly this tribe did much of the +carrying trade between Dongola and El Obeid, and they +had already proved that they were loyal to the Government. +It was said that when the English came to Dongola, +this tribe was bringing thousands of camels laden +with corn from Dar Hamer; but when Mahmud heard +of it, he sent after them, and captured two thousand +five hundred loads, so from that time no Kababish ever +came to El Obeid. This, therefore, greatly interfered +with our plans; besides, we had no money either to buy +camels or pay the guides, so I reverted to my old idea, +which I had formulated at Rahad, to escape to Jebel +Dobab and live with the brave Nubas.</p> + +<p>I was thinking over this plan, and casting up in my +mind the chances of success, when, on the 4th of June, +1885, a Coptic friend of ours called Sideham arrived, and +handed Father Bonomi a small note, saying at the same +time that a man had come to take him back to Dongola, +and that he would meet him in the market next day. +Bonomi and I then retired to a place where we knew +no one would see us, and there in fear and trembling +we tore open the letter; then Bonomi, in the deepest +agitation, read as follows:—</p> + +<p>"Dear Friend, I am sending this man so that you<a name="Page_179" id="Page_179"></a> +may escape with him. Trust him—he is honest. Monsignor +Sogaro awaits you in Cairo with outstretched +arms. Your fellow-countryman, <span class="smcap">Alois Santoni</span>."</p> + +<p>For some moments we were so excited we could +scarcely speak; but my first thought was, "Why is +Bonomi only sent for?" and the feeling that flight +was debarred from me, filled me with the most utter +dejection.</p> + +<p>It was to be my sad fate to see my companion in +adversity start without me; then a ray of hope flashed +across my mind, possibly the man might be the bearer +of a verbal message. It was the very moment for +flight; there were very few Dervishes in El Obeid. +Oh, the terrible length of that day and night! How +slowly the hours went by!</p> + +<p>The next morning Bonomi went alone to the place +of rendezvous. I thought if I went with him it might +create suspicion; but at the same time I begged him +to urge the man to take me with him as well. +Bonomi met the man, and it required only a very few +moments to come to an arrangement. How I longed +for him to return and know the result. At length he +came, looking very pleased; but the man, he said, had +definitely declined to take me with him; however, he +promised that if he succeeded in conducting Bonomi +safely, he would return for me in fifteen days.</p> + +<p>I grieved terribly at the news that my flight must +be deferred; but, on the other hand, I rejoiced that +one of us should be fortunate enough to escape from +this terrible bondage. The man told Father Bonomi +not to trouble about anything, but merely to meet him +on Mount Korbatsh, where he would find him with the +camels.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the 5th of June, Bonomi prepared +himself for flight, taking a large knife with him. We +left our huts, and proceeded to the rendezvous; our +hearts were too full to speak. At last I left him; and +pressing him to my heart, bade him farewell, saying—"Do +not forget your poor companion in adversity, +who is left behind."<a name="Page_180" id="Page_180"></a></p> + + +<a name="many"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:405px;"><img src="images/p181.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="405" height="548"> +<p class="caption2">"MANY A TIME DID I TURN AROUND TO LOOK BACK, UNTIL BONOMI +DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW IN THE WOOD."</p></div> + + +<p>Many a time did I turn round to look back, until +Bonomi disappeared from view in the wood. It was +just sunset, and a lovely evening, which made even +that dull plain look beautiful. Wild, anxious thoughts +kept careering through my brain, as I walked back to +my wretched and solitary home. Would Bonomi succeed, +and what would happen to me? for I knew that the +Dervishes must conclude that I knew about Bonomi's +flight. So immersed was I in these thoughts that I +kept on losing my way, and did not get back till late.</p> + +<p>My delay had already caused some suspicion; but I +found a ready excuse. I said that I had been searching +for corn; for at that time there was famine; and +nothing was to be had in the market. My excuse was +accepted, and fortunately they did not think of asking +for Bonomi. I now threw myself down on my hard +bed; but my weary eyes found no sleep. I kept +revolving in my mind all that had occurred; but at +length I determined to pluck up courage and put my +trust in God; and then my thoughts turned to more +practical considerations. How should I explain Bonomi's +absence to the emir without saying anything which +would implicate myself?</p> + +<p>It was a hot, sultry night, but a refreshing shower +fell just then; and in the midst of the patter of the +rain-drops, I thought I heard Bonomi's voice in the +hut. What could it be? Had he returned? A thousand +wild thoughts crowded into my mind; but I did not +dare make a noise, though it was all I could do to +control my curiosity.</p> + +<p>I rose very early the next morning, and searched +about the hut; but found no one. It was at any rate +quite certain Bonomi had gone; but yet I felt sure +he must have come back during the night. It was +not until six long years afterwards, when I returned +to Cairo, that I solved the mystery; and then he +himself told me how, after parting from me, he had +lost his way, and could not find the guide or camels; +after vainly wandering about, he had returned to the +hut, where the Copt who had given him the note found<a name="Page_183" id="Page_183"></a><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182"></a><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"></a> +him, and conducted him to the Arab with whom he had +escaped.</p> + +<p>I must here explain why it was the messenger had +only been commissioned to rescue Father Bonomi; and +this I did not learn till after my own escape. News +had reached Cairo that I was in Omdurman, and that +Bonomi had been left alone in El Obeid; and therefore +arrangements had been made for his rescue only.<a name="FNanchor_H_8" id="FNanchor_H_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_H_8" class="fnanchor">[H]</a></p> + +<p>Meanwhile, I kept Bonomi's escape concealed; and +it was not until the fourth day after he had left, and +when I was assured of his safety, that I informed the +emin beit el mal<a name="FNanchor_I_9" id="FNanchor_I_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_I_9" class="fnanchor">[I]</a> that he had gone to Khartum to +fetch some medicine. I believe this man thoroughly +knew that he had escaped; but he did not show the +slightest suspicion, and ordered us to go to Khartum +as well; and we were placed under close surveillance. +He also wrote to Sherif Mahmud at Delen, and to +Khartum; a few days later orders came from Mahmud +that we were to be imprisoned in the zariba of the beit +el mal. That evening, soldiers came and dragged us +and our slender property to the zariba; and while +waiting till huts should be made for us, we were housed +with slaves suffering from small-pox.</p> + +<p>This disease was then very prevalent in El Obeid, +and horrible sights continually met our eyes. These +unfortunate sufferers had no one to help them, and +they were left to die, either of the disease, or of hunger; +they lay about under the trees in the market-place, +shunned by every one; often, when still living, they +were dragged off by men, who tied ropes round their +bodies, and pulled them along the ground till they +were beyond the outskirts of the town; and there they +were left to be devoured by the hyenas.</p> + +<p>A dreadful famine prevailed, and the population was<a name="Page_184" id="Page_184"></a> +decimated by hunger; ten to twelve pounds of corn +were sold for a dollar, and the man was fortunate who +could buy it at this price. In the market, fights were +frequent; meat, however, was not so expensive, and we +lived for days on meat only, without any bread. The +poor people used to dig about the streets and in the +houses for gum, which they knew had been concealed +during the siege; and this unwholesome food frequently +caused their death.</p> + +<p>The air in the zariba was poisoned by the number +of people suffering from small-pox; but curiously enough, +the disease never seemed to touch the white people. +My new abode turned out to be not so bad as I expected. +I became friends with some of the soldiers +who used to be in the Government service, and sympathised +with them in their wretched state; these poor +men often tried to do me any little service they could.</p> + +<p>It was about this time that Sultan Dud Benga, flying +from Zogal, arrived, on his way to give himself up to +the Mahdi in Omdurman, and also a certain Sherif, +who set himself up to be the fourth Khalifa—Osman. +The latter, however, on his arrival in Omdurman, was +thrown into chains, and his wives, horses, and slaves +confiscated. I planted a few water-melons round my +hut, which grew well; and I used to amuse myself by +watching the movements of the chameleons which disported +themselves underneath the leaves; but one day +a fire broke out, which destroyed my hut, water-melons, +chameleons, and all; and so this little dissipation was +denied me. However, I built a new hut in a few days.</p> + +<p>Almost a month had now passed since Bonomi's departure, +and I began to look about anxiously for the +return of the Arab who was to help me to escape. +During the night I had cautiously loosened the zariba +hedge, so that I could easily get out, when the time +came; but day by day passed, and I began to lose +hope. I did hear a rumour once that a man had come +to help us to escape, but that on hearing we were +locked up in the zariba, he had gone away. This was +very probably true; for the Arabs are excessively timid;<a name="Page_185" id="Page_185"></a> +and we were as universally shunned by all as if we +were infested with a plague; if anyone dared to speak +to us, he was almost sure to be arrested and locked up.</p> + +<p>Thus we dragged out a miserable existence, devoid +of hope, shunned by all, and suffering much from +continual sickness. One event, however, unexpectedly +occurred, which we thought would completely alter the +state of affairs, and would produce a revolution, in +which we again thought we saw some chance of escape.</p> + +<p>Early in July 1885, the news of the Mahdi's death +arrived. At first it was not credited, and the leading +people thought it better to keep it a strict secret, but +their dismal countenances belied them. It was a +terrible blow to the Dervishes, and they themselves +believed that disturbances would undoubtedly take +place, for the number of malcontents was by no means +small. The truth, however, soon came out, and the +immediate effect on the ignorant masses was the realization +that they had been deceived, and that the Mahdi +was no Mahdi at all. Hitherto Mahdiism had been +thoroughly admitted, and it was their belief in the +Mahdi's divine mission which had given birth to the +fanaticism which had made them so bold and fearless—the +belief that to die in battle as martyrs assured them +paradise with its myriads of lovely houris, its lovely +gardens, laden with milk and honey, fruits and flowers.</p> + +<p>All this was implicitly believed. What wonder then +that they should throw themselves into the very thickest +of the fight in the sure and certain hope that to die in +the Mahdi's cause ensured eternal delights and pleasures! +Now all these glorious visions had collapsed like a house +of cards, and in the future Mahdiism to live would have +to be enforced. From this time forth there was no +voluntary seeking to obey, and it was clear that the +new Religion was on the wane.</p> + +<p>The family and adherents of the Mahdi were at +variance with the followers of Khalifa Abdullah, the +latter by his immense energy had made himself master +of the situation. But the glow and fervour of religious +enthusiasm was gone.<a name="Page_186" id="Page_186"></a></p> + +<p>The blow of the Mahdi's death almost killed Sherif +Mahmud; many of his chiefs and emirs muttered: "See +how the Mahdi has deceived us. Had he been the real +Mahdi he would not have died in Omdurman. Alas! +what thousands of human lives have been sacrificed to +this false Mahdi's caprice." Mahmud was at a loss to +know what to say and contented himself with murmuring: +"Even if the Mahdi be dead, his religion did not +die with him; let us therefore fight in the cause of +religion."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless all obedience and discipline did not +disappear, for these men had still their own interests to +look after: but it was unfortunate there was no one +to place himself at the head of the malcontents and +openly declare that the Mahdi was no Mahdi.</p> + +<p>Mahmud now returned without delay to El Obeid, +and immediately on his arrival he ordered the criers to +announce that he required some account of Father +Bonomi's escape. He was furious at his flight; he sent +for me and asked where he had gone; I simply replied, +that he had disappeared one night and that the next +morning I could find no trace of him in the hut. If +Mahmud had not been so upset by the Mahdi's death, +I believe I should have had to pay dearly for his flight. +As it was he believed that Bonomi would be seized by +the Dervishes in Dongola, and at the same time he sent +out spies to try and discover who had assisted him to +escape. Suspicion fell on Mohammed Suleiman, who had +been our old captain at Delen and who was now the +kadi's clerk; he was threatened with a flogging, which +he would certainly have received had not his master +begged him off.</p> + +<p>Mahmud brought with him from Delen the unfortunate +Khojur Kakum; this poor man was thrown +into chains soon after his arrival, and his hut and +the chair which he used for his religious ceremonies +were burnt. The Nubas were solemnly abjured to +desist from their superstitious beliefs, and Mahmud +made a small straw mosque for them in which they +were obliged to say prayers; but the Nubas set fire to<a name="Page_187" id="Page_187"></a> +it, and after Mahmud's departure they named their +pigs after the Mahdi's important emirs.</p> + +<p>When Kakum was on his way to El Obeid, he had +had a bad fall from a bullock, which had injured him +internally and made it almost impossible for him to +move: he was put into our zariba, and soon after he +came I went to see him and found him in a state of +profound dejection. He was very pleased to see me, +and the tears rolled down his black cheeks; he was so +affected he could barely speak, and lost all control over +himself. His two wives were sitting near him—one of +them, Mea, was a thoroughly good woman, and many a +happy hour did I spend playing with her little child of +six years old. Kakum gave me coffee, and we talked +over the old days at the Mission, then I left him to +rest. That same night I was suddenly summoned by +Mea, who said that Kakum was seriously ill; I hastened +to the hut and found him almost unconscious, and in a +few hours he was dead. He was a thoroughly good, +sensible man, and had been a faithful friend to the +Mission and to the Government. He died in July 1885, +and I think he must then have been about fifty-five +years of age. His second wife married the Khojur of +Sobei, who had also been dragged to El Obeid by +Mahmud; but Mea did not marry again. She devoted +herself to her little child.</p> + +<p>The boy delighted in being with me, and said he +always wanted to stay with the Christians; but a month +later Mea and her child were allowed to return to +Delen. I gave the boy a little shirt, and in return Mea +promised to send me some tobacco; and, true to her +word, a messenger arrived soon afterwards with that +luxury, in return for which I sent her some glass beads.</p> + +<p>During his stay at Delen, Mahmud had captured +Shirra, one of the renegade Baggara chiefs, and his two +sons. This man had formerly been our sworn enemy, +and had declared that he would kill every one of us +Christians; but when this great chief and his sons came +into the zariba they greeted me like lambs, and when, +in fun, I recalled to them their former oaths, they<a name="Page_188" id="Page_188"></a> +admitted that they had been completely deceived, and +now that they had not words sufficient to praise the +Christians or to curse the Mahdi. It was no little +satisfaction to me to find such an entire change of mind +and purpose in one who had been our bitterest foe. +Thus was justice tardily meted out to us.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Khalifa Abdullah had sent an order from +Omdurman to Mahmud, telling him to set out forthwith +for Omdurman to swear the Bea'a (or oath of allegiance) +to the Mahdi's successor. Mahmud therefore, in August +1885, left El Obeid with a large number of followers.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_H_8" id="Footnote_H_8"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_H_8" class="fnlabel">[H]</a> Father Bonomi arrived safely in Dongola, and Mr. Santoni, who +is now director of posts at Assiut, was rewarded by His Holiness +Pope Leo XIII. with the Order of Gregory the Great, in recognition +of the humane service he had rendered.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_I_9" id="Footnote_I_9"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_I_9" class="fnlabel">[I]</a> <a name="tn_png_205"></a><!--TN: "I.e" italicized--><i>I.e.</i> the official in charge of the beit el mal or Dervish storehouse +and treasury.</p></div> +</div> +<a name="Page_189" id="Page_189"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">REVOLT AGAINST THE DERVISHES.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">The black soldiers of the old Sudan army—They revolt against the +Dervishes in El Obeid—And march off to Dar Nuba—The emir +Mahmud pursues and is slain—Ohrwalder quits El Obeid for +Omdurman—Zogal and Abu Anga at Bara.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">The</span> old Sudanese soldiers of the Egyptian army were +perhaps, of all others, the most dissatisfied with Mahdiism. +These brave blacks who, as they say in the +Sudan, "had eaten the Khedive's bread," were now in +a wretched state compared with the once miserable +Gellabas, who now galloped about proudly on horseback, +while in former years they had scarcely a donkey +to their name. Several of these soldiers had been to +Egypt, some had been servants to Europeans, and most +of them had been in the various fights which had previously +taken place in the Sudan. Sherif Mahmud, it +is true, treated them with some deference, and gave +them corn when he refused to give it to the Gellabas +who were starving; but in spite of this, their previous +condition was infinitely preferable to their life under +Mahdiist rulers. There were about two hundred of +these soldiers in El Obeid; shortly afterwards, a number +of slaves arrived, and quite recently their numbers had +been further increased by the addition of a company +sent by Zogal.</p> + +<p>Many of these men had fought under Munzinger +Pasha, and under Slatin Bey, and were distinguished +for their bravery; their total number was now three +hundred, under the command of an Egyptian mowallid,<a name="FNanchor_J_10" id="FNanchor_J_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_J_10" class="fnanchor">[J]</a> +<a name="Page_190" id="Page_190"></a> +named Abdullah. These men used to complain of being +always placed in the forefront of the battle; and they +were further irritated by the arrogant way in which they +were treated by the Danagla and their unbearable emir +Wad el Hashmi, who used to call them "abd" (<i>i.e.</i> +slave); they therefore decided to revolt against this +tyrannical rule, and in this their emir supported them. +It was agreed that they should await the great Dahiyeh +festival, and when they were all out on parade, and the +Dervishes were going through their prayers, they would +suddenly separate themselves and, trusting to their good +rifles, would be able to annihilate their hated enemies; +but the thought that a number of innocent people +would be thus sacrificed, decided them to await some +other more favourable opportunity. It was often a +matter of surprise to me how these blacks managed to +keep their secret, which even all their women knew.</p> + +<p>A clever young mukuddum lived near my hut, and +did me many a kindness; he often used to bring me +some meat to eat, as the soldiers who looked after the +sheep and goats taken from the Arabs frequently +killed some for their own food and then reported that +they had died. At this time I suffered a great deal +from fever, I could not remain in my close and small +hut, and used to lie wide awake and tossing about on +my hard bed outside. I often saw the mukuddum in +secret conversation with some of his men, and then +they would look at their arms to see they were all right; +this made me feel certain that some plot was brewing.</p> + +<p>Amongst the soldiers I had also another good friend, +Hajji Selim, who was at all times ready to render me +any little service, in return for which I used to give +him a little coffee or some tobacco. Hajji Selim had +a curious story. He was born in Bornu, and when +young had joined his father, who was going with a +caravan to Mecca. Whilst journeying through the +Sahara, they came to a district in which two tribes were +at war; he joined one of them, but was taken prisoner +by the other, sold as a slave, and taken to Tunis; from +here, he was brought to Constantinople, where he be<a name="Page_191" id="Page_191"></a>came +the playfellow of his master's son, and in this +way learnt the Turkish language. Soon afterwards his +master was sent to Egypt as a Pasha, and he came with +him, from thence they went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, +hence his title of Hajji. On their return to Cairo, the +master died, his property was confiscated, and Selim +was taken into the army. He was sent to Sawakin, then +he served under Munzinger Pasha at Massawa, and +was with him at the time of his murder; from here he +was sent to Darfur, then to Kordofan, and eventually +to Delen, where he was taken prisoner with Mohammed +Suleiman, and thus became attached to the Mahdiists.</p> + +<p>This unfortunate man, though comparatively young, +had become aged by constant travelling, he was homeless, +and had neither wife nor child; he wore an old +coat which had been given to him by some of Hicks +Pasha's soldiers, it was riddled with bullet-holes, covered +with patches of blood, and very dirty; however, that +did not much matter to him, as he had no soap to wash +it; he always wore the hood of his coat over his head, +which further added to his curious appearance. He +made his coat into a species of Dervish uniform by +patching up the holes with the pieces of an old tarbush; +but withal he was a thoroughly honest man, and I +liked him. I also knew I could rely on him to carry +out a secret mission, and therefore, after Bonomi had +fled, I had made over to him some money and two +volumes of the 'Popular Educator,' which Lupton Bey +had given me, and which I looked upon as a priceless +treasure. I did this because I was afraid that Sherif +Mahmud would confiscate my little all; but when all +fear was over, the honest man brought back everything +just as I had given it to him. At that time I had no +suitable place in my hut to hide them, so I asked him +to keep them a few days longer; but, alas! my books +were to become food for the flames, which soon afterwards +devoured the camp, and this was an irreparable +loss. I tried to find but from Hajji Selim what plot +was brewing; but all my inquiries were fruitless. He +would not breathe a word, and from that time I saw no<a name="Page_192" id="Page_192"></a> +more of him, for he was afraid that my importunity might +make him divulge the secret. I knew perfectly well +that he must have been one of the conspirators, and as +I never saw him again, I presume he must have been +killed.</p> + +<p>The above little incident is merely mentioned to show +how zealously the soldiers kept their secret; but all the +same, the people in El Obeid had a notion that something +was going to happen, and one day an order was +suddenly given that a hundred soldiers were to prepare +to proceed to Dar Hamer. In this way they thought to +split up the party, and then disarm them; but the men +guessed that this was the intention, and therefore decided +to execute their plan the following day.</p> + +<p>That night I was lying outside as usual; the sky +was particularly brilliant, and I was watching the +myriads of shooting stars which, leaving bright trails +behind them, burst suddenly like rockets, and illumined +the night till it became for an instant almost as light +as day. Every one wondered at this curious phenomenon, +and foretold that it meant mischief of some sort, +and, curiously, there was mischief enough in the air that +night.</p> + +<p>The next day, at about noon, I was startled by the +sound of firing, and bullets were suddenly flying over +my head. In my alarm I had rushed out of the hut, +and saw that the firing was from the direction of the +powder-magazine. To my intense surprise, I did not +see a solitary soldier in the zariba; even their wives had +gone, and had taken their household goods away with +them. I shouted and cried out, but no one answered; +a few women passed by, but they were too occupied to +answer me; they, too, soon disappeared, and the whole +place, which but a few moments before had been a Babel +of din and noise, became silent as the grave. In the +distance I could hear continuous firing, and occasionally +I caught sight of women and children running away +in a northerly direction.</p> + +<p>I now thought it time to quit the zariba myself. I +seized a bayonet, and tried to push aside the thorns,<a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"></a> +but they were so firmly fixed in the ground, that I +could not move them. I then made for the gate, and +here there was not a soul to be seen; even the slaves +in chains had disappeared. Bullets were now flying in +all directions. I went towards the Emir Abdullah's +house, and found him standing by his door in a state of +great agitation, with only two soldiers. In reply to my +question as to what was the matter, he answered in a surly +tone: "These beit el mal slaves have destroyed everything." +These words were scarcely out of his mouth, +when fifty Dervishes with drawn swords suddenly +rushed up, and with frightful yells dragged him and his +men off to the courtyard of the Mudirieh. I followed +them. Here an enormous crowd of Dervishes was +collected, and, wild with rage, they would have torn +Abdullah to pieces had not Wad el Hashmi stopped +them.</p> + +<p>The Dervishes now accused Abdullah of having incited +the soldiers; but he protested that he knew nothing of +the affair, and in proof of his statement urged that +he had not quitted his house; but it was useless. The +air resounded with cries of "Cut off his head!" and he +was obliged to kneel down. With one blow his head +rolled on the sand; both the soldiers were also beheaded, +and their bodies thrown down near the mosque, so that +everyone might see them.</p> + +<p>I now learnt that the soldiers had taken possession +of the powder magazine, which consisted of a square +yard, with small towers at the corners; it had been +utilized as a magazine in Government days. All arms +and ammunition were stored here, and a number of +Egyptians were employed moulding bullets and filling +cartridges; there were also quantities of caps, and all +the necessary implements. The soldiers had broken +into this place, killed the guards, made loopholes, and +prepared for defence; they had burnt down most of +the houses in the town, and forced all they met to +join them. Two Egyptians who refused to do so were +at once killed. The Dervishes had rushed, in a body, +to attempt to recover the magazine, but had been shot<a name="Page_194" id="Page_194"></a> +down in numbers; several emirs also fell in this +assault, and no one dared to return to recover their +bodies. At length, having rallied from their first +failure, they again collected and advanced—this time +with more order—to the attack; but the soldiers, who +had learnt of their Emir Abdullah's death, fought +with desperate courage, and again drove them back, +with heavy loss.</p> + +<p>The Dervishes now assembled beside the great gate +of the Mudirieh, and consulted what was best to be +done; they were thoroughly alarmed, and no wonder; +for everyone who came within range of the fort was +almost certainly shot down. Amongst these was Fiki +Isa, of the Shanabla, who was struck in the neck by a +bullet, and fell dead at once. Naturally, I fled as +soon as possible from this dangerous proximity, and +went to the house of a clerk, whose walls I knew +would give me protection.</p> + +<p>The firing now became faster, and the soldiers sounded +the trumpet for the attack on the Mudirieh, intending +to capture the guns which stood outside the gate; but +the Dervishes had withdrawn them and closed it, so +the troops were forced to retire; their ranks had been +largely increased by a number of male and female +slaves, who, on hearing of the mutiny, had at once left +their masters.</p> + +<p>Fighting lasted till nightfall; and at length, under +cover of darkness, I made my way back to the zariba, +to see what had become of my companions in adversity. +I found it empty and deserted; even the cattle had +escaped somehow; and only two miserable slaves, suffering +from ferentit (guinea-worm), and who were unable +to move, remained behind. I was feverish and restless; +so returned again to the Mudirieh, to see what was +going forward there. I found a crowd of Dervishes, +exasperated at the idea of having been defeated by +the "slave-soldiers," as they called them; more of their +emirs had been killed; and the chief, Wad Hashmi, +had been mortally wounded, and died the following +day. When the Dervishes caught sight of me (hitherto<a name="Page_195" id="Page_195"></a> +I had passed unnoticed), they ordered me back to the +zariba, threatening to kill me if I again left it; I +suppose they did this because they thought I might +join the mutineers. It was believed that the soldiers +would attack and capture the town the next day. How +I wish they had had a good leader!</p> + +<p>My companions and I now found ourselves in the +beit el mal again, under the guard of four soldiers. +Worn out with excitement, I threw myself down on my +angarib; the success of the mutineers again revived +in my breast hopes of release; and with this pleasing +thought, I dropped off into a sound slumber.</p> + +<p>I was suddenly roused up by one of the guard +prodding me with the butt end of his rifle, and saying—"When +everyone is in terror of his life, how can you +sleep?" So I reluctantly had to get up, and began +chatting to the guard, as I feared any display of satisfaction +on my part would probably call down vengeance +from them. We talked over the events of the day; +and I soon realised that the Dervishes were, in truth, +greatly alarmed.</p> + +<p>The powder magazine was not far from the beit el +mal, so we could overhear a great deal of what was +going on there; and one would have imagined that +they were engaged in marriage festivities rather than +in bloody warfare. The whole night through they kept +up singing; the women were dancing, and the men +drinking marissa: every now and then the trumpets were +sounded, which seemed to add to the women's delight; +they were all laughing over the Mahdi's doings, heaping +insults on him and his religion; and still further +exasperating the Dervishes by shouting out to them to +come and join them in a drinking bout.</p> + +<p>But whilst these good blacks were enjoying themselves +in the magazine, the Dervishes had fortified the +beit el mal, and placed bodies of troops, with their flags, +in different parts. Occasionally, the blacks fired a +volley into them, which made them disperse, leaving +their flag behind them. Everyone was in a state of +most anxious expectancy for the next day; it was looked<a name="Page_196" id="Page_196"></a> +upon as certain that a fight would take place between +the Dervishes and the soldiers, which would finally +decide matters; and that night there was little sleep +for anyone.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning the soldiers played the +Khedivial salute, which stirred us to the quick; and +by the time the sun had risen, firing had recommenced, +and was continued up till nine o'clock. The soldiers +made a few raids on camels and donkeys, but did not +attempt to attack the Dervishes; and it was not at +all clear what they intended to do. The Dervish emir, +being certain that the mutineers were quite demoralized, +sent their imam (priest) to tell them that if they wished +to surrender, they would receive pardon; this exasperated +the blacks beyond measure; the imam was told not to +talk nonsense; and was then deliberately dragged out +about fifty paces from the fort, pierced through and +through with his own spears, and his body thrown out +in the direction of the Mudirieh, whilst the soldiers +shouted out—"This is the head in return for the head +of our Emir Abdullah." They continued to make +desultory sorties during the day, and captured a quantity +of animals.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon they left the powder magazine; +the band playing, women and children marching in +front; then came the ammunition, surrounded by armed +men, and lastly, the soldiers, marching in good order, +and disposed in such a manner as to resist any sudden +assault.</p> + +<p>The Dervishes, however, determined to attack, and, +marshalling their banners, they made for the powder +magazine, which they found quite deserted; the soldiers +had thrown into the wells all the powder they could +not carry. There were only five fresh graves in the +magazine, which showed that the soldiers had lost only +five men, whilst the Dervishes had lost about five +hundred.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the blacks were marching gaily towards +Melbeis; but the Dervishes, more furious than ever +after their discoveries in the magazine, set off in hot<a name="Page_197" id="Page_197"></a> +pursuit; and when they had got within a short distance +of their enemy, they were received by a well-directed +volley, which killed some fifty of them; the remainder +fled in disorder to El Obeid. The total number of the +blacks, including the slaves who had joined them, did +not exceed one thousand men, whilst the Dervishes +more than trebled that number. Had they only +had a competent commander, there is no doubt they +could easily have captured El Obeid. They continued +their march, unopposed, to Nuba, and arrived first of +all at Delen, where they established themselves, and +selected Beshir, an old soldier of Slatin Bey's, to be +their Mudir. Mahdiism was entirely renounced, and the +Khedive's Government proclaimed. Anyone who swore +by the Mahdi's name received eighty lashes; the regular +form of swearing was—"Hakk ras Effendina" ("By the +Khedive's head!") Strict discipline was enforced. Any +one found selling arms or ammunition to the Nubas +was punished with death, and the sentence was carried +out by shooting.</p> + +<p>Shortly afterwards, they quitted Delen and marched +to Jebel Naïma, the inhabitants of which place are known +as the bravest of the Nubas; but here they still seemed +to think themselves too close to their hated enemies, +and therefore moved on to Golfan, where they took +up a position in an inaccessible mountain, were recognized +by their neighbours as the rulers of the country, +and were supplied by them with quantities of cattle +and sesame.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Sherif Mahmud, in Omdurman, had +been fully informed of all that had occurred. He fell +into a terrible passion, accused all his emirs of cowardice, +and proceeded forthwith to El Obeid. He would not +even enter his house, but encamped outside the town. +Khalifa Abdullah had ordered him to leave the mutineers +alone, and to proceed, <i>viâ</i> the Es Safiyeh Wells, to +Dongola; but Mahmud entirely disregarded this order. +He thirsted for vengeance against these rebels, and +determined to subdue them. Added to this, he had +also conceived the idea of usurping Khalifa Abdullah's<a name="Page_198" id="Page_198"></a> +authority. His object, therefore, was to increase his +power by regaining the co-operation of the soldiers, and +so proud and self-confident was he, that he believed +they would never attempt to fight against him.</p> + +<p>Here, underneath the great Adansonia tree where the +Mahdi had stayed so long, he pitched his camp and +made preparations for his advance on Nuba. He called +for volunteers, saying that he did not wish to force +anyone to go to war, and at the same time he endeavoured +to encourage the people by telling them that +the Mahdi had appeared to him in a dream, and had +told him to advance and attack the rebels, promising +him certain victory. In spite of this summons, very +few volunteered, and getting thoroughly annoyed, he now +threatened with death anyone who refused to join him. +Thus did Mahmud realise that the spirit of Mahdiism +had almost died out, and that in future force would be +required to carry out its behests.</p> + +<p>He rapidly advanced with a force of 2,500 men, +most of them armed with Remingtons. On his way he +was joined by a number of Arabs, which raised his force +to some 8,000 men. On arrival at Naïma he found that +the mutineers had moved on; he therefore advanced to +Golfan, and sent in a letter to the effect that if they +surrendered he would give them a free pardon. But +the soldiers had had previous experience of Mahdieh +promises, and received the messengers with volleys, +which soon made them turn back. Mahmud determined, +therefore, to invest his former adherents, and, putting +himself at the head of his troops, he advanced towards +the mountain; but the soldiers, concealed behind rocks, +sent volley after volley into the Dervish ranks. Mahmud +received a bullet in his side, but, nothing daunted, he +continued to advance, carrying his own flag, until +another bullet, hitting him full on the forehead, killed +him.</p> + +<p>Already over a hundred Dervishes had fallen, and the +remainder, hearing that Mahmud was dead, turned tail +and fled in disorder towards El Obeid. The soldiers did +not pursue, but took up Mahmud's body and gave him<a name="Page_199" id="Page_199"></a> +an honourable burial befitting the brave man he was. In +his death Mahdieh lost perhaps the boldest of its adherents, +and certainly the bravest of the Mahdi's family. +And though he had latterly given himself up to a life of +pleasure and debauchery, as all the rest had done, still +he did not fear exposing himself to every sort of danger.</p> + +<p>Mahmud fell in the month of November 1885, and +Khalifa Abdullah was by no means displeased to be rid +of a rival whose prowess and popularity he greatly feared +and envied.</p> + +<p>In place of Sherif Mahmud, Abdullah despatched +his brother Bakhit to Kordofan; but he was a very +different class of man, and was nicknamed "Tor" +("The Bullock").</p> + +<p>Soon afterwards Bakhit received orders to leave all +his men at El Obeid and to return to Omdurman. He +was succeeded by the emir Wad el Hashmi, who was +followed by Osman Wad Adam (nicknamed "Ganu"), +the Mahdi's nephew.</p> + +<p>Preparations were now made to transport all Mahmud's +people to Omdurman, and in order to convey so many +thousand people, camels were forcibly seized. We also +were released, and permitted to go to Omdurman. I +had passed too many miserable years in Kordofan not +to rejoice at the change: for a time I had a faint +hope that someone might be sent by Father Bonomi to +assist me to escape, but now it seemed useless to hope +for this any longer, whereas, once at Omdurman, I +might manage to escape by myself. Our departure was +delayed for a month.</p> + +<p>El Obeid had gradually become a dirty Arab village; +except meat and dokhn, there was absolutely nothing to +be got in the market. I suffered much from dysentery. +There were no medicines to be had, so I had to trust to +the recuperative powers of nature, assisted by a little +rice which was grown in the marshes about Birket. +I had not a civilized soul with whom to associate.</p> + +<p>The Nubas of Jebel Dair did their utmost to harass +El Obeid; they were always hovering about in the outskirts, +ready to pounce down on any cattle and slaves<a name="Page_200" id="Page_200"></a> +they saw. It would have been madness to go an hour's +distance from the town without an escort. The Dervishes +frequently made attempts to clear the neighbourhood of +these brigands, but I observed that they always returned +considerably fewer in number, and I secretly rejoiced at +their inability to cope with these brave Nubas. Taking +everything into consideration, I was not sorry to say +good-bye to this dreary and inhospitable town.</p> + +<p>We were given four camels, whose owners acted as +the drivers. It was agreed that on arrival in Omdurman +we should pay them at the rate of seven dollars a camel.</p> + +<p>On the 25th of March, 1886, we left El Obeid. What +a flood of recollections welled up in my mind as we +marched for the last time through the desolate ruins of +the city! How strange had been the vicissitudes of +this once flourishing place during the last few years! +From a thriving and peaceful township it had been +transformed into the theatre of constant warfare and +bloodshed. It had then been the scene of the Mahdi's +debaucheries, when he rested after his victories, and +now it had dwindled down into a wretched Arab village.</p> + +<p>Our road took us past the site of the El Obeid +Mission-house, of which not a trace remained. In its +place was the market, and a heap of white bones indicated +the locality of the cook's shop. We halted that +evening at Korbatsh; the next day we started very +early; and after a two days' march, arrived at Bara. +This beautiful little town is situated in a woody depression +of the great Kordofan plain. In the distance +we could see the white ruins through the high acacia +trees. Formerly the place had been well planted with +date-palms; but during the siege the inhabitants had +cut them down, and lived upon the crushed core.</p> + +<p>In the Government days Bara had been a sort +of sanatorium for El Obeid, where the richer inhabitants +used to spend the summer; they had made lovely +gardens, full of date-trees, lemon-plants, banana-trees, +and vines, while the vegetables used to be sold in El +Obeid. The soil is exceptionally fertile, and there is +an abundance of water obtainable at only six feet below<a name="Page_201" id="Page_201"></a> +the surface. But now the place was completely destroyed +and neglected; and wild bushes and thorns grew +apace amidst the ruins.</p> + +<p>As we approached Bara, we heard the thunder of +guns, and were told that it was a salute announcing +the arrival of Zogal, the Governor of Darfur, with his +troops. It was the 2nd of April. We halted under +a large acacia tree, and took down our angaribs, over +which mats were tightly stretched. The arrival of two +large parties, one from El Obeid and one from Darfur, +soon changed this dismal graveyard into a noisy camp.</p> + +<p>Zogal had brought with him 2,500 infantry, 4,000 +black soldiers and singers, and 1,500 good horses. He +had over 10,000 dollars in his beit el mal, besides +what each of his men possessed—and that was no inconsiderable +quantity: for everyone had enriched himself +in Darfur; and all this wealth was destined to +become the Khalifa Abdullah's property. Zogal had +organized bands in his army; and the same tunes which +had been played in the days of the Government, now +resounded over the deserted plains of Bara. Zogal's camp +was a scene of pleasure and merry-making. Marissa was +publicly sold and drunk openly; all idea of being within +the Mahdi's jurisdiction seemed to have been forgotten. +Zogal was a liberal man; his principle was "live and +let live;" and he thoroughly enjoyed the good things +of this life, which the Mahdi's revolt had placed within +his reach. He was a powerfully built, stout man, of +about sixty years of age, with a white beard, which +gave him a patriarchal appearance. He was known as +the father of many children, and was of an open-hearted +and generous disposition.</p> + +<p>Zogal's camp was pitched on the ruins of Bara; rich +carpets were spread over the sand, and there he sat, +ready to see anybody and everybody at any time of +the day; abundance of food was always ready for +all his guests. The only thing for which Zogal should +be blamed was his shooting to death twenty-five Sanjaks +and Turks, who had surrendered with Slatin, on the +fall of Darfur. These Sanjaks had sworn to revolt<a name="Page_202" id="Page_202"></a> +against Mahdiism, but had been betrayed. With this +exception, he had conducted his rule with great moderation; +he did all he possibly could to further trade; +and when in Bara I saw some French calico, which had +come from Tunis, <i>viâ</i> Wadai, to Darfur. Zogal's Bazingers +made a great impression on me; they were a wild and +turbulent lot, capable of great marching power, and +able to support long-continued privations.</p> + +<p>Lupton Bey often used to tell me of the cannibal +propensities of these black warriors. In many instances, +their only dress consisted of the leather bandolier, or +cartridge case, and a big leather bag, from which a +human leg could often be seen protruding; and in +almost every bag some human flesh or bones could be +found. When I used to go to the market, crowds of +these swarthy warriors would collect to gaze on my +white skin, which, in truth, the sun had long since +tanned to a very brown colour.</p> + +<p>Zogal's nine days' halt in Bara soon came to an end. +News came that disturbances had occurred in Omdurman +between Khalifas Abdullah and Sherif; the latter had +frequently written to Zogal to come to Khartum at once, +as he was most anxious to have him there. News was +brought at the same time that Abu Anga had arrived at +El Obeid <i>viâ</i> Birket; it was rumoured that Abu Anga +had been sent by Abdullah to arrest Zogal, for it was +reported that Zogal and Sherif had agreed to combine +and wrest the authority from Abdullah. Zogal was +quite strong enough to overturn Abdullah; but +unfortunately he was no soldier, and Abdullah had +secretly won over a number of his emirs to his side.</p> + +<p>Abu Anga pressed on from El Obeid, and, arriving +at Bara, summoned Zogal to surrender. The latter, +however, prepared to fight; but most of his Bazingers +and emirs went over to Abu Anga's side, and he was +soon left with but a few followers, and easily fell +into Abu Anga's hands; he was at once put in +chains and handed over to Said Bey Guma, who +was at that time commander of the artillery. All +his property was confiscated. Abu Anga did this in<a name="Page_203" id="Page_203"></a> +revenge, for Zogal had done exactly the same to +Said Bey when he took possession of Darfur. Zogal +was now dragged in chains to El Obeid, where he +was left for a year to think over his changed state. +His emin beit el mal, Ibrahim Ramadan, was also +seized on his way to Omdurman, and brought back +in chains to El Obeid, where he was mercilessly +flogged to make him disclose the hiding-place of the +money; but nothing would induce him to tell. He +was subsequently taken to Omdurman, where Abdullah +received him well and gave him a situation in the +beit el mal.</p> + +<p>Zogal's arrest was the signal for ill-treating all the +Khalifa Sherif's adherents; these were deprived of +all their positions, and were replaced by Abdullah's +nominees. I had relied considerably on seeing a +change for the better if this attempt of Sherif and +Zogal to upset Abdullah had succeeded; but it had +failed, and we again moved on towards Omdurman, +still further depressed by the feeling that Abdullah was +growing more and more powerful. By the time we +arrived near Omdurman my camel had died; the poor +Arab wept bitterly for his loss, and I could do nothing +towards repaying him. On the evening of the 24th of +April, 1886, we encamped close to the town. A fearful +sandstorm was blowing, and we were enveloped in +clouds of dust—a fitting advent to the capital of the +Mahdi's empire!</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_J_10" id="Footnote_J_10"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_J_10" class="fnlabel">[J]</a> The name given to natives of a mixed parentage; <i>i.e.</i>, generally +an Egyptian or Turkish father and a Sudanese mother.</p></div> +</div> + +<a name="Page_204" id="Page_204"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">OHRWALDER'S IMPRESSIONS OF OMDURMAN.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Ohrwalder's arrival in Omdurman—His first impressions of the +Dervish capital—Khalifa Abdullah's intentions to conquer +Egypt—Wad Suleiman of the beit el mal—Wad Adlan succeeds—Gordon's +clothes, medals, &c.—Adlan reorganizes the beit el +mal—The slave market, museum, mint, and system of coinage—Counterfeit +coining—The lithograph press—The Khalifa's +system of justice.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">The</span> next morning—the 26th of April, 1886—we rose +covered with dust from head to foot, and by the time +we had got under way again, the sun was already high +in the heavens, and was unusually hot. This was the +worst season of the year. The first place we came to +was the Mahdi's old camp, which was marked by a line +of mud walls. From this position the fort of Omdurman +had been besieged, and innumerable human and +animal bones marked the site of this long-sustained +conflict. To our right lay the White Nile, flowing +between its green banks, beyond it the Blue Nile could +just be seen, and the ruins of Khartum were visible +behind the thick belt of palm-trees.</p> + +<p>Emerging from the arid deserts of Kordofan, the Nile +with its green banks was a most refreshing sight; on +the other hand, the view of Khartum in ruins awakened +the saddest recollections. Of the vast crowd which +had beset Gordon on every side, some were scattered +far and wide, while others had settled down around +their new master in Omdurman. The little hill on the +west bank just opposite to the junction of the two +Niles was called Omdurman, hence the name of the +Mahdiist capital. Previous to the revolt, there had +been merely a few huts; but it was always considered a<a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"></a> +place of importance, as the hills in the vicinity supplied +lime and stone in quantities for building works +in Khartum. In those days, the lime-pits were in +Omdurman, and the place where the Mahdiist capital +now stands was a thick and thorny bush—the abode +of the Batahin robbers.</p> + +<p>What a change had now taken place! From the +old fort at the south end, right up to Khor Shambat, +and even further, the new capital extends, a countless +conglomeration of straw huts (tokuls), surrounded by +small zaribas; here and there a few mud huts, some +of which, larger than the others, denote the residences +of the Khalifas and principal emirs—they are looked +upon as palaces.</p> + +<p>Formerly the mosque consisted merely of a square +enclosure, surrounded by a hedge; but this had now +been replaced by a wall of sun-dried bricks. In the +distance we could see the galvanised-iron mosque where +the Mahdi used to perform prayers. The Mahdi's original +camp had been situated some kilometres' distance to the +north of the fort, where the plain widens out.</p> + +<p>On our arrival we at once made inquiries about the +market, and sought news of the other Europeans. The +market was a sort of maze, and arranged with no idea +of system. Merchants never left their goods there over-night; +but always took them to their own houses. A +Greek had made a bakery, and drove a good trade, as +long as people had money to buy. There were such +crowds of people that it was almost impossible to make +one's way through; there were quantities of provisions +for sale, and trade seemed very lively. Egyptian merchants +brought their goods as far as Ed Damer, whence +they were brought by Arab merchants to Omdurman. +The only tax levied by the Khalifa's order was 2-1/2 +per cent. zekka (<i>i.e.</i> alms for the poor), and people +seemed generally contented and happy. There were +quantities of money in the beit el mal, and at that +time there was no occasion to oppress the inhabitants.</p> + +<p>There were numbers of Greeks, Jews, and Syrians, +all of whom were doing fairly well in business. I also<a name="Page_206" id="Page_206"></a> +saw Klootz. Slatin at that time happened to be absent, +he was commanding some troops under the Emir Yunis +at Wad el Abbas.</p> + +<p>Khalifa Abdullah was full of ideas of conquest and +pretensions; he used often to announce publicly that +the end of the Turks' rule in Egypt was approaching. +He was most anxious to obtain possession of that +country, and thought the time had now come. Several +of the sheikhs and ulemas in Cairo and in other parts +of Egypt had written to him inviting him to take +possession of the country where, they assured him, he +would be most cordially received.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi's summons and proclamations were sent +in all directions. Pilgrims arrived from Samarkand, +Bokhara, India, and Mecca, to examine Mahdieh with +their own eyes. All this tended to make Abdullah +more desirous than ever to conquer Egypt. He despatched +Nejumi and his men to Dongola, whilst Yunis was +instructed to collect all the men he could in the Gezireh. +Sherif Mahmud's followers were also sent to Dongola; +thus did Abdullah dispose of the adherents of those +emirs whom he knew to be hostile to him. Zogal once +arrested, Abdullah had now little to fear. Hitherto he +had treated his two brother Khalifas, and the Ashraf and +Danagla with the utmost respect; but now he conducted +himself in a very different manner, and could not bear +to have anyone in the smallest degree associated with +him who was of almost equal rank; he therefore did +all in his power to weaken the opposition party, and to +increase the influence of his own party. The first blow +he struck fell on Ahmed Wad Suleiman, emin of the beit +el mal. The day that we arrived in Omdurman he was +put in chains, and his house and the beit el mal were +put under guards. Wad Suleiman had been one of the +Mahdi's most fanatical adherents, and whenever he +passed the Mahdi's tomb he used to stretch out his +hands and weep like a child—indeed he had every +reason to do so, for the Mahdi had raised him from a +low position to a post of great honour, and the thought +of losing this position distressed him greatly.<a name="Page_207" id="Page_207"></a></p> + +<p>Suleiman's wheel of fortune had come round at a +good time, when the amount of money in the beit el +mal was considerable. The immense quantities of loot +taken at El Obeid, Shikan, Khartum, Sennar, and +Berber, had all passed through his hands, and any +Dervish who was in need of anything always came to +him, and in this way he acquired great influence. Since +the Mahdi's death there had been great enmity between +Suleiman and Abdullah, and on the pretext of examining +the accounts, Abdullah had him arrested, and +intended to send him away, while he appointed Mohammed +Osman (Zogal's son) in his place.</p> + +<p>In Suleiman's house some 5,000 grammes of unstamped +gold was found, and it is more than probable +that this was but a small portion of what he had previously +appropriated. He was therefore thrown into +chains, where he remained for a year and more. A month +after his arrest, a certain Ibrahim Wad Adlan, of Wad +Medina, on the Blue Nile, and sometime merchant in +El Obeid, was appointed emin beit el mal. He had +frequently been in Cairo, was a pleasant-looking man, +and had enlightened ideas. At one time, when a dispute +arose between the commercial house of Arbib in +Cairo, and their two partners in El Obeid, Adlan had +been nominated arbitrator by the Cairo house. He had +for long remained loyal to the Government, and had +stayed in El Obeid until it fell into the hands of the +Mahdi, who permitted him—as a special favour—to +keep 2,000 of the 30,000 dollars he then had.</p> + +<p>For a long time Adlan had nothing to do; but he +was always an influential man, and was continually +trying to help those in distress. After the fall of El +Obeid, and when all the clerks had been exiled to +various parts, he never ceased until he obtained permission +for their return. A short time before the Mahdi +had quitted El Obeid, he had been employed in the +beit el mal, and at Rahad, Wad Suleiman had appointed +him his assistant. He was then despatched by the Mahdi +to Berber, to secure the £60,000 which had been sent to +Gordon from Cairo, and which had been left in the<a name="Page_208" id="Page_208"></a> +Berber treasury, owing to the interruption of communications +with Khartum. Ibrahim brought the money, +clothes, medals, decorations, and other valuables belonging +to Gordon to the Mahdi. The clothes were sold, +and cut to pieces to repair other garments, the metal +of the medals, &c., was melted down, whilst the precious +stones were sold, and eventually found their way to +Cairo.</p> + +<p>Adlan soon gained considerable influence over the +Khalifa, and had sufficient tact to moderate the inborn +tyranny of his master. His desire to continually give +assistance when he could, had made him very popular. +He soon set to work to reorganize the beit el mal, and +began by removing it from its original position to the +river bank, thus avoiding the unnecessary transport of +articles brought by boats to the stores.</p> + +<p>Here he built an extensive yard of sun-dried bricks, +which he divided off into sections for the various departments +of the administration. He made a large corn-store, +in which a mountain of dhurra was collected—indeed, +so high was it, that it could be seen from a +considerable distance. This store was placed in charge +of his assistant. Another yard was built containing a +number of rooms, in which the slaves were kept under +a guard of soldiers. Here the slaves were shackled, +twenty or thirty together in one long chain, with iron +rings round their necks. Any obstreperous slaves were +generally shackled with one or two makias or iron rings +round their ankles, joined together by a small chain +or iron bar, which made walking very difficult.</p> + +<p>Slaves received a little dry dhurra from the beit el mal +as food until they were sold. The female slaves generally +grind the dhurra, and make a sort of polenta out of +it, which is either eaten with water or boiled and eaten +as balila. The dhurra ration of a slave is generally so +small and so bad that numbers of them die of starvation +long before they are fortunate enough to be sold.</p> + +<p>Slaves are sold by auction in the beit el mal, and a +written certificate is given to the purchaser, stating in +detail the description of the slave, whether male or<a name="Page_209" id="Page_209"></a> +female, and that the purchase was effected in the beit +el mal. Before an auction the slaves are generally well +rubbed with oil, to improve their appearance. The +bulk of the slaves sold are females, as male slaves are +generally attached to the army. A special woman is +also employed, together with the other officials, to see +to the female slaves. Adlan also railed off a part of the +beit el mal for the reception of cattle—camels, sheep, +goats, donkeys, &c.; these are also sold by auction.</p> + + +<a name="slave"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:290px;"><img src="images/p209.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="290" height="397"> +<p class="caption2">A SLAVE WOMAN FROM EQUATORIA.</p></div> + + +<p>The Mint forms a distinct sub-department. When +the Mahdi was alive, gold and silver coins were struck +by his order, not so much to supply the demand, but<a name="Page_210" id="Page_210"></a> +rather to prove his independence of Egypt and the +establishment of his new kingdom. He ordered guineas +to be coined, just like the Egyptian pounds; they were +made out of the gold ornaments captured in Khartum. +Dollars were coined, and made similar to the Turkish +Medjidie dollar. A certain Hajji Abdullah Granteli, of +Bokhara, formerly jeweller in Khartum, and Elias el +Kurdi, watchmaker, were made chief coiners. In 1889 +the latter lost his hand and foot for issuing counterfeit +money. Almost all coins bearing the stamp, "By order +of the Mahdi," have disappeared.</p> + +<p>When I arrived in Omdurman there was a great +scarcity of small coins, and in consequence pieces of +damur (a twilled cotton fabric manufactured in the +Sudan), valued at ten, five, and two and a half piastres, +were made currency; but these rags soon became so +dirty, from being passed from hand to hand, and so +covered with oil and grease, that people refused to +accept them. Khalifa Abdullah, when he heard of this, +threatened those who refused with confiscation of property +and imprisonment, and employed spies in various +parts of the market to report the names of those who +objected; but the spies were bribed to keep silence, and +Abdullah was obliged to give in. Merchants had +recourse to every sort of deception to evade his orders, +so the dirty rags were withdrawn from currency.</p> + +<p>Adlan had organized the Mint rather with the object +of making a profit than of supplying a want. Silver +was cheap, and he was able to make 50 per cent. profit +on the manufacture of dollars. At that time gold +coinage was no longer current. On one side of the +dollars was stamped the Mohammedan date, with the +words, "Struck in Omdurman," while on the reverse +was the Sultan's Toghra, underneath which was written +the word, "Makbul" (accepted); hence the dollar became +known as the "Makbul dollar." Pieces of five and ten +piastres value were also coined, as well as a few single +piastre pieces, on one side of which was stamped the +Toghra, and on the other the word "Omdurman." The +Mahdi on his coins had written, within the Toghra, the<a name="Page_211" id="Page_211"></a> +words, "By order of the Mahdi," but Khalifa Abdullah +did not follow his example.</p> + +<p>Besides these coins, English sovereigns were also +current in Omdurman, and were known as "khayala" +(cavalry) pounds, on account of the St. George and the +dragon being engraved on them. Egyptian pounds +were also current, but now all gold coins have become +rare.</p> + +<p>The principal currency is the Medjidie dollar, and +these have been in such constant use that they are much +obliterated. The Maria Theresa dollar (also known +as the "Abu Nokta") is current as well, but chiefly +with Sawakin, Massawa, and Abyssinian traders, and +notably with the last. The French 5-franc-piece and +the Spanish dollar (known as Abu Madfa) are current in +a very minor degree. Egyptian piastres and half-piastres, +introduced by the Hicks Expedition, are occasionally +seen. The Austrian quarter-gulden piece +(fiorini) is considered to be worth 2 piastres. In +addition to all these silver pieces, copper coins of all +descriptions are current.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa Abdullah had no small trouble in circulating +the Makbul dollar; the merchants refused to +value them at 20 piastres, and, in spite of most +stringent orders, and continued threats of confiscation +of property, imprisonment, &c., the order was somehow +continually evaded.</p> + +<p>Merchants set high prices on their goods, and would +never accept until the buyer had shown all the different +sorts of dollars he possessed; he was thus obliged to do +this or to buy at exorbitant rates. Complaints became +rife, and eventually they reached Abdullah's ears. He +got very angry, and one day in October 1887, he sent +troops to the market with instructions to bring all the +goods in the market to the beit el mal. It was useless +to resist; the owners were obliged to look after their +own goods, which were piled up near the big gate of +the beit el mal, in the open, and under a burning sun. +Abdullah was now raging, and publicly made the following +curious statement:<a name="Page_212" id="Page_212"></a>—</p> + +<p>"That unbeliever Gordon induced merchants to +accept miserable bits of paper as equivalents for money, +and now I offer you silver and you won't even take it."</p> + +<p>For fourteen days these wretched people sat by the +gate, trembling for their property. All sorts of rumours +were flying about. Some said that the Khalifa intended +to throw all the goods into the river; others said that +he was going to burn them, and perhaps the most likely +notion of all was that he intended to confiscate the lot +and transfer it to the beit el mal. By this time the +merchants were thoroughly alarmed, and begged some +of their influential friends to mediate with the Khalifa. +At length the latter summoned the principal merchants, +and asked them if they would accept the Makbul dollar +at the value of the old dollar, whereupon they not only +accepted gladly, but declared their readiness to accept +any sort of money he chose to issue, even should it be +made of leather.</p> + +<p>Thus was a reconciliation effected. The Khalifa +treated the merchants well, gave them plenty of food, +and condescended even to eat with them on this festive +occasion. After this episode there were no more difficulties +about making the Makbul dollar current in +Omdurman, though to this day the Arabs refuse to +accept it.</p> + +<p>But gradually silver became dear, and the Mint began +coining bad dollars, made of two parts silver to three +parts copper; consequently the value of the old dollar +has now gone up to 25 piastres. This gave further +opportunities to the counterfeit coiners. The silver-workers +in the Mint began making dollars on their own +account, and, those being different from the others, +caused great confusion. These false dollars were very +well coined, and it required a practised eye to notice +the deception; indeed, it was not until a very large +quantity of these false coins had got into circulation +that the fraud was found out.</p> + +<p>An inspector was now sent to examine all dollars; +all false coins were broken into pieces, and no compensation +given to the owners. Thieves and smugglers<a name="Page_213" id="Page_213"></a> +purchased the bad dollars at 10 piastres apiece, and +then, of course, every description of bribery and corruption +was practised. For instance, an Arab would +agree to sell his camel for 150 dollars, on condition +that the money should be submitted to the examining +commission. The president, who was of course bribed, +gave out as his decision that the dollars were all good, +and received a good round sum from the purchaser for +his falsehood; thus it happened that the Arab was +generally defrauded of 40 or 50 dollars. In spite of +several false coiners being punished with the loss of +a hand and foot, still the evil practice continued, and it +is only within the last few years, since the price of +silver has increased so much, that false coining has, to a +great extent, ceased.</p> + +<p>A printing and lithograph press was also established +in the beit el mal; it had originally been set up in +Khartum, and was now used for pulling off numbers of +Mahdi proclamations. Several "Ratibs," or Mahdi's +book of prayers, were also printed and distributed.</p> + +<p>A museum of curios also formed part of the beit el +mal. It is known as the Beit el Antikat, and contains +numbers of interesting things, such as trophies from +Darfur, Abyssinia, and Egypt. The Abyssinian section +is the largest, and includes King John's throne. +Amongst the Darfur articles are the robes of Sultan +Yusef and of the Sultan of Masalit. The robe of one of +the Ababdeh sheikhs, who was made a Bey by the +Government, and then came to Omdurman and submitted +to the Mahdi, represents Egypt.</p> + +<p>The beit el mal also contains a dispensary, in charge of +an Egyptian doctor; here are numbers of shelves, laden +with medicines, which have long since gone bad, but the +doctor has taken entirely to native remedies, of which +cauterization and burning are the most usual.</p> + +<p>Amongst the Khartum survivors was a certain Greek +soap-boiler, who had established a soap manufactory in +the beit el mal, and had handed over to it his large +supplies of soda; but gradually other private individuals +began to establish soap works, and soon they began to<a name="Page_214" id="Page_214"></a> +sell soap so cheaply that all the beit el mal customers +came to them. The consequence was that the Khalifa at +once issued an order that the beit el mal held the soap-boiling +monopoly, and anyone who infringed this rule +would lose one hand, and all his property would be +confiscated.</p> + +<p>A careful system of accounts was elaborated in the +beit el mal showing all revenue and expenditure. If an +expedition is ordered to any part of the country, money, +clothing, and other necessaries must be supplied from +the beit el mal. The staff to work this large administration +consists of an emin beit el mal, his assistant, +head clerk, and a host of smaller officials and clerks. +When the merchants refused to accept the Makbul +dollar the staff was increased, as at that time the whole +of the boats and canoes were also confiscated. Of these +there were upwards of 1,000, and they were eventually +hired out by the beit el mal. Wad Adlan always tried +to secure for the beit el mal the services of those clerks +who had formerly served under the Government; but +this plan did not please the Khalifa. Adlan naturally +preferred the old clerks, who thoroughly understood their +work; besides, they were terrified of the Dervishes, and +thus did not dare to cheat. On the whole, Adlan's +administration was very good, and he received the +Khalifa's thanks.</p> + +<p>Abdullah now turned his attention to reorganizing +the system of justice. Hitherto, and during the Mahdi's +lifetime, the office of Kadi had continued, but the +Ashraf (Mahdi's relations) also acted in the capacity of +judges, and the result was the greatest possible confusion. +For instance, supposing a man was sentenced by the +judge, Sayid Abdel Kader (the Sheikh el Islam) would +immediately pardon him. Abdullah, not unnaturally, +wanted to change this anomaly, not so much in the +interests of justice as to break down the power and +authority of the Ashraf. He therefore nominated Kadi +Ahmed as the Kadi el Islam, and appointed a number +of assistant judges, whom he called Nuab.</p> + +<p>It was ruled that everyone, old and young, should<a name="Page_215" id="Page_215"></a> +report all causes of dispute to the Grand Kadi, and it +was his duty to look into it and give a decision. Kadi +Ahmed is a particularly good man, and gives protection +to the white people, more especially when they are +attacked and abused by the native populace. He is, +however, of rather a vacillating, timorous disposition, +and is therefore a pliable instrument in the Khalifa's +hands; consequently there is often a miscarriage of +justice.</p> + +<p>Thus did the Khalifa secure, in his own person, the +right to pardon or to convict, and thus he became +absolute master of life and death. As for the law, he +only appealed to it when it suited his own convenience; +on every other occasion he absolutely ignored it.</p> + +<a name="Page_216" id="Page_216"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE KHALIFA DECIDES TO CONQUER ABYSSINIA.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Events subsequent to the fall of Khartum—Capture of Gedaref +and Galabat—Dervishes defeated by Abyssinians at Galabat—Abu +Anga's victorious expedition to Tagalla—His triumphant +return to Omdurman—The Khalifa's grand review—Destruction +of the Gehena tribe—The Khalifa decides to send Abu Anga's +army to conquer Abyssinia—The battle of Dabra Sin—Abu Anga +sacks Gondar—The victorious Dervishes return to Galabat—Rejoicings +at Omdurman.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">The</span> preceding pages have given a glimpse of Omdurman, +the new Dervish capital of the Sudan; let us now turn +briefly to the military events which had occurred since +the fall of Khartum.</p> + +<p>Whilst Khartum was besieged on all sides, so also +were the various other garrisons still holding out, closely +beset. Gedaref, also known as Suk Abu Sin, the name +of the patriarchal sheikh of the Shukrieh tribe, was +situated in the midst of a fertile plain which produced +such quantities of corn that it was the common saying, +three camel-loads could be sold for half a dollar. The +ground was so productive that anything could be grown. +There was no want of water. The Greeks and several +Egyptians had made gardens, in which there was found +every description of fruit-tree; grapes grew in abundance, +and were of particularly good quality; they were +to be had all the year round; for it was of no consequence +in what month the vines were pruned. Quantities +of sesame were also grown as well as a special kind of +dhurra, with a sweet stalk, from which a substance +something like honey was extracted. Water-melons, +cotton, tobacco, and all sorts of vegetables were grown<a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"></a> +in the greatest profusion, and everything was of exceptionally +good quality.</p> + +<p>The garrison of Gedaref consisted of only two hundred +men, and on being summoned by the Jaalin to surrender, +they did so, in April 1884. This is hardly to be +wondered at, for the inhabitants of Gedaref are, for +the most part, Jaalin, and resistance would, under such +circumstances, have been next to impossible. The +principal merchants were permitted to keep their goods, +and the change of hands did not, for the moment, +greatly alter the situation; but we shall see, later, what +became of this rich and valuable province after a prolonged +Dervish occupation.</p> + +<p>As regards Galabat, the difficulties were considerably +greater. This town was situated about six days' journey +from Gedaref, and was the residence of the well-known +Takruri, Saleh Bey Shanga, who was Mamur of the +district. This brave official remained loyal to the Government +throughout, and was bitterly opposed to Mahdiism. +He succeeded in gaining the friendship of the neighbouring +Abyssinian tribes, and, through their assistance, +inflicted great losses on the Dervishes. In November +1884, he severely defeated the besieging Jaalin; but a +few days later, the Dervishes, being heavily reinforced, +beset him very closely.</p> + +<p>Through the intermediary of the English, King John +sent a relieving force of Abyssinians, which reached the +vicinity of Galabat on the 27th of January, 1885; and +making known their approach to Saleh, the latter made +a sortie, while at the same time the Dervishes were +heavily attacked by the Abyssinians, who drove them +off, thus enabling the entire garrison, men, women, and +children, to escape; they marched <i>viâ</i> Gondar to +Massawa, under the protection of an Abyssinian force. +Galabat was subsequently occupied by the Dervishes, +who collected here in great force under the Emir Wad +Arbab.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Saleh Bey, who was now staying with +Ras Adal, the chief of Amhara, was not idle, and was +continually urging him to take possession of Galabat;<a name="Page_218" id="Page_218"></a> +he was shortly afterwards joined by the Fiki Medawi, +formerly a wild, fanatical adherent of the Mahdi, +and who, together with Abu Girgeh, had been one of +the first to lay siege to Gordon in Khartum; this +man, after the Mahdi's death, began to find out that +he had been following an imposture, and fled from +Omdurman; he stayed in Abyssinia for a time, and +eventually reached Cairo. Abdullah was furious at his +flight, and put a number of his friends in chains, believing +that Fiki Medawi had been instrumental in +pushing on Ras Adal to attack Galabat.</p> + +<p>Shortly after the festival of the "Three holy kings," +in commemoration of the baptism of our Saviour in +Jordan, known as "Ghittas," which means immersion +(on this occasion—the 5th of January—a cross is +always immersed in the river); Ras Adal, having collected +a large army, amounting, it is said, to 100,000 men, +of whom 20,000 were horsemen, advanced across the +mountains and descended on Galabat.</p> + +<p>Sheikh Egeil, of the Hamran Arabs, who had always +been loyal to the Egyptian Government, and had combated +Mahdiism continuously, also joined Ras Adal, +and entered Dervish territory. Wad Arbab, who had +received full information of the Abyssinian movements, +was awaiting their attack, strongly entrenched within +Galabat. He had 16,000 well-seasoned troops, mostly +Jaalin, and a quantity of rifles and ammunition. In +a few minutes the Abyssinian cavalry, dashing down +with wild impetuosity, completely surrounded Wad +Arbab; the fight did not last long; the Dervishes were +driven out, pursued in all directions, and Galabat was +soon in flames. Arbab's men could not face the wild +rush of the Abyssinians, and fell in great numbers; +the high wind caused the flames to spread with terrible +rapidity, and soon the powder magazine blew up with +a terrific report, burying hundreds in its ruins; amongst +these was a Greek who had come from Sawakin the year +before to Omdurman, where he was imprisoned for a +time, then released, and came to Galabat, hoping to +escape into Abyssinia, just a few days before this fight<a name="Page_219" id="Page_219"></a> +which took place in January 1887. The Abyssinians +captured a large number of women and children, whom +they dragged off as slaves.</p> + +<p>A few months prior to this action, Gustav Klootz +had died in Galabat. He had left Omdurman in +September 1886, for Galabat, intending to escape into +Abyssinia; but having no money, he was forced to walk +the entire distance, and the great fatigue he had undergone +made him seriously ill; he lingered on for a time, +but eventually died; and perhaps it was fortunate that +he did die, for only a few days afterwards an order +arrived from the Khalifa Abdullah at Gedaref, ordering +him to be thrown into chains and brought back +to Omdurman, where a miserable death awaited him.</p> + +<p>Whilst the Abyssinians were attacking Galabat, Sheikh +Egeil fell upon Doka, a place situated between Galabat +and Gedaref, which he succeeded in capturing, and +putting its inhabitants to the sword. The Abyssinians +now returned to their own country, after having sacked +and pillaged Galabat, which they left absolutely empty.</p> + +<p>The disaster at Galabat was a great blow to the +Dervishes; Abdullah now appointed his nephew Yunis +as emir of the district, and ordered him to reoccupy +the town. Yunis, on his return from Wad el Abbas, +had encamped south of Omdurman Fort, at a place +which is still known as Dem Yunis; his force consisted +of about 1,000 men, armed with Remingtons, and 2,000 +sword-and spearmen, of whom the majority had been +amongst the Mahdi's original followers at Abba. +Abdullah himself now crossed over to Khojali, and led +Yunis's troops for some distance.</p> + +<p>The equipment and transport of the force were not +expensive items; each man received about half a dollar; +and perhaps that was sufficient, for the troops always +plundered the villages for their food as they went along. +Yunis marched direct to Abu Haraz, on the Blue Nile, +and thence followed the Khor Rahad up to Galabat, +which he found quite empty and deserted. He now +settled down, and, to his credit, he occasionally made +raids into Abyssinia, destroyed a few villages and<a name="Page_220" id="Page_220"></a> +churches, and sent the ornaments he took to Omdurman. +This so delighted the Khalifa that he dubbed him +"Mismar ed Din" (or the "Nail of Religion"), and had +special poems about his deeds sung in his presence.</p> + +<p>But soon Yunis abandoned hostilities, and guaranteed +free passes to merchants travelling in the country; the +Abyssinians believed in these assurances of peace, and +descended into the Galabat plain at various times in +the year, bringing with them for sale thousands of +mules, donkeys, and horses, also quantities of coffee, +garlic, lentils, beans, wax, and honey. Things went on +quite peaceably for some time; but one day Yunis +suddenly fell on all the merchants collected within +their zariba, killed numbers of them, seized their goods, +and sent off about 1,000 of them as prisoners to +Omdurman. Several died of starvation on the journey, +and on their arrival in Omdurman the remainder were +released, but had to go about the markets begging +their bread. It frequently happened that they would +take shelter for the night in the merchants' empty +stalls; and on the latter arriving with their goods in +the morning, they would find their shops full of dead +and dying Abyssinians; afterwards, slaves were left by +the merchants to guard the shops and prevent these +miserable creatures from making use of them. These +wretched, gaunt, half-starved people used sometimes to +come to us to beg for food; they knew no Arabic, but +knowing that we were Christians, they would repeat +that word, or sometimes "Wad Maryam" ("Mary's +child") to excite our pity. Their wretched condition at +length reached the Khalifa's ears, and he ordered the +beit el mal to take charge of them; the emin beit +el mal now sent a crier to the market to warn all +Abyssinians that if they came to the beit el mal they +would receive assistance. The poor starving creatures +dragged themselves there, but were still kept two or +three days without food; numbers of them died, and +their bodies were thrown into the river, whilst the +remainder were at last given a miserable pittance of +dhurra, which served to keep body and soul together<a name="Page_221" id="Page_221"></a> +for a time; but these, too, at length succumbed to +starvation; and after that, I never saw an Abyssinian +prisoner again.</p> + +<p>In July 1887, Khalifa Abdullah wrote a letter to +King John, offering to make peace, on condition that he +would become a Moslem, and that he would return all +the women and children he had captured, but more +especially was he to surrender the persons of Saleh Bey, +Fiki Medawi, and the Sheikh el Egeil. If he refused to +accept these terms he must expect war. King John did +not deign to reply.</p> + +<p>During the feast of Bairam on the 31st of July, 1887, +Khalifa Abdullah summoned Abu Anga to Omdurman, +and here I must give a short description of this renowned +warrior.</p> + +<p>Hamdan Abu Anga had been a slave, and had been +brought up in the Khalifa Abdullah's household; he had +been well treated by his master, and was eventually looked +upon as a member of the family, a custom which was +formerly in vogue amongst the Baggara, Rizighat, and +Taisha tribes. In fact, these Arabs used not infrequently +to give their daughters in marriage to their slaves. It +was amongst the Baggara that Abu Anga had first +learnt to ride on horseback and to go out hunting, and +it was from them that he had acquired such dexterity +in handling and throwing spears, for which he had +frequent opportunities in the continual raids which took +place on neighbouring tribes.</p> + +<p>Abu Anga had taken part in the campaigns against +Zubeir Pasha, by whom he and his entire family had +been captured, but subsequently released. When the +Mahdi declared himself he joined with his master, +Abdullah. During the siege of El Obeid little was +known or heard of him, but after the fall of that city +Khalifa Abdullah handed over to him the charge of all +captive soldiers in El Obeid, as well as in other places. +The astute Khalifa had for long had his eye on these +blacks, whose fighting powers he well knew, and he was +most desirous to bring them under his direct control, +and utilize them.<a name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></a></p> + +<p>Previous to the Hicks Expedition Abu Anga had +already secured a number of them, and they were largely +instrumental in compassing the complete downfall of that +ill-fated army. Then, again, his blacks had shown the +greatest bravery in their campaigns against Jebel Dair, +when they had acquired a great name for themselves, +and, finally, it was through their means that Gordon's +Fort of Omdurman had been compelled to surrender. +After the fall of Khartum these brave but undisciplined +troops, having no more fighting to do, took to highway +robbery. Numbers of them hovered about in the desert +a few hours' distance from Omdurman, and amused +themselves by falling on caravans coming from Kordofan +or Berber, and pillaging and killing to their heart's +content. Their depredations became so constant that +the Mahdi decided that he must employ them somewhere, +so he ordered Abu Anga to proceed with them to the +still independent Dar Nuba country, which he was to +conquer, and obtain from thence recruits for his Jehadieh, +or Black Army.</p> + +<p>But there was also another reason which induced the +Mahdi to undertake this campaign. During the siege of +Omdurman a certain Baggara Sheikh, of Birket, named +Noaïa, deserted, and gathering a number of malcontents +in Dar Nuba, he defied the Mahdi's authority. When I +was at El Obeid there were all sorts of strange stories +current about the doings of Noaïa, who had gathered +numbers of horsemen from the Howazma and Miserieh +tribes, and had made himself decidedly formidable. All +those disappointed slave-hunters and slave-dealers who—annoyed +with the suppression of their trade by the +Egyptian Government—had flocked in numbers to the +Mahdi's standard, now had begun to find out that they +were rather worse off than before, and were, in reality, +little better than the Mahdi's slaves. These people +sought every occasion to desert to Noaïa. Abu Anga +therefore received orders to hunt him down and annihilate +him. He collected his men, quitted the now debauched +and pleasure-loving Omdurman, and proceeded to +the Tagalla Mountain, at the foot of which he encamped.<a name="Page_223" id="Page_223"></a></p> + +<p>After the death of King Adam, his followers had +again thrown off the Dervish yoke and were now in +open revolt; against these Abu Anga conducted +several successful expeditions, and captured numbers of +slaves, but suffered some loss as well. As long as +Abu Anga was in the neighbourhood, Tagalla was +more or less in a state of submission; but the moment +he moved off they again broke out into active opposition.</p> + +<p>Abu Anga now advanced on Noaïa, whose adherents, +alarmed by the presence of the soldiers, dispersed. +These blacks are greatly feared in the Sudan, not +only on account of their great bravery in battle, but +also it is well known that they are merciless to their +conquered enemies.</p> + +<p>Sheikh Noaïa was eventually secured and thrown +into chains, and a few days later he died of small-pox. +Abu Anga attacked almost all the Nuba mountains; +at times he was successful, at other times he suffered +reverses. Tolodi, Gedir, and lastly Naïma, were scenes +of bloody combats, and at the last-named place Abu +Anga, in spite of his artillery—which was commanded +by Said Bey Guma—was heavily defeated and driven +back.</p> + +<p>One of Abu Anga's most capable assistants was +Abdullah Wad Ibrahim, who, on account of his unparalleled +cruelties, made Abu Anga's name a terror +throughout the land. Abu Anga was now recalled +from his campaign by Khalifa Abdullah to take +possession of Zogal and his army, who was then on +his way from Darfur to Bara. We have seen how +rapidly and skilfully he carried out this order.</p> + +<p>Now all that was left for Abu Anga to do was to +punish the mutinous troops of El Obeid who had +killed Sherif Mahmud. Wad Ibrahim was sent on this +duty, and after a severe fight, in which numbers were +killed on both sides, he succeeded in capturing +several of the mutineers, whom he attached to his +troops; but some of them escaped to the Nubas, and +Wad Ibrahim proceeded in consequence to Golfan-<a name="Page_224" id="Page_224"></a>Naïma, +which he besieged, took, and reduced the +inhabitants to slavery; the heads of Bishir and three +other leaders were sent to Omdurman, where they were +exposed for a month on the gallows as a warning to +all mutinous-minded persons.</p> + +<p>By all these various actions Abu Anga had succeeded +in adding considerably to the numbers of his troops, +and he moreover drilled them constantly and instilled +a spirit of discipline which had been hitherto unknown—thus +he raised up a power which it was almost impossible +to defeat. Khalifa Abdullah now sent instructions +to Abu Anga to return to Omdurman in +time for the Bairam festival, and at the same time he +sent orders to all the inhabitants of the Gezireh and +Nile Valley to collect at Omdurman for a great review. +Abu Anga, as usual, complied with the order with +alacrity, and making forced marches, <i>viâ</i> Tayara, Shatt, +and Om Sadik, he reached Omdurman in a very short +time. Abdullah sent numbers of emirs to meet and +welcome him.</p> + +<p>In Omdurman the only topic of conversation was +about Abu Anga and his great army. The Khalifa +himself also prepared a magnificent reception for his +faithful general, in which he strove to do him all +possible honour. On the night preceding the great +festival, criers were sent through Omdurman announcing +that any one who failed to present himself at the +great review the following morning would be seriously +dealt with; this order was willingly complied with, +and at the foot of the hills near Kerreri were assembled +enormous crowds, who waited—as the malcontents said—on +the pleasure of that "slave," Abu Anga. The +guns had all been drawn out in line the evening +before, and the festival was ushered in by prolonged +salutes.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Abu Anga had arrived at Om +Sadik, where a careful inspection was made to see +that no one was in possession of unlawful booty; +numbers of female slaves were found, who were subsequently +sent to the beit el mal. He then moved on<a name="Page_225" id="Page_225"></a> +to his camp near Omdurman, and prepared to make +his formal entry the following morning.</p> + +<p>By the time the sun had well risen, the Dervishes +were assembled in endless lines under their various +flags. Khalifa Abdullah left his residence accompanied +by his bodyguard; he was mounted on a magnificent +camel, and advanced to the sound of the great onbeïa +trumpet. Abu Anga, mounted on a pony and clad in +a casque and coat-of-mail, now advanced to meet him, +and his magnificent figure created no small impression +on the assembled multitudes. His bodyguard, consisting +of his very best soldiers, accompanied him, as +well as a number of mukuddums. On approaching +the Khalifa he adroitly dismounted and kissed his +hands; he was warmly greeted, and ordered to mount +again.</p> + +<p>Then the march past began. Upwards of 31,000 +black troops, armed with Remingtons and formed up in +long lines, went by to the sound of drums and +trumpets; but the latter, on which the players +attempted to produce some specially Dervish music, +raised the most discordant sounds, which gave an intensely +comic aspect to the whole proceeding. Each +emir, with his flag, rode at the head of his division; +the chief emirs were Ibrahim Wad Abdullah, Nur +Angara, Zeki Tummal, and Ibrahim Wad Abu Tagalla. +When the Jehadieh had passed, the sword-and spearmen +followed, some 20,000 in number; then came the +inhabitants of Omdurman in countless numbers. +There could not have been less than 60,000.</p> + +<p>After the march past all were formed up again, and +then the Khalifa, dismounting from his camel, stood on +his sheepskin and conducted prayers. The shout of +"Allahu Akbar" from over 100,000 throats was impressive +in the extreme, and, as the sound rolled down +the immense lines, it was echoed again and again +through the hills, lasting for over a minute after each +shout.</p> + +<p>On the conclusion of prayers the guns pealed forth +salutes, and such wild fanaticism and enthusiasm pre<a name="Page_226" id="Page_226"></a>vailed +that several men dashed up to the very muzzles +of the guns and were blown to pieces. Of course the +Khalifa announced that the souls of these stupid people +had gone straight to paradise. The salutes over, the +lines were once more inspected, and then all the flags +were collected in one place, in the centre of which +stood the Khalifa; this was the signal for the whole +force to gather around and vie with one another in +their shouts of loyalty that they would die a hundred +times over for him and his cause. Khalifa Abdullah +became so wildly impressed by the enthusiasm of +these savage hordes that he could scarcely contain +himself, and it was as much as his bodyguard could +do to keep the impetuous crowds from crushing him +to death. Numbers were bruised and kicked by the +horses; but they were left quite unnoticed—a mere +remark, "Umru Khalas" ("It is the end of his +life"), was all the sympathy these heartless men ever +offered.</p> + +<p>From that day to this I do not think the Khalifa +has ever had such an ovation. At that time Omdurman +was unusually full, trade was brisk, and it was thought +that he would now undertake the invasion of Egypt. +But, as it soon transpired, he had still a good deal of +work to do in the Sudan itself. One enemy he undoubtedly +had—this was El Merhdi Abu Rof, a +descendant of the ancient Kings of Sennar and sheikh +of the great Gehena tribe, which, amongst the mass +of Arabs allied to the Mahdi, had persistently held +aloof. This tribe possessed a large number of camels +of a curious dark-coloured breed, and also quantities +of gray-coloured cows.</p> + +<p>El Merhdi had instigated a purely local movement of +his own against the Government, and had once besieged +and set fire to Sennar; long before Abu Anga's arrival +he had shown hostility to the Khalifa, and had annihilated +a number of small Dervish garrisons; his power +extended as far as Karkoj, and he levied taxes on all +boats going north. For a long time the Khalifa had +let him alone, but now finding himself in possession of<a name="Page_227" id="Page_227"></a> +such an enormous force, he decided to attack El Merhdi, +more especially as at this time his audacity considerably +endangered the navigation of the Blue Nile, from whence +Omdurman drew its main supplies of corn. He therefore +despatched Ismail Wad el Andok up the Blue Nile, while +Abdullah Wad Ibrahim was sent up the White Nile.</p> + +<p>El Merhdi, attacked thus on both sides, was powerless; +he was unable to withstand the advance of the victorious +black troops, and he and almost all his Arabs were +killed. El Merhdi's head was sent to Omdurman, where +it was exposed for a long time on the gallows, and was +at last thrown into the pit in which lay the heads of +Bishir and those who had been slain with him.</p> + +<p>Thus one by one did the Khalifa's enemies become +subdued. The vengeance wreaked on the unfortunate +Gehena tribe by the Dervishes is almost beyond +description. The property of the survivors was seized, +men, women, and children were dragged off to Omdurman, +and there, naked and helpless, they were left to starve +on the river bank. One would see wretched mothers of +three or four children, who looked just like skeletons, +miserably abandoned in a place utterly unknown, and +subject to the insults and indignities of the proud and +cruel Dervishes. Numbers of them, especially children, +died of starvation, whilst those who still had sufficient +strength would wander about begging their bread; if +any one had money enough he would buy a waterskin, +and would go half a mile to the river, fill it, carry it +back and sell it in the market for a quarter of a piastre; +thus they eked out a miserable existence. Men who +but lately had ridden on good horses and had owned +hundreds of camels were reduced to this mode of +gaining their livelihood, whilst poor women could be +seen, with babies at their breasts, toiling under the +heavy weight of a filled waterskin towards the market-place; +then they had no rest, for in the evening they +had to grind the dhurra and make a sort of pap which +the poor little mouths of their infants could hardly +masticate; they had but one meal in the twenty-four +hours.<a name="Page_228" id="Page_228"></a></p> + +<p>It was impossible not to be struck by the mother's +love of these poor people for their offspring, and at the +same time to feel bitterly incensed against the Khalifa +and his cruel followers who could thus intentionally +inflict on people of their own race such untold cruelties. +Thousands of Gehena camels were brought to Omdurman +and sold at low prices; thus was the wealth of +their country utterly destroyed, and now the terrible +famine, which was so soon to fall upon the land, was +close at hand.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Abdullah was considering with his +advisers the desirability of permitting war to break out +with Abyssinia. The great power of which he now felt +himself possessed inclined him to war, and of course the +majority of his emirs, whose sole desire was to pander +to his will, agreed with him. Then news reached Yunis +that Ras Adal was making gigantic preparations; this +finally decided Abdullah to wage war, and with this +object in view, he despatched his faithful Abu Anga to +conduct the operations.</p> + +<p>The three Khalifas, Abu Anga's brother Abdel Maula, +who commanded the Jehadieh in Omdurman, and +several other important people embarked on the steamer +and proceeded to the east bank, where Abdullah himself +led off the troops. For some days before, every boat +had been requisitioned for transport, and these were +now laden with provisions for the army; but what with +overloading and the strength of the current, several +foundered and numbers of persons were drowned; +however, this was of little consequence, for human life +is of small value among the Dervishes.</p> + +<p>The troops advanced in divisions along the banks of +the Nile, and before finally taking leave of them the +Khalifa addressed Abu Anga and his emirs, urging them +to be ever united, and to keep always before them the +rewards which would be theirs on their return, promising +them the divine help of the Mahdi and a certainty of +victory.</p> + +<p>This speech was delivered in such an impressive +manner that there were few dry eyes amongst these<a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"></a> +hardy warriors, and the Khalifa himself was by no +means ignorant of the gravity of the step he had now +taken, for Abyssinia was looked upon as even a more +powerful country than Egypt. Abu Anga followed his +troops in a steamer as far as Abu Haraz, near which the +Khor Rahad joins the Nile, and which during the winter +is quite full and navigable almost up to Galabat.</p> + +<p>Some time before, Abdullah Wad Ibrahim and Ismail +Wad el Andok had been sent to collect people in the +Gezireh; they now joined Abu Anga, whose entire +force numbered 81,000 men. After a short halt at +Galabat, Abu Anga advanced into Abyssinian territory, +leaving Wad Ali in Galabat. Making forced marches, +the troops made their way over hills and across valleys, +through the most rugged country. Numbers died of +exhaustion, but still they continued to move on; they +met with no opposition, the villages through which +they passed were deserted, and wherever they went +they found provisions in abundance. This magnificent +country was a source of intense astonishment to the +Dervishes.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Ras Adal had collected his forces in the +great plain of Dabra Sin, some six days' journey from +Galabat, and here he patiently awaited Abu Anga's +advance. As the Dervishes approached, numbers of the +Gezireh troops who could not keep up with the force +lagged behind, and were invariably killed or mutilated +by the Abyssinians.</p> + +<p>Abu Anga, on arrival on the plain, formed up in +battle-array, and putting himself in the centre of a +square composed of his best troops, he advanced on +the Abyssinian camp, which was much extended, and +stretched as far as the eye could reach.</p> + +<p>The Abyssinians now attacked in wild disorder; they +fought with the courage of lions, for their religion and +fatherland, against the hated Moslems who had dared +to enter their country. The horsemen especially fought +with the most reckless bravery; but Abu Anga's blacks +here as elsewhere showed their sterling fighting qualities; +they mowed down the masses of Abyssinians in thousands<a name="Page_230" id="Page_230"></a> +with their well-aimed fire, whilst the latter were vainly +endeavouring to break through their solid ranks; and +soon Abu Anga's victory was assured. He had conquered +through his good discipline, the arrangement of his +troops, and the galling fire of the Remingtons, and +now the rest of the fight was merely a massacre, which +was continued until the troops were quite tired out. +Most of Ras Adal's principal chiefs had fallen, and +amongst the captives was one of his sons, who was well +cared for and sent to Galabat.</p> + +<p>The entire camp, with its countless tents, donkeys, +and mules, fell into the hands of the Mahdiists. The +captured animals were in such quantities that the victors +could not possibly carry them off, and in consequence +they either hamstrung them or cut their throats. +Amongst the other things captured were two guns.</p> + +<p>The road to Gondar, the former capital of Abyssinia, +was now clear, and Abu Anga advanced towards it, +hoping that he would secure great quantities of treasure. +It was a march of only thirty miles from the battlefield, +and was soon reached; sacked, plundered, and +reduced to ashes; the churches were pillaged and +then burnt; priests were thrown down from the roof +and killed; the population massacred, and women and +children dragged in hundreds into slavery.</p> + +<p>Abu Anga only stayed a short time in Gondar, the +change of climate had already caused the death of a +number of his troops, and, laden with booty, he returned +to Galabat, which he reached at the end of December.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile there was great anxiety in Omdurman. +Abdullah could not conceal his alarm, for it was well +known that the Abyssinian army was very powerful. +Abu Anga had crossed the border thirty days before, and +still no news reached Abdullah: those who did not wish +the Dervishes well, rejoiced at the thought that a great +part of the army must have been destroyed, and the +anxiety so told on Abdullah, that he was seen to visibly +age in this momentous time. Besides, there was the +prophecy of Mohammed, who had forbidden his followers +to make war against the Abyssinians, unless the latter<a name="Page_231" id="Page_231"></a> +first provoked it. Abu Anga's expedition was in direct +disobedience to this order, and it was thought that he +must suffer defeat as a punishment, and it was urged +that if Abu Anga returned in safety, then the Prophet +Mohammed must be a liar as well as the Mahdi.</p> + +<p>At length the arrival of twelve heads which Abu +Anga had sent to Galabat proved conclusively that a +great victory had been won, and now the news of the +destruction of Gondar and the return of Abu Anga's +victorious troops was indeed a welcome relief to the terrible +suspense.</p> + +<p>This news was followed up soon afterwards by the +arrival of numbers of women and children, and quantities +of loot. Several of these miserable captives had died +on the journey, and those who had not been already +sold, had their ears cut off, and were sent to the beit el +mal.</p> + +<p>Abdullah, without the smallest shame, went himself to +the beit el mal, and chose all the best-looking girls for +his harem, and each of the principal men of his household +received an Abyssinian girl as a present.</p> + +<p>Abu Anga received great praise at the hands of the +Khalifa, and many verses were made in his honour. +Shortly before the victor's arrival in Omdurman, criers +were sent out to say that he should no longer be called +Abu Anga, but Sidi Hamdan, and Abdullah himself +went out to meet the conqueror, and shed tears of joy +on seeing him. The booty included thirty thousand +Maria Theresa dollars, of which Khalifa Abdullah at +once took sole possession.</p> + +<a name="Page_232" id="Page_232"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">KING JOHN OF ABYSSINIA KILLED IN BATTLE.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Destruction of the Kababish tribe and death of Saleh Bey—Events +in Darfur—Revolt of Abu Gamaizeh—His death and destruction +of his army—Rabeh Zubeir—King Theodore's son visits Omdurman—The +conspiracy of "Sayidna Isa"—Death of Abu Anga—King +John of Abyssinia attacks Galabat—Success of +Abyssinians, but the king killed—Victory turned to defeat—The +king's head sent to Omdurman.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">Let</span> us now leave Abyssinia for a moment, and turn to +the course of events in other parts of the country. The +most powerful and determined opponent to Mahdiism +was Saleh Bey Fadlallah Wad Salem, the brother of +Sheikh Tome of the Kababish, who had been executed +in El Obeid. This tribe has enormous quantities of +camels and sheep, and occupied the desert between +Dongola and Kordofan; they formerly paid taxes to the +extent of 100,000 dollars a year to Government. They +did all the carrying trade between Dongola and Kordofan. +It will be remembered that, during the siege of +El Obeid, Saleh Bey had come to the Mahdi's camp; but +had left it quite suddenly, and thenceforth had become +one of the Mahdi's bitterest enemies.</p> + +<p>In 1884 he had given considerable assistance in +camels to the English expedition, and had been in constant +conflict himself with the Dervishes.</p> + +<p>When Khalifa Abdullah had consolidated his authority +he determined to rid himself of this rebel. Saleh Bey +was at that time weak, for many of his tribe had joined +the Mahdiist ranks, and had fought against him. He +learnt that Abdullah intended to strike a serious blow to +his power, he therefore appealed to the Egyptian Government +for help, and sent fifty of his slaves to Wadi<a name="Page_233" id="Page_233"></a> +Halfa; the Government granted them two hundred +Remington rifles, forty boxes of ammunition, and £200 +in cash.</p> + +<p>Neufeld, a German merchant, joined Saleh's men on +their return to Kordofan, intending, if possible, to re-open +a trade with the Arab sheikhs in gum and ostrich +feathers.</p> + +<p>Nejumi, who was then at Dongola, having learnt +through spies of their departure, occupied the wells of +Selima on the Arbain road, through which the Kababish +would probably pass. Fifteen days after leaving Halfa +the little caravan arrived at the oasis, only to be received +by Dervish bullets. Most of them were killed, and a +few, including Neufeld, were taken captive to Dongola; +there they were beheaded, with the exception of Neufeld, +who was sent on to Omdurman, where he arrived +on the 1st of March, 1887.</p> + +<p>The capture of the caravan and arms was a great blow +to Saleh, and now Abdullah no longer delayed to carry +out his intentions. He despatched the Emirs Greger +Hamed and Wad Nubawi, of the Beni Jerrar, against +him. In the first fight Saleh was successful; but lost +his brother and a number of men. After this, a number +of Dar Homr Arabs, who had formerly been allied to +him, now deserted to the other side, and with the +Dervishes occupied the wells of Mahbas. This being +the only water in the neighbourhood, there was now +nothing left but to fight, and Saleh and his men performed +prodigies of valour, killing great numbers of +the Dervishes; but he was hampered by numerous +camp-followers, women and children, whom it was +impossible to defend; and at length, seeing his third +brother fall before his eyes, he dismounted from his +horse, sat on his "fur" (sheep's skin), and waited to +receive his death-blow, which was dealt by one of +Greger's relatives, between whom and Saleh a blood +feud existed; the latter having killed both Greger's +father and uncle.</p> + +<p>Another account relates, that Greger had severely +wounded Saleh in the head with his axe, but Saleh<a name="Page_234" id="Page_234"></a> +plunging his sword through Greger's body, they both +fell from their horses, and died together. This fight +took place on the 17th of May, 1887, and by Saleh's +death Abdullah succeeded in ridding himself of the +enemy he most feared. Wad Adam was despatched +with Saleh's head to Omdurman, where it hung on the +gallows for a month, and where I myself saw it.</p> + +<p>After Saleh's death the Kababish were dealt with in +the most cruel manner; several of them were brought to +El Obeid as prisoners, where they were executed. On +one occasion Wad Adam had one hundred of them +hanged together, and then threw their bodies into a +well. The same evening groans were heard from the +well, and it was found that one of the victims was still +alive; he was taken out and allowed to live. The camels +and sheep of this wealthy tribe were all brought to the +beit el mal at Omdurman. Most of the she-camels were +killed and sold for about two dollars apiece. In this +way the Dervishes ruined the possibility of breeding, +and destroyed the prosperity and well-being of the +country.</p> + +<p>The once powerful Kababish tribe has now almost +disappeared, and is seldom even mentioned. Abdullah +having thus vanquished his last enemy, now seriously +set to work to mature his plans for the conquest of +Egypt.</p> + +<p>But before entering on this part of my story, it may +be as well to give a brief historical sketch of Darfur, +and the recent events which had occurred there.</p> + +<p>Darfur had, for the last four centuries, been governed +by its native sultans, who had gradually extended their +authority into Kordofan, and it was here that they +first came into contact with the Egyptian Government. +Mohammed Ali had sent his son Ismail Pasha to take +possession of the Sudan, and whilst he was engaged in +subduing the petty kings of Shendi and Halfaya, his +general, Ahmed Bey Defterdar, had advanced from Dongola +into Kordofan. This province was then administered +by a Magdum appointed by Sultan Musallem, of +Darfur, who, hearing of the advance of the "Turks,"<a name="Page_235" id="Page_235"></a> +collected a large force, and awaited the invaders at +Bara. Spies had told him that it would be impossible +to fight the Turks, as they used fire; but the Magdum +laughed at the idea, and said he had no fear of fire. +Moreover, to prove his word, he had an immense +quantity of thorns and brushwood collected, which he +set fire to, and then ordered his cavalry to dash through +it; these bold and fearless riders did so, and received +no great harm. Thus did he impress his followers that +they need have no fear of the Turks; but the good man +had no notion of firearms and what they were. He met +the attack of the Turks in the most heroic manner; but +he and most of his followers fell, and the province +became an Egyptian possession, though no steps were +taken to establish a government there.</p> + +<p>It was not until August 1874, that the bold slave-hunter +Zubeir Pasha attacked and took the ancient +kingdom of Shakka, and thus did Ismail Pasha extend +the Egyptian authority over Darfur.</p> + +<p>From that date the country knew no peace; there +was a constant series of little wars. Slatin had fought +no less than twenty-seven battles. Then after the +defeat of Hicks Pasha came the Dervishes, and Zogal +became Emir of Darfur, residing at El Fasher; but +his rule was not peaceful. The Sultan Dudbenga +was fought, overcome, and sent to Omdurman a prisoner +in 1884; thence he was sent to Galabat, where he died. +After this, Zogal was left undisturbed, and succeeded +in accumulating a considerable amount of riches; but +when the Mahdi died, Zogal, as we have seen, was summoned +to Omdurman, and left Darfur in the hands of +Sultan Yusef, Dudbenga's son; this sultan was entirely +submissive to the Khalifa; and when Sheikh Madibbo, +of the Rizighat tribe, revolted against Karamallah, the +Dervish Emir of Bahr el Ghazal, and fled to Jebel Marra, +Sultan Yusef took him prisoner, and sent him back to +Karamallah, who passed him on to Abu Anga, by whom +he was decapitated in El Obeid.</p> + +<p>But Abdullah did not wish Darfur to continue in this +semi-independent state; he therefore instructed Kara<a name="Page_236" id="Page_236"></a>mallah +to raid the country from Dara. Yusef sent word, +begging that their respective boundaries might be +adhered to, but Karamallah only raided the more. In +self-defence Yusef sent out his army, and thus a war +broke out, which was just what Abdullah wanted. +Yusef allied himself with Sultan Said, of Jebel Marra, +and their combined forces defeated Ketenbur, who had +been sent by Karamallah in command of a force.</p> + +<p>In consequence of this disaster, Abdullah despatched +his uncle, Osman Wad Adam (nick-named "Ganu"), +with a strong force to Shakka, where he joined Karamallah. +Yusef, fearing that he had been betrayed, sent +a very strong force, and in the month of December a +great battle took place, in which the Furs were almost +annihilated, and it is said that Karamallah's brother, +Kerkesawi, killed so many men with his sword that his +right arm became bent.</p> + +<p>Darfur once a prey to the bloodthirsty Dervishes, +Osman Wad Adam continued his victorious march to +El Fasher. Sultans Yusef and Zayid then fled to Jebel +Marra, and sought the assistance of Sultan Jabrallah. +Osman sent troops in pursuit. Yusef detached himself +from Jabrallah and fled again, while Jabrallah betrayed +and murdered the brave Zayid and sent his head to Osman. +Shortly afterwards Yusef was captured, brought to El +Fasher, and there decapitated. The heads of both these +sultans eventually reached Omdurman, and were hung +up beside the Abyssinian heads, where I saw them in +January 1888.</p> + +<p>After this the captor of Zayid returned to El Fasher, +whilst Jabrallah, anticipating a great reward for his +treacherous conduct, was sent with his five sons to see +the Khalifa in Omdurman. He was allowed his liberty +for a time, but having once attempted to escape, he and +his sons were thrown into chains; four of the latter +died in prison, and just before I escaped I saw the +unfortunate Jabrallah and his surviving son in a pitiable +state in the streets of Omdurman.</p> + +<p>For the second time Darfur had now become a Dervish +province, under the direction of Osman Wad Adam.<a name="Page_237" id="Page_237"></a> +The Khalifa believed that all opposition was over, and +that he had nothing to fear from that direction. Indeed, +the majority of the inhabitants had been killed, and the +few surviving sheikhs had taken refuge in the Dar Tama +and Masalit districts; but they did not remain inactive; +there were constant meetings, in which they discussed +how they should rid themselves of these "enemies of +Islam," as they called the Dervishes.</p> + +<p>The Masalit people are savage and cruel to a degree; +they are in the habit of making waterskins out of the +skins of their slain enemies. Slatin Bey told me that +when in Darfur he had two of these skins—of a male +and a female—which he had kept as curios. Some of +the Darfur sheikhs had gone as far as to apply to the +Sultan of Borgo for help, but he had refused to interfere +in any way with Mahdieh. Then a man suddenly appeared +amongst the Masalit about whose origin little +was known; he represented himself as the arch-enemy +of the hated Dervishes, who, under the guise of Mohammedanism, +robbed, plundered, ravished, and murdered +all they could lay their hands on.</p> + +<p>Such influence did this fiki, or religious teacher, gain +over the superstitious masses of the west that some said +he must be the true Mahdi; others said he was the +fourth Khalifa (Osman); then again many said he was +the celebrated Sheikh es Senussi, the great religious +head of all the North African tribes, and whose influence +has extended far into Central Africa. Several asserted +that he was merely a delegate from the great Senussi.</p> + +<p>This religious reformer and adventurer styled himself +"Abu Gemaizeh" (Gemaizeh is the Arabic name for the +sycamore fig-tree), because it was said that the shade of +this tree always accompanied him. At Omdurman all +sorts of extraordinary stories were current about his +supernatural gifts. Some said that he had the power of +miraculously increasing food; an ordinary plate-full he +would make sufficient for hundreds of people; others +said that they had seen him produce milk from his +finger-tips, and it was said that he could produce, in a +moment, all sorts of things pleasant to the palate. He<a name="Page_238" id="Page_238"></a> +could raise a palm-tree out of barren ground, which, in +the space of an hour, would become covered with fruit. +In his sermons and letters he reproached the Khalifa for +having oppressed and slaughtered Moslems, and having +taken their wives for himself—a crime only committed +by the "unbelievers"—and with God's help, he declared +his intention of coming to Omdurman to annihilate +"God's enemies," as he called the Dervishes.</p> + +<p>The sayings and doings of this extraordinary being +attracted great attention throughout the entire Sudan. +The Mahdi had first appeared in the west, and now an +anti-Mahdi had sprung up from the west. Immense +numbers of adherents flocked to his standard. Not only +did the Furs, thirsting for vengeance, join him, but +people from Bornu, Borgo, and Wadai collected around +him.</p> + +<p>Osman Wad Adam despatched a force against him, +which was annihilated, and he now begged the Khalifa +to send him reinforcements. In answer to this appeal a +number of Beni Jerrar Arabs were sent to him, but these +also were destroyed almost to a man. These two important +victories increased Abu Gemaizeh's prestige +enormously, and when Abdullah saw that the oppressed +Sudanese were secretly rejoicing at his discomfiture, he +himself began to tremble for his authority.</p> + +<p>A third expedition, despatched by Osman, met with a +similar fate to the other two, and now the Khalifa vented +his wrath on his unsuccessful lieutenant. In October +1888, he wrote to him to retire at once to El Fasher, +to confine himself entirely to defensive operations, +and on no account to attack the enemy. There was +great excitement in Omdurman, where the importance +of Abu Gemaizeh's victories had been enormously exaggerated. +It was even said that Osman had been +killed, El Fasher captured, and Kordofan on the point +of being invaded. Then came the news that El Obeid +had been captured, and now the rejoicings at the Khalifa's +defeat were an open secret. But these highly-coloured +rumours were merely the outcome of an intense desire +and longing on the part of the wretched inhabitants of<a name="Page_239" id="Page_239"></a> +the Sudan, groaning under the Dervish yoke, to see +themselves once more free from the tyrannical oppression +which their own short-sighted conduct had brought +upon themselves.</p> + +<p>Abu Gemaizeh had, it is true, been very successful. +He had three times defeated Osman, who was now +besieged in El Fasher, and in great want of food. All +Darfur had sided with Abu Gemaizeh, and the Dervishes +were almost powerless; but in the zenith of his success +the great religious sheikh was suddenly struck down by +small-pox, and died at Kebkebieh in February 1889. +His death caused many of his adherents to quit the +cause, and his successor—who, had he not attacked El +Fasher, might have succeeded in compassing the downfall +of Osman, who was then entirely cut off and in great +straits—felt that he must do something to keep his +army together. But his force was hampered by a large +number of women, children, and camp followers. He +was deficient in firearms, whilst Osman was well supplied +with rifles and ammunition, and his Shaggieh +troops fought magnificently.</p> + +<p>The final action took place under the walls of El +Fasher, on the 22nd of February, 1889, and resulted in +the death of the leader and the massacre of thousands of +his followers. This was the death-blow to the movement, +and is an example of how easily Moslems are +imposed upon by religious adventurers. Numbers of +those who had joined and left Mahdiism, thoroughly convinced +of its fraud and deception, had unhesitatingly +allied themselves to this new religious movement, which +they inspired with almost greater enthusiasm than that +they had just quitted. The collapse of this new delusion +was therefore comparatively greater. The heads of Abu +Gemaizeh and a number of his important leaders were +sent to Omdurman, where they found a place on the +gallows, and were subsequently relegated to the pit in +which lay the whitening skulls of Merhdi, the Abyssinians, +and the mutinous blacks.</p> + +<p>Osman's victory delighted the Khalifa even more +than Abu Anga's success in Abyssinia, because he had<a name="Page_240" id="Page_240"></a> +always considered Darfur a place of refuge, to which he +had a secure line of retreat in case of attack from the +north.</p> + +<p>The victorious Osman now vented his wrath on the +tribes who had supported Abu Gemaizeh's movement. +The Beni Helba tribe especially fell under his merciless +hand, and was almost exterminated; but the country +took some time to recover its normal state, and, in consequence, +the Khalifa had to forego the pleasure of +summoning Osman to Omdurman, and loading him with +benefits as he had done to Abu Anga. However, he had +a special house built for him near the mosque, and +prepared to do him all honour when his presence could +be spared from Darfur.</p> + +<p>But this was not to be. The successful Osman fell +ill, and died shortly afterwards at El Fasher. He was +succeeded by the Khalifa's brother Mahmud Wad Ahmed, +who was also accompanied by the kadi Suleiman el +Hejazi. This latter individual was deported to Darfur +because he had had a disagreement with the Khalifa's +principal spy, Hajji Zubeir.</p> + +<p>Mahmud was ordered, on his arrival at El Fasher, to +send to Omdurman all the money found in the late +Osman's safe, and to take over all his horses, wives, &c., +and keep them for himself. He left Omdurman with a +large number of followers, and travelling <i>viâ</i> El Obeid +at length reached his province. Here he found the +country desolate; during the recent wars all cultivation +had lapsed, a terrible famine had set in, and he was +unable to find food for his troops. On reporting this to +the Khalifa, he received orders to retire to Nahut in +Kordofan, which he did, but his black soldiers disliked +the change, and conspired together to kill Mahmud and +desert back to Darfur. They attempted to carry out +this project one night, but failing to secure the ammunition, +which was essential to the success of their undertaking, +they deserted from the camp, about 1,000 strong, +and set off to join Rabeh Zubeir.</p> + +<p>This Rabeh had been originally brought up in Zubeir +Pasha's family, had shown military ability, and at the<a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"></a> +time of the suppression of the revolt in Bahr el Ghazal +by Gessi Pasha commanded with Suleiman (Zubeir's son) +the supposed rebel army. On Suleiman's capture and +death, Rabeh fled with the remnants of the force towards +Bornu, and after a host of strange adventures and +constant fights with the kingdoms of Borgo, Wadai, &c., +he succeeded in establishing himself in an independent +position on the banks of the Sharé river which empties +into Lake Chad. Here he has collected a considerable +force, and appears to have at last established friendly +relations with his neighbours. The Khalifa has frequently +sent messages to him to return to Omdurman, +where he would be most honourably received, but Rabeh +has persistently refused.</p> + +<p>Osman, when at El Fasher, also communicated with +him in the same sense; but Rabeh, who had a shrewd +idea of the Khalifa's intentions, summoned to his aid +a Fiki who had been in Omdurman, and who quite understood +Abdullah's character. On Rabeh telling the Fiki +of his message from Osman, the Fiki asked that a cock +should be given him, and he proceeded deliberately to +pull out the feathers of its wings. He then bound its +legs together, and plucked it completely; and last of all +cut its head <a name="tn_png_257"></a><!--TN: Period added after "off"-->off. The Fiki said not a word, but Rabeh +thoroughly understood the moral of the proceeding, and +came to the wise conclusion to stay where he was. The +last news is that a portion of his force has re-entered +Dar Fertit, the country to the north-west of Bahr el +Ghazal.</p> + +<p>As for Mahmud, after the disturbance at Nahut, he +retired on El Obeid in 1890, and left Darfur to its fate. +All that portion of it bordering on Kordofan is entirely +depopulated. Herds of elephants roam the plains as +far as El Fasher. There is continual internecine warfare, +which is still further reducing the population, and +creating a wilderness of this once populous district.</p> + +<p>Let us now revert to the operations against Abyssinia. +In consequence of Abu Anga's victory over Ras Adal, +the tribes on the north-western borders of Abyssinia, +and who are known as Makada, embraced Mahdiism;<a name="Page_242" id="Page_242"></a> +and it was at this time that Todros Kasa, the son of the +Todros Kasa (King Theodore), who had been vanquished +by the British at Magdala, suddenly appeared at Galabat, +and offered his services to the Dervishes to fight against +his own countrymen. He was at once sent on to Omdurman, +where he was received with great pomp by Khalifa +Abdullah, who promised to place him on the throne of +Abyssinia, and in return for this promise Todros agreed +that all the Abyssinians should turn Moslems, and should +pay the Khalifa an annual tribute.</p> + +<p>Before going further, it may be as well to explain briefly +who this Todros was. He was the second son of the +King Theodore who had been subdued by the English +army. The eldest son had been taken to England, +where he died. At that time the Todros of whom I +speak was a mere child, and had been concealed by his +relatives from King John, who wanted to kill him. +When he grew up he wandered about Abyssinia, and +happened to be in the neighbourhood of Galabat when +Abu Anga made his successful descent on Abyssinia. It +at once occurred to Todros that an alliance with the +Dervishes might secure him his father's throne, and we +have seen how successfully he had deceived the Khalifa, +who implicitly believed in his good faith.</p> + +<p>Todros had two children of twelve and fourteen years +of age, who always accompanied him when he went +about in Omdurman, and he always carried a red +umbrella, which made him the laughing-stock of the +place. He did not speak Arabic, and all intercourse with +him had to be through an interpreter.</p> + +<p>Amongst the female slaves taken by Abu Anga were +two girls, who accidentally came into the possession of +one of my friends. These girls were related to Todros, +and when he heard of them, he at once bought their +release, and eventually took them with him to Galabat. +We used often to talk to him, as he was not in the least +afraid, and told us of his real projects and intentions. +Suddenly Abu Anga, without any previous warning, set +off for Galabat, no one knew why, and it was generally +supposed that some very important information had<a name="Page_243" id="Page_243"></a> +reached the Khalifa. Abu Anga took Todros Kasa +with him.</p> + +<p>Before leaving, Abu Anga asked the Khalifa to whom +he should refer in case of his (the Khalifa's) death. +Abdullah replied to his brother Yakub, and from this it +was generally understood that he intended to retain the +succession in his own family.</p> + +<a name="abyssinian"></a><div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p243.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="359" height="375"> +<p class="caption2">ABYSSINIAN DANCING GIRLS.</p></div> + +<p>Shortly after Abu Anga's departure, the Khalifa +received a small note in Amharic, written on parchment, +from King John. Two of the Abyssinians in Omdurman +interpreted it to the Khalifa, and it was to the effect that +he (John) was prepared to make a reasonable treaty of +peace with the Khalifa; basing his argument on the fact<a name="Page_244" id="Page_244"></a> +that they all—both Sudanese and Abyssinians—had a +common descent through their mutual forefather Ham, +and that, being neighbours, they should rather combine +to fight against their common enemies, who were the +Europeans, and whose power was always extending. +To this the Khalifa replied that if he would become a +Moslem, they would become good friends; but if he +refused to do this, he (the Khalifa) felt obliged to brand +him as the enemy of God and His Prophet, and that he +had no other course open but to exterminate him.</p> + +<p>On Abu Anga's arrival at Galabat, the most violent +jealousy sprang up between him and Yunis. The latter +separated his camp from Abu Anga's, and lost no +opportunity of showing his hatred and envy of the +"slave" (as he called him), who had so successfully +combated the Abyssinians. Even on the usual Friday +review, in spite of Abu Anga having been appointed to +the supreme command, Yunis always drilled his men +separately from the rest. This Abu Anga reported to +the Khalifa, who at once instructed Yunis to place +himself under him in every respect.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile a conspiracy was brewing amongst the +emirs in the camp of Yunis. One of the ugliest types +of Takruris that have ever been seen took to calling +himself "Sayidna Isa" ("Our Master Jesus"). Yunis +and his emirs believed in him, although he subsequently +betrayed him. It is impossible to understand how it +is that these fanatical people could believe in the +nonsense told them by Isa; yet, if he heard that any +one disbelieved in him, he would at once have him +summoned, and there, in the presence of four witnesses, +he would convert him. He asserted that he was the +Messiah foretold by the Mahdi who should wrest the +power from the Khalifa. Indeed the day was actually +fixed when it was decided to kill Abu Anga and +proclaim Isa publicly; but Yunis betrayed the conspiracy +to Abu Anga, and after afternoon prayers on +the following Friday he summoned the sixteen mutinous +emirs and threw them into chains; he then wrote to +the Khalifa asking his instructions. The latter des<a name="Page_245" id="Page_245"></a>patched +some judges to Galabat, who were told to +instruct these deluded people in the right way. They +were tried one after the other; but none of them would +deny their belief in Isa; then they threatened to kill +them; but Isa laughed, and said he was immortal. At +length the judges, seeing that further talking was +useless, condemned Isa to death, and in a few minutes +he was dangling on the gallows. Even this was not +proof enough for the sixteen deluded emirs, who still +believed he was not dead, and so one by one they +were hanged, and their heads sent to Omdurman, +where they also remained on the gallows for a month +and were then relegated to the pit. Yunis was +summoned to Omdurman, and for some time was quite +out of favour.</p> + +<p>Thus did Khalifa Abdullah score success after success +over his enemies, and there is little doubt that, had +Abu Anga failed to act as quickly and decidedly as he +did, Isa's rapidly-increasing power might have become +a serious menace to the Khalifa's authority. There is +no doubt that these sixteen emirs had been instigated +by Yunis to revolt against the Khalifa and put him at +the head of the movement; they knew perfectly well +that Isa was a mere fraud and deception; but I do +not think it is possible ever to start a movement on +a large scale in a Moslem country unless it is based +on some religious grounds. The Mahdi only succeeded +by working up the fanaticism of his own countrymen. +Such motives as liberty, freedom, and the love of the +fatherland are entirely unknown factors in the composition +of feelings which go towards creating a national +movement amongst Moslems.</p> + +<p>Abu Anga, who was now growing old and fat, did +not live long after the events just described. He was +attacked by typhus, which at that time was prevalent +at Galabat, and in a few days this great warrior, who +had shed such quantities of blood, was dead. His +soldiers mourned him bitterly, and his name is still +held amongst them in affectionate remembrance; they +loved him because he himself had been a slave, and<a name="Page_246" id="Page_246"></a> +knew how to discriminate between severity and kindness. +He was one of the best emirs of Mahdieh, and +of an infinitely more generous nature than Wad En +Nejumi or others. Once a poor woman came to him +and complained that a soldier had forcibly taken her +milk, which was all she had to live upon. Abu Anga +sent for the soldier and asked him if the woman's +complaint was true; the thief denied it most emphatically +and abused the woman unmercifully. Abu Anga +was almost convinced that he was speaking the +truth; but the woman still persisted in the most +violent manner that the man had drunk the milk. +After a moment's thought Abu Anga gave the following +judgment: "The man's stomach to be ripped open, +and if no milk is discovered, the woman will be executed." +The woman accepted this judgment with +delight, while the unfortunate man had to undergo +this terrible operation. The milk was found in his +stomach, and Abu Anga made good to the woman her +loss. Thus did he maintain discipline amongst his +men, and as long as he commanded in Galabat there +was no fear. In battle his cruelty knew no bounds, +and the most horrible atrocities were perpetrated by +his men, especially in Abyssinia. His death was deeply +felt by the Khalifa, and with reason, for he was not +only a brave and capable leader, but he was absolutely +honest; any other man in his place would have, long +before, abused his power. He was buried in Galabat +in 1888, and his men have canonized him as a saint.</p> + +<p>When dying, Abu Anga nominated Wad Ali as his +successor, until the Khalifa's orders should be received; +but very soon after his death there was discontent +amongst the men and want of harmony amongst the +emirs, with whom Wad Ali was by no means a +favourite. These dissensions reached the Khalifa's +ears, and he despatched the Kadi Ahmed, in whom he +placed great reliance, to Galabat, with instructions to +do all he could to put down discord, and to nominate +some one as leader who was popular with all ranks. +After several meetings, the Kadi at length succeeded<a name="Page_247" id="Page_247"></a> +in quieting the people, and it was agreed, by common +consent, to nominate Zeki Tummal as Abu Anga's successor. +This appointment was subsequently confirmed +by the Khalifa.</p> + +<p>The Galabat army was now made into four divisions—Zeki +Tummal commanded the first division, and was +also Commander-in-chief of the whole; Abdallah +Ibrahim, Nur Angara, and Mahmud Wad Ali commanded +the other divisions. In addition to these four +great emirs there were also other well-known men in +the Galabat force—such as Sheikh Abu Tagalla, +Faragallah (Gordon's old commandant of Omdurman +Fort), Omar Wad Elias Pasha, Sheikh Nuri, of the +Bederieh tribe, Ismail Wad el Andok, and others. +The immense zariba was now further fortified and +strengthened.</p> + +<p>There were already rumours that King John was +making preparations to take Galabat, after which it +was said he would advance on Omdurman and utterly +destroy Mahdiism. King John was accompanied by +all his most important chiefs—Ras Adal, Ras Aria +Salasseh, Ras Michael, Ras Mariam, Ras Alula, Saleh +Shanga, and several others. In all, the army numbered +some 150,000, of whom 20,000 were horsemen.</p> + +<p>This news caused the greatest alarm in Galabat and +Omdurman; but it also had the effect of making us +indulge in pleasant dreams of release. Zeki Tummal +took counsel with his emirs whether it would be better +to await the enemy's arrival in the zariba or whether it +would be advisable to advance and fight in the open. +Kadi Ahmed urged that it would be better to stay in the +zariba, and his advice was adopted; there is little doubt +this was the wisest course to take, as the Abyssinian +cavalry would undoubtedly have struck confusion into +their ranks. Zeki's force now numbered 85,000 men, +and was well disposed in the zariba to resist attack. +Criers went through the market-place summoning all +people to leave their business and take up arms +for the defence of the town; messengers were also +sent to the Khalifa to beg his blessing—in fact, great<a name="Page_248" id="Page_248"></a> +fear prevailed. Spies reported that the enemy were +as numerous as the sand, that their numbers stretched +beyond the horizon, and that when they moved such +clouds of dust arose that the sun was quite obscured.</p> + +<p>This news created almost a panic in Omdurman; +besides, there is an old prophecy that the Abyssinians +should come to Khartum; that their horses should +wade knee-deep in blood, and that the King should +tether his horse to the solitary tree on the White Nile +near Khartum.</p> + +<p>At the end of February the King quitted Gondar, +and marched out to make holy war against the most +bitter enemy to Christianity. When near Galabat he +sent word to Zeki to say he was coming, lest it should +be said that he had "come secretly as a thief." Numbers +of women had also joined the Abyssinian army; they +were, for the most part, the wives and concubines of +the soldiers, and many others had fled from their +parents to follow their lovers to battle.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, the 9th of March, 1889, the King +began his attack on Galabat. Such clouds of dust +were raised that it was almost impossible to see anything. +The zariba was stormed; some attempted to +drag away the thorn bushes, others tried to set fire to +it, whilst the Dervishes opened a terrific fire on the +masses. Some Takruris, who had deserted Zeki's camp, +reported that the part of the zariba held by Wad Ali +was the weakest, and, in consequence, the Abyssinians +made a supreme effort to break in at that point.</p> + +<p>The din and noise was beyond description. At +length, after a very hard fight, the Abyssinians +succeeded in forcing an entry, and then their masses +rolled in like a great storm stream, carrying everything +before them. The thousands of Dervish women within +now raised terrible cries as the enemy approached, killing +and destroying all in their path; they set fire to the +straw huts; the din of the firing, the shouts and +screams of the men and women, mingled with the +crackling and wild rush of the flames, were terrible +beyond description. Already the Abyssinians had<a name="Page_249" id="Page_249"></a> +taken possession of the beit el mal, and had occupied +the house in which Abu Anga's harem lived, and now +they were searching for his body, which they wanted to +pull out of the ground and throw into the flames, in +revenge for the burning of Gondar.</p> + +<p>The strength of the Mahdiists was now almost exhausted, +ammunition was running short, and it was +thought the fight was nearly over, when suddenly the +news spread amongst the Abyssinians that their King +had been struck by a bullet. This was the signal for a +general retreat: everyone seized all the booty he could +lay his hands upon, and soon the zariba was evacuated; +several of the women were carried off as captives, +including Abu Anga's harem, and the Abyssinians then +made for the river Atbara.</p> + +<p>Now was the time for the Dervishes to reverse their +defeat; they had suffered very heavily, Wad Ali's division +had been almost annihilated; but they lost no time in +cutting off some of the Abyssinians' heads and sending +them at once to Omdurman, with the information that +they had gained a great victory, for Kadi Ahmed well +knew how anxious was the Khalifa, and how fearful that +defeat should overtake his forces.</p> + +<p>The Dervishes thought the Abyssinians would renew +their attack the next day, but to their surprise no one +appeared; then spies were sent out to discover their +whereabouts, and they brought back information that +the Abyssinian force was now in full retreat towards +the Atbara. This information decided Zeki to pursue, +and on the 11th of March the Dervish force came up +with a large portion of the Abyssinian army encamped +on the river bank; a battle ensued, in which the +Abyssinians lost heavily and fled precipitately, leaving +the dead body of King John in the hands of the +Dervishes. It was discovered carefully packed in a +long box and sealed with wax; at first it was thought +to contain treasure, but on opening it the odour of +decay left little doubt that the body they had attempted +to embalm was none other than that of the unfortunate +John, and this was confirmed by the Abyssinian<a name="Page_250" id="Page_250"></a> +prisoners. The King's head was cut off and sent to +Omdurman.</p> + +<p>Here the wildest excitement prevailed, the Khalifa +Abdullah ordered the great war-drums to be beaten and +the onbeïa to be sounded. A large review took place. +The Abyssinian heads were paraded and said to be those +of Eas Alula, Eas Mariam, and Saleh Shanga; but this +was not true. However, the Khalifa's delight knew no +bounds, and our sorrow was proportionately great. +Once more our cherished hopes had been dashed to the +ground, and it seemed as if all chance of escape was now +quite at an end.</p> + +<p>The heads were put upon the gallows, and left no +doubt that a great victory had been won, then three +days afterwards came the news that the King had been +killed. Fixed high up on a camel's back, John's head +was paraded up and down through the market-place, +preceded by a herald shouting out that the mighty +Negûs had been slain, and that now was a time for +festivity and rejoicing. The Khalifa was quite intoxicated +by his success. He publicly exposed the +articles captured with the King's body, amongst which +was the throne from which the cross had been removed; +this was afterwards replaced in Omdurman and retained +in the beit el mal.</p> + +<p>A wonderful copy of the New Testament had also +been taken; it was written on parchment in Amharic +language, was profusely illustrated and illuminated, +and bound in a triple leather cover; then there was a +gold watch marked "Crosdi, Paris," which showed the +day of the week and the month of the year; a telescope, +and also an original letter from Her Majesty Queen +Victoria to King John, dated November 1887. I myself +read this letter, in which the Queen inquired after +King John's health, and asked him how he and his +family were; that England having occupied Egypt had +become a near neighbour to Abyssinia, and that it was +Her Majesty's earnest wish to continue to live on +terms of peace and friendship with the Negûs. The +letter concluded with good wishes for the King's health,<a name="Page_251" id="Page_251"></a> +happiness, and long life, and was signed by Lord +Salisbury. Amongst other things I also saw the King's +tent and a number of richly jewelled crosses.</p> + +<p>On the same day of its arrival, the Khalifa ordered +the King's head to be sewn in a piece of leather and +sent it on to Dongola, from whence it was to be sent on +to Wadi Halfa as a warning to the Khedive and the +English that a like fate would await them if they did +not at once submit.</p> + +<p>It now seemed that the Khalifa was at the very +zenith of his power. There in a dirty pit near the +market-place lay the decaying heads of all his principal +enemies, the Sultan Yusef, Abu Gemaizeh, the Abyssinians, +Sayidna Isa, all huddled up together in a heap, +and I could not help reflecting deeply on all these +strange events every time I passed that pit. Gradually +the skin and hair dropped off, leaving only the bare +white skulls, deep eye-holes, and grinning teeth, and +yet these were the skulls of crowned heads, prophets, +and patriarchs gathered together in a narrow pit from +far-distant countries—a solemn evidence indeed of the +far-reaching power of Mahdiism. Passers-by struck them +with their sticks, and yet for what thousands of lives +had these now empty brain-pans been responsible, which +lay rotting on far-distant battlefields—proof in truth of +God's judgment on the Sudan!</p> + +<p>Abdullah now thought himself master of the whole +world. In his moments of wildest enthusiasm he had +never dreamt of gaining such a tremendous victory over +the Abyssinians, and yet another such victory would +have almost destroyed his power; he had lost thousands +of his best warriors, and the women and cattle captured +could never compensate him for such a loss. Of course +Zeki and his emirs did not always adhere to the truth +in writing to the Khalifa, nor was the latter anxious +they should do so—indeed, it would have been tantamount +to a crime on Zeki's part to report that the +Galabat garrison was weak; had he done so, and even +if he had been the Khalifa's own relative, he would +probably have been relegated to prison. It would have<a name="Page_252" id="Page_252"></a> +been treason to have said anything which would detract +from the Khalifa's idea of his own power, and he was +surrounded by wretched flatterers and trimmers who +were the last to tell him the truth.</p> + +<p>But all these wars and disturbances had now almost +completely ruined the country, and then came the terrible +famine, which lasted almost a year and brought +untold sufferings on the people. The Khalifa, however, +was blind to all this misery and distress. His only +idea was self-aggrandisement, and he did not realize +that hunger was likely to prove by far the worst +and most dangerous enemy with which Mahdieh had +to cope; but this he eventually learnt by bitter +experience.</p> + +<p>After the death of King John there was a certain +amount of intercourse between the Dervishes and Abyssinians, +and not a few of the latter used to come to +Galabat and promise to lead Zeki to where the late +king's treasures had been hidden; but this they probably +did with the intention of trying to draw him into an +ambush. It was eventually hunger which compelled +Zeki to take some active measures. He despatched +Abdullah Ibrahim into Abyssinia with several thousand +men, and a few words respecting the career of this emir +may not be amiss.</p> + +<p>He was a nephew of Ahmed Bey Dafallah, of Kordofan, +and had come to notice during the siege of El +Obeid. Whenever he saw any cattle near the town he +was always on the watch with his slaves, and generally +succeeded in making a successful sortie, capturing them +and bringing them into the fort. It was said that on +one occasion, when the Mahdi was approaching El +Obeid, Ibrahim left the fort and made straight for him, +intending to kill him, but was twice wounded by his +revolver; he however succeeded in returning to the +fort, and after its fall the Mahdi, already greatly impressed +by his bravery, pardoned him, and placed him +in command of a division under Abu Anga. He accompanied +his chief in all his numerous fights, and displayed +even greater bravery in fighting for the Mahdieh than<a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"></a> +he did in fighting for the Government. Had he only +been a Baggara he would undoubtedly have succeeded +Abu Anga in command.</p> + +<p>This Abdullah now penetrated Abyssinia; for a +long time nothing was heard of him, and it was thought +he must have been annihilated; but at length he returned +to Galabat, having lost a large portion of his +force. The actual events which happened in this expedition +are wrapped in obscurity, and it is more than +probable that it fared badly.</p> + +<p>After the King's death Abyssinia became a prey to civil +and internecine war, which left the inhabitants no time to +revenge themselves for the death of their King. The +Dervishes, too, were quite exhausted, and had to combat +a terrible famine, which swept them off in thousands. +This famine induced the sensible emirs at Galabat, such +as Abderrahman Wad Abu Degel, to enter into commercial +relations with Abyssinia, which have continued +uninterrupted up to the present time.</p> + + +<a name="Page_254" id="Page_254"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">DEFEAT OF NEJUMI AT TOSKI, AND OF OSMAN DIGNA AT +TOKAR.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">The Khalifa's intentions regarding Egypt—Wad en Nejumi +despatched north—Various operations on the Egyptian frontier—Battle +of Toski—Defeat and death of Nejumi—Subsequent +events in Dongola—Osman Digna's operations against Sawakin—Is +defeated at Tokar—Emin Pasha and events in Equatoria—Recent +events in Uganda and Unyoro.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">Having</span> briefly considered the Khalifa's operations +within the Sudan, let us now turn and follow his movements +and intentions regarding Egypt. Ever since the +annihilation of Hicks Pasha's expedition the conquest +of Egypt had been the dream of the Mahdi's life. Those +of his followers who had seen Egypt described it in the +most glowing terms to the Sudanese, whose cupidity +was fully aroused. The immense wealth in Cairo, the +lovely women in the harems, had excited their most +ardent desires.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi himself had decided on the Khedive's +palace of Abdin as his place of residence, whence it was +his intention to proceed to Syria, and after conquering +it, to advance on Mecca. He had prophesied that the +conquest of Egypt should be carried out by Khalifa +Sherif's flag, and he himself had done all in his power to +incite the Egyptians to revolt. He wrote numbers of +letters to the leading sheikhs and principal people in +Cairo, and had he not died, there is no doubt his influence +would have permeated, in no small degree, into Egypt. +Several people in Egypt believed in him as the true +Mahdi, and besides, he was now the ruler of hundreds of +thousands of people. With his death belief in Mahdiism +began to decline. His successor, it is true, was a man<a name="Page_255" id="Page_255"></a> +of boundless energy, and had just as ambitious ideas as +his predecessor in regard to the conquest of Egypt, but +circumstances had entirely altered.</p> + +<a name="arab"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:300px;"><img src="images/p255.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="293" height="383"> +<p class="caption2">AN ARAB SHEIKH OF UPPER EGYPT.</p></div> + +<p>The Mahdi's death and the Khalifa's accession had +caused Mahdiism to break up into two distinct parties, +viz. the Baggara Arabs, who called themselves the +Arabs of the Sudan, and the "Aulad Belad," or country +people, such as the Danagla, Barabra, Jaalin, and other +tribes on the White Nile. This division in Mahdieh +considerably weakened it. Wad En Nejumi and his +emirs belonged to the section opposed to the Khalifa, +and who would like to have freed themselves from +his control; in consequence Abdullah always arranged<a name="Page_256" id="Page_256"></a> +that a Baggara emir should be attached to Nejumi, to +keep him informed of all the latter's doings.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi had laid down the plan for invading +Egypt, which should be by combined movements from +Dongola towards Halfa, and from Abu Hamed towards +Korosko; and accordingly, when the English evacuated +Dongola in June 1885, Mohammed el Kheir, the conqueror +of Berber, together with Abdel Majid, at once +took possession of the province, and the first action +which took place between these latter and the British +and Egyptian troops occurred in December the same +year at Giniss. El Kheir was defeated, and fixed his +advanced camp at Kerma.</p> + +<p>The fall of Sennar enabled the Khalifa to send forward +more troops for his operations against Egypt, and +the Mahdi's prophecy that the conquest of Egypt was to +be carried out by Sherif's flag, entirely fell in with his +own arrangements, for he entrusted the command of the +advanced force to Wad En Nejumi, who belonged to +Sherif's raya (flag), and thus succeeded in keeping this +powerful emir, whom he regarded with great fear and +jealousy, as far away from him as possible.<a name="FNanchor_K_11" id="FNanchor_K_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_K_11" class="fnanchor">[K]</a></p> + +<p>Nejumi set out from Omdurman in November 1885, +and marching along the river bank to Berber, robbed +and pillaged as if he were advancing through an enemy's +country. He seized the goods of merchants at Berber, +giving them receipts signed to the effect that they should +receive payment when he had taken Assuan. He captured +two Egyptian spies, one of whom he decapitated, +and the other had his hand and foot cut off. During +his stay at Berber he robbed and pillaged in all directions, +and used to boast of his approaching conquest of +Egypt. He stopped all trade with the north, and drove +on the entire population towards Dongola.</p> + +<p>It was not, however, until the end of November 1886,<a name="Page_257" id="Page_257"></a> +that he reached Dongola, and there he began to organize +his fighting force, which was continually increased +by reinforcements sent from Omdurman.</p> + +<p>Early in 1887 four messengers were despatched with +letters to Her Majesty the Queen of England, His +Majesty the Sultan of Turkey, and His Highness the +Khedive. These envoys were permitted to come to +Cairo, and to personally deliver their letters; but when +they were opened, perused, and found only to contain a +summons from the Khalifa to adopt Mahdiism, and +submit to him, or the recipients would suffer the same +fate as Gordon and Hicks, the messengers were at once +sent back without any reply being given to them, and +this was considered by Abdullah to be the greatest +insult that could have been offered to him.</p> + +<p>The Dervish advanced-guards continued to creep on +towards the Egyptian Frontier, whilst Hassan Khalifa, +the nephew of the former Mudir of Berber, occupied the +desert wells, and made several incursions on the river to +the north and south of Korosko. Mounted on dromedaries, +these bold raiders made sudden descents on +defenceless villages, carried off quantities of booty, and +then disappeared into the desert.</p> + +<p>At this time the Egyptians had retired to Wadi Halfa, +and the Dervishes had occupied Sarras, a little to the +south, from whence they constantly harassed the Egyptian +outposts. A variety of circumstances, however, +occurred to prevent Khalifa Abdullah from carrying out +his projects against Egypt. The revolt in Darfur, the +Abyssinian war, internal dissensions, all contributed to +impede the despatch of troops north. Besides, the +Dervish garrison in Dongola had already done much to +destroy the well-being and prosperity of the province; +they plundered the inhabitants, who, in their turn, became +averse to the Dervish occupation; continued warfare +had produced a famine; numbers died of small-pox.</p> + +<p>Bahr el Karrar in 1888 occupied the wells of Haimar +and Ongat, and from here was able to annoy the inhabitants +on the Nile between Assuan and Korosko. He +raided the village of Kalabsheh, some fifty miles south<a name="Page_258" id="Page_258"></a> +of Assuan, killed the Egyptian police guards, and carried +off their officer a captive to Omdurman. All this time +there was a great deal of talk in the capital about the +conquest of Egypt, but we never received any very +decisive news. The captured officer was paraded through +the streets in triumph, and was then brought before the +Khalifa, who received him kindly, and questioned him +very fully about Egypt; but he quite understood what +sort of replies to make to the Khalifa's questions, +and only told him what he knew would please; so +he was well treated, set at liberty, and now lives in +Omdurman.</p> + +<p>From time to time the Khalifa despatched reinforcements +to Dongola which never returned, and this was +the reason of the main road leading north out of +Omdurman being called "Darb Esh Shuhada" ("The +Martyrs' Road ").</p> + +<p>The Egyptian Government had now confined itself to +the defence of its own frontiers. In June 1888, Bishir +Bey, a subsidized Government sheikh, turned Bahr +Karrar out of Haimar; but on the other hand, the +Sarras Dervishes made a sudden descent on the Dabarosa +bazaar, killed a number of merchants, and escaped +before the troops from Haifa could intercept them. +Meanwhile, there was not much harmony between the +big emirs. Nejumi and his followers were jealous of +the masterful Baggaras, and it was only with the greatest +reluctance that they brought themselves to show any +respect to the Emir Mussaid of the Baggara Habbanieh, +who had been sent to Dongola by the Khalifa to watch +and report on Nejumi's doings.</p> + +<p>The Baggaras hated Nejumi to such an extent that +one of their number attempted to poison him; but he +recovered after a long illness, though he never entirely +got the poison out of his system. It is said that his +eyesight was always bad afterwards. This constant +bickering between the Baggara and Nejumi crippled his +energy. Formerly he had been greatly feared by them, +but now his own people were annoyed that he showed +so much deference to the Khalifa and his emirs. As<a name="Page_259" id="Page_259"></a> +for the Khalifa, he was thoroughly exasperated by +Nejumi's indolence, and summoned him to Omdurman.</p> + +<p>During his absence from the province, a deserter from +the Egyptian side led the Dervishes into the fort at +Khor Musa, within five miles of Halfa, where they +killed some of the garrison, but were unable to take the +whole fort. Colonel Wodehouse having been informed +of their attack, at once sent out help, and the Dervishes +were surprised and annihilated.</p> + +<a name="bishir"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:295px;"><img src="images/p259.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="281" height="403"> +<p class="caption2">BISHIR BEY, SHEIKH OF THE ABABDEH ARABS.</p></div> + +<p>Towards the end of 1888 Nejumi was in Dongola +again. The Khalifa had threatened to throw him into<a name="Page_260" id="Page_260"></a> +chains unless he showed more energy in his operations +against Egypt. He had already exhibited his displeasure +by imprisoning Sheikh Idris and Makin Wad en +Nur, who had shown a reluctance to go forward, for they +had made up their minds that a successful attack on +Egypt was an impossibility. They could not even +capture Wadi Halfa. The desert roads were next to +impassable owing to want of water, whilst the river +was in the hands of the enemy, who had numbers of +steamers, and could prevent any Dervish advance by +water. All these difficulties were quite apparent to +Nejumi and his emirs; but so self-confident was the +Khalifa, that he could not believe there was any great +difficulty in conquering Egypt; added to this, several +sheikhs of Upper Egypt had assured him that when the +Dervishes advanced they would be joined by the entire +population.</p> + +<p>Thus the Khalifa insisted, and Nejumi could not do +otherwise than obey. He had already transferred to +Dongola the entire Batahin tribe, which had showed a +mutinous spirit, and early in 1889 he sent a further +detachment, consisting of thirty flags, composed for the +most part of Gehena Arabs, who are not warlike, and +were most averse to fighting in the Dervish cause. Thus, +like lambs to the slaughter, were these unwilling tribes +driven forward to battle.</p> + +<p>When the revolt in Darfur had been suppressed, and +Abyssinia had been humbled, the Khalifa turned his +attention more earnestly than ever to the invasion of +Egypt. He despatched Yunis ed Dekeim to Dongola, +and on his arrival, Nejumi was to begin his advance +north.</p> + +<p>Nejumi was now nominated Commander-in-chief, and +being one of the Mahdi's most determined and fanatical +emirs, he had given him the title of "Emir el Umara" +("The Emir of emirs"). He had under his command +several brave emirs, such as Abdel Halim, Makin en Nur, +Wad Gubara, Sheikh Idris, Osman Azrak, and several +others. But the fighting conditions of these Dervishes +had considerably changed during the last few years.<a name="Page_261" id="Page_261"></a> +The Ansar no longer fought for Mahdieh. All those +promises of joys in paradise were no longer believed in, +for by dying the Mahdi had proved himself to be false, +and so were all his prophecies. They did not fight to +obtain booty, for long experience had shown them that +the booty was exclusively appropriated by the Khalifa +and his emirs. It was now fear of the Khalifa's anger +which drove them to fight, and numbers of them deserted +when a favourable opportunity occurred for them to do so.</p> + +<p>Not only were all these feelings at work in Nejumi's +force, but also the conditions of the country in which he +was operating were very different from those in which +he had won all his early victories. Then he knew every +path, almost every tree. It was his own country; the +inhabitants were of his own race; volunteers flocked +to his standards. He always largely exceeded his +enemies in point of numbers; but now it was all entirely +different. He knew nothing of the country through +which he had to march; enormous difficulties blocked +his every movement. Even had the population of +Upper Egypt been desirous of joining him, they were +much too carefully looked after by the troops and the +Government to be able to do so. An enormous desert +separated him from the position he desired to reach, +and the result was that his force—just as Hicks's force +had done—suffered greatly from want of water. As +usual he was accompanied by numbers of women and +children, and sometimes even five dollars would not +purchase a drink of water.</p> + +<p>Abdullah showed his mistrust of the men by permitting +their wives and families to accompany them, +for he thought that they could not well run away, +leaving their wives and children behind, and therefore +they would have to fight; but this great crowd of +women and children hampered Nejumi's movements +enormously, and still further increased the want which +already prevailed in the Dervish camp. When in +Dongola, the Gehenas were suffering so terribly from +famine that they stole the Dervishes' sheepskins, on +which they prayed, and ate them.<a name="Page_262" id="Page_262"></a></p> + +<p>It was madness to attempt to invade Egypt with such +a force as Nejumi then had, made up of almost every tribe +and nationality, all huddled together, and yet absolutely +wanting in cohesion. Then the enemy which they were +going to fight was of an entirely different stamp to +the one they had overcome in the Sudan. The Egyptian +was not the same as in the old days. The army +was now composed of well-trained battalions under +English officers; and it is not out of place here to +remark that the occupation of Egypt by England was +a heavy blow to the Khalifa and his followers. Often +have I heard him say, "If the English would only +evacuate Egypt, I should very soon take possession +of it."</p> + +<p>Thus did Nejumi set out from Dongola with his force. +At Sarras a parade was held, and some 14,000 souls +counted; but of these nearly half were women and +children. His intention was to avoid Halfa, and march +direct on Bimban, as the inhabitants of that place had +promised to join him; but in the village of Argin, he +was attacked and defeated by Colonel Wodehouse. Here +Nejumi lost about 1,000 men, amongst whom were +several emirs, including Sheikh Idris and Abdel Kader +Guru, besides many more wounded. On account of this +victory, Wodehouse Pasha was known in the Sudan as +"the vanquisher of Wad Nejumi."</p> + +<p>But, in spite of his defeat, Nejumi still continued his +advance, although the only food he had for his force +was camels' and donkeys' meat, and his troops were +more dead than alive. He was obliged to make his +cavalry into a rear-guard to prevent desertion, but +still large numbers succeeded in joining the Egyptian +troops.</p> + +<p>The Sirdar, General Grenfell Pasha, wrote a letter to +Nejumi, in which he showed him that he understood the +wretched state his troops had come to, and urging him +not to expose uselessly the lives of so many of his people; +but take the wise course and surrender. Nejumi, however, +boldly replied that if Grenfell Pasha would adopt +Mahdiism he would guarantee him happiness and con<a name="Page_263" id="Page_263"></a>tentment, +otherwise he would sweep him and his troops +off the face of the earth.</p> + +<p>Only one of the two messengers who had been sent +with General Grenfell's letter returned with this reply; +the other—an Arab named Abdel Hadi—was sent on +to Omdurman bearing the General's letter to the Khalifa, +who was also informed by Nejumi, that Abdel Hadi had +originally been on the Dervish side at Abu Hamed, but +had deserted over to the "Turks."<a name="FNanchor_L_12" id="FNanchor_L_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_L_12" class="fnanchor">[L]</a> On his arrival, Abdullah +questioned him closely regarding the latest news +of Nejumi and the condition of the opposing armies. +Abdel Hadi replied that the "Turks" were very strong, +and that it was probable that Nejumi would be <a name="tn_png_279"></a><!--TN: Period added after "defeated"-->defeated. +For this saying, he was thrown into prison for months, +and would have starved to death had not Neufeld, who +was with him in prison, given him some help; he was +eventually released through the intermediary of Hajji +Saad, and permitted to return to Abu Hamed, whence +he escaped back to Egypt.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Nejumi still continued his advance; he +could not and would not submit. On the one hand he +was of far too proud a nature to submit to the hated +Egyptian troops; and on the other, his fear of the +Khalifa added to his natural obstinacy. At Toski his +advance was arrested by General Grenfell at the head +of the Egyptian troops, and he had no other course open +but to fight. He was utterly defeated, himself and +most of his emirs killed, whilst a mass of men, women +and children fell into the hands of the Egyptian force.</p> + +<p>This battle took place on the 3rd of August, 1889; +by it the annihilation of Hicks Pasha's expedition was +avenged, and the project of invading Egypt, which had +been maturing for the last three years, entirely collapsed. +The news of this defeat caused great commotion +in Omdurman; it was at first rumoured that every +one had been killed; and the Khalifa was in despair.<a name="Page_264" id="Page_264"></a> +He hated the Europeans and Egyptians, and though we, +in our hearts, were rejoiced at the news, we suffered no +small anxiety as well, for we thought it quite possible +that the Khalifa would appease his wrath to some +extent by venting his annoyance on us. It was, indeed, +a most crushing blow for him and his followers.</p> + +<a name="wad"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:500px;"><img src="images/p264.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="213" height="339"> +<p class="caption2">WAD EN NEJUMI.</p> +<p class="caption2"><i>From a photograph of a drawing made by an Egyptian officer of the +great Emir, as he lay dead on the field of Toski.</i></p> +</div> + +<p>The Emirs Hassan en Nejumi—a relative of Wad +Nejumi—and Siwar ed Dahab, who had escaped from +the massacre, returned with all speed to Dongola, and +thence to Omdurman. They reported that it was madness +of Nejumi to have attempted what he did; that +all his emirs were opposed to it, and that they had +told Nejumi that they were sure, if the Khalifa were<a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"></a> +fully informed of all the circumstances, he would never +have permitted him to advance. As it was, famine, want of +water, and the unseasonable time of the year, ought to +have been sufficient reasons for postponing the expedition; +but Nejumi turned a deaf ear to all their protests, +he feared the Khalifa; his plundering and cruelties cried +to heaven for vengeance, and the instruments of that +vengeance appeared in the persons of General Grenfell +and Colonel Wodehouse.</p> + +<p>Saleh Bey, the son of Hussein Pasha Khalifa, and a +subsidized sheikh of the Egyptian Government, drove +his nephew out of Murat, advanced almost to Abu +Hamed, and we fondly hoped that the Government +would at least advance to Dongola, which is the key of +the Sudan; but we were again doomed to disappointment.</p> + +<p>And now Mahdiism was far too exhausted to make +any further attempts on Egypt. The province of Dongola +had been utterly ruined, and Yunis's ill-treatment +of the inhabitants was beyond description. Complaints +of his evil deeds eventually reached the Khalifa's ears, +and fearing that the inhabitants might be induced to +join the "Turks," he relieved Yunis of his appointment, +and replaced him by Zogal, who, in spite of his former +fall from power, was known to be a just man, and the +Khalifa trusted to him to restore the confidence of the +people. Yet the Khalifa did not entirely trust Zogal, +and still left Mussaid to watch him, he also sent +another Baggara called Arabi with three hundred troops +to observe his doings.</p> + +<p>Dongola now became a hotbed of spying and cross-spying. +Matters became so serious that it seemed a +fight between the rival parties was imminent, and every +post brought letters from either section, accusing the +other of malpractices. The Khalifa therefore summoned +these two emirs—Mussaid and Arabi—to Dongola, and +on their arrival they reported that it was Zogal's intention +to deliver up the province to the Egyptian +Government. Thereupon the Khalifa recalled Zogal, +and replaced him by Yunis.<a name="Page_266" id="Page_266"></a></p> + +<p>Zogal, on his arrival in Omdurman, was well received, +and did not hesitate to refute the misstatements of the +emirs; but he was not believed, and was thrown into +chains, where he remains to this day. Zogal's only +fault is, that he is a Dongolawi, and a relative of the +Mahdi, whilst his opponents are all Baggaras, who are +the governing party, and therefore he is not likely to +receive any pity from them.</p> + +<p>Besides Wad en Nejumi and Abu Anga, there yet remained +one of the greatest of the Mahdi's old emirs. I +mean Osman Digna, to whom I referred in the early +pages of this work. He had been sent to the Eastern +Sudan after the fall of El Obeid, and in July 1883, had +taken up a position near Sawakin. The Mahdi had given +him proclamations to distribute to all the tribes in the +neighbourhood of Kassala and Sawakin, ordering them to +rise against the Government. The summons was obeyed, +and by the end of 1883 Osman Digna was in possession +of all the principal posts in the vicinity. The most important +work which Osman Digna performed for the +Mahdi was cutting the communication between Sawakin +and Berber, and thus blocking the shortest and best +road into the Sudan. Fully alive to the importance of +this route, the Government made repeated attempts to +re-open it, but Osman, with his dauntless Hadendoas, +caused every effort to fail.</p> + +<p>On the 3rd of February, General Baker Pasha made +a vain attempt, but was cut to pieces at El Teb, losing +over two thousand men and all his arms and ammunition. +After Baker's defeat, the English made another +effort, and after General Graham had defeated Osman +Digna at both Teb and Tamai, the proposal was made +to open the road to Berber, and thus relieve Gordon, +then besieged in Khartum; but it was thought impossible +to fight Osman Digna's hordes, and to overcome +the difficulties of the desert, so the idea was abandoned.</p> + +<p>For seven long years Osman Digna continued alternately +to harass and besiege Sawakin; but gradually +numbers of the local Arabs—notably the Amarar—fell +away from his cause, and intertribal conflicts ensued.<a name="Page_267" id="Page_267"></a> +When almost quite deserted, Osman Digna came to +Omdurman. In January 1887, he returned <i>viâ</i> Gedaref +and Kassala, where he collected some four thousand +men, eventually occupied Handub, and again besieged +Sawakin. He also defeated the Amarar, and killed over +seven hundred of them.</p> + +<p>Kitchener Pasha, the Governor-General of the Red +Sea Littoral, was severely wounded during his attack +on Handub; in March of the same year Abu Girgeh +arrived with a force from Kassala, and thus Osman +became almost as powerful as ever. He continued to +harass Sawakin, and to devastate the neighbouring +country. It was useless for him to attempt to take +the town, he therefore received the Khalifa's orders to +establish himself at Tokar in January 1889, and at +the same time he was permitted to open commercial +relations with Sawakin. A small post was established at +Handub, and Dervish merchants were actually permitted +to enter the town and purchase goods.</p> + +<p>These commercial relations existed for about two +years between Sawakin and the Dervishes, and, as a +famine prevailed at Tokar, the enemy drew most of +their supplies through the port of Trinkitat. Suddenly +news reached Omdurman to the effect that the gates +of Sawakin had been closed, and all traffic stopped +between Tokar and Handub. In consequence the famine +increased, and merchants arriving in Omdurman said +that no doubt it was the intention of the Government +to attack Osman Digna very soon.</p> + +<p>The wealthiest of these merchants was a certain Omar +Kisha, who had smuggled quantities of lead and powder +through Sawakin. The news they brought was soon confirmed, +and in February 1891, Handub was occupied. +In March a message was received from Zogal, in +Dongola, to the effect that a salute had been fired at +Halfa to announce the occupation of Tokar by the +Government, and the complete defeat of Osman Digna. +This news created almost a panic in Omdurman, and +what made it worse was the uncertainty, for no news +had been received either through Berber or Kassala. It<a name="Page_268" id="Page_268"></a> +was not until eight days later that a Shukrieh Arab +arrived from Kassala, and said that he had heard much +talk about the defeat at Tokar, but the fate of Osman +Digna was uncertain, some said that he had been killed, +others, seriously wounded. A month afterwards letters +arrived from Osman himself confirming the news of the +defeat. This caused great consternation, and the Khalifa +at once assembled a council.</p> + +<p>It was said that an Egyptian expedition had already +reached Berber, and every day it was thought news +would arrive of the capture of Dongola. It was decided +to make a camp at Metemmeh. The whole of Omdurman +was secretly rejoicing at the approaching downfall +of the Khalifa, but again we were all doomed to the +most bitter disappointment. News came from Berber +that the "Turks" had no intention of advancing further, +and were content to have occupied Tokar, where they +had built a fort and securely established themselves. +But, though thus temporarily relieved, the loss of +Tokar was a very severe blow to the Khalifa, as the +Government was now in immediate contact with the +tribes on the Sawakin-Berber road, and the way was +clear.</p> + +<p>On the last Muled (the anniversary of the Prophet's +birth) Osman Digna arrived at Omdurman, accompanied +by a few followers. During his flight from Tokar +towards Kassala his followers had nothing to eat but +wild figs, and many had starved. The Khalifa received +Osman very coldly, and reproached him for his defeat; +he afterwards sent him to cultivate on the Atbara, where +he now lives at a place called Adaramab.</p> + +<p>Of all the opponents to Government, Osman Digna +was perhaps the most bitter; he had done great things +at Sawakin, Kassala, and on the Abyssinian frontier, but +by his ruthless cruelty he had alienated the Arabs from +his cause. In his present seclusion he has, probably, +occasion to think of all his evil and bloodthirsty deeds, +which have ended in the ruin of his country and the +death of his followers. Almost all the Arabs who +espoused his cause with so much zeal are now dead,<a name="Page_269" id="Page_269"></a> +and his present humiliation is a fitting reward for his +blind adherence to a false and ruthless tyrant.</p> + +<p>Scarcity of money in the beit et mal at Omdurman +was the main reason for the despatch of an expedition +up the White Nile. Since 1885 Emin had not been +disturbed by the Dervishes, and Karamallah had long +since retired to Bahr el Ghazal, from whence no news +had been received of him for years.</p> + +<p>There was no Dervish post south of Fashoda, which +was the market to which the blacks brought their +cattle for sale. The negro tribes all along the White +Nile had been left quite undisturbed by the Dervishes, +but now it occurred to the Khalifa to send an expedition +to collect ivory and slaves and to subdue Emin Pasha. +Omar Saleh was appointed to command, and was given +three steamers and a number of sailing vessels; he was +also the bearer of a letter to Emin informing him of +the various events which had occurred in the Sudan, +and calling on him to surrender to Omar. To add +weight to his letter, he also ordered the Syrian Stambuli +to write in a similar sense; also some of the Copts in +Omdurman were ordered to write to the Copts who were +known to be in Emin's service.</p> + +<p>Omar Saleh left Omdurman in July 1888, and a +whole year passed without any information of his movements +reaching Omdurman; it was thought that Emin +must have annihilated the expedition and captured the +steamers. The Khalifa became restless, but at length +one of the steamers returned, laden with ivory and +slaves.</p> + +<p>We were all naturally most anxious to hear about +Emin, and the men who brought the despatches informed +us that they had arrived at Regaf in October; +this place they took by storm, and had sent down to +Omdurman one of the clerks they had taken prisoner +there. As to Emin, they stated that he and an +Englishman (we thought this Englishman must be the +intrepid Stanley) had been put in chains by the mutinous +soldiers, because the Englishman wanted to bring +Emin to Egypt, as the Khedive had sent him there for<a name="Page_270" id="Page_270"></a> +that purpose. Omar Saleh had seized this opportunity +to take possession of the province, but he had been +driven back by the mutineers; this last news was not +told the Khalifa, but we heard it in confidence. Omar +had begged the Khalifa to send back the steamer without +delay, and in consequence it went south again a few +days afterwards.</p> + +<a name="woman"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:600px;"><img src="images/p270.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="343" height="413"> +<p class="captionserif">A NATIVE WOMAN OF MAKARAKA, THE WIFE OF ONE OF EMIN +PASHA'S OFFICERS, WHO REACHED EGYPT FROM UGANDA IN +JUNE 1892.</p></div> + +<p>A long time after this another steamer arrived from +Equatoria, but it brought no important information.<a name="Page_271" id="Page_271"></a> +It seemed that Emin had left the provinces, that on his +departure the country had fallen into a state of anarchy, +and that the blacks had massacred all the Arabs. The +Khalifa despatched two emirs, Hasib and Elias Wad +Kanuna, to Regaf in the steamer; and as it was reported +that the Dervishes there suffered a great deal from the +climate, he decided to make it a place of exile, and +afterwards sent only bad characters there.</p> + +<p>In 1891 the Emir Hasib arrived in Omdurman; he +came as a fugitive, and reported that he was with two +of the steamers which had been sent to a place two days' +journey from Regaf to collect ivory; they made a zariba, +and one steamer was already loaded up when they were +suddenly attacked by the blacks, who killed everyone in +the zariba, and he had retreated with the remaining +empty steamer, but the other had fallen into the enemy's +hands.</p> + +<p>Some of the blacks who came to Omdurman with +Hasib said that they had heard Emin had returned to +the province and had stirred up the blacks to revolt +against the Dervishes; but Hasib was of a different +opinion, and believed the attack to have been purely a +local affair.<a name="FNanchor_M_13" id="FNanchor_M_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_M_13" class="fnanchor">[M]</a></p> + +<p>Khalifa Abdullah now felt some alarm for the safety<a name="Page_272" id="Page_272"></a> +of his posts at Lado and Regaf, more particularly as he +was now at war with the Shilluks, and his post at +Fashoda was hemmed in by this warlike tribe; he +therefore despatched another steamer south to obtain +more information, but the Dervishes he wished to send +refused to go, and had to be dragged on board in +chains.</p> + +<p>In my opinion the Khalifa will have some difficulty +in retaining his posts on the White Nile. When I left +Omdurman, the head of the Shilluk King was hanging +on the gallows, and his brave people revolted against +this act of treachery which had deprived them of their +chief. The revolt had assumed large proportions, and +the Emir Zeki had been despatched to Fashoda from +Galabat, and had been heavily pressed by the infuriated +blacks.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_K_11" id="Footnote_K_11"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_K_11" class="fnlabel">[K]</a> It was the knowledge of this fact that caused General Sir F. +Grenfell, in his letter written to Nejumi, calling on him to surrender +just prior to the action of Toski, to say, "I know that you personally +have been the victim of a base jealousy imposed upon you by the +false Khalifa."—<i>Mahdiism and the Egyptian Sudan</i>, p. 418.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_L_12" id="Footnote_L_12"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_L_12" class="fnlabel">[L]</a> It must be remembered that with the Arabs of the Sudan the +term "Turk" is a synonym for the hated oppressor of whatever +nationality. The British troops, even, were confounded under the +same appellation.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_M_13" id="Footnote_M_13"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_M_13" class="fnlabel">[M]</a> The arrival of a portion of the old Equatoria garrison in Cairo +in June 1892, who had travelled under the ægis of the Imperial +British East Africa Company through Uganda to Mombasa, throws +further light on the present situation in Equatoria. They state +that after Stanley's departure from Kavalli's, Selim Bey (Emin's +old commandant), who had been despatched north to collect the +garrison, finding that Stanley had gone, settled down with a small +number of men in his old camp at Kavalli's, while the rebel officer, +Fadl Maula Bey, with the bulk of the garrison, remained in the +neighbourhood of Wadelai. This place was eventually attacked by +the Dervishes, who were driven off, but most of the garrison, feeling +that they could not trust Fadl Maula, who was known to have been +in communication with the Dervishes, deserted to Selim Bey. Emin +had come to Kavalli's in April 1891, but on stating that he was in +German employ had been joined by only a few of his old garrison, +and had not attempted to re-enter his old province. Shortly after +Emin's departure, Captain Lugard had arrived, and had taken the +entire force into Uganda and Unyoro, where he had established +some military posts.—F. R. W.</p></div> +</div> + +<a name="Page_273" id="Page_273"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE FAMINE AT OMDURMAN—1888-1889.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Ohrwalder describes Omdurman—The Mahdi's tomb, and how it +was built—Pilgrimage to Mecca forbidden—A description of +the great mosque—The Khalifa's palace—The markets—The +population—The Khalifa's tyrannical rule—The terrible famine +of 1888-1889—Awful scenes and sufferings—The plague of +locusts.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">In</span> this chapter I propose to give a description of the +great Mahdi capital of the Sudan. I have already given +a brief account of the place as I found it on my arrival +from Kordofan in 1886, but now the city is vastly +increased in size.</p> + +<p>When Khalifa Abdullah had quite consolidated his +authority within the Sudan, and was contemplating the +invasion of Egypt, it also occurred to him to define the +limits of his kingdom, and establish an hereditary +succession in his family. Indeed his only reason for +carrying on his rule under the guise of Mahdiism was +his fear that a change of name might involve him in +difficulties, but nevertheless he adhered strictly to his +intentions, with the result that now nothing of Mahdiism +remains but the name. He has adopted many of the +old Government systems of administration, and were it +not that he feared he might lose his new kingdom, I +believe that he would not be averse to substituting the +Sultan's for the Mahdi's name.</p> + +<p>It is now thoroughly understood that the Khalifa's +authority is no longer based entirely on religious +principles as in the case of the Mahdi: he has substituted +for it—if not in name, at any rate in fact—the +system of "molk," or temporary authority. He +has abolished almost all the Mahdi's decrees. His<a name="Page_274" id="Page_274"></a> +predecessor had substituted for the gallows the system +of decapitation for death-sentences, but the Khalifa has +reinstituted the gallows, his reason for doing this was +to make the mode of execution more alarming to the +Sudanese, for whom he considers decapitation a too +painless death.</p> + +<p>He has changed the name of his followers. The +Mahdi had decreed that the Foggara (or "poor" as the +Dervishes first called themselves) should take the name +of Asyad (<i>i.e.</i> masters), and this system of nomenclature +was partially adhered to up to the date of his death; +but the Khalifa thought the name Foggara very derogatory +to the spirit of his rule, and therefore ordered +that this name should be abolished and substituted by +"Ansar ed Din" (<i>i.e.</i> auxiliaries or helpers in the cause +of religion); it was also permitted to be called the Habib +or Sahib el Mahdi (<i>i.e.</i> the friend or disciple of the +Mahdi), consequently the women are known as Habiba—a +play on words which has given rise to much joking +on the part of the men. It took only a few days to +cause the name of Fakir to be completely forgotten, +and now Ansar for the men and Ansariat for the +women have been adopted throughout the Sudan.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa also abolished the name Fiki, which is +given to religious teachers. There is a Sudan proverb +which runs, "El Fiki yefik ed Din" (<i>i.e.</i> "The Fiki +analyses religion"), and the Khalifa knew well how +these fikis imposed on the minds of the people, how +they wrote amulets for preservation against the evil-eye, +witchcraft, diseases, and ill-luck; how they +pretended to be able to give women the means of +taking revenge on their husbands whose love had +grown cold, and help those who desired to secure +the sole affection of their husbands. Abdullah well +knew how credulous were the Sudanese in such matters; +already the Mahdi had given the strictest injunctions +that the practice of writing amulets was to be discontinued, +and now the Khalifa was even more severe; +he decreed that any fiki found writing an amulet should +lose his right hand, but in spite of these stringent<a name="Page_275" id="Page_275"></a> +measures it is almost impossible to eradicate the +people's belief in these superstitions; the Khalifa +himself has openly declared that he has not the +smallest belief in witchcraft, amulets, &c., and that +God, who is alone the Judge of right and wrong, has +alone the power to reward or punish. However, he is a +believer in the power of the evil-eye, and will never +permit a one-eyed man in his presence, as it is said +the one eye that is good can do great damage.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa, like the Mahdi, is bent on the destruction +of the old towns, so as to further wrap in oblivion +the former Government rule. Thus old Berber has +been long since deserted, and a new Berber has been +built just to the north of the old town. Of course +Omdurman—the Dervish Khartum—is by far the most +important of all the towns; and being the place of the +death and burial of the Mahdi, it is quite right that it +should be the capital of the kingdom which he founded. +Just as Medina is one of the most holy places of Islam, +so is it considered advisable to raise Omdurman to a +similar position.</p> + +<p>By far the most important and conspicuous structure +in Omdurman is the Mahdi's tomb; and in spite of the +Khalifa's divergence from his Master's views, still he +considers it politic to show that he is grateful to his +benefactor. His desire was to build a tomb which +should excel everything between Omdurman and Alexandria. +It is said that the dome can be seen three days' +journey from Omdurman, but on this point I am not +prepared to give an opinion, as I never went beyond +Khartum. From here, of course, the dome, rising high +above the miserable mud hovels and straw huts, is a +most conspicuous object, and it is certainly the tallest +of all the buildings in the Sudan.</p> + +<p>Abdullah spared no expense in erecting this structure. +He first ordered the plans to be drawn out, and selected +that of the engineer Ismail, who was the architect of +the Sidi Hassan dome at Kassala. Omar, the former +Government architect, was lent to Ismail to assist him. +Laying the foundation stone was a great spectacle, and<a name="Page_276" id="Page_276"></a> +was celebrated with general rejoicing and festivity. +Enormous crowds collected to witness the ceremony. +Several people were crushed to death, and were looked +upon as fortunate to have died on such a day.</p> + +<p>The work of construction was now vigorously taken +in hand. Khartum supplied the materials. Thousands +of people were sent there, and the work of destruction +went on apace. Walls were pulled down in order to +procure the burnt bricks, which were sent across to +Omdurman. The corner stones of Government house +were pulled out and used as the corner stones of the +dome. The woodwork was made by carpenter Mohammed +Bornawi. The masons were for the most part +Egyptians who had learnt their trade in the construction +of the Mission house and church in Khartum; and +by them the Dervish workmen were instructed how to +break down walls without destroying the bricks. The +foreman of works was in the habit of secretly chewing +tobacco, and one day he rather unguardedly put a piece +into his mouth; but he had been observed by some of +the Dervishes, who fell upon him, knocked him down, +and would have torn him to pieces had not Wad Adlan +interposed and taken him off to the steamer, where he +concealed him.</p> + +<p>In the eyes of the Dervishes it was an unpardonable +crime to chew the forbidden weed whilst working at the +dome of the Mahdi's tomb. Most of the Dervishes +worked without pay—"Fi shan Allah" ("For the sake +of God"), as they say. A small quantity of dhurra was +allowed them; but the masons received pay. Lime was +obtained from Omdurman itself.</p> + +<p>In order to push forward the work, Khalifa Abdullah, +accompanied by the two other Khalifas, and all the +emirs and judges, went to the river bank and assisted +to carry the stones to the dome. Of course the whole +town followed them. Abdullah put a great stone on +his shoulder and marched off with it. The others all +followed his example; and in this way it took no time +to bring up all the stones required. The Khalifa +promised the Mahdi's blessing to all who assisted in<a name="Page_277" id="Page_277"></a> +this work; and he solemnly assured the labourers that +they should be possessors of as many palaces in paradise +as stones which they carried to the dome. The women +carried the water required for the work. The tomb is +built much in the same style as all Mohammedan domes +erected to the memory of some holy sheikh.</p> + +<p>Several of the domes in the Sudan are made of clay; +but the Khalifa had determined that the Mahdi's dome +should be the grandest in the Sudan. The mud hut in +which the Mahdi had died was pulled down, and a +square structure about thirty feet high built round the +spot, with large windows. Above this superstructure +rose the dome some eighty feet above the ground. +The foundations were laid very deep, and the walls +were immensely thick. On the four corners of the +superstructure, and just where the dome begins, are +four round balls supported on four small pillars. On +the summit of the dome are three large balls, the centre +one being the largest; and above these again is a +gigantic gilt spear-head resting on the balls.</p> + +<p>The doorway is really a work of art which does credit +to Sudanese labour. It is painted in bright colours, +and was made in the arsenal at Khartum; and when it +was finished, Yakub, the Khalifa's brother, himself went +to fetch it, and rewarded handsomely the men entrusted +with the work. The outside walls of the building are +white. At first they attempted to paint the tomb with +oil-colours; but as they were not properly prepared, +the paint soon peeled off when it was dry, and so they +had to be content with simple whitewash. The fanatics +said that there had been some evil Christian substance +mixed with the paint, which prevented it sticking; and +by its falling off, it proved that it was not acceptable to +the Mahdi.</p> + +<p>The large windows admit a quantity of light into the +tomb, which is decorated inside with the most glaring +colours. The actual grave is not situated quite in the +centre of the building, and is covered by a painted +wooden catafalque. To reduce the glare, the windows +are well curtained. Every night, and all through the<a name="Page_278" id="Page_278"></a> +night, quantities of candles are kept burning; and it is +impossible not to be impressed with the solemnity of +the tomb. The walls are so thick that the tropical sun +cannot penetrate, and there is always a cool refreshing +breeze inside. The rich perfumes with which the tomb +is being continually sprinkled fill the air with the most +agreeable odours. The surrounding wall, which marks +the limits of the Mahdi's original enclosure, is so high +as to conceal the superstructure on which the dome +rests.</p> + +<p>This tomb means to the Sudan Moslems what the +Kaba at Mecca means to the thousands of pilgrims +who visit it; but pilgrimage is not enjoined to the +Mahdi's tomb. To come to Omdurman is quite +sufficient without being obliged to go through various +ceremonies. Omdurman is detested in the Sudan; and +no one who is not obliged to live there would stay for a +day longer than he could help; and the farther people +can distance themselves from it, the better they like it.</p> + +<p>Since the Mahdi appeared, pilgrimage to Mecca +ceased, because, while he was alive, a visit to him was +supposed to supply all its advantages. And when he +died, a visit to his tomb was supposed to confer even +greater benefits than the pilgrimage to Mecca. Several +of the Fallata, who came from distant parts of Bornu, +Wadai, &c., were stopped at Omdurman when on their +way to Mecca.</p> + +<p>Thus have the Sudanese become schismatic to the +orthodox Moslem religion, asserting that those who do +not believe in the Mahdi, even though they be Moslems, +are unbelievers. Now, of course, all these ideas have +quite disappeared, and all true friends of Islam in the +Sudan bitterly deplore the present state of affairs. +Several people used to say to us, "Our position is a +most miserable one! You Christians have nothing to +reproach yourselves with on the score of religion, but +with us Moslems such a state of affairs as the present is +too dreadful to contemplate, and we know no rest." A +great number of people now repeat, in the privacy of +their own homes, the daily prayers, although they have<a name="Page_279" id="Page_279"></a> +gone all through them in the mosque; but as they do +not believe in the Mahdi, they consider the prayers said +in his mosque to be valueless.</p> + +<p>Quantities of women visit the Mahdi's tomb; for, +though most of them no longer believe in him as the +Mahdi, they still look upon him, on account of his great +victories, as a saint to whom God has given a great +position in the other world because of his holiness. +But, after all, these ideas are held for the most part by +his enormous circle of relations, whose motives are +always somewhat interested.</p> + +<p>Khalifa Abdullah did not, however, confine himself only +to beautifying the Mahdi's tomb. Being now the sole +monarch, he desired also to beautify his own residence. +It will be remembered how, with Wad Adlan's assistance, +he had organized the beit el mal. Now, close to the +Mahdi's tomb, was the great mosque—not a mosque in +its usual sense, but an immense yard, which would hold +upwards of 70,000 men extended in long rows of 1,000. +It was roofed in by enormous mats, held up on innumerable +forked sticks, which gave it the appearance +of a forest. This "rukuba," or kneeling-place, was +capable of holding 30,000 men, whose murmuring +sounded like distant thunder. At first the great enclosing +wall was made of mud; but afterwards Khalifa +Abdullah had it pulled down, and a good wall made of +burnt bricks and lime.</p> + +<p>The mihrab, or niche, marking the direction of Mecca, +in which the Mahdi repeated prayers, is situated a little +to the east of the centre, and is square in shape with +mud walls, and a gable roof, made of iron plates from +the Khartum arsenal; gates open in the walls on the +north, south, east, and west. The mihrab is entered +from the west, but is well protected by branches of trees, +so as to prevent the Ansar from crowding up too close. +The floor is sprinkled with fine sand; the Khalifa repeats +prayers in the big mosque on Friday at noon; but he +says daily prayers in the rukuba, in which there is a +whitewashed platform about six feet high, on which he +stands.<a name="Page_280" id="Page_280"></a></p> + +<p>Close to the rukuba is a square building with thatched +gable roof supported by two pillars. This is open on +three sides, but surrounded by well-carved and painted +wooden railings: in this there is a seat about three feet +high, in which the Khalifa sits when he addresses the +Ansar. As one leaves the east gate of the rukuba, the +Khalifa's palace gate is visible, being built quite close +to the mosque.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa's palace is known as the "Bab," just as +the Sultan's palace is known as the Bab Ali, or Porte. +This palace contains a number of different divisions, all +built of mud besmeared with red sand. Just within +the great gate is the only two-storied house in Omdurman, +which the Khalifa has purposely built in order to +overlook the whole town, and from here he can see as +far as Kererri to the north, and as far as Omdurman fort +to the south. Gordon's ruined palace in Khartum is +also visible. Near the great gate, and close to the +outside wall of the mosque, is a building surrounded by +wooden railings, in which the judge sits and carries on +his court.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa is very fond of going about to different +parts of the town, accompanied by crowds of people, +and as he found the narrow streets impeded his progress, +and detracted from his splendour, he ordered his engineer +Omar to construct broad straight roads to all the +principal places. This necessitated the removal of +thousands of mud huts, which were immediately demolished; +but I never heard that the proprietors +received any indemnity for the losses they sustained. +A broad road now leads from the north gate of the +mosque to the Hejira (or place from which expeditions +start) near the Khor Shambat. This road, as I previously +mentioned, is called "the Martyr's Road." The +second large road leads from the west gate of the +mosque to the Arda (or parade place), and is known as +the "Darb el Arda." A third main road leads to the +southern Hejira, whence expeditions leave for Kordofan, +Darfur, &c.</p> + +<p>In addition to these main roads are innumerable<a name="Page_281" id="Page_281"></a> +winding streets and lanes, to traverse which a guide is +absolutely necessary. The great Mahdi's dome forms +an excellent landmark.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa pays the most special attention to the +requisites necessary for war, and for this purpose he has +had a large building constructed a little to the south +of the mosque, consisting of a large hall supported +by pillars, and built of burnt bricks. This is known as +the "beit el amana," and it is subdivided into various +compartments, in which are stored powder, ammunition, +guns, rifles, and other implements of war. This building +is entered through a large vaulted gate, and no other +houses are allowed to be built near it. It is surrounded +by a high wall, and is carefully guarded night and day +by detachments of soldiers. Within the yard the flags +are all firmly planted in the ground, and present the +appearance of a small forest of staves. The great black +flag of the Khalifa Abdullah towers high above them +all. Near the flag yard is a small two-storied building, +in which the war-drums are stored, and they are purposely +put high up so that they may be heard from a +greater distance. In front of the beit el amana is a +large open square connected with the mosque by one of +the main roads.</p> + +<p>Besides his palace, Abdullah possesses a number of +other houses, which he visits from time to time. Of these +one is situated close to the bank of the White Nile, and +its roof is ornamented with two gigantic hippopotamus +heads. He has another house at the beit el mal, from +which he can easily reach the river, and embark on +one of his steamers to visit his Eastern Hejira, whence +expeditions start for the Gezireh, or for Abyssinia. +And, lastly, he possesses a large house on the Arda, or +parade ground, and at the northern Hejira. In all these +houses he keeps up a large establishment of women.</p> + +<p>Omdurman is built almost entirely of mud, the straw +huts or tokuls have disappeared. Every house-owner +surrounds his yard with a wall, in order to keep out +thieves and spies with which the city abounds. It is +not permitted to build good houses, as they might prove<a name="Page_282" id="Page_282"></a> +a temptation to their owners to hide money. Whenever +a man is known to be well off, or prosperous, he is +almost certain to have his wealth taken from him.</p> + +<p>One of the most important places in Omdurman is the +market, to which a broad road leads from the mosque. +It is a place full of life, abounding in buyers and sellers, +as well as idlers, who come to tattle and pick up any +news they can. The proof that Mahdieh is not considered +to be a durable régime is evident from the +feverish anxiety of everyone to hear the latest news, and +the market is the rendezvous for all news-seekers. Here +are collected merchants from Kordofan and the Gezireh, +from Berber, Dongola, and Sawakin, all earnestly +occupied in learning each other's news.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to give an idea of the wild rumours +which are continually flying hither and thither. It is +equally impossible to separate the false news from the +true. On this account the market is looked upon by +the Khalifa with the utmost distrust, and he would +readily abolish it if he thought it was possible to do so. +It consists of a strange medley of shops and stalls, +workshops and straw huts. Khalifa Ali Wad Helu has +been put in charge of the place, he has apportioned +special quarters for each variety of goods, and the +different marts are now separated off in lines.</p> + +<p>At night all goods, working tools, &c., are removed, +as it would never be safe to leave them there, so that in +the daytime the market is the very life of Omdurman, +while at night it is absolutely empty and deserted. +Since, however, Wad Helu has taken it in hand, small +brick huts have been run up in which some merchants +lock up their goods, and leave them in charge of caretakers. +Cloth dealers, druggists, greengrocers, salt and +meat vendors, all have their special quarters now, as +well as gold-and silversmiths, blacksmiths, carpenters, +tailors, and barbers. There are also special quarters for +public eating-houses, coffee-shops, firewood vendors, +builders, and shoemakers.</p> + +<p>The women have their own separate divisions, and +for the last few years men have been forbidden to have<a name="Page_283" id="Page_283"></a> +any dealings with them. For the settlement of quarrels +and disputes which frequently occur in the market, there +is a special market court, presided over by a judge, and +all delinquents are interned in a large zariba quite open +to the sun's burning rays. Close to the zariba are three +sets of gallows, besides two others in different parts of +the town. The gallows are erected close to the market, +in the hope that if the executions are seen by the masses, +it will have a deterrent effect on crime.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants of Omdurman are a conglomeration +of every race and nationality in the Sudan: Fellata, +Takruris, natives of Bornu, Wadai, Borgo, and Darfur; +Sudanese from the Sawakin districts, and from Massawah; +niggers as black as ebony, down to a light chocolate +colour, Niam Niam and Mombuttu cannibals, Bazeh, +Dinka, Shilluk, Kara, Janghé, Nuba, Berta, and Masalit; +Arabs of every tribe—Baggara, Rizeghat, Taisha, +Homr, Howazma, Miserieh, Kababish, Habbanieh, Degheim, +Kenana, Gowameh, Bederieh, Beni Jerrar, Gehena, +inhabitants of Beni Shangul, and of Gezireh, +Shukrieh, Batahin, Hadarba, Hadendoa, Barabra, Jaalin, +Danagla, Egyptians, Abyssinians, Turks, Mecca Arabs, +Syrians, Indians, Europeans, Jews; and all these +various nationalities have their own quarters, and marry +into their own tribes and sections. Arabic is the universal +language, and all free inhabitants of the Sudan +speak it or corrupt dialects of it.</p> + +<p>The Danagla, Barabra, and Hadendoa have their +own special languages; but being derived from Arabic, +they are called "rotan," as if Arabic were the only +original language in the world—the language of Adam +and Eve, and the language of paradise. Arabic is not +compulsory, so the blacks still talk in their local +dialects.</p> + +<p>The population of Omdurman amounts to about one +hundred and fifty thousand persons; but it is by no +means fixed, for during the winter numbers quit the +town and go off into the Kordofan or Gezireh districts +to cultivate. But when the Khalifa orders a general +assembly, the numbers of course increase considerably.<a name="Page_284" id="Page_284"></a> +In 1888 the city was perhaps larger than at any other +time, for in that year the Khalifa ordered all the inhabitants +of the Gezireh to come and live in Omdurman. +The reason for this was never exactly known, but it was +thought he feared a revolt on the part of the Ashraf.</p> + +<p>All the principal towns and villages on the Blue Nile +as far south as Karkoj have been destroyed, such as +Kemlin, Messalamieh, Wad Medina, Abu Haraz, Wad +el Abbas and Rufaa; the inhabitants of all these towns, +men, women, and children, under great fatigue, had to +come to Omdurman, where they settled in the north of +the town near Khor Shambat.</p> + +<p>All these severe measures quite alienated the people +from the Khalifa; wives were furious with their husbands +for having so abjectly submitted to his yoke, and +it was now quite plain that they feared him greatly. +One word from him was sufficient to make them pull +down their houses, pack up their goods, load them on +camels, donkeys, and mules, and transport them to hated +and dreaded Omdurman. How they longed for the +Government they had so bitterly abused. "Alf turba +wala rial tulba" ("Thousands of graves are better than +a dollar tax") had been their watchword in the beginning +of the revolt; it had proved true with a vengeance, and +how bitterly they repented of their folly when it was +too late! Khalifa Abdullah now gripped them in the +palm of his hand, and the utter disunion and discord +which he created between tribes and nationalities, made +all hope of future liberty and freedom quite out of the +question.</p> + +<p>Those who detested Mahdiism prior to 1888 had much +greater cause to do so in 1889 and 1890; the first of +these years brought a terrible famine on the land, and +in 1890, though the actual period of want had passed +away, everything was excessively dear.</p> + +<p>The 1888 harvest had turned out badly; during the +summer of that year the Khalifa had issued stringent +orders that no one should keep more than one ardeb of +dhurra in his own house, under penalty of severe punishment; +all over and above that amount was ordered to be<a name="Page_285" id="Page_285"></a> +brought to the landing-stage at Omdurman; and as +there were but few transport animals to carry the +dhurra into the town, their owners charged exorbitant +rates for its carriage, consequently large stores of it lay +on the bank, and quantities were stolen.</p> + +<p>Soon the price per ardeb rose from twelve to twenty +dollars, and latterly to sixty dollars. Even the most +aged people, in the whole course of their existence, had +never seen such a famine as now fell on the land. +Continual wars had prevented cultivation, and want of +rain into the bargain were the main causes of this +terrible calamity. In 1878, when there was a scarcity +of rain, the price of dhurra never exceeded sixteen +dollars the ardeb, now the price was almost four times +as great. The supplies of corn received from Fashoda +alone saved Omdurman from absolute starvation. The +supplies from the Blue Nile were quite exhausted. Up +to 1889, Fashoda continued the supply mart; the native +cultivators receiving in exchange glass beads, pieces of +copper, iron, cowries, and old Medjidie dollars; and in +return for all this, the Khalifa despatched Zeki Tummal +and an army from Galabat, who treacherously murdered +their king, and fought these people who had actually +saved him and his capital from the jaws of death!</p> + +<p>The dhurra thus imported to Omdurman by the merchants +was unloaded there under the strictest watch, +and was sold to the Baggaras only at six dollars the +ardeb, under absolute compulsion, whilst the other +tribes had to purchase it at ten times that amount. +This called forth the bitterest complaints against the +Khalifa's injustice.</p> + +<p>The awful scenes enacted by the starving inhabitants in +the market-place at Omdurman are beyond description. +People flocked from Berber, Kassala, Galabat, and +Karkoj, thinking that the distress would be less there +than it was in the provinces; but here they were quite +mistaken. As one walked along, one could count fifty +dead bodies lying in the streets, and this quite irrespective +of those who died in their own homes.</p> + +<p>In the provision market the sellers stood over their<a name="Page_286" id="Page_286"></a> +goods with big sticks in their hands, to turn away the +poor wretched skeletons who, with eyes deeply sunk in +the back of their heads, would cast wistful glances at +the food which was denied them. Sometimes twenty or +thirty of these miserable starving people would join +together, and, regardless of the blows showered upon +them, which covered their bodies with wounds and +bruises, they would wildly attack the sellers, madly +seize whatever they could lay their hands upon, and +swallow it on the spot, begrimed with dust, and probably +besmeared with their own blood.</p> + +<p>Others would sneak about like wild beasts, their +loins covered with the merest rag, and if they saw +anyone alone carrying eatables, they would pounce +down on him like tigers, content even to seize a +handful. These were called "Khatafin" (<i>i.e.</i> snatchers, +or birds of prey), and at first they were fairly successful +in their sudden attacks; but gradually people understood +what to be prepared for, and the wretched +creatures would be beaten off with sticks: hunger +seemed to make them insensible to pain.</p> + +<p>One could see hundreds of these starving people +wandering about, mere bags of skin and bone, and +almost shapeless; they would eat anything, no matter +how repulsive. The skins of the camels which had been +killed after the defeat of the Kababish and Gehena, and +which had been used as coverings for the roofs of the +houses, were now taken down, roasted, and eaten in +that condition.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the most horrible scenes occurred at the +places where animals were slaughtered. Hundreds of +starving men and women would be seen standing +around with cups or gourds in their hands, ready to +catch the blood before it fell, and then, as the animal +would be writhing on the ground in its death-agony, +they would fall upon it to catch the blood as it flowed +out of its wound, whilst a crowd would be seen +struggling on the ground for the few drops which had +escaped and become mixed up with the dust and sand; +these struggles generally ended in fights, in which the<a name="Page_287" id="Page_287"></a> +receptacles were broken, and the people besmeared with +their contents, which added to the grim ghastliness of +this dreadful sight. No power on earth could have +restrained these poor sufferers—the pangs of hunger +had driven them mad.</p> + +<p>Although famine swept off hundreds, still people +poured in from the provinces. Male camels and +bullocks had become scarce, and the females were now +slaughtered without mercy, even should they be with +young. Old bones of animals were ground to powder +and made into a sort of bread, which was eaten with +avidity; even the decaying carcases of donkeys were +consumed in this terrible struggle for food.</p> + +<p>But in all this wretched misery the Khalifa showed +no mercy, pity, or a desire to relieve these terrible +sufferings. He took good care that his Baggaras should +be fed, but for the others he cared not a jot. Hunger +certainly had the effect of bringing to the front all +manner of inventive genius; as it was now no longer +possible to rob and steal, the khatafin decided to let the +sellers alone, provided they would not hinder them in +their attempts to get what they could out of the +buyers.</p> + +<p>Omdurman was full of strangers who had no notion +of the existence of the "khatafin," and would carelessly +go to market to buy their food; but no sooner had they +placed their money in the shopman's hands than the +"khatafin," with wild yells, would seize the money in a +trice, and leave the purchaser standing with empty +hands. Naturally, the shopmen would not deliver to +them the goods, the price of which had been stolen by +the "khatafin."</p> + +<p>One could fill a book with the thousands of strange +episodes which occurred during this awful famine. +Children, deserted by their mothers—poor, wretched, +starving little things—would beg in the most pitiful, +heart-breaking way for alms. Beggars would follow +one about till late at night, and would stand about +one's house; they would beg for hours even for a grain +of food. A poor naked little boy one day broke into<a name="Page_288" id="Page_288"></a> +our house, crying, "Gian Gowi!" ("I'm very hungry!") +The tone in which it was said, the wistful, sunken eyes, +and the wretched condition of the boy, could not but +excite our pity, though hundreds of beggars had been +turned away before he came; we fed him, and he +survived the terrible year of famine, but he had forgotten +his name, so we always called him "Gian +Gowi." Often did I see poor little skeletons of infants +trying to get nourishment from their dead mother's +breasts.</p> + +<p>The following instance will give the reader some +insight into the horrors of this famine. One day a +poor woman came to me with three starving children; +she carried one in each arm, while the eldest clung +to her skirt, the whole four looked like wandering +skeletons. With a voice of agonised supplication, which +could come from a mother only, she earnestly begged +me to take the boy and feed him, and that if he +survived he could remain for ever my slave. Here was +a poor mother who preferred to see her child a slave +than to look on whilst he died of starvation before her +eyes. This touched me to the very heart, but I could +not accept the offer, for I had scarcely enough food for +myself, so I dismissed her with a handful of dhurra.</p> + +<p>The next day the mother came with one child less, +and the third day she came with one child only; and +at last she came alone, saying that she was now going +to follow her three loved children. After that I never +saw her again. If grief did not kill her, hunger must +certainly have claimed her as a victim.</p> + +<p>One day a girl presented herself before the judge of +the market court, and reported that her mother had +roasted her little brother and eaten him, and that now +she had run away, as she was afraid she might suffer +the same fate. The Kadi at once sent some soldiers +with the girl to seize the unnatural mother; they +found a poor half-starved woman with an ear and a +piece of a leg. She was taken before the Kadi, and +took a solemn oath that the only child she ever had +was the girl; she was immediately interned in the<a name="Page_289" id="Page_289"></a> +zariba, and the matter reported to the Grand Kadi, +who ordered the leg and ear to be exposed on the +gallows. Even the savage blacks, who were hardened +by constant warfare, were impressed with the +horror of the poor woman's action, and crowded +round the zariba to gaze at her; but it was soon discovered +that the wretched creature was raving mad, so +the Khalifa pardoned her, but she died a few days +afterwards.</p> + +<p>It was never safe for children to appear in the streets +at night, or they would certainly have been seized by +the starving people. One evening I heard a cry at my +door, and myself and several neighbours at once ran +out to see what was the matter. We saw a man +dragging a boy away: we at once gave chase, and the +man dropped the boy and fled; he intended to have +a good meal off the boy that night.</p> + +<p>During the famine several sold themselves or their +children into slavery; but when it was all over, the +Khalifa ordered all such to be set free without remuneration +to their masters.</p> + +<p>Dervishes, who had heaped insults on the Turks +during the siege of El Obeid for eating donkeys, and +other unclean animals, were now feeling Heaven's +vengeance, for not only did they eat unclean animals, +but their own children as well. There were so many +dead bodies about that it was not possible to bury +them all. At first they used to bury them within the +city, but the Khalifa put a stop to this, and they were +then taken out to the north-west side, and up to this +day, if anyone walks in that direction he will find the +plain scattered with innumerable skulls and human +bones, which lie there glistening in the sun, as white as +snow; the driving sand and burning sun have polished +them like glass.</p> + +<p>How many dead bodies were carried away by the +Nile, God only knows; if people thought of it I do not +think they would ever eat any more fish, for the fish +must have had a surfeit of human flesh. The scent of +the dead bodies brought hyenas everywhere, and they<a name="Page_290" id="Page_290"></a> +became so bold that they would come almost up to my +door. As for the vultures, their name was legion, but +even they with the help of the hyenas were unable to +consume all the bodies.</p> + +<p>Let us leave Omdurman for a moment and trace the +course of the famine in the provinces. In Dongola and +Berber the price of dhurra rose to one hundred dollars +an ardeb.</p> + +<p>The entire districts between Omdurman and Berber +had become depopulated. In a hut might be found a +man, his wife and children all lying dead on their +angaribs. Even in the salt districts near Shendi, almost +the entire population had died of hunger. In Kassala +and Galabat matters were even worse; here the price of +an ardeb had gone up to two hundred and fifty dollars, +and even for this enormous price it was almost impossible +to get it, for there was really none in the country. +The great Shukrieh tribe had eaten almost all their +camels, and its numbers had dwindled from forty +thousand to four thousand souls.</p> + +<p>The large tribe of Wad Zayid (the Debaineh) in the +neighbourhood of Gedaref, who for his opposition to +Mahdiism had been thrown into prison in Omdurman, +had become almost extinct. The population of Kassala, +Galabat, and Gedaref had dwindled almost to nothing. +Zeki Tummal, to obtain food for his troops, had mercilessly +robbed the corn merchants and compelled them +to give up their very last supplies; he left them without +even a handful.</p> + +<p>Around Galabat the hyenas became so bold that they +would sneak into the villages almost before the sun was +down and drag off the wretched half-dead people. Out +of Zeki's force of eighty-seven thousand souls before +the famine there remained, after it was over, only ten +thousand, including women and children. Karkoj and +Sennar, which were generally called the granaries of the +Sudan, were desolated by famine. It was, indeed, +Heaven's terrible retribution on a people who had +practised untold cruelties and shed rivers of innocent +blood.<a name="Page_291" id="Page_291"></a></p> + +<p>So great was the distress that it became a general +saying that any one who did not die in 1889 would +never die; and this year, corresponding to the year +1306 Moslem era, will remain engraven for ever on the +minds of those who went through the famine in the +Sudan and had the good fortune to survive it.</p> + +<p>When the first supplies of the new harvest reached the +market, there was the most heartfelt joy throughout the +country, and every one congratulated his neighbour on +the termination of their distress; but even the new +harvest was not good, and dhurra did not go below +twenty-four dollars the ardeb. The locusts did much +harm to the harvest, and this plague has devastated the +land now for nearly four years.</p> + +<p>There are two sorts of locusts, the yellow and the +bright red, and they have infested the whole country from +Kordofan to Dongola and to Tokar. They came in such +swarms that at times the sun was obscured; on one +occasion they passed through Omdurman, and took from +two to three hours to do so. The rushing sound they +made alarmed the people greatly, and wherever they established +themselves they left the place completely bare. +They demolished the hard palm leaves so completely that +it seemed as if they had been cut with a pair of scissors; +even the bark of the trees they did not spare. Where-ever +they settle they look like a big cloud, which completely +covers streets, roofs, and walls. Sudanese, as a +rule, sleep out of doors, so that their beds were covered +as well, and as soon as one swarm was driven off another +settled.</p> + +<p>Locusts are considered by the Sudanese as a great +delicacy, and when well roasted in butter they taste like +fried fish; the locusts generally came between June and +September, just when the harvest is ripening or the new +crops sprouting after the rains. There is no attempt +made to destroy their eggs. Another plague was mice: +these little animals, which are of a reddish colour, came +in such quantities as to drive the cultivators to despair. +No sooner was the seed in the ground than the mice +had rooted it up and eaten it. Often the fields had<a name="Page_292" id="Page_292"></a> +to be planted two and three times over; and then when +a heavy rain came the mice would all be drowned, and +as the water subsided the ground would be covered with +the dead bodies of these little animals.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if the entire Sudan lay under a curse. +The people knew it too, and looked upon it as God's +righteous judgment on them for the evil deeds they +had been prompted to do at the instigation of a wicked +and false Mahdi.</p> + +<a name="Page_293" id="Page_293"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE KHALIFA AND HIS GOVERNMENT.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">The Khalifa's system of government—His household—An outline of +his character—His system of prayers in the mosque—His visions +and dreams—His espionage system—His household troops—His +great activity and circumspection—The great Friday review +described—The emigration of the Baggara and western tribes to +Omdurman—The flight of Sheikh Ghazali—Management of +the beit el mal—System of taxation.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">This</span> chapter I propose to devote to a brief description +of Khalifa Abdullah and his system of government.</p> + +<p>Abdullah is a Baggara of dark chocolate-coloured +complexion, with a long and prominent nose; he wears +a short beard cut according to the Moslem custom. +When I first saw him at the siege of El Obeid he was +very thin, but now he is extremely stout, and his skin +hangs in great folds underneath his eyes; he has a +strong clear voice, and though well instructed in Arabic, +he cannot conceal his Baggara dialect and accent.</p> + +<p>His dress consists of the usual Dervish jibbeh and +drawers, he also wears sandals, and over his jibbeh, +which is generally reeking with grease and fat, he wears +a tob or light cotton cloth; on his head is the usual +Mecca takia, round which a turban is bound.</p> + +<p>As regards food, the Khalifa is more moderate and +simple than the Mahdi; he still adheres to his native +dishes—asida (a sort of polenta), eaten with milk or +meat, over which a strong sauce full of spices and +pepper is poured. Sometimes he eats roasted chicken +and drinks quantities of milk and sugar, especially +camels' milk, to which all Baggaras are devoted. He +has no fixed hours for food, but eats whenever he feels<a name="Page_294" id="Page_294"></a> +so inclined; and it is perfectly astonishing the amount +of food which a Sudanese can consume at a sitting.</p> + +<p>Like his master the Mahdi and all important persons +in the Sudan, the Khalifa is much addicted to harem +life. Shortly after he had established himself as +supreme ruler, he thought to surround himself with all +the pomp and splendour of a Sudanese Sultan, of which +the most important item is a very extensive harem. +As the Mahdi had done before, so did he take to himself +numbers of wives. Wherever a pretty woman is to +be found, he at once gets information about her from his +spies, and she is immediately brought to the harem.</p> + +<p>Each of his wives has her own house, kitchen, and +slaves quite apart from the rest, consequently the +expenditure of his household is considerable. His first +wife is head of all the other wives, who now number +one hundred and fifty. She is a Baggara woman, and +is waited on by numbers of eunuchs, who were formerly +in the service of the Turkish and Egyptian pashas; and +although the making of eunuchs is strictly prohibited +by Mahdi law, nevertheless the Khalifa secretly employs +numbers of persons who arrange to supply eunuchs +when required.</p> + +<p>The chief eunuch is a certain Abdel Gayum, who is +head of the entire household. He has under his orders +numbers of female slaves, who grind dhurra and prepare +the food; it is estimated that three ardebs of dhurra a +day are consumed in the Khalifa's household.</p> + +<p>Abdullah is endowed by nature with a good constitution, +but his irregular mode of life has gone far +to destroy it. Twice he has had severe attacks which +have all but killed him; on both occasions he was +delirious, and his body became enormously distended. +The last time he was ill all hope of his recovery had +been given up, and the doctor who was attending him, +and had given him a purgative, was on the point of +being beheaded, when at the last moment the medicine +took effect, and was the happy means of saving the lives +of both the Khalifa and his doctor.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa's illnesses are always kept secret, so that<a name="Page_295" id="Page_295"></a> +whenever he fails to attend prayers, it is generally +thought that he is sick. Fifteen days after the last crisis, +and when all danger was over, Abdullah summoned the +other two Khalifas and the judges to show them that +he had recovered, whereupon Khalifa Ali at once offered +up a prayer of thanksgiving, though, if his real feelings +had been analysed, it would have been found that he +was anything but thankful. After leaving Abdullah, +the Khalifas announced to the people in the mosque +that he had been very dangerously ill, but that God in +His mercy had spared him.</p> + +<p>This news was the signal for a wild shout of delight, +which reached the Khalifa's ears and pleased him not a +little. Eight days afterwards he appeared for the first +time in the mosque, then the rejoicings knew no +bounds, and the shouts were heard miles off; all the +emirs congratulated him on his recovery, and the air +resounded with the cries of "Allah etawil Omrak!" +("May God prolong your life!") All this flattery pleased +the Khalifa immensely, and this eye-service is a particularly +highly-developed characteristic of the Sudanese.</p> + +<p>And now a few words as to the Khalifa's character: +he is an intensely vain and proud man, very cruel and +quick-tempered. Occasionally his ideas are good, but +he is surrounded by so many fanatics that his ideas, +however good they may be, generally die almost before +they are born. He is of a most distrustful nature, +because he knows he is surrounded by enemies—thus +he is a curious mixture of resolution and inconstancy. +He listens eagerly to calumnies, and delights in hearing +evil spoken of other people; this causes his decisions to +be changeable and capricious; he is guided a good deal +by what low slanderers tell him, but they have to watch +his temper very closely, and have become great adepts +at humouring him. He is fearful and jealous of his +authority, and the very smallest infringement of it is +looked upon as a most serious crime and punished +accordingly. He has surrounded himself with spies, +who pander to his jealous and tyrannical nature.</p> + +<p>These spies are everywhere, they get into private<a name="Page_296" id="Page_296"></a> +houses, attend every meeting, and often start a discussion +against the Khalifa and against Mahdiism, +merely to draw the unwary into a trap and make them +divulge their real feelings and opinions. He is told +about the most trivial thing, and sometimes during his +speeches and sermons he will give way to the wildest +denunciation of his unfavourable critics. He knows +perfectly well that he is hated, but he will never allow +it to be said openly; for, though he cares little whether +he is liked or disliked, he does not wish anything to +intervene between him and his authority.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa adheres most strictly to the prescribed +forms of prayer; every day he attends five times in +the mosque and enforces the presence of all the principal +emirs. He does not like the Ansar to get into +comfortable and luxurious modes of life, but insists on +their always being hardened and in readiness to withstand +the fatigues of war; all prayers end with the +"fatha,"<a name="FNanchor_N_14" id="FNanchor_N_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_N_14" class="fnanchor">[N]</a> after which is an invocation for the victory of +religion, the long life of the Khalifa, and the continual +success of his arms; then follows a prayer calling down +God's vengeance on unbelievers and those who have +erred from the paths of Mahdiism, and asking that +their wives and children may be given as booty to the +true believers; at the end of the prayers the whole +congregation joins in a loud "Amen."</p> + +<p>After afternoon and evening prayers, the Khalifa +generally holds short political conversations, in which +the affairs of the empire and of the capital are discussed; +he receives his emirs and gives them instructions; +he frequently gives discourses from the place in +which he repeats prayers, and sometimes turns and +addresses in the most benevolent manner those who are +gathered around him with heads bent in obedient +submission. If he bears any one a grudge, he never +attempts to conceal it, but refers to it in the most open +manner in the mosque, when the culprit generally<a name="Page_297" id="Page_297"></a> +comes hurriedly forward, throws himself at his feet, +and implores forgiveness: if he fails to do this, he is +generally threatened with imprisonment.</p> + +<p>The mosque is at the same time both barracks and +prison, for here he teaches his followers humbleness, +obedience, and submission. He frequently repeats his +orders that all should be most punctual in their attendance +at the mosque, and if, when the appointed hour +comes, people are found in the streets, they are invariably +flogged and carried off to the zariba. This is +the way the Khalifa tests the obedience of his people, +and assures himself that they are at all times ready to +obey his smallest behest.</p> + +<p>The highest punishment possible for an absentee is +that he shall attend regularly at the mosque five times +a day for eighteen months, under a police guard, who is +as a rule a Baggara, and who never lets him out of his +sight. A man under such a sentence may, if he have +money, pay a fine or bribe his guard; but if he cannot +do this he must attend, no matter how far off his house +may be. Some unfortunate people who live a long way +off spend their whole day in going backwards and +forwards between their dwellings and the mosque. The +emirs even, if they neglect this order, are very severely +dealt with. This enforced attendance at prayers has +greatly added to the unpopularity of the Khalifa, for +work is being continually interrupted, and all real feelings +of religion are subverted.</p> + +<p>Formerly every important emir and fiki had his own +rukuba, in which he prayed with his own people; but +the Khalifa put a stop to this, fearing that all such +meetings would have a tendency to conspiracy and +mutiny. He himself is much more a supporter of +authority than of religion, but he induces the former +through the latter. Personally, he cares little for religion. +All his absurd dreams and imaginary visions only +make him a laughing-stock of the people, and he is +considered by the orthodox Moslems to be an absolute +heretic.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, when his spies reported to him that<a name="Page_298" id="Page_298"></a> +he was very unpopular, and that it was the general +wish that he should die, he withdrew for three days. +This considerably alarmed the people, for they had no +notion what form of revenge he might not be preparing +for them. At the end of this period he reappeared, +and from his place in the mosque he announced as +follows:—</p> + +<p>"I have been taken in the spirit to the third heaven, +where I beheld the Mahdi, the Prophet Elias, and Jesus +Christ; when I saluted the Mahdi, he introduced me +at once to the two prophets; the Prophet Elias had a +very ruddy and sunburnt appearance, and took me +very roughly by the hand; but the Prophet Jesus +was white and soft as wool. These two prophets were +pleased to know me, and I represented to the Mahdi +that I had no desire to quit this pleasant heaven; I +begged him, therefore, to send some one to rule my +people instead of me, as I was tired and exhausted by +trying to govern people who did not care for me; but +the Mahdi told me not to lose heart, and that he would +give me power to please all; the Mahdi also told me +that he was quite satisfied with my ruling. He afterwards +took me into the presence of God, who also +showed pleasure at knowing the Khalifa of the Mahdi."</p> + +<p>All true Moslems who heard this extraordinary tissue +of lies were very angry that he should dare to take +God's name in vain in this way, and thoroughly understood +his reasons for having such absurd and blasphemous +pretensions.</p> + +<p>On another occasion he was told that the two +Khalifas were very dissatisfied with his arbitrary ruling, +and resented being excluded from a share in the +government of the country. This induced another +vision, in which he declared that the Mahdi had told +him he should live eight years more, after which the +Prophet Jesus would appear. In this way he gave +them to understand that they had not much hope of +being given any authority; but this vision appeared to +have exactly the opposite effect on the Khalifas, who +became more clamorous than ever. He therefore in<a name="Page_299" id="Page_299"></a>structed +his "vision secretary" to withdraw this vision +from circulation, and added that should any one ever be +heard talking on this subject again, he would be +punished by the loss of a hand and a foot. And then +he tried to justify his action by declaring that it was +the fault of his secretaries, who had put an entirely +different construction on the vision to what he had +intended, and indeed to what he had actually seen!</p> + +<p>After noonday prayers he ordered extracts to be +read from the book dealing with the early wars of +Islam. This was quite a new departure. To keep any +book on religion or religious history, it was necessary, +in the first instance, to obtain the Khalifa's permission; +and indeed it was very difficult to keep any such books +safe from the wild fanaticism of the Dervishes. It was +the Mahdi's intention to destroy, as far as possible, +everything which would serve to remind his people of +the old days, so that they should believe the more +readily in his revelations only.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa will not accept written petitions, as he +himself cannot read. If any one has a complaint to +make, he must call out, as the Khalifa enters the +mosque for prayers, "Khalifat el Mahdi!" or "Sidi!" +or he may cry out, "Ya Sidi ana mazlum!" ("Master, +I am oppressed!") Abdullah then listens to what he +has to say, and decides the matter. Whether the +decision be favourable or not to the complainant, he +must be satisfied with it.</p> + +<p>Gifts and alms are frequently besought of the Khalifa, +chiefly because he is not of such a benevolent nature as +the Mahdi, and moreover, he has less to dispose of than +his predecessor.</p> + +<p>If the Khalifa does not at once dispose of a case that +is brought before him, it is a sure sign that he has no +intention of giving a decision on it, and woe to him +who dares to again bring forward the question! +Abdullah gets very angry if he is interrupted when +speaking. The various expressions of content, restlessness, +and revenge are so clearly portrayed on his face +that one seldom mistakes the frame of mind he is in at<a name="Page_300" id="Page_300"></a> +any particular time, though he often vainly tries to +conceal his actual feelings.</p> + +<p>There are some people in Omdurman who make the +expressions of the Khalifa's face their study, and are +wonderful adepts at knowing what is passing in his +mind. They listen attentively to every word he says, +and their estimates of his moods go the round of their +friends, but are often rather distorted in course of +transmission. These thought-readers assign causes to +his various moods, which they put down to a variety of +reasons, such as ill-health, a disaster, or a quarrel with +one of his many wives. All these reports spread at +once throughout the country, and one would think that +the people had nothing else to do but to discuss the +Khalifa and every incident of his daily life. And +perhaps this is not to be wondered at, since he exercises +so indiscriminately the powers of life and death. One +word from the Khalifa is able to rouse up the energies +of all those spies whose special duty it is to report the +smokers and marissa-drinkers. The liberal payment to +them of bribes by these law-breakers occasionally serves +to make them neglect their duties; but should the +Khalifa wish to replenish the waning supplies of the +beit el mal, the reporting of a few delinquents rapidly +fills the exchequer again.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa is a man of great activity, and personally +directs all important matters. He receives reports on +the most trivial affairs, and is always overwhelmed with +business. This, however, helps to keep him in health, +and prevents him leading a life of sensual ease to +which his inclinations undoubtedly tend. He has +nothing but his activity to thank for the fact that he is +still alive, though during the last few years he has +greatly deteriorated in this respect, consequent on his +indulging more than usual his uxorious appetites.</p> + +<p>After morning prayers he generally takes a short sleep, +and during the remainder of the day he is busy with +the affairs of State. Posts are continually coming and +going; and the telegraph having been destroyed, a +camel postal service has been organised, but is exclu<a name="Page_301" id="Page_301"></a>sively +used for official letters. Any one who wishes to +send private letters must do so through the intermediary +of merchants and travellers.</p> + +<p>After the day's work is over, the Khalifa delights in +gossiping till late in the night, surrounded by his emirs +and judges. Sometimes just before midnight he will +again enter the mosque, and will summon the poets to sing +his praises. He delights in music, and keeps a number +of Dar Fertit and Niam Niam singers, who accompany +themselves on the rubaba (a sort of native guitar), and +their strange and weird melodies delight the Khalifa's +soul. These native musicians have a sort of school of +music, in which they practise all day; but they never +seem to learn anything new.</p> + +<p>Abdullah is by no means a ruler in name only. His +palace is crowded with male and female servants, slaves, +eunuchs, and young boys, who continually wait upon +him, and carry after him the inevitable "ibrik." One +slave is especially told off to carry the "farwa" or sheepskin +to the mosque. The other servants are called +mulazimin, and act rather in the capacity of spies than +personal attendants. A good or bad word from them +has no small weight with the Khalifa. Of course they +are all submission to their master; and if they have +been brought up in the Khalifa's service, when the time +comes he permits them to marry, and gives them a +horse as well—the two things they long for most. The +Khalifa has also his special barber, who is a slave; and +his master of the horse, who is an immensely tall Dinka. +He has also a sort of giant slave who lifts him on and +off his horse. His life-guards consist of 500 black +slaves armed with Remington rifles, who always accompany +the Khalifa whenever he rides out. They wear a +very short jibbeh—not unlike a soldier's tunic—and +short knickerbockers. Amongst them are about 100 +Taisha and Homr Arabs, whose special duty is to +prevent any one approaching the Khalifa's person. To +further add to his prestige, he has also appointed an +honourable council, composed of all the principal sheikhs +of the great Sudan tribes.<a name="Page_302" id="Page_302"></a></p> + +<p>His mulazimin el bab, or "household cavalry," are +obliged to be in continual attendance at the great gate +of the palace, and never quit their posts until Abdullah +has retired for the night. He occasionally selects one +or two of their principal officers to despatch on important +missions into the provinces. The household cavalry +rank next to the judges in the mosque precedence. If +any man seek employment, he must attend at the +mosque at prayer-time and humbly make known his +request to the Khalifa; and if he wishes to succeed, he +must not be sparing in the lavishness of the compliments +with which he prefaces his demand. The Khalifa +is specially open to such eye-service, and always selects +for his servants persons who possess this qualification in +a marked degree.</p> + +<p>The business affairs of State are conducted by an +army of clerks, of whom the most influential are Fauzi, +Muntasser, Abu el Gharem, and Ahmed; these are all +men who possess a good knowledge of Arabic, and know +something of history and the Moslem laws; they read +all incoming letters to the Khalifa, and answer them in +accordance with his directions; one of these clerks is +his special seal-bearer; all letters are supposed to be +strictly confidential, as well as the deliberations and +discussions of the council. If he ever mentions a matter +in public, in which he conveys blame or censure, then it +is understood that this is merely a warning; if he +wishes to inflict punishment, then the culprit is seized +unawares, and the chastisement or imprisonment inflicted +without further ado; thus does he bring the men +of the Sudan low before him, and tramples on their +necks.</p> + +<p>Abdullah specially delights in a display of magnificence; +whenever large expeditions start from any +of the hejiras, he generally proceeds there in the afternoon, +returning in the evening. Latterly he has made +fewer of these excursions, as much work and an irregular +life are beginning to tell upon him. He never announces +beforehand what he intends to do, but just before noonday +prayers the onbeïa is sounded, and a herald shouts<a name="Page_303" id="Page_303"></a> +"Khalifat el Mahdi yerkab" ("The Khalifa of the Mahdi +is about to ride out"); then everyone who owns a horse +prepares to mount and accompany him. The horses in +Omdurman have become so accustomed to the sound +that whenever they hear the onbeïa they begin to neigh +and prance, as if rejoicing in the honour of being allowed +to join the Khalifa's ride.</p> + +<p>Immediately after prayers the giant slave puts him +on his horse, and as he proceeds, hundreds of horsemen +and thousands of men on foot follow him shouting +and showing all the signs of joy. He always carries a +large spear, and is little different from other riders. +These latter do not march quietly behind, but continually +dash forward in groups of four and eight, their +spears poised to strike, then suddenly pull up and re-enter +the ranks; this "fantasia" delights the mob, who +shout the most violent applause.</p> + +<p>During these excursions the Khalifa observes carefully +all that is going on around him and what the +people are doing. On one occasion, when he rode to +the beit el mal and was surveying the mighty river, a +woman wearing man's clothes was brought to him from +a ship close by. In reply to the Khalifa's question +what she was doing, she said she was preparing the +crew's food; he then asked if she was married, and she +said no, thereupon he began joking and presented her +to Wad Adlan; but the latter, seeing that she was +neither young nor pretty, readily answered that he was +already possessor of the four lawful wives. The Khalifa +could not of course violate the law, so he summoned +the captain of the ship and insisted on him marrying +this old creature on the spot; he also casually remarked +that the sailors had a noggara (copper drum) on board, +and he immediately gave a general order that no drums +were to be allowed on board boats.</p> + +<p>On another occasion he noticed a very thick cloud of +smoke, and on inquiry he found that it came from a +soap manufactory; he therefore immediately issued +orders that the soap monopoly rested with the beit el +mal, and that any other manufactory was prohibited.<a name="Page_304" id="Page_304"></a> +In this way he deprived numbers of people of a means +of livelihood.</p> + +<p>One day he remarked a large heap of sewage in the +centre of the town, which spread a most foul odour all +around; this was the cause of the Khalifa himself +stating in the mosque that if, when he inspected the +town three days hence, he found any refuse, the trespassers +should be very severely punished.</p> + +<p>Everyone now became directly responsible for the +cleanliness of his own dwelling and its vicinity, and +this order had a most excellent effect; it was further +enforced by the presence of horsemen, who took good +care to see that the instructions were carefully carried +out. The Khalifa also went so far as to order that if +any impurity should be found in the public streets, the +owner of the defiled place should carry it away himself +with his own hands to the appointed place. This was a +cause of great delight to the street-arabs, who heaped +insults on the disgraced individual by shouting after +him "Shalhu!" ("He has taken it away!") But as it +was with the Mahdi, so it is with the Khalifa—at first +orders are obeyed with the greatest alacrity, and then +people get as careless as ever. Omdurman at the +present time is by no means a particularly clean or +sanitary town.</p> + +<p>The occasions on which the Khalifa appears in the +greatest splendour are when he rides to parade. In +accordance with the Mahdi's orders, these reviews have +always taken place on Fridays, no matter what the +weather may be, rain, sunshine, or sandstorm. The +review, or "Arda," as it is called, is a religious ceremony, +and those who take part in it are supposed to +obtain special blessings and advantages. The Mahdi +of course wanted to keep up the martial spirit of his +followers, and therefore he based his reviews on religious +grounds. Sometimes Khalifa Abdullah is absent from +these parades, in which case his brother Yakub takes +his place.</p> + + +<a name="trophy"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><img src="images/p305.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="380" height="511"> +<p class="caption2">A TROPHY OF ARMS, BANNERS AND DRUMS CAPTURED FROM THE +DERVISHES.</p></div> + + +<p>On parade days the great war-drums begin beating +two hours before sunrise, and the slaves whose duty it<a name="Page_305" id="Page_305"></a> +is to beat them have two varieties of cadence, whilst a +small drum beaten in quick time completes the call to +arms. The people apply all sorts of expressions to the +beating in quick time, such as "Nakelkum" or "Nak<a name="Page_306" id="Page_306"></a>tulkum" +("We will eat you up," or "We will kill +you"), <i>i.e.</i> their enemies. In the stillness of the night +these drums are heard a very long way off, and in the +terrible times of the Mahdi wars their weird and +monotonous roll created a most sad and depressing +effect on me.</p> + +<p>Immediately after morning prayers the leaders proceed +to the flag yard, each takes his flag, and they all +stand in line in the open space in front of the beit el +amana.</p> + +<p>The flags of the Khalifas Abdullah and Ali Wad +Helu are kept quite apart. Khalifa Sherif seldom goes +out, and keeps himself as much as possible from appearing +anywhere in public with Abdullah, with whom he is +on very bad terms, because he has been deprived of all +authority.</p> + +<p>The four drum-beaters stand in front of the flags, and +gradually the followers all collect round their respective +leaders. As soon as the sun rises they begin shouting, +and then march to the parade ground. Arrived here, +the flags are all placed in line. The horsemen follow +Yakub or any other person whom the Khalifa may +delegate.</p> + +<p>The Ansar are drawn up in a long line facing eastwards, +and all the people immediately rush to get into +the various divisions to which they belong. Then the +onbeïa sounds to indicate that the great master himself +is arriving; this is the signal for all those who have +stayed behind, attempting to shirk parade, to rush +helter-skelter to the ranks, as the Khalifa gets very +angry unless the review is well attended. He is +generally mounted on a very good camel led by Wad +Beshir; he sits with drawn sword, and moves very +slowly, surrounded by his black life-guards formed in +square.</p> + +<p>The four onbeïa-blowers march just in front, and take +it in turns to sound the great elephant's tusk. Behind +the Khalifa follow the mulazimin riding. Arrived on +parade he first inspects the whole line, and occasionally +performs some cavalry man[oe]uvres in the hills which<a name="Page_307" id="Page_307"></a> +stretch towards Kererri. These hills are supposed to +be the abode of the Jinns,<a name="FNanchor_O_15" id="FNanchor_O_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_O_15" class="fnanchor">[O]</a> who are said to be the +Khalifa's auxiliaries in battle, and he frequently +indulges in visions, retiring into a small hut, while the +Ansar have to stand outside waiting for hours in the +burning sun.</p> + +<p>At length he gives the signal to march off; again the +flags unite in two groups, followed by the shouting +Dervishes. The horsemen keep dashing round the +flanks to see that no one goes away. All must march +back to the beit el amana, where they await the +Khalifa's arrival to be dismissed.</p> + +<p>The orders respecting the arms and equipment to be +carried by the Ansar on parade are all strictly adhered +to; everyone must carry at least three spears, <i>i.e.</i> one +large and two small ones; also a sword, which is slung +round the shoulder, and a girth as well; anyone appearing +deficient of any of these articles is flogged.</p> + +<p>At large festivals the reviews are most imposing. +Months before, orders are sent in all directions for the +Ansar to assemble. On these occasions there are +generally about 1,000 horsemen. The Khalifa, wearing +a suit of mail armour and a helmet, is generally mounted +on a good charger, and is surrounded by some 200 +horsemen, also clad in mail, wearing helmets and +greaves; the horses also wear brass head-armour lined +with thickly-quilted stuffs, which are intended to protect +from sword-cuts.</p> + +<p>The riders wear thick red turbans, which they wind +round the helmet, and then tie tightly under the chin, +thus leaving only very little of their face exposed; +they also wear red girdles, which they throw over their +shoulders. The combination of red with the dark Baggara +complexion is peculiarly effective, and gives them a +most martial appearance. The red turban and girdle +are entirely the Khalifa's idea. At first the horses were<a name="Page_308" id="Page_308"></a> +not shod, but recently Abdullah ordered some thousands +of horse-shoes to be made in the arsenal.</p> + +<p>The wild excitement and confusion prevailing on +these occasions can readily be understood. The guns +are all brought out, arms distributed amongst the +Ansar, and the shouting and yelling is endless; crowds +of horsemen dash hither and thither at a wild gallop, +raising clouds of dust.</p> + +<p>Horses and horsemanship are a great delight to the +Sudanese; the best breeds are from Dongola and +Abyssinia. At one time there were quantities in Darfur, +and there was no difficulty in raising 4,000 of them, +but since Mahdiism has fallen on the land the numbers +have greatly decreased. Every horse-owner is entitled +to half an ardeb of dhurra from the beit el mal.</p> + +<p>The reviews which I have just described tend to keep +alive enthusiasm, and also to intimidate those who are +secretly opposed to the Khalifa, and whom the sight of +such numbers of foot-and horsemen cannot fail to +impress. The best riders are the Khalifa's own +countrymen—the Baggaras—who are brought up on +horses from their early childhood. The Khalifa has +craftily arranged that all horses remain in the hands +of the Baggaras. At first not many of this tribe +joined the Mahdi, they preferred to remain in their own +happy hunting-grounds, rearing horses, and living in +unfettered liberty in their great plains and forests, and +in consequence the Arabs nicknamed them "Arab el +Shedera" (Arabs of the forests), but when the Khalifa +succeeded to supreme power, he thought that his +authority would be considerably strengthened by collecting +his own countrymen around him.</p> + +<p>After conquering Sultan Yusef, of Darfur, the Khalifa +ordered Osman Wad Adam to gather his own countrymen—the +Taisha—nearer Omdurman. The youthful +Osman gave to those wild nomads a most glowing +account of the magnificent countries near the Nile, +and of the Khalifa's enormous power and authority, +and to prove the truth of what he said, he showed +them all sorts of glittering dollars, and various kinds of<a name="Page_309" id="Page_309"></a> +cloths; nor did he rest until he at last persuaded them +to leave their homes.</p> + +<p>They set out with all their movable property—women, +children, and flocks—all bound for Omdurman; +they plundered the inhabitants of the various countries +through which they passed, and forcibly seized their +camels for transport. The Dar Hameda tribe alone, +through whose country they passed, lost 4,000 camels. +When they reached El Obeid, a special tax was levied +for their maintenance, but, quite regardless of this, they +broke into the houses, and laid hands on all they could +find.</p> + +<p>From El Obeid they passed on to Tayara and Shatt, +whence the Khalifa had them conveyed in steamers to +Omdurman. There were, in all, 7,000 warriors, exclusive +of women and children; their arrival in Omdurman +was viewed with a certain amount of alarm, and not +without reason. As the Arnauts and the Bashi Bazuks +were utilized by the Government in the old days, so +were the Taisha to be now utilised under the Khalifa's +rule; he favoured them in every possible way, the +beit el mal was made responsible for their maintenance +and pay. After they had partially settled down, and +some had been given the richest patches on the Nile +banks, as well as several of the islands, the others +were then removed to Berber, Abu Hamed, Dongola, +and the Gezireh.</p> + +<p>In all these places they very soon made themselves +masters of the situation, and the Khalifa gave them the +most important Government posts to fill; but notwithstanding +all this favoured treatment, still they were +not content: the more they had, the more they +wanted. Upwards of 4,000 of them deserted from +Omdurman, to proceed to their own country; but they +were overtaken, and, as an example to the remainder, +the right hand and left foot of three of them were cut +off, though it was with the greatest reluctance that he +ever punished his own countrymen in this way. Two +hundred of the deserters were put in prison, where +some of them died in a few days: the horrors of this<a name="Page_310" id="Page_310"></a> +prison so impressed these wild children of the desert, +that to this day they tremble at the thought of it.</p> + +<p>The sheikh of the Taisha was a man named Ghazali, +who was by no means happy in his new position; and +though he was well received by Abdullah, still he could +not brook the feeling of being under the authority of a +man who at one time had been one of his lowest menials. +It was reported to the Khalifa that he was discontented, +he was therefore summoned before him, and addressed +as follows:—</p> + +<p>"When you were sheikh in your own country, were +we not obliged to kiss your hand, and show you all +reverence and respect? Yes: and it was quite right to +do so. But now God has placed me over you as your +master, then why do you now refuse to give me the +same honour and respect which you required of your +own subjects when you were in a similar position?"</p> + +<p>Ghazali made no reply, but then and there decided +to run away. This showed a spirit of independence +which had been dead amongst the Arabs for centuries, +and to find it we have to go back to the time of Saladin. +Sheikh Ghazali was a man who knew no fear, and he +confided his plans to his wife and daughter, and they—far +from deterring him—rather encouraged him to +carry it out. His wife saddled his horse, and urged +him rather to die than to submit to a position so far +beneath him.</p> + +<p>Ghazali, accompanied by two of his relatives, mounted +his horse in the middle of the night; without shedding +a tear, his wife bade him farewell, and wished him all +success in his undertaking. In order to put his enemies +off his track, he at first went in a northerly direction +till just below Kererri, then turned south-west, and +made for Kordofan. But Ghazali made a fatal mistake +in using horses for such an enterprise, for, winter being +over, there was a scarcity of water in the desert; it +would have been far better had he used camels.</p> + +<p>The poor man had to pay dearly for his error. +Scarcely was he out of Omdurman than one of his own +tribesmen reported his flight to the Khalifa, who<a name="Page_311" id="Page_311"></a> +became very angry, cursed the Taisha for their ingratitude, +and ordered the fugitives to be pursued at +once. They searched the desert around Omdurman in +every direction, and, thinking they must have taken +camels, they did not at first take any notice of the +horses' tracks, but eventually they decided to follow up +the latter, and were soon convinced that they were on +the fugitives' heels.</p> + +<p>Some distance after leaving Kererri, they came up +with the horses which Ghazali and his companions, owing +to their fatigue, had abandoned, and had continued +their flight on foot. The pursuers were now two days +distant from Omdurman, and were on the point of +giving up the chase, when they heard a shot fired +from a thickly-wooded khor. It was Ghazali, who, +suffering greatly from thirst, had separated from his +companions in search of water; he had been digging +about in the sand, and, discovering the longed-for +liquid, he had fired a shot to let his companions know +he had been successful.</p> + +<p>This shot was his betrayer; the pursuers rushed to +the spot, surrounded him, and although he killed +and wounded several, he was overpowered and fell +riddled with bullets. His head was cut off, for the +Khalifa had given orders that on no account was he to +be brought back alive. His two relations submitted, +and were subsequently pardoned by the Khalifa, who +is always more lenient to his own tribesmen than +to others. Ghazali's head was brought to Omdurman, +and thrown amongst the heap of "unbelievers'" heads.</p> + +<p>There is no doubt that if Ghazali had succeeded in +regaining his own country, he would have become a +dangerous rival to Abdullah. Most of the Taisha infinitely +prefer the liberty of their native forests to +holding high posts in Omdurman, and would have +rejoined Ghazali in large numbers.</p> + +<p>One of the most important measures taken by the +Khalifa to get all power into his own hands was his +attempt to gain possession of all firearms. He had over +and over again given orders that any one found with a<a name="Page_312" id="Page_312"></a> +gun would be punished by the loss of a hand and a foot, +and, of course, the natural result was that every one +feared to deliver up his gun, dreading the punishment +which would inevitably follow. This plan having +failed, the Khalifa then ordered two Jew merchants to +buy up all firearms for the beit el mal, and the people +having no fear of Jews freely sold them.</p> + +<p>In this way about 1,000 Remington rifles were +secured: in a like manner the Khalifa got possession of +the coats of mail; but, as may well be imagined, the +Jews did not make much profit out of the business. +They were put into chains for eight months, and had to +pay back a considerable sum of money as well.</p> + +<p>Thus did the Khalifa gradually concentrate all power in +himself. The emin beit el mal is obliged to give him a +daily statement showing all revenue and expenditure; +the Sheikh es Suk (or sheikh of the market) has to +render a daily report of everything that has taken place +in the market, and the chief judge must keep the Khalifa +fully informed of all important cases which come under +his notice. The Khalifa reserves to himself the powers +of life and death, although the judge passes the sentence.</p> + +<p>Every province has a governor or emir, <i>i.e.</i> Dongola, +Berber, Galabat, Karkoj, Gezireh, Fashoda, Kordofan, +Lado, and Jebel Regaf. All these emirs are Baggara, +and have several emirs under their commands. Each +emir has his own beit el mal, and has the power of +appointing his own emin beit el mal and kadi (judge). +The emir is the supreme civil and military governor of +his province, and is entirely responsible for its administration.</p> + +<p>The beit el mal at Omdurman is known as the "Beit +el mal el Umûm," and the head of it gives orders direct +to all his provincial assistants. Each emir is obliged +to report all events of importance to the Khalifa, they +are frequently summoned to Omdurman to give an +account of their administration, and to take the +Khalifa's instructions.</p> + +<p>Abdullah watches most carefully all events in frontier +provinces, such as Dongola, Berber, &c., and spies, dis<a name="Page_313" id="Page_313"></a>guised +as merchants, are continually sent to Egypt to +get the Arabic newspapers, which are always read to +the Khalifa by his secretaries. An emir should never +pay a visit to Omdurman empty-handed, or he is likely +to fall into serious disgrace.</p> + +<p>In addition to the emirs are the omala (tax-gatherers), +who visit the provinces annually and collect the ushr +(one-tenth) and the zeka (alms for the poor, two and +a-half per cent.). These appointments are let to the +holders at an enormous rate—several thousand dollars a +year. The omala have to cover all their own expenses, +which they do, and get a very considerable profit besides.</p> + +<p>It is therefore apparent that the inhabitants are +grievously oppressed. The emirs and omala act in the +most arbitrary manner in their own provinces; their +will is absolute, and horrible systems of cruelty prevail +everywhere. One of the omala, Wad Hamdu Allah, by +way of extorting money from a man, bound his hands +so tightly behind his back that when released they +remained quite powerless. The poor man went to +Omdurman to seek redress, and the Khalifa, on the +principle of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth," +ordered that the amil's hands should be cut off, or that +he should pay the injured man a sum of money. The +man, of course, chose the latter, as the cutting off of +his oppressor's hands could not have done him any +practical good; so he received 200 dollars compensation +and four slaves. But this is an exceptional case; as a +rule these cruelties seldom reach the Khalifa's ears, and +if the instigator of the crime is a Baggara it is never +noticed.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa's brother Yakub is his principal supporter. +He and Abdullah are not of the same mother, and +Yakub is a few years the senior; he has a somewhat +lighter complexion, but if possible he is even more +cruel than his brother, and is in charge of the harem. +The two brothers work entirely together, and Abdullah, +being satisfied with Yakub's integrity, gives him the +fullest liberty. Orders given by Yakub are carried out +with the same alacrity as if they were given by<a name="Page_314" id="Page_314"></a> +Abdullah. He receives every day from the emin beit +el mal all surplus cash, and moreover has charge of +spare leather, sacking, &c., with which to supply the +wants of the Baggaras. It is said that Yakub is already +possessor of great stores of wealth.</p> + +<p>Thus do the brothers, Abdullah and Yakub, hold the +entire Sudan in the most cruel bondage, whilst the +inhabitants are harassed by the merciless Baggaras, who +have made themselves the ruthless masters of the whole +country.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_N_14" id="Footnote_N_14"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_N_14" class="fnlabel">[N]</a> The first chapter in the Kuran; it is held in great veneration +by Mohammedans, and is used by them very much as the Paternoster +is recited by Roman Catholics.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_O_15" id="Footnote_O_15"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_O_15" class="fnlabel">[O]</a> Jinn is the Arabic equivalent for genii, in the existence of whom +the Mohammedans are believers, and by whom they are divided, into +"believers" and "unbelievers." The Mahdi always asserted that in +battle thousands of Jinns fought on the side of the Dervishes.</p></div> +</div> +<a name="Page_315" id="Page_315"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">A CHAPTER OF HORRORS.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">The revolt of the Batahin tribe—Revolt suppressed with appalling +cruelty—Wholesale executions—Method of hanging—Punishment +by mutilation—The execution of Abdel Nur—Trade with +Egypt—Wad Adlan, the emin beit el mal—His imprisonment +and death.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">Another</span> example of the Khalifa's cruel and merciless +treatment of all who oppose him is shown by the +manner in which he dealt with the Batahin tribe.</p> + +<p>This small but warlike tribe inhabits the right bank +of the Blue Nile near its confluence with the White, and +extends as far as Rufaa; also portions of this tribe are +found scattered in the Gezireh. They are the most +daring robbers, and, mounted on swift camels, they lie in +ambush awaiting caravans and merchants, whom they +generally kill and make off with their goods. Bruce, in +his 'Travels,' remarks that the wooded country around +Omdurman was their favourite haunt. They were the +staunchest adherents of the Sheikh el Obeid, whom +Gordon's "fighting pasha," Mohammed Ali, had so +severely defeated.</p> + +<p>During the massacre in Khartum the Batahin were +most cruel and pitiless, and for their evil deeds God's +just vengeance overtook them before long. Abdullah +had sent an emir with a few soldiers to collect the +ushr tax, but the wild Batahin, whose own system was +to rob and plunder the poor, leaving them not even +the wherewithal to live, resisted the emir and his men, +and forced them to flee their country. When this news +reached the Khalifa, he was infuriated, and determined +to deal in the harshest possible manner with this +rebellious tribe. He therefore despatched the emir +Abdel Baki with a considerable force, with instructions<a name="Page_316" id="Page_316"></a> +to seize every Batahin he could find, put him in chains, +and bring him to Omdurman.</p> + +<a name="camels"></a><div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p316.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="445" height="608"> +</div> + +<p>This tribe was now hunted down over the whole +country, and Abdel Baki succeeded in securing a few +hundred of them, as well as Taher Wad Sheikh el<a name="Page_317" id="Page_317"></a> +Obeid, who had been instigating them, and these were +all brought to the capital. The influential El Obeid +family had taken a very prominent part in the siege +of Khartum, but after the Mahdi's death they had +become discontented and were not on good terms with +the Khalifa; Taher had, therefore, been ordered to +leave Rufaa and settle in Omdurman.</p> + +<p>On reaching Khojali, which is just opposite to +Omdurman on the other bank, he wrote to the Khalifa +to say that his father, who since his death had been +revered as a saint in the Gezireh on account of his +holiness, and who had received innumerable presents +on account of his power in preserving the lives of +infants, had appeared to him in a dream, telling him +to stay at Khojali and make that the headquarters of the +family; he was not, therefore, able to come to Omdurman. +Taher showed his sagacity in refusing to comply with +the order; but Abdullah, whose earnest desire it was +to abolish the "saints" of the Sudan, agreed to give +Taher twenty-four hours to decide whether he would +come to Omdurman or not, so there was nothing for it +but to go. However, after a time he was permitted +to return to Rufaa, leaving his family as hostages in +Omdurman. This is the Khalifa's usual mode of acting +with all influential persons whom he suspects of disloyalty.</p> + +<p>But to return to the Batahin. Most of them died of +starvation and ill-treatment, sixty-nine were taken to +the square opposite the beit el amana, where they were +kept under a soldiers' guard whilst the Khalifa held a +consultation regarding their fate. No decision was +come to for some time, and this was because more +gallows were being prepared. Hitherto there was only +one, now there were three near the "court" zariba—two +at the south end of the market-place, and one at the +west end; all were provided with camel-hair ropes.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning the war-drums were +beaten, the onbeïa sounded, and eighteen Batahin +were executed, three on each gallows. Such executions +have always a great attraction for the Sudanese. The<a name="Page_318" id="Page_318"></a> +eighteen men were all brought up to the gallows with +their hands tied behind their backs. Without a sound +or even a change of expression, they gave themselves +up to their fate, or, as the Moslem says, they gave +themselves up to "El Mektub" (<i>i.e.</i> "to that which is +written"), for it is supposed that God writes down in +a book the birth, experiences, and death of everyone, +which things cannot be changed.</p> + +<p>Below the gallows is an angarib, on which the +condemned stands, while an immensely tall Dinka +called Bringi puts the noose round the man's head, +pulls it tight, fastens it to the gallows, and then draws +away the angarib; and in this way the whole eighteen +were soon swinging in the air, whilst the assembled +masses sent up shout after shout of exultation.</p> + +<p>It was a most horrible sight. The poor creatures +wore only a miserable cloth round their loins; they +had had nothing to eat for some days, and presented +a most wretched condition as the wind blew their +emaciated bodies backwards and forwards. All were +powerful young men, and the bystanders—as is always +the way with the Dervishes—vituperated them freely, +accusing them of every description of wanton cruelty, +whereas it is more than probable that all these just +executed were entirely innocent, and were expiating +the crimes of those who had been fortunate enough +to escape. When all contortions were over, the bodies +were untied to make room for the remainder, who had +been quietly gazing at the fate of their brothers which +was so soon to be theirs.</p> + +<p>On this occasion—as it had often happened before—the +cord broke under the last man's weight; but Bringi +was very quick, he lost no time in joining the ends and +completed his brutal work. The impressions which all +those dreadful scenes left on my mind can never be +obliterated. But if the fate of the eighteen was cruel, +the fate of the remaining fifty-one was even worse.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa now rode out accompanied by the +cavalry and thousands of spearmen, and taking the +wretched Batahin with them they marched towards<a name="Page_319" id="Page_319"></a> +the parade ground. Every now and then on the way +he ordered one of them to be decapitated, and in this +way twenty-four more were killed; there were now +only twenty-seven left, and on arriving on the ground +he sent for the butchers to cut off their hands and feet; +soon there was a heap of these bleeding members, whilst +the bodies of the poor Batahin lay writhing on the +ground, beads of anguish pouring from their brows; +yet not a cry did they utter; most of them died in a +very short time. Even the most stony hearts were +touched on beholding this terrible spectacle, but no one +dared show it—in fact everyone tried to force a laugh +or a jeer, because the Khalifa himself revelled in scenes +of useless bloodshed and cruelty, while in truth the +whole population of Omdurman secretly lamented it.</p> + +<p>The bodies hung on the gallows for a day, so that +everyone might see them, whilst the mothers and +sisters of those who had been mutilated on the parade +ground begged the Khalifa's permission to go to the +spot and see if any of their relatives were still alive; +they were allowed to go, and there they found a few +still living; they dressed their bleeding limbs and +carried them on their backs to the market-place, where +they begged food for them.</p> + +<p>Never shall I forget the face of one poor woman. +With tearless eyes she bore her mutilated son in her +arms, and it would be hard to say which of the two +was suffering more—the mother or the son—the latter +lifting up his mutilated right arm while he rested his +mutilated left leg on his right to prevent anything +striking the wounded stump.</p> + +<p>It was indeed a shocking and pitiful sight. Several +of the survivors of Khartum would pass by these +wretched people, and staring at their wounds would +shout out, "Have you forgotten Khartum?" Long +after this I used to see these poor creatures dragging +themselves about in the market-place begging for alms.</p> + +<p>Soon after this the Khalifa pardoned the Batahin, +and sent Ahmed Wad el Bedri to try to persuade them +to come and settle in Omdurman; eventually they<a name="Page_320" id="Page_320"></a> +formed part of Nejumi's force, and were almost all killed +at Toski. Thus did God's vengeance overtake them for +their untold cruelties during the massacre in Khartum. +It is said that the Khalifa has repented of his wanton +slaughter of this tribe.</p> + +<p>After this, fear took possession of even the bravest, +and no further attempts at resistance were made; discontent +was everywhere rife, not in Omdurman only, +but throughout the provinces, and even the Baggara, +who were favoured in every way, and given every +possible advantage, longed to return to their own +country.</p> + +<p>It is usual, when the day's work is done, for neighbours +to collect together in the lovely moonlight nights, +for which the Sudan is so famed, and talk over matters. +The conversation always turns to politics; the latest +news from all directions is eagerly discussed, and often +the most unlikely and impossible stories are credited. +The fact is that the people long for freedom, and their +smallest hopes become exaggerated into not only possibilities, +but certainties. The proverb, "El gharkan +yemsik fi shaaru" (<i>i.e.</i> "The drowning man catches at +a straw"—literally, a hair), is being continually exemplified. +Talk also turns much on what the Khalifa said +and did, what he intends to do, what has taken place +in the last council, &c. But the Khalifa, fearing that all +these conversations might lead to conspiracies, ordered +them to be discontinued. But nevertheless they are +still carried on secretly.</p> + +<p>Near the market-place there lived a certain fiki named +Abdel Nur (<i>i.e.</i> the slave of light—that is to say, the +slave of the light of the Prophet; though, when the +Copts are called by this name, the reference is to the +light of the Redeemer). The fiki's neighbours used to +assemble in his house every evening, and of course +the conversation always turned on Mahdiism, and the +Khalifa was abused freely. Abdel Nur would talk more +excitedly than the rest, and used to say that the Sudan +no longer formed part of Islam, that both the Khalifa +and the Mahdi were unbelievers, and this he proved by<a name="Page_321" id="Page_321"></a> +quotations from the sacred books. All this was reported +by a spy to the Khalifa, who at once despatched a +company of soldiers by whom the unsuspecting party +were suddenly surrounded and carried off to prison.</p> + +<p>Early the following morning Abdel Nur was brought +before the judges, who asked him if he had really spoken +against Mahdiism. Seeing that he was now lost, he +thought this a good opportunity, in the presence of +such a large audience, to prove his assertion; he +declared that the true Mahdi should not die in Omdurman, +and that true Mahdiism would not be confined to +the Sudan alone; that the people having been once +deceived, the paths of wickedness should be avoided, +the paths of truth followed, and the oppression of the +Moslems abandoned once and for all.</p> + +<p>The judges, who in their own hearts were convinced +of the truth of Abdel Nur's assertions, were unable to +browbeat him, whilst all those who listened had little +doubt in their own minds of the truth of the statements +of this outspoken man, but fear of the Khalifa intervened +to stop them from admitting their convictions. +One of the judges at length stood up, and, desiring to +make an end of this dangerous and humiliating position, +said to Abdel Nur: "We are with the Prophet, the +Mahdi, and his Khalifa; are you with us or not?" +The fiki replied, "I am not with you," whereupon the +Khalifa sentenced him to death, and at ten o'clock the +same morning his body was dangling from the gallows; +his friends were not executed, but were severely reprimanded.</p> + +<p>This execution was so sudden and unexpected that +everyone was asking what his crime could have been, but +the Khalifa was careful to send spies to all quarters to +spread false reports about him, to the effect that he was +an unbeliever and a magician; these spies were also +told to ascertain exactly what the people said, but the +latter knew they were being watched, so they said +nothing and retired; the spies set fire to the fiki's +clothes, and the next morning reported to the Khalifa +that hell-fire had burnt them up.<a name="Page_322" id="Page_322"></a></p> + +<p>But the matter was not ended here; according to the +Moslem law, if an unbeliever be discovered, all his +neighbours within a forty yards' radius are considered +guilty, and their houses may be plundered and +destroyed. This law was carried out in the fiki's case, +and several families with all their goods were dragged +off to the beit el mal, while their homes were occupied +by the soldiers; several men were threatened with the +gallows, and there was a good deal of disturbance in +the town. The Khalifa's adherents were shouting, +"Away with these unbelievers!" Several suspected +persons were seized and kept for three days in continual +fear of death.</p> + +<p>On the third day several of the wives and families +came to the Khalifa and begged his forgiveness, throwing +dust on their heads and making every show of +Oriental grief. On this occasion the Khalifa thought +it was sufficient to thoroughly frighten them all, so on +the expiration of the three days he released them and +returned their property. He took this opportunity of +giving an order that it was the duty of every one to +report to him any fiki who was in the habit of writing +amulets; spies and informers soon produced numbers +of such fikis, who only saved their lives by making +most solemn promises to the Khalifa that they would +never again be guilty of this disobedience of orders.</p> + +<p>On another occasion a boat-boy was accused of having +said something against Mahdiism; he was hurried before +the judge, confessed his crime, and was then taken off +to the parade-ground, where the Khalifa ordered him to +be beheaded. Ahmed el Talia was the executioner, but +he made a false stroke and only gashed the youth's +shoulder, but with the second blow the head was clean +severed from the body.</p> + +<p>Abdullah's jealousy and alarm for the safety of his +kingdom now induced him to turn his attention to Wad +Adlan. As I have already narrated, Adlan had rendered +the Khalifa great services: he had put the beit el mal +in good order, had regulated the accounts on the old +Government system, and in order to increase the<a name="Page_323" id="Page_323"></a> +revenue without having recourse to force, he had +persuaded him to open trade with Egypt.</p> + +<p>It had been the Khalifa's original idea to erect a +sort of great wall of China between Egypt and the +Sudan, to prevent all ingress into his newly-acquired +dominions; but Adlan was a very tactful man, and by +degrees he induced the Khalifa to agree to his proposal. +Ivory and gum were declared to be the monopoly of +the beit el mal. Ivory comes in small quantities from +Regaf and Lado, while gum, which is purchased by the +beit el mal for five dollars a hundredweight, is sold out +by the beit el mal to merchants for twenty dollars; the +beit el mal will also accept gum as payment in lieu of +money. A lively trade soon sprang up between Berber, +Sawakin, Assuan, and Korosko; and Omdurman merchants +were allowed to come to Sawakin and purchase +goods; the beit el mal made considerable profits, and +the people were less oppressed than before.</p> + +<p>Thus did Adlan render a great service to the inhabitants +of the Sudan, and through his influence many of +the cruel measures of the Khalifa were altered. As +long as he was in charge of the beit el mal he was very +popular with all, the capital was in good hands, the +markets throve, and even when the funds in the exchequer +were low he had no difficulty in raising loans +from rich merchants on payment of bills of exchange. +Usually a loan of 5,000 to 6,000 dollars could be raised +between fifteen or twenty merchants with ease, because +of the feeling of security which Adlan's presence induced. +The white people also owe him a deep debt of +gratitude, for he gave them continuous protection.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, when it was rumoured that the +Sudan was to be invaded by Egypt, the Khalifa proposed +separating all the whites and scattering them +amongst the Arabs in various parts of the country, but +Adlan impressed upon him the necessity of retaining +them all under his own eye in Omdurman, and thereby +he rendered us an immense service; his main idea was +to lighten the Mahdiist yoke and relieve the oppression +of the people.<a name="Page_324" id="Page_324"></a></p> + +<p>But this growing contentment gradually began to be +displeasing to Abdullah, whose main object was to +reduce every one to poverty and to enrich his own +tribe, the Baggara; thus his and Adlan's views frequently +clashed, but Adlan was most prudent, and +knew when to give way. What displeased the Khalifa +most was to see numbers of people assembling every +morning outside Adlan's door waiting for him to go to +the beit el mal, where they would lay their complaints +before him.</p> + +<p>The honour they paid and the praises they heaped +upon him excited the Khalifa's jealousy, and the latter +frequently rebuked him sharply; but he took no notice +of these outbursts, and in a fit of anger he was, on +one occasion, thrown into chains for fourteen days. On +his release Adlan now thought that the Khalifa could +not get on without him, and began to show less submission +to his master's will than before. This still +further widened the breach between him and Abdullah, +which was made worse by Adlan's many enemies, who +envied him his high position.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa's brother Yakub was his most dangerous +rival, as Adlan's popularity had rather detracted from +his authority. He and others represented him to the +Khalifa as a dangerous man, who might at any moment +bring his influence to bear in direct opposition to the +Khalifa. It is therefore not to be wondered at that +Abdullah grew suspicious, and one day, when Adlan was +presenting his daily report, the Khalifa took occasion +to tell him that he was far from pleased with him, and +blamed him for his delay in sending corn to the starving +Dervishes in Dongola. Adlan answered: "What can I +do? The people won't have Mahdiism any longer, and +that is why I meet with so much opposition." Some +say that he even said much more than this; but the +Khalifa was not accustomed to be talked to in this way, +so he ordered Adlan to give up his sword, and the same +night he sent him to prison. This gave his rivals ample +occasion to speak against him, and Yakub insisted that +he should suffer death.<a name="Page_325" id="Page_325"></a></p> + +<p>Adlan was very heavily chained, and forbidden all +intercourse with the outside world. His arrest did not +at first create much excitement, but this was due to the +many false reports which were circulated regarding the +cause. On the following day it was announced that +he might have to suffer death, on the third day this +sentence was confirmed, and a messenger was sent to +Adlan to ask him if he had any choice between being +hanged or having his hand and foot cut off. Adlan +chose the former.</p> + +<p>To the beating of war-drums and the sound of the +onbeïa, he was led, with his hands bound, to the +market-place. Here numbers of Baggara horsemen +formed a square round the scaffold, and Adlan, escorted +by a guard, entered the square with firm footsteps. +When he reached the foot of the gallows, the judge +called on him to repeat the Shahada or Moslem creed, +which he did with a clear voice, then jumped on to the +angarib, adjusted the noose himself, which Bringi pulled +taut, and he swung into space, whilst at the same +instant the Baggaras drew their swords and flourished +them in the air, to signify that a like fate would surely +befall all the Khalifa's enemies. But grief was read on +every face, and never before had there been such heartfelt +lamentations in Omdurman.</p> + +<p>Ibrahim Wad Adlan was a most intelligent Sudanese, +with black face and aquiline nose. He was about thirty-five +years of age.</p> + +<p>After his body had been suspended for half-an-hour, +Yakub, accompanied by several others, took it down, +and laid it out on the angarib; the bystanders say that +Yakub could not conceal his look of half repentance, +half terror, as he gazed on the corpse of his victim. +It was wrapped in a cotton shroud, and taken to the +cemetery outside the city, where it was buried, Yakub +leading the procession. That night robbers pulled out +the body and stole the clothes in which it was laid, +leaving the corpse on the sand to be food for hyenas.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa's reason for sending Yakub to attend +Adlan's funeral could not well be misunderstood, for<a name="Page_326" id="Page_326"></a> +every one knew that Yakub had been the prime instigator +in securing his condemnation; and yet Abdullah +was short-sighted enough to imagine that in thus sending +his brother he might to some extent dissipate the +bad impression which Adlan's execution had created.</p> + +<p>The mourning for Adlan was both general and sincere; +during his whole administration he had done no harm +to anyone; he had done his utmost to smooth over difficulties +and lighten oppression, and I can confidently +affirm that he is the only man of whom this can be said, +for, as a rule, Sudanese who rise to positions of power +and authority invariably become most cruel and +arbitrary.</p> + +<p>Now what good could this execution have done for +Mahdiism? No doubt the Khalifa thought to justify +himself in the public estimation, because Adlan was too +popular, but the real reason was, that the Khalifa feared +him, for he knew that his justice and prudence had +made him beloved by the people.</p> + +<p>With the one exception that Adlan had opened commerce +with Egypt, chiefly through the secret intermediary +of a former Khartum merchant named Abdel Majid, I +do not believe there was anything else against him. It +was said that letters had been found, purporting to +have been written by Adlan, in which he had begged +the Egyptian Government to retake possession of the +Sudan; but this statement, had it been true, would +have been announced far and wide by the Khalifa; this, +however, had not been done, and it was generally agreed +that it was entirely fear on the Khalifa's part which +prompted him to take Adlan's life.</p> + +<p>All his property was confiscated, and his friends +persecuted. Some of the latter, after his death, remembered +that he had told them how, when studying +in Cairo, an old woman had foretold that he would die +a violent death. For long he paid little attention to +this prophecy; but during the siege of El Obeid, he +called it to mind, and thought it would perhaps be +fulfilled there. But when he eventually rose to high +position in Omdurman, he used to laugh at the old<a name="Page_327" id="Page_327"></a> +woman's saying. However, during his last imprisonment, +he had been firmly convinced it would come true, +and that was what made him so bold and firm when he +actually came to look death in the face.</p> + +<p>In place of Adlan, the Khalifa nominated his relative +Ez Zaki, now Emir of Berber; but he fell ill shortly +afterwards, and resigned. The Khalifa then appointed +Nur el Gereifawi (that is, a native of Gereif, near +Khartum). He had been in charge of the beit el mal +at Berber; as Nur was an intimate friend of Adlan's, it +was thought that he might suffer a like fate, but he was +a crafty individual, and had sent the Khalifa 30,000 +dollars, which he knew would have the desired effect.</p> + +<p>On arrival at Omdurman he stood by the great gate +to see the Khalifa; but Abdullah did not summon him +that evening, so he lay that night on the ground beside +the Khalifa's door—an act of humility which quite won +his heart—and the next morning Nur was officially +appointed Adlan's successor. In order to thoroughly +impress Nur with the dangers of his new situation, the +Khalifa announced to him that on the previous night +he had beheld a vision, in which he had seen hell, +and Ibrahim Adlan suffering untold agonies in the +lowest abyss, with a long chain fastened round his neck; +Nur was shackled to the other end of the chain, and +Adlan was trying to drag him down into the abyss; +but the Khalifa had unfastened the chain and released +him.</p> + +<p>Thus was Nur completely overawed, and did his +utmost to comply with the Khalifa's and Yakub's +wishes. He discharged all the Copts employed in the +beit el mal, and replaced them by blacks. Awad, formerly +head clerk of the Kassala Mudirieh, he appointed +as his assistant, and through his astuteness and +knavery he lost no opportunity of forcibly extracting +money from the people.</p> + + +<a name="Page_328" id="Page_328"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">SOCIAL LIFE AT OMDURMAN.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">System of public security and justice in Omdurman—The court of +small causes—Bribery and corruption—The story of the slave +and her mistress—How the Khalifa deals with quarrelsome +persons—Thieves and pickpockets—The story of Zogheir—Usurers +and their trade—The chief of police—Brigandage—Disproportion +of males to females in Omdurman—How the +Khalifa overcame the difficulty—Immorality—The marriage +ceremony.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">It</span> may be imagined that fear of the Khalifa and his +tyrannical rule would produce at least a feeling of +public security and immunity from lawlessness; but the +following chapter will show that this is not the case.</p> + +<p>In the early years of Mahdiism there was no discipline, +and laws were entirely put aside, because the +whole population was at war and everyone on the move. +They were living on the captured wealth and prosperity +of the Government. At that time there were not many +robbers. When we were living in Kordofan we were +perfectly safe, and could sleep with our doors open at +night. No one ever thought of taking precautions +against thieves, though nothing would have been easier +than to break into our loosely-built straw huts.</p> + +<p>After the capture of Khartum, and when Omdurman +became a large city, the former prosperity of the +country gradually began to wane, famine broke out, +and then public security became seriously threatened. +Thieves increased in such alarming numbers as to be a +terror to all; and in 1888-89 they became so bad that +people scarcely dared to go to sleep. It is true the +punishment of cutting off hands and feet was freely<a name="Page_329" id="Page_329"></a> +exercised; but even this had little effect, chiefly because +robbery and corruption went hand in hand, and a thief +had no difficulty in disposing of a bribe.</p> + +<p>As I have already narrated, the Khalifa nominated +his own judges, with Ahmed the Kadi el Islam as their +head; a special court was also established to deal with +the innumerable marriage disputes which form so large +a part of Moslem legislation. Abdullah specially instructed +his judges to consider these cases from their +external rather than from their internal aspect.</p> + +<p>The usual proofs required are the evidence on oath +of witnesses. The witness is obliged to wash himself +before taking an oath, so that he may be pure. He then +places his right hand on the Kuran, and says, "Hakk +kitab Allah" ("By God's book"), following it by his +statement. In cases of complaints, the defendant only +has the right to take an oath, whereas the complainant +must produce witnesses. If no witnesses are forthcoming, +the defendant has only to take an oath, and is then +acquitted.</p> + +<p>The real sense and meaning of an oath is absolutely +ignored. Hundreds of oaths are taken every day in the +market court on the smallest trifle, perhaps not exceeding +a piastre. The falsehood of the individual +taking the oath is frequently quite apparent; but +unless the witnesses come forward, the most flagrant +case will go unpunished.</p> + +<p>It is the popular idea that if a man swears falsely on +the Kuran, he will immediately fall down dead. This +constant perjury is very clear evidence of the depth of +moral degradation and religious decadence which the +followers of the Mahdi have now reached.</p> + +<p>In cases relating to debt, acknowledgment on the +part of the debtor of his liability is considered sufficient; +but if this is not forthcoming, then two witnesses are +required. As a consequence of the widespread mistrust +and duplicity which exists, everything, even to the +smallest matter, is generally written down on paper; +or a bargain may be struck in the presence of witnesses; +but this is not considered a safe proceeding, owing to<a name="Page_330" id="Page_330"></a> +the prevalence of bribery. The Khalifa has given very +strict injunctions that all debts must be repaid, and if +there be a delay, the debtor is to be put in prison, and +brought to reason by hunger.</p> + +<p>Let us glance for an instant into the court of justice +in the market-place of Omdurman, where most of the +small cases are tried. Here we find the sheikh es suk +(or sheikh of the market), together with the judge, +some soldiers, and (latterly only) a few Arabs, as a +police guard. The sheikh generally rides to the court at +eight o'clock every morning on a donkey. One of his +guards places his sheepskin on a small straw rukuba +(latterly this has been constructed of clay), and on this +the sheikh seats himself. He has the Kuran beside +him.</p> + +<p>The parties in dispute arrive, and the case turns, for +example, on fraudulent dealing, debts, payment in false +coinage, &c. As there are no lawyers, each party must +defend himself. As a rule the Sudanese are clever and +astute in their conversation, and the man who can talk +best has already gained half the victory. The noise and +shouting is deafening; and the Sudanese have a wonderful +display of sly cunning. The sheikh's last resource is +the Kuran.</p> + +<p>Sometimes bystanders attempt to mediate between +the disputing parties, and this course generally prolongs +the talk and noise indefinitely, and does not often succeed. +The usual punishment is flogging, which is +inflicted on the spot. Marissa-drinkers and tobacco-smokers +receive eighty lashes. The individual sentenced +has to lie prone on the ground, supporting his head with +his hands, while two slaves take it in turns to belabour +him with whips made of hippopotamus hide. The first +few strokes generally draw blood, but as a rule the +victim remains immovable, whilst the bystanders +applaud him for his courage. If he utters a cry or a +moan he is laughed at and derided. The sheikh and his +supporters are much addicted to bakshish, which enables +many a culprit to escape punishment.</p> + +<p>Should the dispute be of a very serious nature, it is<a name="Page_331" id="Page_331"></a> +brought before the high court at the Bab el Khalifa; but +here money plays even a more important part than in +the smaller court. The success or failure of the case +depends on the ability with which the opposing mediators +influence the judgment; a hint or a sign with the +hand is quite sufficient to make the judge understand, +and with marvellous astuteness he will contrive to give +the case an entirely new aspect, and one which, probably, +only a few moments before he has most strongly +condemned, but which now he thinks it advisable, under +the circumstances, to adopt; and this change of front is +carried out without the smallest hesitation.</p> + +<p>I will here give an example of what is considered +justice in Omdurman. A female slave who had for a +long time had a quarrel with her mistress decided to +have her revenge, and the fact that her mistress was in +the habit of smoking and wearing jewels aided her in +her design. She took her lady's tobacco and cigarette +papers, which were generally kept hidden under ground, +tied them in a little bundle, ran off with them to a +soldier who was her relative, and who belonged to +Yakub's bodyguard, and reported her mistress's evil +doings.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the lady, finding that her slave had run +away, sent her brother-in-law in search of her. The +family were now thoroughly disturbed, and anticipated all +sorts of bad consequences. The lady's husband hastened +to Yakub's house, thinking that perhaps the slave might +have gone there, and there, sure enough, he found her, +surrounded by a crowd of Ansar. The latter, espying +Ahmed (as we may call him), surrounded him and were +carrying him before Yakub, when Ahmed, who did not +lose his head, explained to the Ansar that he had always +been under the impression that the Khalifa had appointed +a judge to inquire into all such matters, and +that he was ready to bow to the judge's decision; so he, +the female slave, and the Ansar all went to the court. +The slave produced from her pocket the bundle, laid it +before the Kadi, and then stated her complaint against +her mistress.<a name="Page_332" id="Page_332"></a></p> + +<p>Meanwhile Ahmed had met a friend, and told him +how that for a long time the slave had been on bad +terms with her mistress, and had seized this opportunity +for revenging herself on her, adding that she had probably +obtained the tobacco and cigarette papers from +elsewhere, and had trumped up this case to harm her +mistress, who had never smoked in her life nor worn +jewels; indeed, if they liked they might go and inspect +the house.</p> + +<p>The mediator gave a sign to the judge, who at once +decided the case in Ahmed's favour, and ordered him to +go to the sheikh es suk, who had been instructed to +send some one to inspect his house.</p> + +<p>It was not a difficult matter to circumvent the sheikh +es suk, and when they all arrived at the house, the slave +was called upon to show the place in which she had been +ordered to hide her mistress's tobacco. Without a +moment's hesitation the slave came forward and began +scraping away the earth in a corner. It was evident +that she had often done this before, and that the hiding-place +had been carefully prepared—indeed, the slave +found some tobacco still there which she had not noticed +before, and this she exultingly produced; but at that +instant one of the Ansar gave her a slap on the face, +saying, "Look at this bint el kelb (daughter of a dog), +she brought some tobacco here which she purposely +dropped into the hole whilst she was clearing the earth +away." Heaped with insults by the bystanders, the +poor slave was dragged off to the market-place, where +she received eighty lashes because she had failed to +prove the truth of her assertion. Such is Omdurman +justice.</p> + +<p>Although this is but one amongst thousands of cases +of the most disgraceful corruption, still all this serves to +keep the slaves in order, and were it not so, there is +little doubt that masters would stand in constant +danger, and would be at the mercy of their slaves. +Indeed, many slaves have succeeded in getting their +masters into great disfavour by informing on them, +and this makes the masters in great fear of their slaves<a name="Page_333" id="Page_333"></a> +Even if a slave has been born and brought up in his +master's house he cannot be trusted, and if he receive +some slight punishment, it is more than probable he +will go off and report his master as a smoker, marissa-drinker, +or that he has become lax in the cause of Mahdiism; +and, as likely as not, he will be flogged, or receive +some worse punishment.</p> + +<p>According to Moslem law a slave's evidence against +his master is considered invalid; but this law, as well as +all other laws, is only applied according to the Khalifa's +wishes and the circumstances of the case: the same +remark applies to the value of evidence given under +torture.</p> + +<p>Curiously enough, murders are seldom committed, and +when the wild nature of the Sudanese is considered, it +is contrary to what one would expect. Quarrels and +disputes are endless, but in spite of being armed, both +parties seem to expend their energy in violent talking +and gesticulation. The Khalifa has given the +strictest orders regarding "assault and battery;" if a +man hits another man, he will be liable to have his +hand cut off, and this order is generally unflinchingly +carried out, unless the condemned man be well off, and +he will then have his property confiscated, as the following +case will show:—</p> + +<p>A dispute once arose between a merchant named +Yusef Kurdi and a certain Mohammed, son of the rich +Ben en Naga; both were intoxicated at the time, had +drawn their swords and slightly wounded each other. +The affair reached the Khalifa's ears; he ordered both of +them to be arrested, and threatened to cut off their +hands; but, as a matter of fact, he really wanted to +secure some of their money. Old Ben en Naga, a man +of ninety years of age, threw himself at the Khalifa's +feet and begged that his son's punishment might be +altered, and after a few days' confinement and continued +threats, the Khalifa was at length graciously pleased to +commute the sentence into confiscation of property. +Yusef Kurdi paid 6,000 dollars and Ben en Naga's son +5,000 dollars, while both of them were kept in prison<a name="Page_334" id="Page_334"></a> +for many months to expiate their hasty step. With +no less energy did the Khalifa deal with thieves and +swindlers.</p> + +<p>There are various classes of thieves: there are the +pickpockets, whose field of labour lies principally in the +markets, the small bazaars, and landing-places. They +are principally Khartum people or Egyptians, and their +feats of dexterity are marvellous. The removal and +cutting out of purses and money-bags is for them a +quite simple operation, and is generally performed when +people are engaged in a violent dispute. The thief has +generally a confederate with whom he works. They +will sit in the crowded ferry-boats, and whilst one of +them attracts the attention of his fellow-passengers by +singing or telling an exciting story, the accomplice is +busily engaged in pocket-picking; or sometimes one of +them will begin rocking the boat whilst the other takes +advantage of the passengers' alarm by robbing them. +They hover about all day long in the market, watching +their opportunities to steal both from purchasers and +vendors. Stolen goods are sold to a particular set of +men who are in league with the thieves, and the money +obtained is quickly squandered. The art of pocket-picking +has become quite a science, and so skilful are +they that detection is almost impossible. The stolen +goods are passed on so readily from hand to hand that +even if the original thief is caught the person robbed +will probably never secure what he has lost. Over and +over again thieves are apprehended <i>in flagrante</i>, but +when brought up before the judge, no trace of the +stolen article is ever found. Frequently the judge does +not fail to get his share of thieves' profits; so that the +latter have every inducement to continue their nefarious +practices.</p> + +<p>But far more dangerous than the pickpockets are the +housebreakers. Of the latter there is a regularly organized +body, of whom the chief is known as the Sheikh +el Haramieh. The band is made up of strong and bold +slaves, who are experts at breaking through walls or +climbing over them, armed with a long knife, with which<a name="Page_335" id="Page_335"></a> +they would not fail to stick anyone who attempted to +stop them. They employ women and children as spies, +who go about begging from house to house, and then +give the housebreakers full information, whereupon the +thieves, stripped almost naked, and armed with swords +and daggers, break into the house. One of them is +always told off to stand over the sleeping owner, and to +give him his quietus if he should attempt to rise, whilst +the others ransack the dwelling, and are off again as +quickly as they came, to divide the spoil. Whenever +the cry of "El Harami" ("Thieves") is heard at night, +all sleep is banished, and a careful watch kept till +morning.</p> + +<p>Formerly watch-dogs were most useful to warn against +housebreakers, but the Khalifa decreed that they were +impure animals, and forbade them to be kept. Not a +dog is now to be seen in the whole of Omdurman; but +in spite of this injunction, the Arabs living in the desert +still keep them. If one of these poor animals by chance +strays into the town he is at once pursued by a multitude +armed with spears, shouting "Arian!" ("Naked!") +and he is soon despatched.</p> + +<p>A man called Zogheir—an Egyptian, born at Bara—became +quite one of the most celebrated of thieves. +From an early age he was brought up to steal, and became +most skilful. To a strong constitution he added a +courage which was worthy of higher things. As head +of a band of thieves he led many a daring undertaking, +and had the most wonderful knack of always escaping +all harm himself. On one occasion, when there were +scores of complaints made against him, he was sent to +the lock-up of the market. The sheikh es suk, who +was at that time rather short of money, promised to +release the prisoners if they could collect fifty dollars +amongst them.</p> + +<p>Zogheir agreed to get the money, and was given one +hour's release from prison. He at once went to the +market, and very soon found a victim in the person of a +dammur (cloth) vendor, who had sold almost all his +goods, and sat with his purse full of money in front of<a name="Page_336" id="Page_336"></a> +him. Zogheir seated himself down beside him, and +started a conversation about the cloth, which he began +turning over piece by piece, and with great dexterity he +succeeded in seizing the purse, which he secreted under +his jibbeh. He then went off to the judge, to whom he +presented the purse, in which were seventy dollars, and +then quietly returned to the lock-up, and told his guard +to again put his chains on.</p> + +<p>The cloth merchant soon discovered the theft, rushed +off madly to the market court, and there represented +that a thief—and it could have been no one else but +Zogheir, for he had been sitting with him—had stolen +his money. The sheikh severely reprimanded the merchant +for making a false accusation, asking whether he +was a liar or was mad, and then, taking him off to the +prison, he showed him Zogheir heavily bound in chains; +and after this the unfortunate merchant had to thank +his good fortune that he himself did not receive a +flogging.</p> + +<p>During the famine Zogheir drove a thriving trade. On +one occasion he discovered some Arabs in the market +who had just sold a quantity of dhurra, and were counting +out their money, which amounted to 700 dollars, +which they were carefully examining, to see that all +were good. This sight made Zogheir long to get +the money, so he winked to his accomplice, and then +seated himself near the Arabs, and began asking them +whether he could offer them "Medjidie" in exchange +for "Makbul" dollars.</p> + +<p>When the agreement was nearly concluded, Zogheir +took two dollars out of his pocket and gave them to one +of his accomplices, to buy some dates, and when the +man returned with the dates he began throwing them +about in all directions, calling out "Karama! Karama!" +("Alms! Alms!"). The starving beggars flocked to +him in crowds, and began quarrelling over the dates, +whilst the leather bag in which were the 700 dollars +suddenly disappeared.</p> + +<p>The cries of the Arabs, searching for their lost money, +could scarcely be heard in the frightful din occasioned<a name="Page_337" id="Page_337"></a> +by the distribution of the dates, and all this time +Zogheir kept on condoling with the Arabs over their +loss, and then he seized a favourable moment to make +off and divide the contents of the leather bag amongst +his friends. At length complaints against him became +so numerous that he was sentenced to have his right +hand and left foot cut off. He submitted quite cheerfully +to the operation, which is really a very simple one.</p> + +<p>A butcher is called up, who ties the arm and foot +tightly with string just above the place where the cut is +to be made. This butcher, who has had an immensity +of practice, knows exactly where to cut, and it takes +only a very few moments to sever the hand and foot at +the joints. The tightly-tied string keeps the victim +from bleeding profusely, and in order to prevent gangrene +or mortification setting in, the mutilated members +are at once dipped into boiling oil or fat, and are then +smeared over with katran (a sort of mixture of tar and +grease), or sesame. In the course of about two months +the cure is complete—that is to say, the cure of those +who survive the first shock; but several succumb as +well. However, the enormous number of cripples in +Omdurman is practical evidence that the nerves of +Sudanese are strong.</p> + +<p>Zogheir survived the operation, but hardly had he +recovered than he began his old tricks again. He now +was possessor of a fine donkey, on which he rode about +in far better clothes than he had before, and altogether, +with his diminished members, his condition seemed to +have generally improved. But continual thefts again +drove him into prison, where he wore two chains on his +foot and two on his neck; still he thought it beneath +him to take to crutches, and contented himself with +hopping about on one leg. He remained in prison for +two years, and during the whole of that time he was +well looked after by his friends, who supplied all his +wants. At last he was released, and is once more the +best professional thief in the Sudan.</p> + +<p>But thieves are not all—there are swindlers as well. +Several people wished to give their money out to<a name="Page_338" id="Page_338"></a> +interest, and of course there were numbers found ready +to give them what they asked. The Prophet, however, +forbids money to be lent out at a monthly rate of +interest, and the Mahdi renewed this injunction with +threats that an infringement of it would involve confiscation +of property; this led the swindlers to adopt a +variety of subterfuges. For instance, some men would +induce the Arabs to give them 200 to 300 dollars, with +which they set up a restaurant, promising the lenders +half profits in the concern. As long as the cook has +money in hand everything goes on well, and the Arab +will probably make daily inquiries as to the progress of +the business. "It is going on capitally," is the reply, +and the cook entertains his patron, who in turn is much +gratified at his generosity, and generally makes a very +excellent meal.</p> + +<p>A careful account is kept, and prices are high. At +the end of the month the profits are divided, and the +Arab gets from say eight to fifteen dollars. The business +goes on perhaps for a year, the Arab is content and +lavish in his praises, but he is not aware that the +cook has paid him his share of the profits out of the +original money he put into the concern. At the end of +about a year the cook begins to complain that "es suk +barid" ("The market is getting cold")—<i>i.e.</i> business is +slack, meat is dear, customers are few, and instead of +profit there is a distinct loss. Finding he is the only +customer, the Arab patron eats quickly and goes away. +At last the shop is closed, and the Arab, coming for his +money, is met with the simple answer, "There is none." +The case is brought before the judge, the cook hands in +a statement of his accounts, showing that the profit +amounted to 150 dollars, of which eighty were passed +to the credit of the patron in food, and the rest had been +lost owing to general depression of trade. The accounts +are all right, and the Arab is thoroughly puzzled as to +why he should have to pay so dearly for his cook's +proffered kindness.</p> + +<p>Several Arabs, who have considerably less knowledge +of the world than the Gellabas, have lost all they<a name="Page_339" id="Page_339"></a> +possessed by these swindles. The Omdurman market +is, I suppose, the scene of more swindling and deception +than any other place of its size in the world. There is +no shame in being a thief or a swindler; it is only +when one is found out that some shame attaches.</p> + +<p>Several masters keep slaves for the express purpose +of getting them to rob and steal, and share the profits +with them. Slaves of this description are valuable +commodities, as, if they are discovered, it is generally +pretty certain that their master can bribe the judges; +but this, of course, all depends on the relations which +exist between the individual and the local authorities. +Thus tobacco-smokers and marissa-drinkers must pay a +monthly sum to the sheikh es suk, which enables them to +carry out their lawless practices with impunity. If any +such individual refuse to pay, his habits are at once +reported, and he is severely punished, the confiscated +tobacco being then sold by the police.</p> + +<p>Complaints against these evil practices, and regarding +the absence of public security in Omdurman, grew so +continuous and so serious, that at length the Khalifa +was obliged to interfere, and the following case brought +the matter to a head. A drunken slave had shot one of +his fellow slaves. In accordance with the law, the +master is permitted to take the offending slave's life; +but he forgave him, because he did not wish to lose two +slaves at once.</p> + +<p>When the Khalifa heard of the case, he at once +ordered the slave to be executed. After this, every one +came and told him about the smokers and marissa-drinkers; +and then and there he appointed a certain +Wad er Reis, also named Hussein Wad ed Dayim, as +sheikh of the market.</p> + +<p>This man, who had been formerly Mamur of the +Berber police, succeeded in making himself feared by +the thieves. He openly told the Khalifa that it would +never do to treat thieves according to the law, and that +only the strongest and most energetic measures would +effect the breaking up of the band.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa agreed; and at once the new chief of<a name="Page_340" id="Page_340"></a> +police seized all the well-known thieves and put them +in chains. They were then bastinadoed, and forced to +confess what they had stolen, to whom the goods had +been sold, and their value. And thus they got to +know the names of almost all the thieves in the +town.</p> + +<p>These measures created a great sensation in Omdurman, +for it was found that several people in high places +were implicated, and they were convicted. The thieves, +too, seized this opportunity for extorting hush-money; +but Wad er Reis soon re-established public security. +To increase the supervision, he divided the market into +quarters, over which he appointed sub-sheikhs (known +as sheikh el hara), who were responsible, with the +assistance of the inhabitants of the quarter, for preserving +security at night. Numbers of marissa-drinkers +were apprehended, and a large quantity of confiscated +tobacco was publicly burnt in the market-place. All +the principal thieves were transported to the convict-station +at Regaf, a course which the Khalifa thought +preferable to mutilation of the hand and foot.</p> + +<p>Just about this time an Egyptian convict, who had +escaped from Sawakin, arrived in Omdurman. He had +been convicted of false coining in Egypt, and had been +sentenced to ten years penal servitude at Sawakin. +While in the prison there, he and a companion had +come to an agreement with the soldier guarding them, +and all three had escaped and set off for Berber. The +soldier and the other man had died on the journey, and +the survivor, having reached Omdurman, begged to be +presented to the Khalifa; but Abdullah thought it +beneath his dignity to interview an escaped convict. +He was therefore transferred at once to the steamer +bound for Regaf with all the thieves and other exiles, +whilst the Khalifa was heard to remark that anyone +who came from Egypt was invariably a criminal or +dishonest man.</p> + +<p>The new posts of sheikh el hara were unpaid, and +as the holders had to live, they were forced to make +money by unfair means. This led to the old tobacco<a name="Page_341" id="Page_341"></a> +and marissa abuse, so that matters soon drifted back +into much the same condition as before.</p> + +<p>The caravan roads into the interior are fairly safe, +but merchants always prefer to travel in parties of +twenty to thirty; though, as a matter of fact, the +Baggara garrisons at the various posts are a much +greater source of danger to the merchants than are the +thieves and brigands. These Baggara wring money +out of the merchants, and steal their goods; but if the +caravan is large, they are afraid to do anything which +may lead to reprisals. The Khalifa has, however, done +much to improve public security in the provinces, +and punishes severely when cases are brought to his +notice.</p> + +<p>The state of public morality in the Sudan is very +bad, and in Omdurman it could not well be worse. +Before the Mahdi appeared, matters were bad enough. +Almost all the large towns, such as Khartum, Messalamieh, +Metemmeh, and El Obeid—especially the latter—were +hotbeds of immorality of the very worst description.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi was utterly opposed to all these evil +habits, and during his life matters greatly improved; +but this was due rather to the fact that the whole +country was under arms, and that the towns were +practically deserted. Besides, punishment for such +crimes was ungrudgingly given, and the stoppage of +marissa-drinking also tended to lessen the evils. +Marriage ceremonies were simplified and made less +expensive, and a distinct advance in public morality +was apparent.</p> + +<p>But when the principal fighting was over, and the +victorious emirs gave themselves over to a life of +luxury and debauchery, when idle town life took the +place of religious campaigns, when houses were built of +mud and bricks instead of rough straw huts, and when +the Mahdi died, then immorality broke forth with the +redoubled violence of long compression, and the state +of affairs became infinitely worse than it had ever been +in the old Government days. I refer especially to<a name="Page_342" id="Page_342"></a> +Omdurman. Constant warfare had greatly diminished +the male population. Omdurman was full of women +who had neither husbands nor male relations; and this +is the real cause of the evil state of affairs.</p> + +<p>Matters reached such a pitch in 1888 that the Khalifa +issued an order that every unmarried woman must be +provided with a husband within three days, or she +would be handed over to a Baggara as a slave or +concubine. In consequence of this order, for the space +of three days the whole town was continuously occupied +in marriage ceremonies. Men seized this opportunity +of taking women whom they would never, +under other circumstances, have been allowed to marry; +and of course these forced marriages could not be of +long duration—in a month or two most of the couples +were separated.</p> + +<p>Another cause which tended towards immorality was +the fact that numbers of men had been sent off to +far-distant parts of the country on expeditions, unaccompanied +by their wives, most of whom were left in +Omdurman for years; and it is hardly to be wondered +at if in time they began to forget their husbands and +to form unlawful connections, in which the Khalifa had +frequently to interfere.</p> + +<p>On one occasion upwards of eighty women, whose +infidelity to their husbands was unquestionable, were +put in prison, and a council held to consider what +should be done to them. It was decided to make an +example of one, and the victim selected was an +unfortunate who had borne two illegitimate children. +The poor creature was led into the women's quarter of +the market, and there she was lowered into a grave +with her last child tied to her bosom, and both stoned +to death by a cruel and hard-hearted crowd, who +seemed to take a fiendish delight in this inhuman piece +of work.</p> + +<p>This, however, was the only execution of the sort +which took place during Mahdiism. The other women +were released; but the only effect of the above example +was to induce women to take criminal means to rid<a name="Page_343" id="Page_343"></a> +themselves of these evidences of illicit connection; and +the open sale of abortive medicines only tended to +further increase the moral decadence of the people. +One can truthfully say that feelings of horror and +shame scarcely exist in the Sudan. From slaves of all +ages and sexes, to the little child of six years old, all +are instructed in the very worst forms of immorality; +but on this painful and disgusting subject I will say no +more.</p> + +<p>Gradually the simple marriage laws introduced by +the Mahdi gave place to the old former customs. For +example, the Emir of Berber, Abdel Majid, married the +daughter of Abderrahman Bey Ben en Naga, and received +from her father 2,000 grammes of gold. The marriage +ceremony, which was celebrated with dancing and +singing, lasted about a month; but when the Khalifa +heard of it, he had the emir imprisoned for some months, +declared the marriage dissolved, sent the bride back to +her father, and forbade him to let the bridegroom ever +take her again.</p> + +<p>But the Sudanese have a passion for such ceremonies +involving dancing and singing, and will never be +restrained by any of these new laws. The women wear +jewellery as before; they dance, sing, and prepare marissa; +games of chance too are quite in vogue; but of +course everything is carried on secretly. From time to +time the Khalifa raises his voice against it, and then +for a few days everything stops; but it soon breaks out +again, and goes on just as before.</p> + +<p>The festivals consequent on the termination of +Ramadan, on Bairam, on the occasion of births, circumcisions, +&c., are not carried out with any degree of their +former brilliance. Perhaps a meat meal is given, and +visits paid two or three times in the year. The old +days of rejoicing have vanished, all is anguish and fear, +no man's life and property are secure; every one has +perforce to break the laws, which are most of them quite +impracticable, and at the same time are in constant fear +of spies, who are everywhere. There is no security, justice, +or liberty; and happiness and content are unknown.</p> + +<a name="Page_344" id="Page_344"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE KHALIFA'S TREATMENT OF THE WHITE CAPTIVES.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Description of the prison, or "Saier"—The "Abu Haggar"—The +imprisonment of Charles Neufeld—Terrible sufferings of the +prisoners—Domenico Polinari—The danger of corresponding +with the European prisoners—Neufeld threatened with death—He +is given charge of the saltpetre pits—The fate of Sheikh +Khalil, the Egyptian envoy—The Khalifa's treatment of the +"Whites"—Exile to the White Nile.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">In</span> the preceding pages frequent reference has been +made to the prison. This is an institution of so much +importance in connection with Mahdiism that it merits +a description in detail.</p> + +<p>"Saier!" In the Sudan the bare mention of this +word causes a shudder. The ordinary word for prison +is "siggen," but Saier is really a contraction for beit es +Saier (<i>i.e.</i> the house of the Saier). Saier is the name of +a terrible individual of the Gowameh tribe of Kordofan, +who has been gaoler since the early days of the Mahdi, +and his name has become the synonym of the horrible +place of which he is the guardian.</p> + +<p>A curious story is told about his name which is said +to be true. The Gowameh women are not renowned for +moral virtue, and when Saier was born his mother was +asked whose son he was; she was unable to say, and when +brought before the authorities and again questioned, she +replied that it was "Saier" (<i>i.e.</i> it was the custom of +her country); the boy was therefore called Saier, and +the name clung to him.</p> + +<p>Up to the time of the fall of Khartum, the prison had +been merely a large zariba, and it was only after the +Mahdi's death that a wall, built by the prisoners them<a name="Page_345" id="Page_345"></a>selves, +took the place of the thorn hedge. It is situated +on the river bank, and consists of a large yard, in the +centre of which is a building made of mud, straw, and +stones, known as "abu haggar" (or the stone hut), with +small square openings for a window and a door; near +the hut is a well. In one corner are the cells, which are +scarcely large enough to contain a man, and which had +been built by Charles Neufeld.</p> + +<p>The ordinary prisoners are not kept apart, but lie +under the shade of the wall during the day, and at night +they are packed, some into the abu haggar and some +left to lie about in the yard. A few of the well-off +prisoners, who are in for long terms of imprisonment, +have been allowed to build little huts for themselves. +And just behind the gate is a small sun-dried brick +building, which belonged to Wad Gazuli, late sub-Mudir +of Khartum, who deserted to the Mahdi before Gordon's +arrival; this hut is only big enough for two people, and +so low that it is impossible to stand upright in it.</p> + +<p>It is considered a very great favour to be given a +hut of this description—a favour which is only conferred +on very privileged prisoners; it is, moreover, very +expensive, but it has this merit, that the occupier can at +any rate live separately. There are only three huts of +this description in the prison.</p> + +<p>Prisoners are not allowed to use mattresses, but the +owner of a hut can have a small platform slightly raised +from the ground, on which he is allowed to sleep. The +ordinary prisoners generally lie on their sheepskins or +on mats stretched on the ground.</p> + +<p>All prisoners are in chains, the number of which +depends on the nature of the crime committed. The +chains, called makias, consist of large iron rings forged +to the ankles, and joined by one and sometimes two +thick iron bars. The whole thing is very cumbersome +and heavy, and most tiring to walk with. To lighten +this difficulty, the prisoners generally attach a piece of +string to the chains, with which they lift them up as +they walk. If the connecting bar is twelve inches long +walking is greatly facilitated. Prisoners who have<a name="Page_346" id="Page_346"></a> +fallen under the Khalifa's special displeasure are +generally laden with four makias, which make it almost +impossible to rise; besides these, a long heavy chain is +fastened round the neck, and to prevent the skin being +chafed, leather stocks can be bought of the prison +warders. Close to the prison gate is a large anvil and +several hammers; the foot is placed in the open ring, +the ends of which are so tightly hammered together that +it is quite impossible to withdraw the foot; the anvil is +in such constant use every day that it is almost worn out.</p> + +<p>Prisoners have to arrange for their own food; if they +have any relations or friends they are generally supplied +by them, or if they have any money they can buy their +own food from hawkers who are permitted to come +into the prison. But woe to the unfortunate prisoner +who has neither relations nor friends—he must inevitably +die of starvation.</p> + +<p>At night, as I have remarked, the prisoners are +locked up in the stone hut, and sometimes the Saier +crowds it up to such an extent that the inmates are +almost suffocated or crushed to death. When he is in +want of money he does this, for a man will give anything +to be released from this awful black hole, in which +he packs them like sardines in a box and then closes +the door. The walls of the hut become heated during +the day, so that within the temperature is like an oven. +A little air gets in through the small opening, but the +pestiferous atmosphere caused by scores of perspiring +human beings tightly huddled together is beyond +measure unbearable. Several may be suffering from +various illnesses, but there is no possibility of getting +out once the door is closed. These horrible scenes can, +however, be better imagined than described; suffice +it to say that the noise and quarrelling amongst the +prisoners, occasioned by the revolting operations which go +on, is generally quelled by the guards coming in with +whips, with which they lay about them roundly, and +then go out and close the door again.</p> + +<p>Sleep is almost quite out of the question, for there is +no room to stretch out the legs, the heat is unbearable;<a name="Page_347" id="Page_347"></a> +scorpions abound, and every now and then a yell shows +that some unfortunate individual has been stung; but +no one takes any notice. Cases of heat apoplexy often +occur, and deaths on this account are frequent. When a +person falls down in a fit, the only remark passed is, "ed +dam darabu" ("The blood has beaten him"). Thus, in +utter anguish and misery, the night is dragged through. +The moment the door is opened a rush is made for the +open air, the dead are dragged out, their chains knocked +off, and then they are buried.</p> + +<p>Prisoners who have special permission to sleep outside +are all chained together to prevent flight, and are +guarded by numbers of soldiers. The slightest show of +resistance on the part of a prisoner is punished by +flogging. Unless the Khalifa gives special orders to +the contrary, prisoners are allowed to receive visits +from their friends and relatives. There are no fixed +periods of imprisonment, except in the case of smokers +and marissa-drinkers, the usual punishment for them +being confiscation of property, eighty lashes, and forty +days imprisonment; but latterly a fine, estimated at +the value of their property, is levied instead of complete +confiscation; the two other portions of the sentence +are, however, always inflicted.</p> + +<p>Prisoners are generally divided into three classes: +the first class comprise those who are sentenced by the +chief of the beit el mal, and although there is a special +prison for offenders against the beit el mal, all serious +cases are brought to the Saier.</p> + +<p>Second-class prisoners are those undergoing sentences +of the judges; both these classes hope for release whenever +a sufficiently influential person will pay a sum of money +for them, which sum must also be accompanied by a +certificate from the Saier that they have been conducting +themselves properly during their stay in prison.</p> + +<p>The third class are those on whom the vials of the +Khalifa's wrath have been poured out; their crimes are +for the most part political, and all mediation in their +cases is quite useless, no one, not even the judge, is allowed +to say a good word for them to the Khalifa. It is only<a name="Page_348" id="Page_348"></a> +when his wrath is somewhat abated that it may occur +to himself to make inquiries about them, and then, +perhaps, he may consider recommendations for their +release; but the Saier's opinion goes for much more +than any other person's, and therefore it is a great point +to secure this individual's favour and get into his good +graces. One bad word from the Saier can do an infinity +of harm, and may indefinitely postpone a release which +has been on the point of being made.</p> + +<p>The Saier thoroughly understands how to work his +influence, for he benefits considerably by his exercise of +power; he receives no pay, and therefore he is entirely +dependent on what he can make out of the prisoners. +The richer his victims, the more pleased he is, for he +knows he can wring money out of them freely. Once a +month the judge or his representative goes with a clerk +to the Saier and makes a list of all the prisoners, showing +how long each prisoner has been in confinement. +On these occasions numbers of the inmates throw themselves +at the feet of the judges and beg to be released +because they are starving. This list is shown by the +judge to the Khalifa, and Charles Neufeld's name +always appears at the top. Abdullah goes through the +list, makes careful inquiries about the prisoners, some +are released and others passed over in silence, a sign +which bodes them no good.</p> + +<p>The Saier has seen and heard not a few of the misfortunes +of both Sudanese and Europeans. The first +Europeans he knew were Slatin Bey and Lupton Bey. +Gustav Klootz was put into chains in Abu Girgeh's +camp. During the siege of Khartum it was thought +the Europeans might attempt to escape to Gordon, +they were therefore put in chains; both Slatin and +Lupton spent upwards of ten months in chains under +the Saier; they suffered dreadfully from hunger and +ill-treatment, and were frequently threatened with +death. After the fall of Khartum they were released, +and were told by the Khalifa that they should feel +thankful to have been in prison, otherwise they would +undoubtedly have shared Gordon's fate.<a name="Page_349" id="Page_349"></a></p> + +<p>One of our Mission brothers, Domenico Polinari, was +also kept in prison for six months; he was imprisoned +the same day that I arrived from Kordofan.</p> + +<p>After the fall of Khartum, Polinari's brother had +been working as gardener in the Mission grounds, +under his new master, the Khalifa Sherif. The former +gardener, a Dongolawi, had been dismissed for dishonesty, +and before he left, Sherif ordered him to be +carefully examined, as it was thought he might have +taken some of his master's property. Polinari, who was +a most conscientious man, and had never even taken +a lemon without his master's permission, carried out the +search most carefully, and succeeded in getting back +quantities of things the thief had made away with. +For a time the thief said nothing, but soon his innate +Danagla astuteness came to his assistance, and he +concocted a plan to revenge himself on Polinari, and +again become chief gardener.</p> + +<p>The war material, just as it had been left by Gordon +in the Mission house, was still there, and it happened +that one day some powder was stolen. In spite of the +most careful inquiries, it was impossible to trace the +thief, and now the ex-gardener began to throw out +hints that Polinari was implicated in the theft. A +certain Hajji Zubeir was entrusted with the inquiry. +Polinari's hut was overhauled, but nothing found in it; +his honesty was so well known that no one would +credit any evil reports or slander against him. But +the ex-gardener was not to be put off. Having failed +in his first accusation, he now began to spread reports +that Polinari drank liquor and chewed tobacco, and in +proof of this he produced a large glass bottle and some +dried herbs; there were some fresh dates in the bottle, +with which Polinari intended making vinegar, which the +gardener insisted was liquor; the dried vegetable was +a sort of cabbage which Polinari intended cooking for +his food, but this the Dongolawi asserted to be tobacco.</p> + +<p>The unfortunate Polinari was obliged to walk through +Omdurman with the bottle on his head, followed by +an insulting and disorderly crowd, until he came before<a name="Page_350" id="Page_350"></a> +the judge. Kadi Ahmed, who was well known for his +partiality to Europeans, at once recognised that this +was all a trumped-up slander, and was anxious to +release Polinari; but Hajji Zubeir, who had still great +influence with the Khalifa, and instigated by the ex-gardener, +sent him off to the Saier. Every other day +we used to send him some bread and dates, but the +slave to whom the food had been consigned never +delivered it, as we afterwards discovered, and had it not +been that two of the sheikhs, who were fellow-prisoners +with him, had given him some of their food, he must +have died of starvation.</p> + +<p>Amongst the many Sudanese who have at various +times been inmates of the Saier, may be mentioned the +aged sheikh of the Shukrieh, who had been most loyal +to Gordon, Awad el Kerim Abu Sin—he died in prison; +Wad Zaid, of the Debaineh tribe, had been kept in +prison four years; then there were Ahmed Wad +Suleiman, who had been the Mahdi's chief of the beit el +mal; Saleh Pasha Wad el Mek, one of Gordon's +principal officers; the Ashraf Sayid Abdel Kader and +Sayid Abdel Kerim; Wad Adlan we have already +referred to; Jabrallah, Sultan of Darfur, and his five +sons, most of whom died; Wad en Nejumi; Sheikh +Idris; Makin Wad en Nur, and many others.</p> + +<p>When the Khalifa's tribe, the Taisha, first arrived, +they plundered the market, and Abdullah threw +200 of them into prison, "to teach them," he said, +"the right way." Every night fifty of them were +driven into the stone hut, which was, indeed, a terrible +change from their forests and plains. Every day +several died of typhus fever, and now the mere mention +of Saier makes them tremble; even their head sheikh, +El Ghazali, whose misfortunes I have already narrated, +spent some months in prison before he made his unsuccessful +attempt to escape.</p> + +<p>Yasin, a Jaali, who had fallen into the hands of the +English at Toski, and who was subsequently released, +and given a letter to take to the Khalifa from the +Egyptian Government, had to pay dearly for saying<a name="Page_351" id="Page_351"></a> +to Abdullah that they could not fight against the +English.</p> + +<p>Another of the captives taken at Toski, but who also +returned to Omdurman, was much more crafty in his +interview with the Khalifa; this individual related that, +when in Cairo, an old monk had said to him, "Is not the +Khalifa of the Mahdi called Abdullah?" to which he +replied, "Yes; it is so." "Is he not slightly lame?" +"Yes." "Is he not marked with small-pox?" "Yes." +Then the monk said, "Do you see this book? It +contains the history of the Mahdi and his successor, +and it is stated in it that Khalifa Abdullah shall +conquer Egypt, Syria, and Mecca." The Khalifa was +so delighted with the story that, turning round to his +people, he said, "You see the Christians know perfectly +well that Mahdiism is not false." The wily author of +the story was then given a present of money.</p> + +<p>Occasionally the Saier treats his prisoners very +cruelly. Two fikis who were suspected of being unbelievers +were given 1,000 lashes each; one died on the +spot, and the other a few days afterwards. Occasionally +he relieves the monotony by giving his prisoners +400 lashes, which is not considered an <a name="tn_png_367"></a><!--TN:"out-of-the way" changed to "out-of-the-way"-->out-of-the-way +punishment.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, two Ababdeh Arabs coming from +Korosko as merchants, were discovered south of +Metemmeh with rifles in parts, carefully concealed in +bales of cloth; letters were also found on them. They +were at once considered to be spies, and taken before +the Khalifa. As soon as it was rumoured that Arabs +carrying letters for the Europeans had been caught, +a friend came to me at once, and told me that the +letters were sure to be addressed to me. This threw +me into a fever of anguish and alarm; I was made +a prisoner, and spent that night in the greatest terror. +The Khalifa had warned us most distinctly not to +correspond with Egypt, and threatened to imprison us +if a letter should ever be discovered.</p> + +<p>On this occasion I had every reason to be alarmed, +for I had already had a similar experience. After<a name="Page_352" id="Page_352"></a> +Father Bonomi had escaped, he sent a Kababish Arab +to Kordofan to try and secure my escape. The Arab +remained with Sheikh Saleh Bey, and did not, to my +knowledge, ever come to El Obeid. When Saleh was +killed in 1887, they found amongst his papers a letter +from Father Bonomi to me, advising me to trust the +Arab, who would not fail to guide me safely to Halfa. +This letter was brought, with the other correspondence, to +the Khalifa, and was translated to him: he was furious, +and had not my guardian angel protected me, I must +have been relegated to prison.</p> + +<p>Arabic letters are less dangerous, for they are read +out to the Khalifa by his secretary, but he is always +mistrustful that European letters are correctly translated. +How I had longed for letters, even a word from +the outside world, or from my relations or friends; but +now in my captivity how earnestly I prayed that no +letter for me should be found amongst those brought +by the Arabs!</p> + +<p>As soon as it was daylight I went out in search of +news, and to my delight was told that the letters were +in Arabic and were not for me, but for some one whom +I knew very well. The contents of the letters were +quite harmless, merely an interchange of compliments +between families in Cairo and Omdurman, and news of +a wedding which had taken place in Cairo. However, +the two men who brought the letters were in no little +fear, thinking they would certainly be executed; but +the Khalifa had thoroughly mastered their contents, +and though it was evening, he mounted his big white +horse, in which position he usually made his important +speeches to the Ansar, and he told them that letters had +been captured which had come from Egypt and were +addressed to the "Ansar el Gudad" (<i>i.e.</i> the "new +Ansar," or inhabitants of Khartum and the Blue Nile, +in contra-distinction to the "Ansar el Gudum," or old +Ansar of Kordofan, who were the original adherents of +the Mahdi); that he did not intend to mention the +names of the persons to whom the letters were addressed, +but he was sure they would spend a sleepless night.<a name="Page_353" id="Page_353"></a></p> + +<p>The next morning the two Arabs were sent to the +Saier, but their lives were spared. A few days later I +went to see Neufeld in prison and inquired about the +Arabs. I saw them both chained, and when they saw +me they at once asked me for something, addressing +me as Baladieh (<i>i.e.</i> one of their own countrymen), as +they took me for an Egyptian; and then they told me +in strict secrecy that they had come with the intention +of securing the flight of two persons—one Mankarius +Gottas, who had died in Galabat, and the other a +resident in Berber, by whose imprudence they had been +betrayed; these unfortunate men had had nothing to +eat for three days, so I gave them a few piastres which +I had brought for Neufeld, and as I did not dare to +stay longer with them I begged Zogheir to look after +them.</p> + +<p>Fifteen days afterwards I returned and found the +poor men stretched out dead under the wall, they had +died of starvation, and the guards had just come to +knock off their chains and carry their bodies out of the +yard. The sight of these two Ababdehs filled my +heart with sadness; there they lay, nothing but a mass +of skin and bone; they had come to help poor captives +to escape, and this was their own miserable end. This, +indeed, was a warning to me to act with increased +prudence and caution.</p> + +<p>An Egyptian, born in the Sudan, was also sent to the +Saier for a few months for declaring that he was the +fourth Khalifa—<i>i.e.</i> the Khalifa Osman. One day this +individual had presented himself to the Khalifa and +begged to be heard for a few moments as he wished to +tell him of a dream he had had. It is quite an ordinary +occurrence for the Ansar to relate dreams flattering to +the Khalifa, in the hope of getting some bakshish.</p> + +<p>Thus did our Khalifa Osman relate that in his dream +or vision he had beheld the Mahdi, who told him to +declare himself the fourth Khalifa, and therefore he +begged that Abdullah would confirm him as such and +permit him to take his share of authority with the +other Khalifas; he also begged that all the honour due<a name="Page_354" id="Page_354"></a> +to him as Khalifa Osman should be forthwith paid to +him.</p> + +<a name="charles"></a><div class="figcenter"><img src="images/p354.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="287" height="443"> +<p class="caption2">CHARLES NEUFELD.</p></div> + + +<p>This poor madman paid dearly for his dream. +Abdullah merely made a sign to one of his body-guard, +on which he was hurried off to the Saier, where he +received fifty lashes twice a day, and was eventually +obliged to confess that the devil had tempted him to +strive after this position.</p> + +<p>Charles Neufeld remained in the prison longer than<a name="Page_355" id="Page_355"></a> +any one else. I have narrated in a previous chapter +how he had daringly joined Saleh's people with the +intention of establishing commercial relations with the +Arabs, and how he was entrapped by the Dervishes +at the oasis of Selimeh. This good man knew nothing +of the Sudan and nothing about Mahdiism, and it was +just at this time that the Khalifa had made up his +mind to crush Saleh and his Kababish.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of March, Neufeld arrived in Omdurman—a +prisoner under a strong escort. News spread like +wildfire that an English pasha had been captured, and +this caused a great stir in the capital. The Khalifa +considered him a most important capture, and Neufeld +was ushered into the presence of the three Khalifas and +two Europeans, who were entrusted with the examination +of his papers. Neufeld spoke Arabic, and was +quite fearless. His papers showed that he was a +Prussian and had studied in the Leipzig University. +All the documents were most carefully translated to the +Khalifa, as it was most important to assure him that +Neufeld was not an Englishman, as otherwise it would +have gone very hardly with him. There was one letter, +however, in English, which, if it had been truthfully +translated, would have probably got him into great +danger.</p> + +<p>After the preliminary examination, Abdullah's mind +seemed to have been put at rest, for he delivered from +his high seat a long speech to the inquisitive Ansar +regarding this great English pasha, who he said had +come to the Sudan with arms and ammunition, intending +to seize Kordofan and fight against Mahdiism, but +fortunately the brave troops of Wad en Nejumi had +met him near Dongola, killed his soldiers, and captured +him.</p> + +<p>It was the Khalifa's habit to exaggerate facts and +thereby encourage the Ansar; he also made out his +capture was a most important event, for hitherto they +had not succeeded in taking even one of the hated +English. Poor Neufeld was therefore thrown into +chains and carefully guarded by soldiers; during the<a name="Page_356" id="Page_356"></a> +whole of that night a fanatical Dinka negress, who +used to dress in men's clothes and wear a sword, +shrieked continuously at him, "Allah hu akbar alal +kufar!" ("God's power is most great over the unbelievers.")</p> + +<p>It was decided that Neufeld was to be hanged the +next morning. Very early the Khalifa sent orders that +the great drum should be beaten, while the blast of the +huge onbeïa close to Neufeld's ears almost made him +fall down from fright. The slaves made game of him +as if he were a monkey; but he still kept up courage +and answered all these insults with a manly spirit; the +rope had been fixed on to the scaffold, and already +crowds of people were collected to see the Englishman +executed. But the condemned man had not yet arrived, +for the Khalifa's final decision had not been taken. +Hitherto he had never executed a white man in this +open way, and he delayed, because he was still uncertain +about his being a Prussian. Had Neufeld been an +Englishman, there is not the smallest doubt he would +have been killed.</p> + +<p>At length Abdullah made up his mind not to kill +him, but he determined to frighten him; about midday, +therefore, Neufeld was taken to the market-place +escorted by horsemen; the crowd raised a yell of +delight when he appeared, but Neufeld fearlessly walked +on, and on reaching the gallows he jumped on to the +angarib and bent his head so that Bringi might adjust +the rope round his neck. Just at the last moment the +judge stepped forward and said that the Khalifa had +been graciously pleased to repeal the sentence of execution, +and Neufeld was, therefore, again removed to the +lock-up.</p> + +<p>Three days later he was laden with three heavy +chains, put on to a camel, and led through all the +streets of Omdurman, so that every one might see him. +He was also taken to a review where the Khalifa asked +him if the Turks possessed as many troops as he now +saw before him, to which Neufeld replied that the +Khalifa's troops were more numerous, but that they<a name="Page_357" id="Page_357"></a> +were not so well drilled in exercises and movements as +the Turks were.</p> + +<p>This answer did not please the Khalifa; and in order +to make him take an interest in the Mahdi and his +Khalifa, he was taken over to Khartum and was there +shown the Mission building, which the Mahdi had seized; +he was then taken back to the prison, where he remained +four years. He was frequently attacked with typhus +fever, dysentery, and other ailments, and was terribly +stung by scorpions; had not the Europeans in Omdurman +supported him he must have starved to death.</p> + +<p>The depth of misery to which poor Neufeld was +reduced may be readily understood when it is known +that he spent a whole year in the stone hut, and it was +not until he had completed two years in prison that, +through the intermediary of a friend, he was allowed to +build a little cell for himself in one of the corners of the +yard, where he could sleep away from the other prisoners. +This little building was about twelve feet square and +very low, and here poor Neufeld used to sit all day long; +his jibbeh was very dirty and swarming with insects, +which allowed him little rest at night, and in despair he +used to get one of his companions in adversity to rub him +with wet sand, which made his skin less irritable; some +sympathizing Arabs told him to soak crushed cloves in +water and then rub his body with the paste; this +Neufeld found a capital remedy, though it made his +skin smart a great deal at first. Neufeld's kindness of +heart soon won over his guards, and often they allowed +him to remain undisturbed in his little hut for the night +instead of dragging him off to the stone hut.</p> + +<p>One evening, hearing that the Saier was in a bad +humour, he told his guards that he wanted to spend that +night in the stone hut; but the soldiers assured him that +the moment they knew there was to be an inspection +they would at once let him know. So Neufeld settled +himself to sleep in his cell, when suddenly, about midnight, +one of his guards awoke him, saying, "Get up +quickly! the Saier has sworn he will give any one he +finds outside the stone hut 100 lashes."<a name="Page_358" id="Page_358"></a></p> + +<p>Neufeld got up as quickly as possible and made his +way to the hut, but the chains prevented him from +moving rapidly, and when he got to the door he could +not turn the key; just at that moment the Saier came +into the yard, and seeing him, ordered him to be given +100 lashes on the spot; but the soldiers refused to obey—one +said he had fever, and the other said that he had +been flogging people all day and was too tired. The +Saier was therefore obliged to call slaves from his own +house, who administered the 100 lashes, and left poor +Neufeld covered with deep scores all over his body.</p> + +<p>In 1889 Neufeld obtained a new companion in +adversity in the person of a Bohemian baker, who had +been employed with some Greeks at Halfa. One day, +in a state of semi-intoxication, the baker had left Halfa +with nothing but his violin, intending to go to Sawakin; +but he lost his way in the desert, was overcome by +thirst, and wandered towards the Nile, which he at +length reached. Quite ignorant of the direction in +which he was going, he struck out towards the south, +and fell in with a patrol of Dervishes, by whom he was +passed on to Omdurman.</p> + +<p>On his arrival the Khalifa sent him to prison, where +he remained two years. Neufeld shared his every +mouthful with him; but during the famine he suffered +dreadfully from want. At length, through the intermediary +of the mukuddum in charge of the Europeans, +he was released; but a few months afterwards he made +off to the Gezireh. The mukuddum, who had guaranteed +him with his head, sent several camelmen in search of +him; but there was no trace to be found of him. After +a time it was reported that he had died of starvation at +Rufaa on the Blue Nile, and this information greatly +relieved the Khalifa's mind.</p> + +<p>As for Neufeld, we did our utmost to obtain his +release; but the Khalifa would not hear of it; moreover, +false reports were circulated about him. Some people +who came from Dongola said that Neufeld, in disguise, +had been sent by the Egyptian Government to find out +whether the Mudir—Mustafa Yawer—was still loyal or<a name="Page_359" id="Page_359"></a> +had thrown in his lot with the Dervishes; but in reality +it was Kitchener Pasha who had been entrusted with +this mission.</p> + +<p>On another occasion an Arabic newspaper, printed in +Cairo, was brought to him, containing a paragraph to +the effect that an English officer had been captured by +the Dervishes in Dongola. This amazed the Khalifa +greatly, for at once he believed that he had been deceived +and that Neufeld was actually an Englishman. Being, in +truth, a mere savage and an ignorant man, he believed +that all news in a newspaper must be true, and blamed +himself for not having executed Neufeld in the first +instance; he ordered him, however, to be more heavily +chained than before.</p> + +<p>Others again spread rumours abroad that Neufeld had +come with the intention of aiding Slatin to escape—news +which enraged the Khalifa perhaps more than anything +else. Thus did Neufeld spend four years in prison, and +his release seemed hopeless; but we left no stone unturned. +We secured the good-will of all the most +influential people in Omdurman, including even the Om +el Muminin (Mother of the Faithful—<i>i.e.</i> the Mahdi's +widow) and the Sherifa Sitt Nefisa (the daughter of Sidi +Hassan el Morghani), who petitioned very earnestly for +his release; but the Khalifa would listen to no one.</p> + +<p>When powder was scarce in Omdurman, some one +suggested, at one of the Khalifa's councils, that it would +be much better to make the unbelievers work for religion +instead of remaining all day long idle in the Saier, and +that Neufeld ought to undertake the saltpetre refinery. +The Khalifa said, "Do what you think right—I am +content." And on the same day Neufeld was sent to +Halfaieh in search of saltpetre; he found some, and a +month later was moved to Khartum, where he is now +working in the old Mission-house with an Egyptian +assistant named Said. He still wears one chain on the +feet, which, from constant rubbing, has become as bright +as silver, while there are great black marks round his +ankles. In Khartum he is allowed greater liberty than +he had in Omdurman.<a name="Page_360" id="Page_360"></a></p> + +<p>In 1891 a Jewish merchant came from Massawa to +Kassala, where the Emir Abu Girgeh was then commanding. +The latter was in favour of opening commercial +relations by means of Jews, and permitting non-Mussulman +dealers to come and sell their goods at Kassala, or +let them go on further into the country. When, therefore, +the Jew had disposed of his goods, he went, on +Abu Girgeh's advice, to Omdurman. On being presented, +the Khalifa summoned another Jew, named Passioni, +whom he made responsible for the new arrival. But, as +usual, the voice of slander was not silent; it was +whispered that he was an Italian spy, and that it would +have been better to have him under surveillance. He +had scarcely left the Khalifa's presence, when he was +recalled and sent to the Saier, there to be "educated as +a true Ansar."</p> + +<p>The fate of Olivier Pain and the experiences of +Neufeld and this Jew are sufficient evidence to prove +the utter uselessness of attempting to personally enter +into commercial relations with the present ruler of the +Sudan. Any one who comes to Omdurman need expect +nothing but chains, the most terrible form of imprisonment, +insults and ignominy from the Sudanese.</p> + +<p>A still worse fate befell Sheikh Khalil, who was sent +from Egypt to the Sudan on a special mission to the +Khalifa. In company with an Ababdeh sheikh, he arrived +at Abu Hamed, where Zogal was at the time. The +latter being accurately informed of the nature of his +mission, allowed the two messengers to travel without +escort to Omdurman, and on the journey Khalil had +opportunities of speaking to the people, and ascertaining +how they were disposed to the Egyptian Government. +He saw with his own eyes the devastation wrought by +the Dervishes and by famine in all the towns and villages +along the Nile. For some days before he actually +reached Omdurman, we heard of his approach, which +occasioned no small stir in the place. Some people +thought he was bringing proposals of peace, which, if +refused by the Khalifa, would oblige the Egyptian +Government to again advance into the Sudan; rumours<a name="Page_361" id="Page_361"></a> +of all sorts were rife, but there was no possible means +of knowing the truth.</p> + +<p>Late one evening Khalil arrived, dressed as an Egyptian, +with a long flowing abayeh (mantle). He was +taken before Yakub, to whom he made over his letter, +and was then taken before the Khalifa, to whom, it is +said, he freely spoke his mind. That same evening he +was sent under escort to Kererri, where he was put into +a hut under a strong guard, but he was not chained. +He was supplied with meat, butter, corn and sugar, and +a female slave was placed at his disposal by the Khalifa, +who had purposely sent him out of Omdurman to prevent +him conversing with anyone, and to keep all information +regarding his mission quite secret.<a name="FNanchor_P_16" id="FNanchor_P_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_P_16" class="fnanchor">[P]</a> In this way the +Khalifa thought he would give him a different impression +of Mahdiism, while Hajji Zubeir was told off as intermediary +between Khalil and Abdullah.</p> + +<p>It was generally believed that Khalil had blamed the +Khalifa for his ill-treatment and oppression of the +Moslems, and had shown him how his rule was ruining +the Sudan. He had begged him to abandon the evil +of Mahdiism and return to the true orthodox religion. +Whilst in confinement at Kererri he was frequently +threatened with death. No one knew what his mission +could be, and the Khalifa knew how to guard it secretly, +so that gradually people began to forget all about him, +and great was the surprise when one day Khalil and his +companion appeared riding on mules at the great parade +held during the Bairam festival.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa brought Khalil here to show him how +immense was his power and authority, and just before +the parade was concluded Abdullah and all the cavalry +galloped up to him, surrounded him, and asked whether<a name="Page_362" id="Page_362"></a> +he would not rather stay in the shadow of the Mahdi's +dome than return to Egypt. Khalil, who had now been +for upwards of five months in confinement, and thinking +that he should never be allowed to leave, and at the same +time longing to be allowed to return and report to the +Government all he had seen, replied diplomatically that +having once been in the light he had no wish to return +to darkness.</p> + +<p>This reply delighted the Khalifa, who ordered him to +be set free, and at prayers in the mosque on that day +he sat in the centre of the long line of Ansar just behind +the Khalifa.</p> + +<p>It is the custom at festivals for all European prisoners, +Greeks, Syrians, Jews, &c., to go and offer the +Khalifa their good wishes. When they arrived on this +occasion the Khalifa ordered them to be seated around +him—he does not allow them to kiss his hand, as he +might thereby become contaminated with their impurity; +he usually makes a speech, pointing out the punishments +which may fall upon them; but this time he was +particularly gracious, asked how they were all getting +on, and if they had met with ill-treatment or injustice +at the hands of anyone. He gave them to understand +that they must look on him as their protector, and that +should they die their children would become their heirs, +and that if a family had no children, the property +would be sold and divided amongst the other prisoners.</p> + +<p>This kindly speech was a great surprise to us all; but +the astute Khalifa only wanted to show Khalil how +well he treated his prisoners. It is possible, also, that +Khalil had observed to him how badly we really were +treated, but this is only surmise on my part. Abdullah's +kindly speech, however, did us much good, for of course +all he says goes the round of the whole town, and when +the people knew that we had been well received, they +showed us much greater kindness and respect. If, on +the other hand, the Khalifa ever imputes a word of blame +to any of us, the reaction on the people is immediate, +and we are at once insulted and maltreated. It is +always said that "the whites"—which is the name by<a name="Page_363" id="Page_363"></a> +which we are known in the Sudan—"live under the +shadow of the sword."</p> + +<p>The Khalifa then asked Khalil's companion if he +wished to return or stay where he was. The man +replied that he was a messenger, pure and simple, and +that as such "he should return to him who sent him," +and on the same day the Khalifa gave him permission +to depart.</p> + +<p>But now evil reports were spread abroad regarding +Khalil. It was said that he was a great friend of Mustafa +Yawer, the ex-Mudir of Dongola, and that it was +mainly through his influence that he prevented him +adopting Mahdiism; it was also said that he was the +chief of the spies sent by the English, and a bitter +enemy to the Mahdi. It was imprudent under such +circumstances of Khalil to go as an envoy to Omdurman. +He had given his services to the Government for this +purpose, and he bravely adhered to it; but he was well +known to the inhabitants of Dongola and Dar Shaggieh, +and it was quite certain that the Khalifa would never +permit such a man to return to Egypt. Even in +Omdurman he would not allow him to be at large.</p> + +<p>Two days later the judges were assembled to consider +Khalil's case: false witnesses came forward who asserted +that they had seen Khalil worshipping the sun and frequently +turning towards the west at prayers, and all +sorts of stories were trumped up to induce the Khalifa +to put Khalil in chains.</p> + +<p>The pliable judges condemned the sheikh, and he was +relegated to the Saier. Neufeld had to give up his cell, +which was made over to Khalil. None of the prisoners +were allowed to speak to him—thus was the poor man +left without a friend or acquaintance to help him; everyone +shunned him as if he were the victim of some foul +disease. From the earliest days of Mahdiism it was +always the fate of those who fell in favour to be deserted +by all, and this was more especially the case with all +those on whom the Khalifa's wrath fell. Thus everyone—fearing +for his own life—avoids all intercourse with +such prisoners.<a name="Page_364" id="Page_364"></a></p> + +<p>When Khalil had expended the little money he possessed, +he sold his sword, sheepskin, and clothes, and +bought bread—such bread too!—even Sudanese, who +are accustomed to eat all sorts of stuff, could only eat +prison bread when hunger had made them like ravenous +wolves; but Khalil had come from Egypt and its flesh-pots, +and the Sudan bread made him ill.</p> + +<p>At length he had no more money to buy even bread, +and then he suffered the pangs of hunger. For a month +before his death his beard had grown quite white, and +he himself had become like a skeleton. His wretchedness +and loneliness brought on sickness, and he died a +miserable death. It occurred on a Friday whilst the +Khalifa was attending a review, and Abdullah accidentally +fell from his horse on that day, but was caught +before he reached the ground. This was considered a +very bad omen by the people, who thought that Khalil +had been unjustly condemned. They believed it pointed +to the overthrow of the Khalifa's rule, and he himself +was very much disturbed.</p> + +<p>The disloyal Ababdehs of Hassan Khalifa were also +locked up in the Saier. Hassan was a nephew of the +former Mudir of Berber, had been for a long time emir +of Abu Hamed, and during Nejumi's advance on Egypt +had occupied the wells of Murat. It was said that when +there, he had acted in a most reprehensible manner, and +had wrung quantities of money out of the merchants. +It was also said that when Saleh Bey advanced from +Korosko on Murat, he came to an arrangement with +him—for he was not a Mahdiist at heart—and had +retired on Abu Hamed without attempting to fight.</p> + +<p>All sorts of reports about him reached the Khalifa's +ears, but he refused to believe them. When, however, +a certain Abadi named Karrar, one of the Khalifa's +spies, who had been captured by Saleh at Murat, for +having letters in his possession for the sheikhs in +Egypt, and had been kept in prison for some months, +was released and returned to Omdurman, the Khalifa +then became convinced of Hassan Khalifa's disloyalty; +he sent four of his mulazimin to Abu Hamed, arrested<a name="Page_365" id="Page_365"></a> +him and his people, and confiscated all their property. +About forty men were thrown into chains, dragged to +Omdurman and there relegated to the Saier; several +died of typhus, and the remainder, after two years' +imprisonment, were sent as exiles to Fashoda, except +Hassan, who still remains in prison at Omdurman.</p> + +<p>Near the Saier is another small prison for females, +but there are not so many of them.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_P_16" id="Footnote_P_16"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_P_16" class="fnlabel">[P]</a> Khalil had been entrusted with a few lines of a purely non-political +nature, politely asking the Khalifa to return to the bearer +any clothes, papers, &c., belonging to the late General Gordon, which +his family were very desirous of procuring. He was also given lists +of all prisoners captured at Toski, showing how they were disposed of +in Egypt, and a remark was added that when peace and tranquillity +were restored between the two countries, they would be permitted to +return, but in the meantime they were well cared for.—F. R. W.</p></div> +</div> +<a name="Page_366" id="Page_366"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">LUPTON BEY AND THE AMMUNITION.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">The Khalifa's powder and ammunition begin to fail—Lupton Bey +makes fulminate—Unsuccessful attempts to make powder—Yusef +Pertekachi at last succeeds—The explosion in the powder +factory.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">As</span> a result of constant warfare and the careless expenditure +of ammunition, the want of it now began to +be sensibly felt by the Khalifa, and it eventually became +an all-important question. The principal want +was caps for the Remington cartridges, for, though +there were quantities of empty cases there was scarcely +any fulminate left.</p> + +<p>Many a starving Egyptian began to try and invent +some substance which would act as fulminate; there +were still a few books on chemistry to be found, but all +attempts failed to produce satisfactory results. At last, +a certain Hassan Zeki, who had formerly been a doctor +in Khartum, invented the substance required. The +Khalifa told off Lupton Bey, who at that time was +living in the most abject poverty, as his assistant.</p> + +<p>The first trials of the new fulminate were made in +the presence of Yakub, and were most successful; the +invention proved of the greatest use to the Khalifa. +The unfortunate Lupton Bey died on the 8th of May, +1888, and Hassan Zeki continued the work. Within a +comparatively short time he prepared a very large +number of caps. Abdullah had a special laboratory +made, and employed a number of boys as cartridge +fillers. It was principally owing to this invention that +the Khalifa was enabled to conduct his successful +campaigns against Abyssinia.<a name="Page_367" id="Page_367"></a></p> + +<p>And now another difficulty arose—this was the +scarcity of powder; numbers of persons presented +themselves as prepared to make this commodity. An +Indian, named Kamal ed Din, came forward amongst +others; he had come from India to join the Mahdi, +passed himself off as a doctor and proudly called himself +"Physician-in-chief to the Khalifa." He had a +ready tongue, and soon acquired respect and wealth; he +painted his beard red with henna.<a name="FNanchor_Q_17" id="FNanchor_Q_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_Q_17" class="fnanchor">[Q]</a> He had immense +powers of persuasion, and thereby obtained a concession +from Abdullah to make powder. He demanded that a +special laboratory should be built for him in Khartum, +so as to be quite out of observation, and he asked for a +quantity of money for the purchase of the chemicals he +required.</p> + +<p>The laboratory was built in the course of a month in +the old corn store in Khartum, and the work was +taken in hand. The Indian declared that it was most +necessary to obtain phosphorus, and therefore he had +all the bones and skulls of the people who had been +massacred in Khartum, collected, and these he pounded +in mortars into very fine flour, much to the annoyance +of people who objected to this desecration of the dead.</p> + +<p>Every now and then he applied for more money from +the beit el mal, which was supplied to him at once, and +now he began to work quite alone and in secret; he +put the bone flour in earthenware vessels, poured water +on it, and then sealed the vessels hermetically; he now +declared that to prepare the chemical substance only, +another month was necessary. He therefore stopped +work and lived at his ease. At the expiration of the +month he secretly opened the vessels; no one had a +notion what he was going to do with the bone-paste, +but he affirmed that so far everything was most successful, +and invited the head of the beit el mal, as well as +several emirs, to be present at the trial of the powder.</p> + +<p>The emirs came and sat in a circle round a furnace<a name="Page_368" id="Page_368"></a> +which slaves were blowing up with bellows; then the +Indian produced the vessel, asked the emirs to take +some of the substance and throw it into the fire. This +they did, and it exploded with a loud report, which +greatly astonished the spectators, one of whom then +and there, knelt down and offered up a prayer of +thanksgiving for the success of the invention.</p> + +<p>The emirs accompanied Kamal ed Din to Omdurman +in triumph, where he also gave proof of the +excellence of his powder in the presence of the Khalifa. +Abdullah was wild with joy, and presented the inventor +with 200 dollars and a concubine. The Indian now +returned to Khartum with profuse promises that he +would supply several hundredweight of the new powder +in the course of a month.</p> + +<p>But soon people began to talk of him as being a +cheat and a deceiver; a month passed and the powder +was not delivered; the head of the beit el mal became +anxious, and reported the matter to the Khalifa, who at +once sent his brother Yakub and Wad Adlan to make +inquiries on the spot; they went, and it was very +evident that the Indian had been duping them all the +time. He was brought before the Khalifa, and, strange +to say, was not punished. Abdullah merely remarked +that he was a poor foreigner, and, of course, had to do +his best to make a living. It is a curious thing that +Abdullah has a much greater insight into the ways of +foreigners than most natives.</p> + +<p>A certain mukuddum, however, of the Jaalin tribe +did not get off so easily. In the days of the Government +he had practised an extensive fraud in Khartum, +and also in Sennar as an alchemist, and now he came +forward to offer his services for the manufacture of lead. +At first he had been occupied in making gold, but now +to the Khalifa lead was even more precious than gold, +and the want of it was causing him grave apprehension.</p> + +<p>The mukuddum's offer was accepted, he received +presents from the beit el mal, where he was given a +special place in which to carry on his work, and<a name="Page_369" id="Page_369"></a> +numbers of slaves were placed at his disposal; he was +given all the money he required to purchase various +things in connection with the manufacture, and which +he asserted were absolutely essential. Four slaves were +told off to keep up an enormous furnace, whilst the +mukuddum, his head and shoulders swathed in a great +mantle, beat the ground madly with a long whip in +order to call the Jinns to his assistance. His curious +antics greatly astonished the people, and he soon became +the principal topic of conversation in Omdurman. +After fourteen days an enormous lump of lead was +drawn out from the furnace, and his reputation was made.</p> + +<p>The Sudanese are great believers in alchemy; and it +was thought that the preparation of one of the ingredients +required the greatest secrecy. The mukuddum, +therefore, worked fully on the superstitious nature of +the people, and a thick cloud of foul-smelling smoke +was seen continually issuing from his mysterious and +dark laboratory. The lead was at once sent to the +Khalifa, who appeared thoroughly convinced of the +miraculous power of the maker, and indeed had the +piece brought into the mosque to expose it publicly. +The sycophants of course told him that this was an undeniable +miracle on the part of the Mahdi, who had +been the means of supplying the precious metal to his +successor through this mukuddum.</p> + +<p>The manufacturer was now in high favour, the +Khalifa pressed him to continue the work, and supplied +him liberally with money and female slaves. One of +the Europeans had urged him to desist, telling him that +it was quite impossible to manufacture lead; but the +mukuddum answered him three times in the most solemn +manner: "Do you think that you know the knowledge +of God?" and then went on with his work. From time to +time he continued to send pieces of lead to the Khalifa, +but his supply only lasted a few months; the more +sensible people began to talk, they urged that if he +could make one piece of lead, he could also make +several hundred-weight. The voice of the detractors +grew stronger, the Khalifa's suspicions were aroused,<a name="Page_370" id="Page_370"></a> +and the mukuddum was summoned into his presence. +He asked him in the most kind manner if it was a +fact that he really knew how to make lead, or if he +was only attempting to deceive; if the latter—and he +confessed to it—then he might receive forgiveness.</p> + +<p>But this kindly warning was entirely without effect; +the mukuddum boldly answered that he did know how +to make lead, and moreover abused his detractors, +calling them enemies of Mahdiism, who hated the +Khalifa, and did not wish him to be possessor of +the precious metal. He added that, if given sufficient +time, he would prove his enemies to be liars. The +Khalifa permitted him to continue his work a little +longer; but the results were still the same, and he was +again summoned before Abdullah, who now threatened +to cut off his hand and foot unless he confessed that he +had been practising a fraud; but still the mukuddum +persisted in his denial, and the Khalifa ordered three +chains to be forged for his feet, and had him sent back +to his laboratory under a strong escort; he was to be +permitted to work for three days longer.</p> + +<p>He now redoubled his antics, making the dust whirl +in clouds about him, and crying on the spirits to aid +him. He put a few pounds of substance into the fire—all +that was left of his lead-scrapings—but this time +the spirits left him in the lurch. Bathed in perspiration, +he anxiously raked about the coals; but there was +no lead to be seen. He begged and prayed for more +time, which was granted. But at length one of his slaves +let out the secret; he said that the mukuddum used to +purchase in the market the lead bullets which had +been dug out of Khartum, he filed them into thin +shavings, mixed them with some concoction, and threw +them into the furnace; the melted lead was then +drawn off and allowed to cool. On the last occasion he +had failed, and now his fraud was fully exposed; the +Khalifa ordered his hand and foot to be cut off, "not," +he said, "so much for the fraud, as for the continual +denials." The operation was carried out, but the mukuddum +died eight days afterwards of tetanus.<a name="Page_371" id="Page_371"></a></p> + +<p>The failures of this man and of the Indian to manufacture +powder and lead did not deter others from +continuing their experiments, and amongst the latter +was a Greek named Yusef Pertekachi, who continued +working on with the most dogged determination. He +had tried every plan to gain a livelihood; but whatever +he put his hand to, it seemed to fail, and he was soon +deeply involved in debt. In his desperate position he +determined to study the manufacture of gunpowder. +For a whole year he continued his experiments, and in +his case the truth of the proverb, "Necessity is the +mother of invention," was fully exemplified; he succeeded +in making fairly good powder.</p> + +<p>The experiences of the Indian and the mukuddum +pointed to extreme caution; he did not, therefore, tell +Adlan, who he thought would not believe him, but +after his death he applied to Yakub.</p> + +<p>Yakub is a man whom even the leaders of Mahdiism +find a difficulty in approaching, and poor Pertekachi tried +for months before he obtained a hearing; but at length +he was attended to, and the various trials and experiments +of the new powder, both in guns and Remington +rifles, proved most satisfactory.</p> + +<p>Pertekachi at once rose in favour in the eyes of Abdullah +and Yakub, and was soon comparatively well off. +The Khalifa ordered a bottle of the powder to be placed +in the Antik Khana, on which was written: "Powder +invented by the Osta (Master) Pertekachi."</p> + +<p>At first Pertekachi set to work to improve the +damaged powder, of which there were quantities of +old barrels taken out of the Government magazines, +but, having been left in damp places, it had become +crusted. For several months he continued his work, to +the complete satisfaction of Abdullah, but the poor +man was soon to come to a terrible end.</p> + +<p>On the 26th of January, 1891, Pertekachi as usual +went to the market-place at an early hour to have a +chat with the other Europeans. He happened to say: +"To-day is the anniversary of the fall of Khartum—Gordon's +day—a black day!" In the Sudan it is the<a name="Page_372" id="Page_372"></a> +custom to call a day on which a misfortune has occurred +"Yom aswad" (a black day). And to the survivors +of Khartum, the 26th of January is always looked +upon as a day of grief and sorrow; several people +give alms for the rest of the souls of their murdered +friends.</p> + +<p>Pertekachi had intended to go and look at the new +house he had just built; but being the 26th of January, +he would not go to it, and decided to go to the beit el +mal instead, where he had some work to do. He found +the workmen busy opening one of the barrels of damaged +powder, and after taking a cup of coffee, he went to +help them, as they seemed to be in difficulty. He had +scarcely reached the spot when—owing to a sudden +blow or shock, or clumsiness on the part of the workmen—the +powder blew up with a most terrific explosion +which shook the whole town, and terrified the inhabitants, +who rushed wildly about in all directions to +see what had occurred. I happened at the time to be +sitting at my loom, and at once ran up to the roof of +my house, and there, in the direction of the beit el mal, +I saw a column of thick smoke ascending.</p> + +<p>My first thought was for poor Yusef. I hastened to +the beit el mal, which was half an hour's walk from +my hut, and found crowds going in the same direction. +The Khalifa himself appeared on the scene, he came +riding along on a donkey, with only one or two men. +His first question was, "Osta Yusef fi?" ("Is the +Master Yusef alive?") "Taish enta!" ("May you +live!") was the reply. These are the words in which +Arabs always announce a death.</p> + +<p>A poor Egyptian woman, whose only son was employed +as Pertekachi's clerk and had been killed, was +weeping and wailing in the most heart-rending way—her +husband and another son had been murdered +in Khartum—and now wild with grief she was cursing +the Mahdi, through whom her dear ones had been +brought to an untimely end. Some of the Ansar approached, +and threatened to beat her with a whip if she +did not stop. But she shouted at them, "Kill me as<a name="Page_373" id="Page_373"></a> +well! Why should I live any longer? You have killed +my dear ones—may God kill you!"</p> + +<p>The Khalifa, who was standing near, rebuked his +officious followers, saying: "Let her weep, she is +'maharūka'" (<i>i.e.</i> consumed with the pain of affliction). +He did not stay long at the scene of the accident, but +went away very sadly.</p> + +<p>All Pertekachi's fellow-countrymen hastened to the +spot. Of the large square house built of rough sun-dried +bricks, only the four walls were left standing; the +wooden roof had been blown to pieces, and it was no +small difficulty to collect the shattered remains of +those who had been victimized. A pair of legs were +found fifty yards away, a head was found half buried +in the wall; there was not a hand to be found anywhere.</p> + +<p>Another Greek had been killed with Pertekachi, +named Yusef Angeli. His head and feet had disappeared, +and his body was so shattered as to be almost unrecognizable; +he had been in chains, and his foot makia +was found fixed in his leg. Poor Angeli had led a miserable +life in Omdurman; he had neither home nor friends, +and had lived in the market as a Greek hawker. Towards +the end of 1890 he had been sent by another Greek to +Berber, to try and recover a debt for him. This mission +was to be carried out in secret, for Europeans are strictly +forbidden to leave Omdurman, and the mukuddum in +charge is obliged at once to report any absentees.</p> + +<p>But Angeli was a man of no account, and could easily +have gone to Berber and back without anyone being any +the wiser. A Syrian, however, who bore a grudge to +the Greeks, hearing that Angeli had left, went secretly +to the Khalifa, but as he was at that time staying at his +house in the northern hejira, he saw Yakub instead; he +said that, in accordance with the orders of the Khalifa +el Mahdi, he had to report that Yusef had deserted to +Berber in a sailing boat. Yakub at once informed the +Khalifa, who imagined that it was I who had deserted +(my Arabic name being Yusef), and at once ordered +Nur el Gereifawi, head of the beit el mal, to send camel<a name="Page_374" id="Page_374"></a>men +in pursuit. The latter was eventually very annoyed +when they found out which Yusef it was, for he would +not have thought it worth while to send after Angeli. +The pursuers, however, had gone, and found Angeli in +the market at Berber; they secured him and brought +him back to Omdurman.</p> + +<p>Pertekachi, who was a countryman of Angeli's, had +begged that he might be spared, and had obtained a +promise from Yakub that he should come to no harm. +He was brought before the Khalifa, and said that he was +very poor, and had only gone to Berber to recover a +debt, in proof of which statement he produced the man's +written receipt for the money; but when the camel-men +who had captured Yusef were asked whether they found +any letters on him, they denied it, and in consequence +Yusef had been sent to the lock-up in the beit el mal. +This was only a very special favour, for the <i>régime</i> here +is not so severe as in the Saier, and prisoners confined +in this place generally obtain a speedy release.</p> + +<p>Angeli had to thank no one but Pertekachi for this +lenient treatment, and his benefactor did not cease +begging until he procured the Khalifa's permission for +him to work at the powder factory at a fixed monthly +rate of pay; but he had still to wear one makia, and +this Pertekachi was arranging to have removed when +the terrible catastrophe occurred—he had only been +working for three days altogether in the factory. There +were, of course, slanderers found, who affirmed that +Angeli used to smoke cigarettes, and had purposely set +fire to the powder in revenge for his captivity, but this +time the Khalifa would not listen to them. He merely +said it is "Amr Allah" ("God's will"), and added that +he was sure Yusef would never have deliberately tried +to destroy his own and his countryman's life. The +force of the explosion had driven the iron into Yusef's +leg, and it was impossible to take it off; we therefore +collected all that remained of the two poor fellows and +buried them.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa's enemies secretly rejoiced over his misfortune +about the powder, for now, they thought, there<a name="Page_375" id="Page_375"></a> +will be no one to make it; but one of Pertekachi's +labourers, who had learnt the manufacture from his +master, replaced him as head of the factory. After the +catastrophe the factory was removed to Tuti Island, +where a large yard was built, around which the necessary +workshops were constructed.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_Q_17" id="Footnote_Q_17"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_Q_17" class="fnlabel">[Q]</a> This worthy was taken prisoner by the Egyptian troops at the +capture of Tokar in February 1891.</p></div> +</div> + +<a name="Page_376" id="Page_376"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE IN THE MAHDI'S KINGDOM.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Remarks on the agriculture and commerce of the Mahdiist kingdom—A +sandstorm in Omdurman—The paucity of cattle—System +of taxation on imports—Provincial beit el mals—Local manufactures—Slavery +and the slave-markets—Torture of slaves.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">In</span> the following chapter I propose to make a few remarks +on the agriculture, commerce, and business of the +Mahdiist kingdom. The greater part of the Sudanese +live by agriculture and cattle-breeding. Agriculture +goes on most of the year; the lands are sown during the +tropical rains. The winter is called the "kharif," and in +Omdurman begins in July and lasts till the end of +September. During this period there are three or four +very heavy falls of rain, usually at night, and occasionally +during the day there are heavy storms, which are at +times very grand.</p> + +<p>These outbursts are preceded by great sultriness, the +whole ground is hot, everything is burning, even in the +shade one dare not touch metal; then in the east a +cloud of dust arises, which indicates the coming storm; +the clouds bank up with astonishing rapidity, and now +it is time for people to make the best of their way home +as quickly as they can. The dust-clouds, lighted up by +the evening sun, show the exact direction of the storm; +some are of an inky black, others gray, and in the +distance they can be seen dashing up against one another, +and forming, as it were, a series of hills and +valleys; yet there is scarcely a leaf moving, and all +nature seems hushed.</p> + +<p>Then the storm-clouds seem to touch the earth, there<a name="Page_377" id="Page_377"></a> +is a sudden rustling of the leaves; the distant houses +are lost in obscurity, and now it is time to shut oneself +up in one's house. In a few minutes day has been +turned into night, the wind howls round the house, +windows and doors creak and rattle, till one begins to +think in another moment the house will fall about one's +ears. Lights are used, for now it is blacker than the +darkest night; the fine dust penetrates everywhere and +covers everything; the heat is overpowering, one perspires +at every pore, and the dust cakes on one's face +and hands, giving one the feeling of being intensely +begrimed and dirty; but there is nothing for it but to +wait patiently for the return of daylight, when one rises +with one's eyes and mouth full of dust, and nothing but +a complete bath makes one feel in any degree clean +again. These sand-storms are generally followed by +heavy showers, which completely lay the dust.</p> + +<p>A tropical thunderstorm is also full of solemn grandeur—deafening +peals of thunder and howling wind, +followed by a veritable deluge, which seems to transform +the country into a lake in a few minutes.</p> + +<p>These sudden storms are a source of no small danger +to Omdurman, especially in the quarter where the +mosque and market are situated. Here there is no +outlet for the water, which overflows into the yards and +houses, and melts the mud-built walls like sugar. +During the first year or two of Omdurman's existence, +and before the people had much experience, several of +the huts collapsed during a storm, burying the inhabitants +in their ruins. The intense obscurity which +always accompanies these deluges adds still more to the +general alarm. However, after about two days the +whole town becomes dry again; the hot sun and thirsty +earth soon absorb all the moisture, and one would +scarcely know that rain had fallen.</p> + +<p>Generally about a month before the rains begin, and +when the Khalifa permits it, the people leave the town +in crowds and repair to the fields, which they set to +work to clear. After the famine year of 1889 the +Khalifa did everything in his power to induce the<a name="Page_378" id="Page_378"></a> +people to turn their attention to agriculture. Plentiful +rain and hard work produced excellent crops in 1890. +Dhurra, dukhn, cotton, sesame, onions, and various +sorts of beans are grown.</p> + +<p>The operation of sowing requires little time or trouble; +the fields are cleared of all the stumps, roots, &c., of +the preceding harvest, which are burnt, then every one +raises a small bank of earth around his ground, so as to +retain the water and enable the earth to become +thoroughly saturated. This measure is specially necessary +in the Gezireh, where the clay soil does not absorb +quickly, whilst in the sandy plains of Kordofan it is +exactly the reverse.</p> + +<p>As soon as the parched ground has absorbed the first +rains, sowing is begun without delay; the soil is turned +over with iron or wooden hoes, and the seed thrown down. +Weeds spring up in great profusion, and it requires +endless trouble to prevent their choking the young +growth. Dhurra ripens in about two months, dukhn in +three. The fine quality, such as Shilluk dhurra, takes +six months to come to maturity. The gathered corn is +threshed, and then stored in holes in the ground, where +it can be kept without deteriorating for upwards of ten +years.</p> + +<p>Along the Nile, sowing and reaping goes on the whole +year through. Water is drawn up by the sakiehs, or +water-wheels, and distributed over the fields. After +the wars, numbers of these water-wheels which had +been destroyed, were reconstructed. Now there are a +great number in working order, and the banks are +covered with green. All work is done with the iron or +wooden hoe, and the plough is not used at all. The +only plough I ever saw in the Sudan was one worked +by an Egyptian in Khartum, and it caused no small +astonishment amongst the natives. Wheat and maize—or, +as it is called in the Sudan, "Aish er rif" +(Egyptian bread)—ripens in forty days.</p> + +<p>In Kordofan quantities of broad beans are grown, as +well as sesame, sugar-cane, cotton, onions, garlic, +bamiahs, radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and water-<a name="Page_379" id="Page_379"></a>melons; +while Indian figs, pomegranates, lemons, +oranges, citrons, bananas, and grapes are grown in +profusion in the Khartum gardens. Date-palms are +plentiful on the Blue Nile and further south; but it is +not possible to dry them, for they at once become full +of insects. Rain often spoils the date harvest.</p> + +<p>Besides agriculture and cattle-breeding, the Sudanese +may be called a thoroughly pastoral nation. During +the long wars against the Government, as well as in the +internal disturbances, the camels and oxen were almost +exterminated; and in 1889 a cattle plague still further +reduced the numbers.</p> + +<p>When Fashoda was occupied, quantities of cows were +taken from the Shilluks and sent either to Gezireh or +on to the Berber market, in order to try and stimulate +breeding. There are quantities of goats and sheep, as +only a comparatively small number of these have been +killed; but the greatest loss has been in camels, and it +is not so easy to replenish the country in this respect. +There are still a considerable number of donkeys, which +are used both for riding and as pack-animals. A good +donkey will fetch from forty to two hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>The Sudanese are born traders and dealers; it is +almost a passion with them, and they like the travelling +which trade involves. Of course the flourishing commerce +of the old days has been quite destroyed. The +import of goods to the Sudan from the north and east +was formerly in the hands of one merchant. The +Berber-Sawakin and Berber-Korosko roads were opened +through Wad Adlan, and the re-occupation of Tokar by +Egypt has done a great deal to help commerce. Wad +Adlan's successor, Nur Gereifawi, established the ushr +(or one-tenth tax) on all important goods, in addition to +the "zeka," or two and a-half per cent., which was +formerly the only tax levied.</p> + +<p>This increase in taxation has rather impaired than +improved trade, but it is still fairly brisk. However, +the "ushr" was levied twice, in both Omdurman and +Berber, so that the beit el mal obtained twenty-two and +a-half per cent. profit on all imported goods. This<a name="Page_380" id="Page_380"></a> +exorbitant taxation led to goods being smuggled into +the town by night. In spite of every precaution being +taken, smuggling still continued; and at last it was +decided that all merchants should have their goods +stamped at the beit el mal.</p> + +<p>This stamp bears the words, "Ushr beit el mal el +umum" ("The tenth—general beit el mal"), and no +goods are allowed to be sold unless they are thus +marked. The head of the beit el mal himself also went +to the market and personally stamped all the private +goods of merchants; and in this way the fraud was +stopped. A merchant selling unstamped goods would +have all his property confiscated.</p> + +<p>All went well for a time; but soon it was discovered +that false stamps were in use. This led to another +inspection of all goods in the market, and the confiscation +of a considerable quantity of property, an operation +which caused business to be suspended for about eight +days.</p> + +<p>Large quantities of printed cotton stuffs are imported; +also perfumes, medicines, cloves, rice, sugar, and dried +fruits. The home-trade is, of course, much brisker than +imported trade, and consists for the most part of +provision dealing. Dongola and Dar Shaggieh supply +Omdurman with dates; Berber sends salt, mats and +baskets made of palm leaves; from Kordofan comes +gum, sesame, and dukhn; the Gezireh exports dhurra, +dammur, and cotton; Karkoj supplies sesame and a +small quantity of gold. Omdurman is thus the great +wholesale and retail mart, which in turn supplies the +provinces. Here the whole population—men, women, +and children from eight years of age—are all dealers.</p> + +<p>The older women have their own quarter of the +market, in which they sell oil, grease, pearls, vegetables, +drugs, dhurra, and dates. Young women are not +allowed to go to the market; but they send their slaves, +who take charge of the goods. The latter are obliged +to render full accounts when they return in the evening; +and woe to the unfortunate slave who makes a mistake +in his calculations! Quantities of vegetables are grown<a name="Page_381" id="Page_381"></a> +in the gardens in Khartum, Buri, and Gereif, and are +brought to Omdurman for sale. The Baggara women +are naturally good dealers, and have now secured almost +the entire custom.</p> + +<p>In the early days of Mahdiism everyone lived in the +most simple way, and dressed even more simply. The +staple article of food is dhurra, which is merely boiled, +made into a cake and eaten. Bread, which is generally +known as "kesra," is eaten with a sauce which is +usually made of pounded bamiehs boiled with red +pepper and salt. Sometimes beans are used instead of +bamiehs. Meat is scarce, but a meat sauce boiled in +milk and mixed with pounded dried fish is a favourite +dish. Quantities of fish are obtained from the Nile, +and tortoises, which sometimes take the place of meat, are +not uncommon. But whilst the rich live in comparative +luxury, the poor people exist in the greatest want and +misery.</p> + +<p>Good clothing is seldom considered; the richer a +man is, the dirtier will his dress be. This is, of course, +meant to blind the eyes of inquisitive slanderers. The +Baggara chiefs have no reason to conceal anything; but +it must be quite apparent to all that a form of government +which preaches a continual despising of the good +things of this life is not likely to promote any of the +higher comforts of civilization.</p> + +<p>In matters, however, regarding war and the preparations +required for a jehad, it is entirely different. +Blacksmiths are always busy forging spears and knives; +and in this description of work the results are remarkable. +Saddlers make every description of leather +ornament for horse and camel decoration; tanners +prepare the leather, and dye it red or black; tailors +now make much better jibbehs than before; the patches +are generally made of good cloth, and the best garments +are now valued at about sixteen dollars each. The +women spin the cotton, and the men weave the +dammur from it. The best dammur comes from Berber +and Metemmeh. The Darfur women are also famed +for their good and even spinning; but Abyssinian<a name="Page_382" id="Page_382"></a> +dammur is generally considered better than any of +Sudan manufacture.</p> + +<p>Tin-smiths make drinking cups and tin receptacles of +various sorts for household use. Cooking-pots are +made of copper. Jewellers make gold and silver +filigree work for the ladies; but this work is not nearly +as good as it used to be in the days of the Egyptian +Government. All these various trades are carried on in +the market.</p> + +<a name="girl"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:400px;"><img src="images/p382.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="340" height="413"> +<p class="caption2">A SLAVE-GIRL FROM EQUATORIA.</p></div> + + +<p>Mahdiism has re-established the slave trade, which is +now in full vigour, and almost all those slaves who were<a name="Page_383" id="Page_383"></a> +liberated in the Government days have been sold again +as slaves. Wherever there is a beit el mal there is also +a slave-market. The largest is, of course, in Omdurman, +to which all captured slaves are sent. The beit el mal +sells the slaves by auction. Well-grown male slaves +are generally taken into the army.</p> + +<p>Close to the beit el mal is the female slave-market, +where generally fifty or sixty women of various ages +are to be found. The slave-dealers are for the most +part Egyptians. The slaves are arranged in lines under +the open sky; their bodies are generally well bathed in +oil to preserve the gloss of their skin. Intending purchasers +make the most careful and minute examination, +and the price varies from twenty to a hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>Young females are kept apart from the rest, as they +are generally selected as concubines, and as such they +are subjected to a most critical scrutiny; the shape of +their hands and feet, and the form of their mouth, nose, +ears and teeth are all carefully noted. Black are preferable +to copper-coloured slaves, and the latter colour +necessitates a considerable reduction in price.</p> + +<p>Young male slaves are sold at from thirty to sixty +dollars each, and these have generally to learn a trade. +Purchasers ask all sorts of searching questions as to +whether they have good moral qualities, are likely to +run away, &c., &c. The salesman must produce a certificate +showing the tribe, a full descriptive return, and +the legal authority entitling to ownership.</p> + +<p>During the early days of Mahdiism the slave trade +received an enormous impetus, more especially subsequent +to the capture of Bahr el Ghazal and the occupation +of Darfur. After Gessi Pasha's victory over +Zubeir Pasha's son and the dispersion of the slave-dealers, +several of the latter fled into the interior, where +pursuit was impossible; then followed the era of liberty +under the Mahdi's banner, the slave-dealers emerged +from their hiding-places, and, with quantities of slaves, +proceeded to Omdurman.</p> + +<p>When at El Obeid I often saw as many as 500 of +them marching along to the sound of music. Slaves<a name="Page_384" id="Page_384"></a> +were dragged from Darfur, bound together with leather +thongs round their necks in batches of thirty. Abu +Anga brought thousands of them from the Nuba hills. +The only districts untouched hitherto were those in the +vicinity of the White Nile, but quite recently the garrisons +of Fashoda, Regaf, and Lado have been busily +engaged in this human traffic; these blacks, however, +who during the intervals of peace had been gradually +recovering their strength, now determined to resist the +Dervish authority, which was not very strong in those +far-distant districts. It would have been a great thing +if the Dervishes could have been turned out of Lado +and Regaf. The Abyssinian campaigns also brought +quantities of slaves to Omdurman, but these are little +fitted for hard work, and are employed for the most +part in grinding corn, carrying water, and as concubines.</p> + +<p>Slave-hunting, too, is not carried on in the same way +as it used to be. The Khalifa is too knowing to send +large raiding expeditions for slaves into the distant +provinces, as he fears they might possibly become independent +and turn upon him; besides, private individuals +are no longer permitted to be in possession of firearms.</p> + +<p>Blacks captured in the Khalifa's various wars are sold +as slaves, and, while the free Mussulman tribes have +been greatly weakened and reduced in numbers by war +and famine, the blacks have, on the other hand, been +growing both in numbers and in strength. There is +abundant proof of this in the great difficulties which the +Dervish force at Fashoda is now experiencing, being +scarcely strong enough to quit their steamers and sailing +boats. The inhabitants of Jebel Nuba are once more +almost independent, and now the Dervishes do not dare +even to go to the foot of the hills. The withdrawal +also of the various Baggara tribes from the neighbourhood +of Shakka, &c., to Omdurman has rid the local +blacks of their hated presence in their country.</p> + +<p>The once notorious Jaalin and Danagla slave-hunters +are now beginning to experience in a degree what a +slave's life is, and, indeed, it almost seems as if the<a name="Page_385" id="Page_385"></a> +Khalifa Abdullah was an instrument of Heaven's vengeance +on those bloodthirsty and ruthless slave-hunters.</p> + +<p>The lot of a slave is indeed a miserable one. He is +looked upon as an animal created, as the Sudanese say, +to make the life of Moslems easy; he must do all the +hard work, both in the household and in the field. It +is the idea of the Sudanese, that if a slave gets sufficient +food he always becomes proud and unmanageable. +His dress consists merely of a rag tied round his loins: +whatever money he may make by his work is the property +of his master.</p> + +<p>The female slaves carry water and grind corn, in +return they are continually blamed and cursed; any +disobedience or dishonesty is punished by flogging, or +their bodies are gashed with razors, salt being rubbed +into the wounds, and, lest they should have any cause +to forget, their half-healed cuts are often ripped open +again and salt rubbed in afresh.</p> + +<p>In the treatment of their slaves women are more +cruel than men, more especially if jealousy is the cause +of their anger. Woe to the unfortunate female slave +who shows any love for her master! She suffers a +species of torture which it would be impossible for me +to describe here, and what wonder is it that in despair +they often fly from their masters and mistresses?</p> + +<p>Yet it is only by this harsh treatment that slaves +can be made obedient; it is a very true saying that +a person who is forcibly deprived of liberty can only +be brought into subjection by force. Slaves under +Mahdiist <i>régime</i> have so many different ways of revenging +themselves on their masters that they never +fail to seize an opportunity when it is offered.</p> + +<p>The immorality of slaves is quite beyond description; +but it cannot be the fault of the unfortunate creatures +themselves, for in their own savage homes it is not so. +They learn all the vices of their masters, and, indeed, +are forced to participate in them or submit to a flogging; +consequently, disease of the most loathsome kind is +everywhere prevalent, and to be free from it is thought +to be the mark of a poor creature. In many cases<a name="Page_386" id="Page_386"></a> +which have come within my own knowledge, the offspring +of such people die young, putrid by disease; of +fifteen children of one father, thirteen died in five years. +At first the Baggara were not infected to any large +extent, but contact with the inhabitants of the Nile +valley has communicated the pest, which is now eating +into the constitutions of this, the most powerful and +warlike tribe in the Sudan.<a name="FNanchor_R_18" id="FNanchor_R_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_R_18" class="fnanchor">[R]</a></p> + +<p>Export of slaves to Egypt and the Red Sea is forbidden, +because the Khalifa fears that the English may +intercept them and make soldiers of them; but a certain +number of female slaves are still smuggled through. +By the re-occupation of Tokar the Red Sea route, which +had been extensively used, was closed to the Dervishes. +It is permissible to give male and female slaves papers +of freedom, but the custom is never practised. If a +female slave bear a child to her master she cannot be +sold, and after her master's death she becomes a free +woman; if she bear a child to a freed man, who is not a +black, her position remains unaltered, and the child +grows up a slave, because it is considered to be illegitimate.</p> + +<p>Omdurman is full of slaves; even in the poorest +houses one female slave at least will be found. Hard +work and ill-treatment ages them very rapidly. Many +of them long for their native homes and detest slavery, +but the great majority of them submit without a murmur +to their wretched fate.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_R_18" id="Footnote_R_18"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_R_18" class="fnlabel">[R]</a> The disease lies dormant in the summer, but acquires virulence +with cold weather. The medicines used are iodide of potassium +and sarsaparilla.</p></div> +</div> + +<a name="Page_387" id="Page_387"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE BAGGARA MASTERS OF THE SUDAN.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Relations between Abdullah and the rival Khalifas—Mahdiism +practically dead—The Khalifa's son, Osman—His marriage to +Yakub's daughter—His intentions regarding the succession—The +Baggara and the Aulad-Belad—The Baggara masters of +the Sudan—Examples of their tyranny—Emigration of the +Rizighat tribe—Hostility between the Khalifa's and the late +Mahdi's households—The Ashraf conspiracy—Witchcraft—The +dispute between the Khalifas—Riots in Omdurman—The +Mahdi's widows.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">I propose</span> to devote this chapter to a brief outline of the +relations which exist between the ruling powers in +Omdurman, and a description of the present situation +in the Sudan. The overthrow of Nejumi at Toski, the +destruction of Abu Anga's immense army during his +constant campaigns in Abyssinia, the year of famine in +1889, and finally the capture of Tokar and total defeat +of Osman Digna in February 1891, have all tended +largely towards the diminution of Khalifa Abdullah's +power.</p> + +<p>Whilst the operations against Abyssinia and Egypt +were being carried on, the provinces in the interior of +the Sudan were slowly recovering from the terrible +strain through which they had passed. Dongola, +Kassala, and Darfur suffered most. The depredations +of Nejumi's wild Dervishes had entirely desolated the +once fertile province of Dongola, and is it any wonder +that its wretched inhabitants should cast longing eyes +towards wealthy and prosperous Egypt?</p> + +<p>But the cunning Khalifa was quite capable of coping +with this revulsion of feeling on the part of the inhabitants, +who were now thoroughly tired of Mahdiism, and<a name="Page_388" id="Page_388"></a> +who were undoubtedly desirous that the rule of the +Government should again be extended to them. He +decided to change the policy of oppression, and to +establish a milder rule. For this purpose he had a convenient +vision, in which he affirmed that he had been +instructed to appoint Zogal as emir of the province.</p> + +<p>This man, it will be remembered, was a native of +Dongola, an uncle of the late Mahdi; had been a +Government official in Darfur, and had more liberal and +enlightened views than most of the Dervish leaders. +The Khalifa thought—and thought rightly—that he +alone would be able to re-establish contentment in +Dongola. Thither Zogal proceeded, accompanied by an +enormous family, and under his mild and just rule the +province rapidly recovered.</p> + +<p>The Sudan, as a whole, has considerable recuperative +power, and, in spite of the Khalifa's senseless rule, would +soon recover if placed under good subordinate governors. +The desolation in Darfur, however, had been more +widespread; there was not enough cultivation even to +supply the wants of the garrison required for its occupation; +it was therefore abandoned, but the Khalifa is +still very anxious to re-occupy it when he can.</p> + +<p>Abdullah employed himself, during the period of rest +and cessation from war, in consolidating his power, and +from the various means which he employs it is quite +evident that his intentions are to establish an empire +for himself, his family, and his Baggaras; he proceeded, +however, in this task with prudence and caution.</p> + +<p>It is natural that the struggle for mastery between +the spiritual authority represented by the religious side +of Mahdiism, and the temporal authority of the Khalifa, +should constantly clash and lead to a state of insecurity +and uncertainty throughout the Sudan. What the +inhabitants desire is that the Khalifa should tell them +the truth plainly; let him abolish Mahdiism, which +exists merely in name, and let him proclaim himself +Sultan of the Sudan. He has the power and authority +sufficient to do this, but he fears that it might give his +enemies another arm which might be turned against<a name="Page_389" id="Page_389"></a> +him; he therefore advances very slowly with the project +on which his mind is bent.</p> + +<p>From the way in which his eldest son Osman is being +brought up, it is evident that Abdullah seeks to establish +an hereditary succession. This youth was, until +recently, of a most overbearing disposition. Whenever +he saw anything he wanted, he insisted on its being +given to him. If he saw someone riding a good donkey, +he would order the rider to dismount, and would +deliberately cut the poor animal's throat; but in spite +of these foolish and cruel acts, his favour was much +sought after, and many a present did he receive from +people who looked for a favourable means of bringing +their demands before the Khalifa; but the latter +eventually became exasperated by his son's conduct. +He rebuked him openly in the mosque, forbade everyone, +under pain of severe punishment, to give him a +present of any sort, and he made him over to a tutor +with a few Taisha mulazimin.</p> + +<p>This strict <i>régime</i> has already done the boy good. +He is now about eighteen years of age. It was said +that the Khalifa's brother Yakub was very jealous of +his nephew, for he had looked on himself as Abdullah's +successor; but, to flatter Yakub and curb his jealousy, +the Khalifa expressed a wish that Osman should be +betrothed to his daughter. This proposition was most +acceptable to Yakub; and further, the Khalifa arranged +that his daughter should be married to the Mahdi's son.</p> + +<p>Great were the preparations for these princely weddings, +which were carried out with a splendour entirely +at variance with the late Mahdi's laws. The betrothal +ceremony was accompanied by dancing and merry-making +in both the Mahdi's and the Khalifa's households, +and the air reeked with perfumes. All the +principal merchants and emirs gave rich presents in the +shape of brides' dresses and varieties of costly perfumes; +nor were gold and silver ornaments and velvet missing. +The goldsmiths have invented a new form of jewellery, +which has been named "the Khalifa's stirrups." These +ornaments, although absolutely opposed to Mahdi laws,<a name="Page_390" id="Page_390"></a> +are extensively worn in both households. Hundredweights +of sugar were brought to Yakub's house, besides +dhurra, wheat, butter, oxen, and fat-tailed sheep, which +latter are valued at from twenty to thirty dollars a head.</p> + +<p>It is usual for the bridegroom, or the bridegroom's +father, to offer presents of provisions to the bride, as +well as clothes and ornaments, which are all handed +over to her with great ceremony on an appointed day. +Then there is the festival of "tefail," to which women +only are admitted, after which comes "henna day," +when the hands and feet of the bride are dyed red with +henna. All these ceremonies are accompanied by banquets, +dancing, and singing. Every evening Yakub +entertained hundreds of the Ansar with rich food, and +distributed several ardebs of dates.</p> + +<p>On the occasion of the "dakhul" the bride is taken +to the bridegroom's house late in the evening; for seven +days afterwards they receive the congratulations of their +friends, and then the ceremony and festival are ended.</p> + +<p>From the pomp and ceremony with which the Khalifa +surrounded his son's wedding, it is evident to all who +thought about the matter that he had secret intentions. +After the wedding he had a princely house built for his +son, in the place known as Abu Anga's yard, near the +mosque; this he quite disfigured by building houses all +around it, which are considered the best in the town. +When the palace was completed, the "heir apparent," +who had hitherto been living with his father, moved +into it with great ceremony. The Khalifa gave alms in +a most liberal manner, so that his son's residence might +be blessed.</p> + +<p>Sayid Osman already takes part in the conduct of +affairs, and opens and reads the letters to the clerks. +Almost every morning he rides round with the +Governor on his inspections, but he does not live +much amongst the people. The Khalifa has changed +his name into Sheikh Ed Din Sayid Osman, and now +he is generally known as Sheikh Ed Din only; he quite +understands the <i>rôle</i> he has to play. He is a lover +of good food, and rejoices in the little specialities which<a name="Page_391" id="Page_391"></a> +the merchants bring from Sawakin and Egypt, such as +kamar ed din, dried figs, raisins, and all sorts of cakes +and biscuits, which are brought in abundance to +Yakub's house. The Khalifa treats him with marked +respect, occasionally hands over the command of the +parade to him, and the soldiers always present arms +to him.</p> + +<p>From the above it is quite evident that Abdullah +wishes to secure the succession to his son. This is +perfectly understood by the people, who make no secret +of it. The Khalifa's plan is to go slowly but surely. +He wants to secure the ascendency of the Baggara over +the Jaalin, Danagla, Barabra, and other smaller tribes +of the Sudan.</p> + +<p>Until the appearance of the Mahdi, the Baggara +were, perhaps, the most despised of all the Arab tribes. +The "Aulad-belad," as the Jaalin, Danagla, and Barabra +are called, had become more civilized in virtue of their +geographical position, and are far more crafty by nature +than the Baggara; they despised the latter, and under +the leadership of Zubeir Pasha, they defeated the great +tribes in the neighbourhood of Shakka, and it is these +same Baggara who are now their masters.</p> + +<p>All the Mahdi's early victories had been gained by +the Aulad-belad, who held the Baggaras in much the +same contempt as they did the Fellahin of Egypt. They +are cunning, corrupt, and utterly untrustworthy, and +from the beginning have practised far more cruelty +than the others. Even now they are still the Khalifa's +spies and advisers—indeed, he was brought up entirely +in their school, but has now completely turned the +tables on them. The intertribal discord and mutual +distrust which prevails amongst the Aulad-belad only +tend to further the ends the Khalifa has in view. +Wherever craft and subtlety are required, thither he +despatches them, in the full assurance that as long as +they are engaged in finding out the misdeeds of their +own countrymen he will be well and loyally served by +them.</p> + +<p>When the Baggara are sent to search a house in<a name="Page_392" id="Page_392"></a> +which it is supposed marissa-drinking or smoking is +going on, they are almost certain to find out nothing; +but with the Aulad-belad it is exactly the reverse; they +poke into the walls and tap the ground to hear if there +is any hollowness in the sound; they search every +corner most thoroughly, and seldom leave empty-handed; +but the Baggaras have now got the upper hand, and the +Aulad-belad must bow down before them. In spite of +this, however, they manage to deceive their new +masters, and in all matters where cunning is required +they are far superior to them.</p> + +<p>It is only right that the Baggara, who have been +brought up in the forests and plains, and who are far +more simple-minded, honest individuals, should rule the +corrupt Aulad-belad; their emigration to Omdurman +and their submission to the Khalifa's rule has had the +advantage of taming them, and their advances in +civilization are quite astounding. Being now possessed +of power and money, they have begun to build better +houses, to wear cleaner clothing, and to occasionally +wash their jibbehs, which were reeking and besmeared +with oil and fat; the Khalifa has done much to improve +their manners and customs in this respect. Their west-country +Arabic dialect has greatly improved; now the +two opposition parties can thoroughly understand each +other, and the Aulad-belad no longer make a laughing-stock +of their western brethren.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa's policy is to weaken the power of the +Aulad-belad and to strengthen the Baggaras. Just as +a good father watches his children, so does Abdullah +watch for every opportunity to further these ends by a +clever combination of leniency and severity. He +frequently blames his own countrymen for their want +of gratitude to their benefactor, who has heaped favours +upon them at the expense of the Aulad-belad. On one +occasion he cursed the day on which he had brought +them to Omdurman, calling it a "black day;" but, in +point of fact, he is not really serious when he upbraids +them, he rather does it to satisfy the complainers, and +he takes every opportunity of sending the Aulad-belad<a name="Page_393" id="Page_393"></a> +as far away from headquarters as possible, so as to +strengthen his central authority by the presence of +Baggaras only.</p> + +<p>I have already narrated how in the famine year he +made the Baggaras pay only six dollars for an ardeb of +dhurra, whilst everyone else had to pay sixty dollars +for the same quantity; thus the Baggara suffered no +hardships and want during that terrible time. They do +not like dhurra as well as dukhn, which is more +nourishing, and which they grind in wooden mortars. +During that period of awful want, when hundreds of +natives were dying of starvation in the streets, these +great strong Baggaras were eating to their hearts' content, +completely regardless of all the suffering creatures +around them.</p> + +<p>The revenue of the beit el mal is expended almost +entirely on the Baggaras; all the fertile islands in the +neighbourhood, and the best-cultivated portions of the +Nile banks as far as Berber, have been made over to +them, whilst the original owners of the soil have been +turned out without a piastre's compensation; they are, +therefore, owners of all the best lands, and serve as a +foreign garrison in occupation of a conquered country.</p> + +<p>Woe to the native who happens to have a Baggara as +his neighbour! His cattle are robbed, and he must +share the product of the fields with his overbearing +master; wherever they go the Baggaras take their +horses with them, which must be fed and cared for at +the expense of the local inhabitants; complaints against +Baggaras are not taken the slightest notice of, or—as it +more often happens—the complainant receives a heavy +punishment for having ventured to make a statement +which is invariably construed as untrue and incorrect. +Thus these bold tribesmen have every inducement to +become more and more truculent the further removed +they are from the Khalifa's supervision. I will cite an +example.</p> + +<p>A rich native of the Gezireh had a dispute with a +Baggara, and struck his oppressor a blow with a stick +in self-defence. Fate decreed that the Baggara should<a name="Page_394" id="Page_394"></a> +die twenty-eight days afterwards, but his death was +not caused by the blow; the other Baggaras, however, +seized the opportunity of demanding blood-money, and +if refused they threatened to report the matter to the +Khalifa. The stupid native was actually intimidated +into giving the Baggara 10,000 dollars, and the matter +was declared to be ended; but somehow it came to +Yakub's ears, and learning that the supposed murderer +was a very rich man, he advised the friends of the +deceased Baggara not to accept blood-money, but to +insist on the native's death. This was agreed to. The +poor man was arrested, dragged to Omdurman, and +hanged; whilst his property, consisting of a number of +goats and 30,000 dollars, was confiscated.</p> + +<p>Not content with this, the Khalifa also ordered that +the seven villages in the neighbourhood should be +burnt, on the plea that the inhabitants had made +common cause with the murderer in resisting lawfully +constituted authority; and it was only when the inhabitants +of these villages went <i>en masse</i> to the Khalifa, +begging to be spared, that he at length acceded to their +request.</p> + +<p>When it was found that the revenue of the beit el +mal was insufficient to provide for the rapidly-increasing +Baggara population, Abdullah ordered half the produce +of the Gezireh lands to be given to the beit el mal, +the other half being retained by the owners. This was +published as a solemn decree, and all judges enjoined to +see that it was properly carried out. Ibrahim Nur, the +son of Nur Gereifawi, was sent with a body of soldiers +and Baggara to assist in carrying out the order in the +Gezireh, and he gained an unenviable notoriety for the +ruthless severity with which he enforced his authority.</p> + +<p>In accordance with the Khalifa's instructions, out of +every hundred ardebs he seized a half, and on the +remaining half he levied the "ushr" and "zeka" taxes, +so that eventually the unfortunate cultivator retained +only thirty-seven and a half per cent. of his original +quantity; besides, he was made responsible for the +transport to the river of the sixty-two and a-half per<a name="Page_395" id="Page_395"></a> +cent. Frequently the fields were far distant from the +river, which involved hiring camels to carry the grain, so +that finally the owner was probably left with absolutely +nothing. In this way Ibrahim gathered upwards of +60,000 ardebs from the Blue and White Niles.</p> + +<p>Ibrahim gained the title of the "Gordon of the +Gezireh" from the extraordinarily rapid way in which he +moved from one village to the other and gave his +instructions.</p> + +<p>Here is another proof of the Khalifa's injustice when +dealing in matters concerning his own countrymen. +About two days' journey from Omdurman up the White +Nile are certain very highly-cultivated districts, and it +occurred to the Khalifa to send there the Taisha who +were not then employed, so that they might cultivate +and at the same time remain in touch with him. He +therefore sent a certain Sheikh Wad el Bedri to select +the most favoured spots in which the Taisha were to +settle.</p> + +<p>When the inhabitants of these districts learnt what +was intended, they begged and prayed Wad el Bedri to +avert this terrible calamity which threatened them, +assuring him that if he would assist them they would +do anything he wanted, short of having the Baggara as +settlers in their country; this request they accompanied +with a good round sum of money.</p> + +<p>Bedri then returned to Omdurman, waited on the +Khalifa with a most beaming countenance, and reported +that the inhabitants of the White Nile were very pleased +that the Khalifa of the Mahdi<a name="FNanchor_S_19" id="FNanchor_S_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_S_19" class="fnanchor">[S]</a> had been graciously +pleased to think of sending the Taisha to their country; +but at the same time they most humbly begged to +submit to him that possibly the Taisha might find it a +trouble to move so far with their families and followers. +If, therefore, the Khalifat el Mahdi should, in his great +wisdom, deem it advisable, they were quite ready to<a name="Page_396" id="Page_396"></a> +send to their masters everything they required, and so +spare them the toil of making this extended emigration.</p> + +<p>Abdullah seemed delighted with this proposal, praised +Sheikh Wad el Bedri for his services, and agreed that +his suggestion should be carried out. The sheikh appealed +to his countrymen, and in one year collected over +20,000 ardebs of dhurra, besides a quantity of money, +which was distributed amongst the Taisha, who from +that day looked on him as one of their best friends.</p> + +<p>There is among the Baggara a curious ejaculation of +"Hai! hai!" constantly interspersed throughout their +conversation. The Sudani feels far more terror at this +sound than he ever felt at the sight of the Egyptian +officials' red tarbush.</p> + +<p>All high posts are in the Baggaras' hands, or rather +in the hands of the Khalifa's nearest relatives. The +emirs of Kordofan, Regaf, Fashoda, Galabat, Kassala, +and Berber, are all Abdullah's relatives. Dongola was +the only place of importance not confided to a Baggara, +but now Zogal has fallen in favour and has been replaced +by the Baggari Yunis. Some of the subordinate +posts are, however, still in the hands of the Aulad-belad, +but, gradually, as the Baggaras become capable +of carrying out the duties, they will replace the natives.</p> + +<p>Not content with having brought the Taisha, Homr, +and Habbanieh Arabs from the west to the Nile, he has +still further weakened the Aulad-belad by obliging the +powerful Rizighat tribe to emigrate from their country, +south of Darfur, to Omdurman. Their young Sheikh +Musa—son of Madibbo, who had been killed by Abu +Anga at El Obeid—was entrusted with this mission, and +he marched through Kordofan with some 30,000 souls, +besides quantities of horses and cattle; his vanguard +had reached Shatt on the White Nile just at the time +that I effected my escape.</p> + +<p>The Khalifa had appointed a committee under the +notorious Hajji Zubeir to organize a great reception for +the new arrivals, and had made a long speech in the +mosque calling on everyone to come forward liberally +with gifts for their brethren. He urged that alms<a name="Page_397" id="Page_397"></a> +should not be stinted, but that clothes, corn, and all +sorts of provisions would be gratefully accepted, even to +the "fartaga" (or smallest copper which is coined).</p> + +<p>Every emir was instructed to let his followers know +of the Khalifa's wishes; he was to collect the gifts and +hand them over to the committee. If the gifts were +considered too small they were returned with a strong +hint that it would be advisable to increase them. +Merchants were especially called upon to give largely, +and if they failed to comply they invariably incurred +his displeasure.</p> + +<p>The list of gifts was scrutinised by the Khalifa daily, +and his favours apportioned in accordance with what he +found there. He was careful not to allow the rich to +give sparingly; for instance, Kadi Ahmed presented +200 ardebs of dhurra, 100 complete suits of clothes, +consisting of 100 takias, 100 turbans, 100 jibbehs, 100 +pairs of drawers, 100 leather girths, and 100 pairs of +sandals; still Abdullah was not satisfied and asked why +he had not given any money, and immediately the Kadi, +terrified at the Khalifa's displeasure, laid a considerable +sum at Hajji Zubeir's feet.</p> + +<p>The merchant Omar Kesha, who had acquired much +wealth, had on one occasion been deprived of 30,000 +dollars by the Khalifa on the plea that much money was +apt to take his mind off heavenly considerations. Two +years later a similar sum was again taken from him. +On the occasion of the arrival of the Rizighat, however, +he presented a camel-load of sugar, a camel-load of +white muslin, and another of indigo-dyed calico, besides +a quantity of kamar ed din, 50 ardebs of dhurra, a +camel-load of dammur, and a completely-equipped war-horse +with its attendant.</p> + +<p>Wealthy men offer lavish gifts, in the hope of immunity +from plunder, and Omar Kesha, in addition to +his generosity on this occasion, does not fail to +frequently offer valuable gifts to Yakub. As for the +Khalifa, he is perfectly aware that with one word he +can, with absolute right, demand anything and everything +he requires, for had not the Sudanese solemnly<a name="Page_398" id="Page_398"></a> +pledged their property, their children, and their own +lives to the cause of the Mahdi and his successor?</p> + +<a name="baggara_woman"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:300px;"><img src="images/p398.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="284" height="368"> +<p class="caption2">A BAGGARA WOMAN.</p></div> + + +<p>While in Kordofan the Mahdi had professed that he +was virtually the owner of all property, but that he left +it in the hands of its original tenants that they might +administer it until he should require it; and now no +stone is left unturned to enforce his theory of the true +ownership. The Khalifa directs his special attention +to the merchants, who, he supposes, make large profits +out of commerce and trade.</p> + +<p>Hitherto the Baggaras have had nothing to do with +external commerce, they never go to Sawakin or to +Egypt. All trade with the outside world is conducted<a name="Page_399" id="Page_399"></a> +by Hadarba, Jaalin, Danagla, and Barabra merchants, +also on the southern frontier of Egypt by Ababdeh and +Kenuz people; but in Omdurman itself the Baggaras, +and especially the women, take a large share in the +retail business. Although they have scarcely ever +owned a piastre in their lives, the shining dollar has +excited the most inordinate cupidity amongst them. +They are very quick to learn, and already surpass the +Aulad-belad in many branches of trade; this fact has +delighted the Khalifa, and he encourages it to the +fullest extent.</p> + +<p>The continuous support which the Khalifa gives to +his own compatriots at the expense of the rest of his +subjects not unnaturally irritates the latter, and out of +their oppression a species of courage has sprung. The +Khalifa Sherif bitterly resents being debarred from all +share in the government of the country. He is highly +favoured amongst the late Mahdi's widows, and the +Ashraf look to him as their head.</p> + +<p>Abdullah, however, employs every means to lower +his position and diminish the respect in which he is held +by the Ashraf, whose loose mode of life he never loses +an opportunity of exposing. For instance, Ahmed +Sharfi's second son had a concubine to whom he was +much devoted, and who used to saddle his horse for +him herself; but in secret she was not always faithful +to her master, and when one day he returned to find +her absent, he revenged himself on her return by +hanging her with his own hands. When this outrage +came to the Khalifa's ears, he ordered the perpetrator +to be imprisoned and all his property confiscated, +whereas, according to Mahdi law, a master has complete +power to deal as he likes with his own slaves. Another +of Ahmed Sharfi's sons was discovered to be leading a +very immoral life, and he was exiled up the White Nile.</p> + +<p>Another similar and even worse discovery, of which +the principal agent was one of the Mahdi's near relatives, +gave Abdullah an opportunity of openly accusing +the Ashraf of leading lives which did not entitle them +to the smallest respect; and having established this fact,<a name="Page_400" id="Page_400"></a> +he set to work in the most public manner to show them +every mark of disrespect.</p> + +<p>The Mahdi's uncle, Sayid Abdel Kader, a very proud +man, who prior to, the Mahdi's appearance had gained a +livelihood by doctoring donkeys, thought, under the +altered circumstances, that his profession was not a +very honourable one; he therefore took to doctoring +human beings with the aid of a few old Arabic books +on medicine which he possessed. He made no secret of +his dislike of Abdullah, and openly deplored the decay +of true Mahdiism; he never attended at the mosque, +and studiously avoided the Khalifa on every occasion. +Abdullah, however, was fully alive to the situation, +Sayid's every step was dogged by spies, and at length, +when his impudence got beyond all bounds, the Khalifa +suddenly summoned him to the mosque, and addressed +him publicly as follows—"Why should you not come +to the mosque twice a week and greet me occasionally?" +The Sayid replied proudly, "I worship God and pray to +Him daily in my house."</p> + +<p>This speech greatly annoyed the Khalifa, who replied, +"Pray in your house; but I shall cut off the hand +and foot of everyone who associates with you, whether +in your house or out of it, and I shall send to your +house to have all these Arabic books removed; you can +then pray to God without distraction." Suiting the action +to the word, he at once had the Sayid's books +seized and burnt. After this Abdel Kader thought +it as well to pray five times a-day in the Mahdi's +mosque.</p> + +<p>Thus the breach between the Mahdi's and the Khalifa's +households is widening daily; the former are continually +holding secret meetings and consultations, of which the +latter takes good care to be fully apprized.</p> + +<p>Another individual—a certain Ismail el Kheir—who +had been one of the Mahdi's most fanatical adherents, +but who, after the Mahdi's death, had shown a tendency +to side with the Khalifa Sherif and to be unfriendly to +Khalifa Abdullah, was one day suddenly ordered to be +ready to start for Regaf in half an hour. It was<a name="Page_401" id="Page_401"></a> +rumoured that Abdullah had discovered he had been +attending the secret meetings of the Ashraf.</p> + +<p>I will cite yet another case. A certain Wad el Banna, +a good man and a well-educated Moslem, had the +Khalifa's special permission to retain a number of historical +works on Islam, which he frequently read to him +and the Ansar after prayers in the mosque. Being in +high favour, and a great personal friend, the Khalifa +sent him late one night a very beautiful female slave; +but when she arrived at the house, Wad el Banna was +nowhere to be found, and it was discovered that he +was with the Khalifa Sherif. The next morning Abdullah +announced that he deserved to be hanged; but +as he had been very fond of him, he forgave him for +the Mahdi's sake; but ordered all the books to be +burnt, and that he should be transported to Regaf. +Just as the steamer was about to sail with Wad el +Banna on board, the Khalifa recalled and pardoned +him.</p> + +<p>There was now little doubt that the Ashraf were +forming a conspiracy; the immediate result of this +discovery was the sudden arrest and imprisonment of +Zogal, which caused no small stir. Then followed the +arrest of Fadl Maula (afterwards known as Abdel Maula), +which created still more excitement. Fadl Maula was +the late Abu Anga's brother, and commanded the black +troops in Omdurman. He was a man of great influence, +not only on account of his brother's reputation, but he +had also performed a number of valuable services for +the Khalifa, notably at the time of the dispute regarding +the Mahdi's successor. He lived near Gordon's fort +of Omdurman, enjoyed a high position, and acquired a +large number of the most handsome women in the +Sudan for his harem.</p> + +<p>These ladies lived in the highest luxury. He built +good houses for them, and in the evening he had a +band of Fertit blacks, who played before them on a +variety of instruments. He was perhaps of all the +emirs the most favoured. He had no scruples in going +round his men's quarters picking out the good-looking<a name="Page_402" id="Page_402"></a> +women and sending them to his harem; but this +debauched and extravagant mode of living soon brought +its reward, and he became affected by a sort of leprosy +which seemed to have touched his brain. He became +violent, and had to be put in chains. He lay for +months in this condition, and no medicine was given to +him to ease his pain.</p> + +<p>At length a fiki was summoned who declared the disease +to be the result of witchcraft, and he volunteered to +find out by whom this evil had been practised on him. +One of Abdel Maula's wives was a young girl of great +beauty, who was preferred to all the rest, and who lived +with her mother. Love, however, soon grew cold, and +he became enamoured of another of his wives; but the +mother of the cast-off girl determined to be revenged, +and to aid her in her object, she sought the assistance +of a fiki, who gave her a number of amulets, for which +she paid him well. These bits of paper she placed +under the iron platter on which Abdel Maula's bread +was baked, and gradually he grew worse and worse in +health. At length the papers were discovered, and +everyone was convinced that his illness had been caused +by witchcraft. The woman was tried, found guilty, +and had her hand and foot cut off. Abdel Maula did +not recover for many months, and the unfortunate +woman had been sacrificed to the fiki's deception.</p> + +<p>The people are still very credulous, and it is impossible +to make them give up their belief in these +superstitious fikis. Once, out of pure curiosity, I quite +convinced myself that this supposed witchcraft was a +mere deception on the part of a clever fiki. Abu Anga's +death and Abdel Maula's illness greatly affected the +latter's influence, besides he was looked upon with jealous +eyes by the Taisha. His overbearing manner to Yakub, +which made the latter his sworn enemy, also contributed +to his downfall. Detractors were not wanting who +declared that he appropriated the dhurra issued by the +beit el mal for his troops. The Khalifa therefore +ordered his property to be confiscated, and reduced the +number of his wives from thirty-one to three. Irritated<a name="Page_403" id="Page_403"></a> +beyond measure at this treatment, he openly abused +the Khalifa and Yakub; but was thrown into chains +and delivered over to the tender mercies of the Saier.</p> + +<p>The upshot of a meeting of the three Khalifas and +the Kadi in Ahmed Sharfi's house, still further widened +the breach. Sharfi is known as the "Gidd el Ashraf" +(or grandfather of the Ashraf), because his daughter was +the Mahdi's mother—Abdullah himself generally addresses +him as "Gidd," and, by way of a joke, his +house is known as the "Mudirieh," because it is a large +square yard with numbers of small rooms ranged +around the inside walls in which the numerous wives +dwell.</p> + +<p>Sharfi is an astute and crafty old man; he sees perfectly +well that, under existing circumstances, it is +quite useless to try and overturn the present Baggara +authority. He flatters the Khalifa in the most obsequious +manner, constantly gives him presents, and +has even gone as far as to give up associating with +the Mahdi's household, lest suspicion should rest upon +him.</p> + +<p>But to return. The four met one evening, the great +gate was closed, the mulazim kept guard outside, while +within the discussion waxed hot. Khalifa Sherif reproached +Abdullah bitterly for non-adherence to the +Mahdi's precepts. He accused him of oppressing the +people, and governing without the co-operation of +himself and Ali Wad Helu. He urged that the proceeds +of the beit el mal were reserved exclusively for +him and his Baggaras; that he had built good houses +for himself and his emirs, whilst the Mahdi's household +continued to live in a zariba; that his brother Yakub +had considerably more authority than either of the two +Khalifas; that the Mahdi's wives were living in absolute +want whilst the Baggaras had every luxury; in short, +he accused Abdullah of having made Mahdiism into an +entirely worldly and temporal power, instead of upholding +the religious precepts on which it had been +founded. These unreserved expressions led to a fierce +dispute, swords were on the point of being drawn, when<a name="Page_404" id="Page_404"></a> +Ahmed Sharfi and the Kadi with tears implored them +to stop quarrelling.</p> + +<p>It was now past midnight, and Yakub, alarmed at +Abdullah's absence, arrived with a party of soldiers and +several Baggaras at the great gate, and began rapping +violently with their spears; they shouted, "Let our +Khalifa out!" The noise outside had an instantaneous +effect on the disputants within. Abdullah solemnly +swore on the Kuran that he would act entirely on the +advice of his colleagues in the matter, and with that +assurance the stormy meeting broke up. His appearance +at the gate was hailed with delight, and he was +conducted home with rejoicing.</p> + +<p>But in spite of these events there was no real reconciliation. +Sherif continued to agitate secretly, whilst +the Mahdi's wives, who looked upon him as their protector +solemnly appointed by the Mahdi, added fuel to +the fire. They had some cause for discontent. After the +Mahdi's death they were taken little notice of; Abdullah +did not trouble himself about their wants and had it not +been for Ahmed Sharfi, they must have starved. Being +the Mahdi's widows, they were not allowed to marry +again, and were not even permitted to move beyond the +palace precincts.</p> + +<p>This enforced confinement so irritated these good +women that they decided to go <i>en masse</i> to the Khalifa, +and demand either their liberty or that they should be +well treated. Ahmed Sharfi, learning of their resolution, +did all in his power to quiet them, and promised that +he would intercede with the Khalifa for them. This he +did, and Abdullah feigned complete surprise, said he +had been under the impression that they had been +supplied from the beit el mal with all they required, +and that he himself had repeatedly given orders to +Nur Gereifawi to that effect. This was a fact, but—as +it frequently happens—Yakub had taken it upon himself +to give counter-orders; the blame was, of course, +laid on Gereifawi, who was ordered to at once issue 600 +dollars to the widows, half in clothes and half in cash, +and so these noble ladies were for the time being satisfied.<a name="Page_405" id="Page_405"></a></p> + +<p>About a month after the meeting I have just +described the smouldering fire broke out with renewed +vigour. About two days before the actual climax, I +was told in the greatest secrecy by a friend, that in a +few days a rupture must occur, that Khalifas Sherif +and Ali Wad Helu, as well as the principal Aulad-belad +emirs, had solemnly sworn on the Kuran either to +overturn Khalifa Abdullah, or die in the attempt. I +could scarcely credit this news, for Sherif was a young +and inexperienced man, and had hitherto given no +proof of any special ability which would induce the +confidence of others; he appeared to me as a man +utterly absorbed in a life of sensual pleasure. But the +following day my friend again told me that his first +information was quite correct; however, I persisted in +saying that I would not believe it till I saw it. So +well had the secret been kept, that the Aulad-belad +merchants were unconcernedly taking their goods away +from the market as usual, and the Khalifa and his +household knew nothing of it, for one of my friends, +who lived close to the palace, declared to me that the +whole matter was pure invention.</p> + +<p>On Tuesday, the 24th of November, 1891, a rumour +suddenly spread through the town that Sherif had +decided to resist. The market was at once closed, and +people went to their homes as quickly as possible. +The whole place was in a state of alarm and excitement. +Baggaras seized the opportunity to plunder and rob, +and I could not learn the actual circumstances which +led to the outbreak, as all that day I remained in my +hut, and the following day I made my escape.</p> + +<p>Some said that the people had risen because the +Khalifa intended to execute Zogal; others, that Abdullah +had secretly intended to proclaim his son as his +successor, but that Sherif had violently opposed the +idea. Possibly it may have been that the Khalifa—on +the principle of weakening the power of the Aulad-belad—had +ordered that an expedition of 3,000 of them, +under the command of Wad el Ireik, should proceed to +Kassala to fight against the Italians; besides, Abdullah<a name="Page_406" id="Page_406"></a> +had the intention of sending Karamallah—the capturer +of Lupton Bey—and his brother Kerkesawi, with a +force to Bahr el Ghazal, and it was thought that these +two most deliberate attempts to get the Aulad-belad out +of Omdurman had been the real cause of the outbreak.</p> + +<p>Tuesday passed without disturbance, but every one +was prepared for Wednesday. On that day the Khalifa +ordered that everyone should stand to his flag, and that +all the Ansar should attend at the mosque. But the +whole affair turned out to be a ridiculous farce. Khalifa +Sherif with a few Danagla had barricaded himself in +the Mahdi's zariba; he had altogether about fifty +Remington rifles. How could he attempt resistance +with a feeble force of this description? He had acted +most imprudently; still, in secret, the Aulad-belad +would all have liked to support him, but not one of +them had the courage to come forward, though there +were a very large number of them in Omdurman. The +Mahdi's widows, however, showed far more determination. +They dressed themselves in jibbehs, armed themselves +with swords, and, forming a compact little body, +they swore rather to die than submit.</p> + +<p>In accordance with the Khalifa's orders, the palace, +the mosque, and the road between the Mahdi's dome +and the mosque, were all occupied by the Ansar on +Wednesday, whilst the black troops completely surrounded +the mosque. Yakub was made responsible for +distributing ammunition. Possibly Sherif may have +thought that the Aulad-belad would have joined him, +but not one of them dared to leave the ranks. +Numerous horsemen wearing coats of mail and helmets +were entertaining the crowds by their furious galloping, +and in Abdullah's entire force there was general rejoicing. +At about 10 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span> Sherif opened fire, and +seventeen Baggaras fell; the blacks returned the fire, +and killed seven of Sherif's men. Abdullah would not +allow the Ansar to fire, and it was with the greatest +difficulty that he succeeded in holding back the wild +Baggaras.</p> + +<p>The few shots that had been fired startled the whole<a name="Page_407" id="Page_407"></a> +of Omdurman; everyone went to his house and armed +himself as best he could. Meanwhile the Baggara +horsemen had left the actual scene of action, and were +now scattered about the town looting, robbing, breaking +into houses, wounding people, and seizing women, slaves, +ornaments, &c. When Abdullah heard of this, he lost +no time in sending Yakub's horsemen to keep order; but +many of the robbers made off with their booty. In the +evening it was rumoured that a reconciliation had been +effected. Khalifa Helu, Ahmed Sharfi, and Sayid el +Mek had been the mediators. Sharfi had attempted to +explain to the Mahdi's widows that all resistance was +useless, but they tore his jibbeh, and drove him off.</p> + +<p>On Thursday the Khalifas all met under the Mahdi's +dome, and there Abdullah, with tears in his eyes, +solemnly swore to accede to all his opponent's wishes, +which were that he should receive one-third of the +army, one-third of the arms, and of the beit el mal +revenue, and that, moreover, he should take part in all +meetings and deliberations. It was quite apparent that +Abdullah never seriously intended to fulfil these conditions. +He could have instantly suppressed the outbreak +had he wished to do so, but he wanted to show +that he still greatly honoured and respected the Mahdi's +family.</p> + +<p>At noon the mulazimin marched through the town, +heralds announced that tranquillity had been restored, +and that people should return to their daily avocations. +On Friday the usual review took place, but none of the +notables were present, and most of the troops continued +in occupation of the mosque and palace. On Saturday +there was another alarm, for Sherif had declined to +hand over his arms, but that evening his submission +was publicly announced. I did not hear the details, +for on Sunday, the 29th of November, 1891, I quitted +Omdurman in the dead of night.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_S_19" id="Footnote_S_19"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_S_19" class="fnlabel">[S]</a> Abdullah does not like being addressed as Khalifa only, but if +he be approached as Khalifat el Mahdi, and if the words "aleh es +salam" ("on whom be peace") be added—a term which is only used +when speaking of the Prophet—he is even more gratified.</p></div> +</div> + +<a name="Page_408" id="Page_408"></a> +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">PREPARATIONS FOR THE FLIGHT.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Ohrwalder forms plans for escape—The fate of other Europeans +attempting to fly—Stricter surveillance—Ohrwalder's means of +livelihood—Letters from Cairo—The faithful Ahmed Hassan +discloses his plan—Archbishop Sogaro—Miseries of captivity in +Omdurman—Death of Sister Concetta Corsi—Preparations for +flight.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">The</span> reader will readily understand that all this time I +had not lost sight of the object which had been next +my heart, which was to regain my liberty and escape +from my miserable surroundings.</p> + +<p>When I quitted El Obeid, I then thought that, once +in Omdurman, escape would not be so difficult, and +during my long journey to the Mahdi's capital this +thought had buoyed me up. At any rate I was one +step nearer attaining my wish, for at that time the +restrictions on Europeans were not so severe, and they +were permitted to trade and travel as far as Ed Damer, +to which place Egyptian merchants freely came and +went.</p> + +<p>On my arrival in Omdurman, a Greek offered me +hospitality, which I gratefully accepted. I had resolved +to search about in the town for a trusty friend, who +would help me towards the attainment of my object. +It had occurred to me that I might accompany a Greek +or Syrian merchant to Damer, and from thence make +my escape, but unfortunately at that time I had no +money and little experience. I did not actually give +way to despair, but I could find no one ready to give +me the assistance I required; they all feared the +Khalifa's vengeance in case of discovery.<a name="Page_409" id="Page_409"></a></p> + +<a name="guides"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:550px;"><img src="images/p409.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="533" height="392"> +<p class="caption2">THE ARAB GUIDES WHO EFFECT THE ESCAPE OF FATHER OHRWALDER AND THE SISTERS.</p></div> +<a name="Page_410" id="Page_410"></a> +<a name="Page_411" id="Page_411"></a> + +<p>I made inquiries of boatmen, with a view to going to +Berber on a supposed trading journey, but none of +them trusted me; and, indeed, I was afterwards +thankful that they had not spoken of my design. +However, in spite of failure, I did not give up hope; +and during the long days, and often sleepless nights, I +turned various plans over and over in my mind. On one +occasion Gustav Klootz and I decided to make an attempt +to reach Galabat, and escape thence into Abyssinia, but at +the last moment the plan seemed impracticable. Klootz, +however, set off, and without any money he begged +his way from place to place; at length, utterly exhausted, +he reached Galabat, only to die a few days +afterwards.</p> + +<p>I spent about eight months with the Greek, and then +thought it was not fair to trespass further on his +hospitality. Besides, it had occurred to me that in case +a favourable opportunity for escape arrived, he would +most certainly have been accused of complicity, and +might have suffered on my account; I therefore built +a small straw hut for myself, and lived with a Mission +brother who had a small shop in the market. For +almost five months an Arab held out hopes of assisting +me to escape, but I eventually ascertained that he never +really meant to help me. For nearly two years I had +suffered from incessant diarrh[oe]a, which had greatly +wasted my strength.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile I had managed to send one of the Mission +brothers to Berber, nominally to gain a living by +repairing watches, but actually to find out whether +flight from there was possible. It took him twenty-six +days in a boat to reach Berber, and after staying there +for a time he succeeded in escaping to Sawakin, whence +he despatched a man with money and goods who was +to aid in my escape; but the man never came, and +must have stolen all that had been given to him.</p> + +<p>The Mission brother's escape reached the Khalifa's +ears, and at the same time certain Greeks petitioned +him that their bakery might not be pulled down when +the market was being repaired. The Khalifa sent for<a name="Page_412" id="Page_412"></a> +the mukuddum to inquire about the matter, and +casually asked about the other Greeks, and where they +were? The mukuddum replied that some were ill, +others were travelling. This greatly annoyed the +Khalifa, who ordered all who were in Omdurman to be +brought before him the following day. Finding several +absentees, his eyes seemed to be opened to the danger; +he severely blamed the mukuddum for allowing the +lay-brother to escape; said that he should have given +immediate information, and then turning on us he +threatened to cast us into the river, or cut off our +hands. His actual words were, "What prevents me +now from throwing you into the river, and making you +food for fishes?" He spoke against us in a most +vehement manner for about half an hour, and ended by +saying that we should not in future be permitted to +move one step south of Omdurman fort, or north of +Khor Shambat. Any Europeans known to be beyond +the limits of his capital, he ordered to be forcibly +brought back, alive or dead. This sudden change of +front obliged us to put aside for the time all idea of +escape.</p> + +<p>A Sherif of Mecca, who had come to greet the Mahdi +and who had become thoroughly convinced of the falseness +of his claims, expressed a desire to be allowed to +return; his request was not granted, so he decided to +make his escape; he bought a donkey and gaily set out +on his journey. On reaching Kererri, some four hours' +distance, he was stopped and asked where he was going; +he replied that he was come to pay a visit to Sheikh el +Tayeb's tomb at Kererri; but his story was not credited. +He was brought back to the Khalifa, who handed him +over to the Saier, where he died a few days afterwards.</p> + +<p>This event made Abdullah exert a still stricter surveillance +over the "whites," and now escape became +more difficult than ever. Moreover, Wad en Nejumi's +expedition to Egypt closed the road to pilgrims, and +during that period flight would have been a pure impossibility. +In the meantime I had to do something to +gain a livelihood. Lupton advised me to try soap-<a name="Page_413" id="Page_413"></a>boiling; +so I went into partnership with him, changed +my house, and now took up my abode just beyond the +Greek and Syrian quarter.</p> + +<p>I was always thinking of escape, and in consequence +kept a great deal to myself, seldom paid visits, and was +seldom called upon. Two of the Mission sisters were +living near me; they earned a precarious living by +needlework; but this hardly brought in enough money +to purchase the bare necessities of life, for several of the +women who had survived the Khartum massacre were +employed at similar work, and the competition was +considerable.</p> + +<p>Poor Lupton died very suddenly, so our soap-boiling +plan had to be abandoned, and I had to turn my +thoughts to something else. It occurred to me to make +hooks out of telegraph wire, which the sisters sewed on +to purses, takias, &c., and this being a novelty was for +a time a fairly lucrative business: but it was long and +tedious work. Gradually the novelty wore off, and the +demand grew less; provisions were expensive, and a +famine close at hand. All idea of mutual support had +come to an end, for the Greeks, Syrians, and Jews had +been prohibited from leaving the town, and nothing was +to be made out of trade in Omdurman itself. Thus my +condition went from bad to worse, the famine was now +raging, and in desperation I had to do something to +gain enough to keep body and soul together.</p> + +<p>It was the fashion for the women in Omdurman to +wear long garments trimmed with various sorts of +ribbons, and it occurred to me to learn how to make +these ribbons; for this purpose I acquired a small and +simple loom. The few men in the market, who had the +monopoly of this trade, regarded my acquisition with +great jealousy, and would not teach it to any one under +a less payment than forty or fifty dollars, and this sum +I was quite unable to raise; however, necessity knows +no law, and hunger sharpens the inventive faculties. I +carefully unravelled a piece of ribbon and studied the +way it was made with the greatest attention. I had a +dim and hazy recollection of European looms, and, after<a name="Page_414" id="Page_414"></a> +many vain attempts, I at length succeeded in making +one. The work is very trying, and at first I thought +my back would break from the exertion; it was only +with the greatest difficulty that I managed, after working +all day, to turn out four yards, which I sold for four +piastres, out of which I had to purchase the thread. +However, after continuous practice, I succeeded, at the +end of a month, in turning out sixteen yards a day. +But loom work should be learnt when one is young, and +to begin it at my age was a terrible strain on my back; +still, it brought in sufficient money to keep us alive.</p> + +<p>For seven months we lived on dhurra bread and a few +boiled vegetables, without oil, butter, or meat. Hard +work and insufficient food were telling on our strength: +however, we were far better off than hundreds of others, +who were willing to work, but, finding nothing to do, +were obliged to starve. During all this time I never +once abandoned hope of escape, and again succeeded in +getting some one to take a message from me to Cairo +seeking advice; but the undertaking was so beset with +difficulties that it seemed next to impossible.</p> + +<p>My companions in adversity watched me closely—they +often volunteered to attempt an escape with the +sisters; but as I was responsible for them to the +Khalifa, this could not be done, and the idea of myself +and the two sisters ever escaping alone seemed too +absurd to be thought of. It seemed most improbable +that the Government would again take possession of the +Sudan; though I confess that a ray of hope was kindled +when Saleh Bey of Korosko suddenly arrived at Abu +Hamed with his Ababdehs and killed the notorious +Suleiman Wad Naaman, the murderer of Colonel +Stewart and his companions. The news of this affair +caused the greatest excitement in Omdurman, and we +really believed that the time for our release was +approaching; but Saleh Bey disappeared as quickly as +he came.</p> + +<p>The capture of Tokar, in February 1891, also raised +our hopes; but we were again doomed to disappointment. +In 1890 a young Ababdeh Arab had come to<a name="Page_415" id="Page_415"></a> +Omdurman and had asked me to give him a letter to +my friends in Cairo. I did not trust him, for I had +written several letters which were entirely without +result. I had learnt by experience that the Arabs were +untrustworthy, and that the letters never reached those +for whom they were intended. It also occurred to me +that the man might be a spy, so I sent him away with +the answer "Neshauer" (<i>i.e.</i> "I shall think about it"), +a word very often used by the Sudanese when they wish +to gain time to consider a matter.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile I made full inquiries about the man, and +heard nothing but good of him. Soon afterwards he +returned and asked me to give him a few lines of +greeting to my friends. I was told that the man +expected to get some reward if he succeeded in bringing +letters to the Government from the prisoners, which +might give them some information on the situation in +the Sudan. When I was thoroughly convinced as to his +trustworthiness, we then had a consultation, of which +the upshot was that I would, with his assistance, +attempt to escape, provided he could obtain the necessary +support from Cairo; I therefore gave him a letter to our +Reverend Vicar Apostolic, Franz Sogaro, and commissioned +him to negotiate verbally with him.</p> + +<p>The man's plan was to return when the Nile was high—that +is to say, almost a year later—escape in a boat or +on a raft, which the swift current would carry to Berber +in about three days, where camels would be in readiness +to take us across the desert to Korosko. I urged him +to keep these plans absolutely secret, for their disclosure +would bring most certain punishment on our heads, and +I further urged him to provide arms for the journey.</p> + +<p>Ahmed Hassan—for that was the man's name—went +off, and, to tell the truth, I had little hope that he would +do anything more than others had done before him. +Besides, who could say what changes might not take +place in a year in Omdurman, which might entirely +frustrate our plans? The sword of Damocles was for +ever hanging over our heads. Then might not death +intervene any day? Both the sisters and myself were<a name="Page_416" id="Page_416"></a> +thoroughly debilitated by constant work and hardship, +and it was always possible that a slight fever might +extinguish the spark of life which was then burning but +dimly.</p> + +<p>A few days after Ahmed's departure the whole matter +went quite out of our heads, and before long I was again +negotiating with another Arab to assist us to escape, for +I did not wish to leave a stone unturned. If it had +been a question of my flight alone, there would not have +been so much difficulty. As a man I could have stained +my naturally brown complexion, dressed in rags, and +begged my way along the banks of the Blue Nile to +Abyssinia; but I could not leave the poor sisters behind, +and therefore resolved to wait patiently until a deliverer +should come.</p> + +<p>Several of the merchants who had been to Egypt told +me that Archbishop Sogaro had often sent us money <i>viâ</i> +Korosko, Halfa, and Sawakin; but the dishonest Arabs +had always appropriated it for themselves. In fact, +ever since 1884 our good Archbishop had never ceased +in his efforts to assist us and to make our captivity more +bearable. He left no stone unturned, and moved +Moslems, Christians, the Government, and indeed His +Holiness the Pope, on our behalf, and one of the +missionaries was maintained on the Egyptian frontier +with the special object of endeavouring to procure our +release; they took it in turns to relieve each other, +and were Fathers Dominicus Vicentini, Yohann Dichtl, +Xavier Geyer, Alois Bonomi, Leon Henriot, and Alois +Specke, the last of whom died at Assuan. We had +many great difficulties, but perhaps the greatest was the +continual bad faith of the Arabs.</p> + +<p>The transport of letters endangered the lives not only +of the bearers, but of the receivers as well, and any +letter addressed to a European would, if discovered, +undoubtedly end either in the intended recipient's death +or imprisonment for life. But Archbishop Sogaro +worked on with indefatigable earnestness. Early in +1890 he sent one of our Coptic Mission teachers, named +Hanna Arraga, with money and goods to the frontier,<a name="Page_417" id="Page_417"></a> +whence, if possible, he was to proceed to Omdurman and +assist us. It was thought the plan might succeed, for +at that time Zogal was Emir of Dongola, and he was +desirous of opening trade with Halfa. Hanna therefore +sent an Arab on to find out how matters stood, while he +himself remained on the frontier; but the Arab never +returned.</p> + +<p>It so happened that just at this time Zogal and the +two Baggara emirs sent to watch him had a violent +dispute, which resulted in all of them being recalled to +Omdurman. The Khalifa decided in favour of the +Baggaras, Zogal was thrown into chains, and Abdullah's +nephew, Yunis, was appointed Emir of Dongola; the +latter held very different views with regard to intercourse +with Egypt, and that is why the Arab never returned +to Halfa. About fifteen days, however, before I effected +my escape, the Arab came to Omdurman and told me +about the matter. His own master and son had been +implicated in the Dongola dispute and had been thrown +into chains; that was his reason for not returning, and +after that I never saw him again.<a name="FNanchor_T_20" id="FNanchor_T_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_T_20" class="fnanchor">[T]</a></p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Ahmed Hassan, whom I had sent to +Cairo with the letter, duly delivered it to Archbishop +Sogaro, who made a written agreement with him for +our release; he also instructed Hanna to proceed from +Halfa to Korosko, and there hand over to Ahmed +Hassan the goods valued at £100. Through Archbishop +Sogaro's intermediary, Ahmed Hassan was given +every support by the Egyptian military authorities, who +presented him with £20 and gave him a free passage to +Korosko. On the 15th of September, 1891, he left that +place for Omdurman with the goods.</p> + +<p>At Omdurman the winter had come and gone, the +Nile had risen to its full height and had subsided, but +there was no sign of Ahmed. I was not surprised, for<a name="Page_418" id="Page_418"></a> +I had long been accustomed to disappointments of this +sort. I merely remarked to myself that the number of +persons who had deceived us had been increased by +one, and that if a deliverer did not soon come from +Egypt, there was another deliverer—death—whose +approach was certain. The heavy work was sapping +our waning strength, I began to spit blood, felt severe +pains in my chest, and was little else than skin and +bone.</p> + +<p>The poor sisters were still nearer the grave. Our +moral and physical sufferings during these ten long +years of captivity had told on us terribly; death was +what we most longed for and for which we patiently +waited. The sad prospect of never regaining our liberty, +of living a life of slavery, debarred from all the advantages +and progress of the world, never again to worship +in our grand churches and enjoy the comforts of our +holy religion; but to live and die amongst the fiery +rocks and sand of Omdurman, where the burning sun +turned dead bodies into mummies—to die and be buried +in slavery—the prospect of living was indeed unattractive, +and what wonder we should long for death to free +us from such misery!</p> + +<p>After all these sufferings it was indeed hard to see +our will-o'-the-wisp-like hope, which we had pursued so +often, dissolve into nothing, and to find ourselves once +more the victims of a fraud and deception. How fortunate +we thought those who had been killed in battle, or +had died of starvation or disease! We even envied the +lot of those who had been massacred in Khartum. After +all, the anguish of death had been but momentary, and +now all suffering and pain was over, while we seemed +to have passed through a hundred deaths, we had been +in his clutches over and over again; hunger, thirst, and +disease had all, at one time or another, almost claimed +us as their victims. We had witnessed the destruction +of cities, the annihilation of armies, the slaughter of +thousands, and the ruthless massacre and bloodshed of +innocent people; man's dignity trodden under foot, and +human life valued far below that of a sheep or a goat.<a name="Page_419" id="Page_419"></a> +And after all this we must live and die forgotten and +unknown, our lasting resting-place a strange land, and +our bodies in all likelihood food for hyenas. Thus we +longed for death to remove us from these scenes of +perpetual cruelty and oppression. Our nerves had +become so strained that the slightest knock at the door +would make us start; the sound of the great onbeïa +made us positively tremble. Almost half the total +number of Europeans, Greeks, Syrians, and Jews were +dead, and all we hoped for was that we should soon +follow them.</p> + +<p>The death of one of our sisters only increased in me +the desire to die as well. On the 4th of October, 1891, +Sister Concetta Corsi, who was in a very weak state of +health, was suddenly carried off by typhus. According +to the Sudan custom, we wound her body in a cloth, +tied it up in a mat (for there were no coffins to be had), +and carried her, almost immediately after death, to a +spot some six miles north of the town—the direction in +which her eyes in lifetime had been so often turned. +All the Greeks and Syrians followed, and there in the +stillness of the desert we laid her in the warm sand, +protecting her body from the ravenous hyenas by a few +thorns. A short prayer was offered up for her and for +the souls of those who had gone before; then we turned +sadly back, hoping that before long we too might be +lying beside her.</p> + +<p>But I felt that my life was in God's hands, and +comforted myself with the belief that God was dealing +with me as He thought best, and that I must submit +to His Divine will. My hut was gloomy in the +extreme; for several days I did not speak to any one, +and when night came I threw myself down on my +angarib, but sleep would not come to me; then I would +gaze up into the great vault of heaven and think that +this same sky was over my fatherland, from which I +was an exile, surrounded by suffering and sickness.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 28th of October, 1891, Ahmed +Hassan quite unexpectedly made his appearance. I +took him to my hut, and after the usual Arabic<a name="Page_420" id="Page_420"></a> +greetings, he said to me, "Here I am, are you +coming?" For a moment I was speechless, I quite +understood what he meant; but a thousand thoughts +flashed through my mind, my heart was beating +violently, the dangers to which my frail companions in +adversity would be subjected loomed before me, and +for a few moments I could make no reply; then I +collected my wandering thoughts and said: "If I did +not intend to go with you I would not have sent you."</p> + +<p>Then I began asking him all sorts of questions about +Cairo, and he informed me briefly that he had seen +Archbishop Sogaro and had made an arrangement with +him regarding our release; that he had given up the +plan of descending to Berber by boat, and that he had +received £100 to purchase camels. He further told me +that he had not brought any letter with him. He asked +about the sisters, and when I told him that one had +died almost a month ago, he almost wept, and striking +his forehead with his hand, said, "Oh, that I had come +a month earlier!" But I told him that I would take +another sister in her place.</p> + +<p>We then set to talking earnestly about our plans; I +told him to purchase at least five good camels and to +see that he had sufficient arms. In anticipation of +flight, I had a long time ago secured and carefully +concealed a hundred Remington cartridges. When +Ahmed left the hut I began to doubt if he was really +sincere; it seemed almost incredible that they should +have sent him from Cairo without a line or even a +signature on such an important undertaking.</p> + +<p>The next day Ahmed reappeared, bringing with him +two Arabs whom he had engaged in the cause, one at +Korosko and the other at Berber. Ahmed seemed a +little afraid that we would not dare to undertake the +flight; he told me that he had brought a letter from +Archbishop Sogaro, but had left it at Berber. The +main difficulty for the Arabs would be leaving the +house without being observed, but I reassured them on +that point. It was almost full moon at that time, so +it was decided to delay our departure until it should<a name="Page_421" id="Page_421"></a> +be on the decline, and we should thus be able to +make our way out under cover of obscurity. I begged +Ahmed not to come to us any more, to avoid exciting +suspicion.</p> + +<p>I now began to make preparations. My first object +was to get one of the sisters, who was at that time +living in a Greek's house, to come to my house. This +was not an easy matter, for I dared not mention one +word about our intentions to a soul, or our plans would +undoubtedly have been frustrated. I therefore feigned +illness, and said I could no longer carry on this hard +work alone, so the sister was allowed to come, and, +quite unwittingly, the Greek gladly lent me her services. +She had now been with me some twenty days, so I felt +that the Greek could not be held responsible for her +disappearance, which occurred a few days later.</p> + +<p>Ahmed gave me Archbishop Sogaro's letter, which he +had procured from Berber, and with intense excitement +I read the few lines, in which he wished me all success +in the undertaking. This letter encouraged me greatly, +and I had now no doubt of Ahmed's sincerity. We +counted the days and hours preceding our departure, +and I could not bear to think of the trials the sisters +would have to undergo during the journey. I had also +a little black girl, whom it would have been impossible +for me to have left behind, as our departure would undoubtedly +have been betrayed. She was named Adila, +and had been born in the Khartum Mission house. +After the fall of Khartum, she and her mother had been +sold as slaves and sent to Gedaref.</p> + +<p>Amongst Abu Anga's troops was a certain Panerazio +Yusef, a very bright and intelligent young soldier, who +subsequently rose to the rank of an emir; he had been +told about Adila, bought her for five dollars, and took +her with him when he accompanied the emir Zaki to +Omdurman. On his arrival he presented her to me as a +remembrance of former kindness; he also gave me a +quantity of coffee, for which I was truly grateful.</p> + +<p>The day of our intended departure was approaching, +and we looked forward to it with almost breathless<a name="Page_422" id="Page_422"></a> +impatience. We had lost all appetite for food; fear, +mental anguish, and the idea that we should be free, +kept us in a perfect fever of excitement. I could not +help thinking of my companions in adversity whom I +should be obliged to leave behind, and who might, I +thought, perhaps suffer after our departure. These had +been constantly with us for the last ten years, sharing +our life of pain and wretchedness, and now I could not +but feel pained at the thought of separation. But all +these feelings had to be put aside, and we had to concentrate +all our thoughts on the present. I longed to +be off, if only to be free from this feverish anxiety +which was rending our very souls. Then Ahmed came +just the day before we were to have started, and said +that the Arabs with whom he had come from Korosko +had not yet returned, and that we must await their +departure before setting out.</p> + +<p>I now began to think that our plans had been +frustrated. Several Egyptians, including some women, +had attempted to fly to Berber, whence they intended +making their way back to Egypt, but had been intercepted, +brought back and thrown into chains. It also +happened that some Greeks who had been living at +Gedaref, and had had their goods stolen, were also +brought to Omdurman and put in prison, because it +was thought that they had intended to escape to the +Italians.</p> + +<p>All this alarmed me, and I thought it probable the +Khalifa would issue more stringent orders against +Europeans. Ahmed told me that he had had considerable +difficulty in purchasing the camels; he did +not dare buy them in the market, as that would have +aroused suspicion; he had also great difficulty in feeding +them, for it would have certainly excited comment if he +had collected them all in one place. He had, however, +managed very well. When he saw a good-looking camel, +towards evening he would follow it until he reached the +owner's house, then early the next morning he would +return and bargain for it; in this way he had acquired +three good camels at from 120 to 150 dollars a piece,<a name="Page_423" id="Page_423"></a> +which he distributed amongst his various friends, and +fed them up well. Meanwhile he used occasionally to +come and see us, and bid us keep up a good hope in +spite of our enforced delay.</p> + +<p>On the 24th of November occurred the disturbance +between the Khalifas which I have already narrated, +and this seemed a most favourable moment to escape; +but Ahmed did not come, and I was wildly impatient, +for I could not even find out where he lived without +exciting suspicion. In all this confusion we were lost +sight of, and I avoided going to see anyone lest I +should become involved in anything that was going on. +I had no further preparations to make, for Ahmed had +promised to provide everything.</p> + +<p>At last, on Friday the 27th, he came to my hut, and +it was decided we should leave on Monday evening. +When I reproached him for not coming during the first +day or two of the disturbances, he said that he too had +thought of it, but that one of his friends had been +locked up for being engaged in a quarrel, and he was +obliged to wait until he was released.</p> + +<p>Ahmed also told me a most important piece of news. +There were no riding camels in the beit el mal. All +had been despatched to the provinces on business connected +with quelling the disturbances. It would not, +therefore, be possible to pursue us at once. These disturbances +had made all the other captives think that it +was a favourable opportunity to fly, but, with one exception, +none of them knew that my preparations were +all made and that the next day I should be gone.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_T_20" id="Footnote_T_20"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_T_20" class="fnlabel">[T]</a> The Arab undoubtedly meant well. For he was at the same +time entrusted by me with a letter to give to another European +prisoner, and, as I write, a reply to this letter, which was delivered +to him only two months ago in Omdurman, has just reached +Cairo.—F. R. W.</p></div> +</div> +<a name="Page_424" id="Page_424"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">ON CAMELS ACROSS THE GREAT NUBIAN DESERT.</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Father Ohrwalder and Sisters Venturini and Chincarini escape—The +ride for life—The rencontre with the Dervish guard near Abu +Hamed—Alarm of the party—The journey across the great +Nubian desert—Five hundred miles on camel-back in seven +days—Arrival at the Egyptian outpost at Murat—Safe at last—Arrival +in Cairo.</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">On</span> Sunday evening I went to see a friend and returned +at nine o'clock; this happened to be the last visit +I was to make in Omdurman. Just as I stepped into +my yard, there I saw Ahmed standing before me. In +a few hasty words he told me to get ready as soon as +possible; his friends had made a mistake and had come +a day earlier with the camels. The sisters and Adila +were all ready; I gave Ahmed the few small things I +had as well as my arms, and told him to take the +sisters to the appointed place, which was only about +thirty yards from the hut, whilst I went off and +informed the only person who was in the secret, of our +sudden decision to leave a day earlier.</p> + +<p>All fear had now gone, and, almost beside myself +with excitement, I hastened to my friend's house and +knocked at the door. "Who's there?" he asked. And +when he knew who it was he was greatly surprised, +and asked why I came so late. As some one else was +standing near, I said that I had been seized with a +violent pain, and had come to beg a few drops of +laudanum, and then I approached him, pressed his hand, +and whispered in his ear that we were on the point of +starting.</p> + +<p>The poor man received such a start, that had he not<a name="Page_425" id="Page_425"></a> +caught hold of something, he would have fallen; but I +roused him by asking him loudly to get me the laudanum +at once; so he went off to his room, and there, +with a trembling hand, he put a few drops on a piece of +sugar. I took it back to the house, which I found the +sister had just left. Then wrapping myself in a black +mantle, I locked the door, and took the key with me. +I saw something dark in the distance, which I knew +must be the camels, and thither I picked my way. In a +few moments I had reached the spot, and a man whom +I did not know helped me on to my camel; but there +was no time to ask questions. Ahmed put the sisters +on the camels, on which the two other Arabs rode, +whilst I took Adila behind me on my camel.</p> + +<p>Not thirty yards from where we were was a well, +around which a number of female slaves were gathered; +but the little noise we made was drowned by their +laughter. The moment of mounting was perhaps the +most dangerous time, for the camels were restive, and +longing to be off. It was with the greatest difficulty +the Arabs managed to keep their mouths closed, and no +sooner were we on their backs than we glided swiftly +away into the darkness. Now and then we saw fires, at +which the people were cooking their food, or sitting +around gossiping; fortunately it was a cold night, so +most of the people were in their huts. We passed the +spot where we had laid the poor sister who had recently +died; it was sad to think that she was not with us +now. We kept steadily moving forward, not a word +had passed our lips; the camels had been well fed up +on dhurra, and went so quickly that we could scarcely +hold them in. I tried to peer through the darkness, +while my ear was ready to catch the slightest sound of +possible pursuers.</p> + +<p>Soon we had left Omdurman far behind, and in the +soft sand-bed of Khor Shambat we dismounted to have +our saddles re-arranged; then we mounted again, and +pursued our journey at a rapid pace northwards along +the river bank. We were in all seven persons and four +camels: the guide Ahmed Hassan, his two friends<a name="Page_426" id="Page_426"></a> +Hamed and Awad; Sister Catterina Chincarini and +Sister Elizabetta Venturini; myself and Adila.</p> + +<p>A cold north wind was blowing, which our rapid advance +made quite cutting. I followed the Arab custom, +and bound a large turban round my head, leaving only +the eyes exposed. We passed several villages, but the +barking of the dogs always gave us warning, and so we +avoided them. I had not heard a dog bark for years, +and the sound was quite pleasing to me. We met some +Gellabas riding on donkeys, on their way to Omdurman, +but in the darkness they could not see who we were, +and we passed them rapidly; only Ahmed remained +behind, to greet them and exchange news.</p> + +<p>Now the narrow track led through thick bushes, which +we could not rightly see; our clothes, hands, and feet +got torn and scratched by the thorns; but we never +checked the pace, and continued our course steadily +northwards. "Time is money," they say, but in our +case time was life; we crossed dry beds of streams, +over which the animals would sometimes stumble and +fall, the riders with them; but there was no time to +think of pains and bruises; to pick oneself up, catch +and mount the camel, which might easily have been lost +in the desert, was all one had time to think about. +None of us had watches, but during the many sleepless +nights I had passed, I had become used to observing the +stars, and could tell the time almost to within five +minutes.</p> + +<p>Just at dawn we neared the village of Wad Bishara, +and pushed on quicker so as to pass it before daybreak. +This village is generally considered two days north of +Omdurman. We then left the ordinary track, and +turned towards the desert, as we dared not go along the +river bank during the daytime. At sunrise we could +just see the thin strip of green which marked the course +of the stream; still we did not alight, but pushed on +and on, up and down hills, across long stretches of sandy +plain. Our eyes became so red and swollen we could +scarcely see, and they pained us considerably.</p> + +<p>At length, after some hours, we drew up, dismounted<a name="Page_427" id="Page_427"></a> +ate a little biscuit, and drank some water, readjusted +our saddles, then up and away again. My mind travelled +back to Omdurman. Had our flight been discovered at +once? What would happen to those left behind? How +astonished they would be to find we had gone! But +this train of thought was suddenly interrupted; one of +the sisters had fallen off her camel, and was lying insensible +on the ground; we picked her up, splashed her +with water, and after a time brought her to; we then put +her on to the camel again, and tied her firmly to the +saddle; there was nothing else to be done—it was a +question of life and death. So we rode continuously +forward, in the desert by day and along the river bank +by night.</p> + +<p>I had asked Ahmed about the stranger who had +helped me to mount my camel in Omdurman, and he +told me that the animals had become so restive by good +feeding that it was impossible for one man to hold +them whilst the other two came to the hut to fetch us; +he had therefore taken two friends into his confidence, +and made them swear on the Kuran that they would not +betray us. Just after sunset they had ridden the camels +quite openly through the market-place, with their arms +slung across the saddles, so that people should think +they were post-camels, and no suspicion would be +created.</p> + +<p>Ahmed told me more too about the difficulties he had +had in stabling the camels prior to our flight; two of +them had been tethered in a poor woman's yard, and the +two others he had placed in charge of one of his friends; +but these caretakers had guessed that something was +about to happen, and had urged Ahmed to depart as +soon as possible, for they began to think they might +become involved in the matter. Ahmed had paid them +most liberally for their services; he had also had +recourse to magic, summoned the spirits, and consulted +a fiki, who prophesied the journey would be "as white +as milk," that is to say, that no mishap would occur, for +which statement Ahmed had given him a considerable +bakshish.<a name="Page_428" id="Page_428"></a></p> + +<p>We continued our journey always along the left bank +of the Nile, there was no time to stop for sleep. +Occasionally we came across Arab shepherds in the +desert tending their herds of goats. They gazed wonderingly +at us, and asked questions of Ahmed, who +purposely always remained a short way behind. Ahmed +drew a gloomy picture of the recent rising in Omdurman, +describing how the two Khalifas had openly fought +with each other, how nothing was heard night and day +but the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry, while +the slaughter had been terrible beyond words. He +represented that we were fugitives who had left the +ordinary roads, fearing that the disturbed state of the +country might make them unsafe, for bands of brigands +were known to be roaming about.</p> + +<p>These simple people, thoroughly detesting Mahdiism, +believed every word Ahmed told them, thought we were +wise to fly, and gave him as much milk as he wanted, a +fact which he also regarded as a good omen.</p> + +<p>Although Ahmed and his friends knew the usual +roads well, they had never been on exactly the track we +had been forced to take to avoid the inhabited places. +Thus it happened that we approached the river sooner +than we expected; in fact, almost before we knew it, +we found ourselves amongst houses in the village of +Makani, which was so concealed by trees that we had +not seen it. We then met a party of Gellabas, and at +Ahmed's advice at once slowed our pace so as not to +provoke mistrust. These Gellabas looked at us somewhat +suspiciously, and tried in vain to find out the +object of our journey. Probably they remembered us +afterwards when our flight became known.</p> + +<p>At length, after some difficulty, we emerged from the +village and again turned into the desert; but when I +blamed Ahmed for misguiding us, he merely answered +cheerfully, "Allah marakna!" ("God has delivered +us!")</p> + +<p>When we had got some distance from the river, we +dismounted and had a slight meal of dates and water. +Our limbs were so stiff we could not stand up straight,<a name="Page_429" id="Page_429"></a> +and our clothes were sticking to the wounds we had +received when riding through the bush. How delightful +it was to be on the ground again and stretch our +cramped legs, and how pleasant would a short sleep +have been! But no sooner had the camels swallowed a +little dhurra than we were up and off again. We still +went in a northerly direction, and as our scratches +warmed again they pained us considerably; but the +feeling that we were not pursued, and the growing hope +that we should really escape, encouraged us to overcome +every difficulty. We watered at Gubat on the Nile, +where the English had encamped in 1885, and then we +rode cautiously, well outside the great village of Metemmeh. +The barking and howling of the dogs made +the camels quicken their pace, and soon we were out of +sight of the Jaalin capital.</p> + +<p>We then began to discuss how we were to cross the +Nile. Ahmed had a friend living in a village just +south of Berber, and it occurred to him that we might +cross there. We trotted quietly on towards this village, +when a man suddenly sprang out in front of us and +cried, "Enta min?" ("Who are you?") But we soon +found out that the man was afraid, and had taken us for +robbers. His sudden appearance had given us a great +start, and we at once thought that our pursuers had +caught us up, and that we were about to be recaptured. +Ahmed, however, approached the man, and as we rode +on, he turned, spoke to him, and allayed his fears.</p> + +<p>When we approached the village, we dismounted and +hid behind some thick bushes, whilst Ahmed went in +search of his friend who was to ferry us across. In +about half an hour he returned, saying that it was +impossible, as the boat was on the other side. Besides, +he had heard that two boats had just passed down on +their way to Berber, and that all disturbances in +Omdurman were at an end. However, they had heard +nothing about our flight. We therefore mounted again, +and continued marching north the whole of that night +and the following day.</p> + +<p>On this, the third day of our journey, we came in<a name="Page_430" id="Page_430"></a> +sight of Berber, and towards evening descended to the +river almost exactly opposite the town, filled our waterskins, +and then made for the desert again. We did not +dare keep near the river here, as numbers of Baggara +were living in the neighbourhood. At about midnight +we alighted, as Ahmed did not know the road. We fed +the camels, and indulged in our usual meal of biscuits, +dates, and water. Ahmed had also succeeded in procuring +from his friend some tobacco and small earthenware +pipes; so we smoked with impunity, and began to +feel that our escape was now almost assured.</p> + +<p>But we had still before us the crossing of the river, +which our Arab friends in Omdurman had warned us +would be one of the most critical and dangerous parts +of our plan. We were in the saddle again at dawn, and +continued our journey over a stony plateau which our +guides did not recognize. Then all day we marched +through narrow valleys, full of large stones washed +down by the torrents. At length towards evening we +sighted the river again, and descended towards it +through a narrow gorge, where we had to dismount, as +the camels could scarcely make their way across the +great boulders which blocked the path. Once on the +plain, our guides recognised the road, and we found +ourselves near the village of Benga, where we hoped to +be able to secure boats to take us across.</p> + +<p>We advanced now very cautiously, looking round in +every direction; and I espied three camelmen setting +off evidently in the direction of Abu Hamed. I at once +called Ahmed's attention to this; and although they +were some way off, they could have seen us, so Ahmed +advised us to alight at once, which we did, and concealed +ourselves in a khor amongst some bushes.</p> + +<p>Ahmed and his companions were, I could see, not a +little alarmed by the appearance of the camelmen, and +began to speak to each other in their own dialect; but +I guessed by the expressions on their faces what they +thought—viz. that our flight had been discovered, news +had been sent to Berber, and now the camelmen were +on their way to warn the emir of Abu Hamed to<a name="Page_431" id="Page_431"></a> +intercept us. I endeavoured to prove to them that it +was quite impossible for the news to have reached +Berber yet, even if our flight had been reported to the +Khalifa the morning after we had left. It was most +unlikely that the pursuit would have been begun before +the evening, and we had thus got a good twenty-four +hours' start. We were then just four hours north of +Berber, and had been three and a half days out from +Omdurman. Our pursuers therefore, even if they had +ridden as rapidly and as persistently as we had, could +not possibly have reached Berber yet. But my calculations +by no means convinced our guides; and after a +long consultation, Ahmed and Awad went towards the +river about four miles distant, while Hamed stayed +behind to look after the camels.</p> + +<p>Now was the time to take a few hours' sleep before +night came on. During the three and a half days we +had been on the journey we had had only four hours' +sleep. We were quite worn out; our simple meals of +biscuit and water did not give us much nourishment, +our limbs were so stiff that we could scarcely move, and +our wounds proved most irritating. Under such +circumstances it can well be understood how welcome +sleep would have been; but the appearance of these three +camels, the alarm of the guides, and our anxiety about +crossing the river, drove away all idea of rest, and all +we could do was to await with what patience we knew +the return of the two Arabs.</p> + +<p>At length, just as the sun was setting, Ahmed and +Awad returned, much rejoiced. They had made inquiries +about the three camelmen, and had found out that they +had nothing to do with us, and that nothing was known +yet of our flight. They had arranged with a boatman +to ferry us across, under the pretext that they were +conducting a small party of slaves whom they were +going to hand over to the emir of Abu Hamed. This +most satisfactory news quite dissipated our fatigue, and +we ate our wretched biscuit and dates with an excellent +appetite. As soon as it was dark we moved towards +the river, and dismounted close to the water's edge. As<a name="Page_432" id="Page_432"></a> +yet there was no sign of the boatman, but we saw two +boys rowing towards us.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Ahmed had gone to a house close by to +get some dhurra. Then the boatman came and +announced that he could not take us across that night, +but we must wait till the morning. This would never +have done; not only should we have lost a whole night, +but we should undoubtedly have been recognised in +daylight. However, it was no use talking, and the +man went off to his hut; but we did not get discouraged, +for if the worst came to the worst, we could row +ourselves across.</p> + +<p>By this time the two boys had reached the bank, and +they now came forward and offered to take us across; of +course we accepted, and in an incredibly short space of +time our guides had got the camels on board. It was a +large boat, so we all crossed together, and on reaching +the opposite bank Ahmed gave the boys two dollars, +with which they seemed highly pleased, kissed our +hands, wished us a pleasant journey, and then returned +to the west bank. We watered the animals, filled our +skins, mounted, and again set our faces northwards.</p> + +<p>It was now past midnight. The camels, refreshed by +their rest and good feed, pushed on quickly, and during +that night and the whole of the next day we rode on +without any interruption or mishap. Not a soul was to +be seen in this lonely desert, but we often came across +herds of antelopes, rabbits, and a few hyenas; the +antelopes would stand about twenty paces off, prick up +their ears, and look inquisitively at the strange caravan.</p> + +<p>It was quite cool when we left Omdurman, but now +the weather had quite changed, and we felt it oppressively +hot; we saw mirages constantly, and were often +deceived by them. Our camels and ourselves now began +to suffer. I was much struck by the change in the +appearance of these animals; the high, fat hump and +thick neck they had in Omdurman had both grown to +half the size. At first we had the greatest difficulty in +holding them in; now they were so tired that we had +to keep flogging them all the time; their feet had got so<a name="Page_433" id="Page_433"></a> +worn that treading on a stone made them jump sideways, +and to ease them we four men alternately dismounted +and led them for some distance.</p> + +<p>Our track lay across a broad plain, dotted about with +small shrubs, and as we passed one of these, Ahmed +noticed a snake, scared by our approach, trying to +escape; he at once killed the reptile with a blow of his +sword, then stretched out its body and jumped over it +three times in a most excited way. Thereupon the guides +congratulated each other, saying there was now nothing +more to fear, and that we had conquered our enemies. +This exhibition of courage on the part of the guides +pleased me greatly. Once more we mounted and made +our way towards Abu Hamed, where we intended to +take water for the last time before entering the great +Nubian desert.</p> + +<p>The next night another snake episode occurred, but +it ended rather differently. We were going across a stony +place, when the leading camel suddenly swerved to one +side, and we heard a hissing sound, which we knew +must be a snake, but it was too dark to attempt to catch +it. This greatly alarmed the Arabs, who looked upon it +as an evil omen, and curiously enough, when close to +Abu Hamed, an event did occur which quite confirmed +their superstitions.</p> + +<p>The next day, at about nine o'clock in the morning, +we sighted the mountain which was our landmark indicating +the place at which we intended to water. We +anticipated reaching it in three hours, and there we intended +to rest whilst the Arabs took the camels down to +water; but somehow we went too far to the east, did +not discover our mistake for some time, and it was midnight +instead of midday when we reached the hill. This +hill is shaped rather like two skittles, between which the +road runs, and the wind, blowing through this narrow +funnel, almost carried us off our camels.</p> + +<p>Ahmed warned us to keep perfect silence as we +scrambled down the rocky slope, and reached the river +at last; here the mighty stream flows rapidly and +silently at the foot of a great rock cliff, the stillness<a name="Page_434" id="Page_434"></a> +being occasionally broken by the splash of the many +fish which delight to disport themselves in these cool +depths. This watering-place is known as Meshra +Dehesh, and is about six miles south of Abu Hamed. +A few dôm palms and shrubs have gained a slender +footing on the steep bank, and the reflection of the +bright stars in the silent river could not but make one +feel impressed with the grand solitude of the place. I +bent down, scooped up the water in my hands, and +refreshed my parched throat; then we took the saddles +off the camels, filled our water-skins, and ate some +biscuits; I wanted to bathe my face and eyes, which +ached with the burning of the sun and sand, but Ahmed +gave the word to mount.</p> + +<p>We were too stiff and weak to be able to stand upright, +and as for the poor sisters, Ahmed had to lift +them bodily off the ground and put them on their camels; +they were far too exhausted to speak; we led the camels +out of the stony gorge, intending to mount when we +reached the level. It was long past midnight, and we +were congratulating ourselves on having passed the last +critical point, hoping that by dawn we should have left +the river, which here bends to the west, far behind us.</p> + +<a name="scarcely"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:410px;"><img src="images/p435.jpg" border="0" alt="" title="" width="399" height="541"> +<p class="caption2">"WE HAD SCARCELY GONE TWENTY PACES FROM THE RIVER, WHEN +SUDDENLY WE HEARD THE SOUND OF A CAMEL."</p></div> + +<p>We had scarcely gone twenty paces from the river, +when suddenly we heard the sound of a camel. We +were almost ready to drop with fright, but Ahmed and +the guides went towards the spot from whence the +sound had come, and there they saw a camelman +mounted, armed with a Remington, and peering at us +from behind a dôm palm, but it was too dark for him to +have recognized our white faces. Ahmed at once approached +him, seized his rifle with his left hand, and +extended his right to greet him, asking him at the same +time to alight.</p> + +<p>The man, alarmed probably at Ahmed's energetic +bearing, at once dismounted and joined the guides. At +first we thought orders must have come from Omdurman +to intercept us, but fortunately it was not so; the guard +(for such he proved to be) said he had been sent from +Berber to see that Egyptian merchants did not export<a name="Page_437" id="Page_437"></a><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436"></a><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435"></a> +slaves from the Sudan to Egypt. He related how, the +day previous, a merchant with five slaves had been +captured, but had been set free again on depositing the +value of the slaves. The guard then asked Ahmed if +he had brought any slaves, to which he replied in the +affirmative.</p> + +<p>The guard now insisted that Ahmed should go to +Abu Hamed to see the emir there, and no amount of +argument would convince him that it was unnecessary +to do so. Hamed now came and told me about the +occurrence, but, being somewhat confused, he happened +to say we were lost. These words reached the ears of +one of the sisters, and so startled her that she fell off +her camel, and might have been very seriously injured +had we not caught her.</p> + +<p>I gave Hamed my long knife, and told him to do +what he could to win the man over with money, but +that if he found this was useless, "Well! we were four +men to one." Hamed quite understood what I meant, +and then returned to the others. The conversation +still continued for a long time. At length our Arabs +returned; we put the sisters on the camels at once, +and then mounted ourselves. Our fatigue had fled; +even the camels seemed to scent danger, for we set off +at a quick pace and were soon out of sight.</p> + +<p>This episode served to remind us very forcibly that +we were still in the Khalifa's territory. Strange +thoughts passed through my mind in quick succession: +Omdurman, the Khalifa, the Saier, unbearable insults, +then death. All these awaited us if we failed in our +attempt; but then I comforted myself with the thought +we should never be taken alive; we had solemnly +agreed never to submit. It was in this frame of mind +that we quitted Meshra Dehesh and rode for our lives +night and day; the poor camels were reduced to +skeletons, and we ourselves were nothing but skin and +bone.</p> + +<p>Ahmed told me that when the guard recognized him +he showed himself kindly disposed, and promised not +to betray us; but Ahmed did not trust him, and would<a name="Page_438" id="Page_438"></a> +not, therefore, let him go until he had accepted some +money; he had pressed twenty dollars into his hand. +The guard accepted the money after extracting a solemn +promise from Ahmed and his companions that they +would not attempt to revenge themselves on him or his +tribe—the Monasir—on their return to Korosko. The +guard also swore solemnly that he would not betray or +pursue us, and moreover agreed to prevent the patrols +going into the desert for three days, so as to keep us +out of danger's way; they had then embraced and +kissed each other as a sign of sincerity.</p> + +<p>In spite, however, of all these solemn oaths, I did not +trust the man; the fate of poor Colonel Stewart and his +companions came into my mind, and I remembered that +they had been cruelly done to death by the cowardly +and treacherous Monasir; we therefore hurried forward +our camels with all possible speed, leaving Abu Hamed +far away on our left.</p> + +<p>The day broke as usual, and soon the sun was risen +and burning more fiercely than ever, but that did not +trouble us. We were far too much absorbed in the +momentous event which had just occurred. Our track +ran through a perfectly flat plain, in which not a shrub +or blade of grass was to be seen. We passed the tracks +of the captured slave-dealer and the patrols, and that +evening entered on the caravan road leading from Abu +Hamed to Korosko. The track ran through great bare +hills and solitary valleys; the wind had driven the sand +almost to the tops of the hills, and had filled up all the +crevices with sand-drifts.</p> + +<p>Once within the hills, our courage returned, for we +knew we would be able to defend ourselves; so we +dismounted and ate our last mouthful of biscuit, and +now all we had was our water, which, by the way, we +jokingly remarked was somewhat dear, as it had cost us +twenty dollars.</p> + +<p>After a short rest we set off again, but both we and +our camels were utterly exhausted; my right arm ached +from continually whipping up the poor beast. Our +Arab companions lightened the way with hundreds of<a name="Page_439" id="Page_439"></a> +interesting anecdotes of their own deserts. They related +how, when Berber fell, an Arab and six Egyptian women +had fled; but the man had brought only a camel or two +and very little water, so four of them had died of thirst. +They pointed out the spot which Rundle Bey had +reached when he reconnoitred Abu Hamed in 1885. +The road was plainly marked out by the bones of +camels and donkeys, and, prior to the appearance of +the Mahdi, had been a much-used trade route.</p> + +<p>Mohammed Ali Pasha had ridden along this road +under the guidance of Hussein Pasha Khalifa. Mohammed +Ali had constantly expressed a desire to halt, but +his guide would not allow him to dismount, except at +certain places, saying, "I am commander here;" and to +this Mohammed Ali had willingly consented, for he well +knew that a refusal to do as he was told by the sheikh +of the desert, in that awful wilderness, might have been +followed by very serious results.</p> + +<p>Our approach to a haven of safety gave us courage +to undergo most terrible fatigue. By far our worst +enemy was sleep; it is quite impossible for me to +describe the fearful attacks this tyrannical foe made +upon us. We tried every means in our power to keep +awake; we shouted and talked loudly to each other; we +tried to startle ourselves by giving a sudden jerk; we +pinched ourselves till the blood ran down, but our +eyelids weighed down like balls of lead, and it required +a fearful effort to keep them open. "Ma tenamu" +("Don't sleep"), Ahmed kept repeating, "or you will +fall off and break your leg."</p> + +<p>But it was all no good; the conversation would flag, +and silence follow. The camels seemed to know their +riders were asleep, and instinctively fell into slower pace; +the head kept nodding, until it sunk upon the chest; +with a sudden start, the equilibrium which had been +almost lost would be recovered, and then sleep vanished.</p> + +<p>At times we would shout out to one another words +of encouragement, then we would whip up our camels +and on again, up and down, through sandy plains +and rocky gorges, where the echoes seemed to repeat<a name="Page_440" id="Page_440"></a> +themselves a hundred times. Our destination was +Murat, where we remembered Gordon had given orders +for a well to be dug, but it had never been done.</p> + +<p>Ahmed said that we should be at Murat on the +morning of the 7th of December. He told us how the +Dervishes had sometimes pursued fugitives as far as +this, and not long ago had killed one near here. Our +poor camels were now dragging their weary limbs very +slowly; the whip was now quite useless, as it had not +the smallest effect in increasing their pace. Besides, it +was pain to me to beat the good creatures that had +helped us to escape. We were so utterly fatigued that it +was with the greatest difficulty we succeeded in keeping +on our camels at all; hunger, sleeplessness, and absolute +lassitude had completely conquered us, and our wounds +pained and irritated us; but the feeling that we were +almost safe was as balm to both mind and body.</p> + +<p>Just before sunset we turned down the khor which +leads to Murat; the fort covering the wells was visible +on the hills, surmounted by the red flag with the white +crescent and star in the centre. "Ahmed," I cried, +"greet the flag of freedom!" and our courageous +deliverer seized his gun and fired shot after shot into +the air, to announce our arrival to the Egyptian +garrison. The echo of these shots resounded again and +again in the deep valleys, as if joining with us in our +joy at deliverance from the hands of the cruel Khalifa +Abdullah. They seemed to announce the "release of +our spirits from beneath his sheepskin." This was an +expression which the Khalifa delighted to use when +talking of his captured enemies, whose souls, he said, +lay beneath his "furwa," meaning that their lives were +entirely in his hands.</p> + +<p>Now we were actually in safety. A prayer of the +deepest gratitude went up from the very depths of our +thankful hearts; it is quite impossible to find words to +express what we then felt. Our camels seemed to pull +themselves together for a final effort, so as to present +us honourably to the Ababdehs, who were now coming +out to meet us.<a name="Page_441" id="Page_441"></a></p> + +<p>The reports of our rifles had at first caused some stir +in the little garrison, who feared a sudden attack, and +had come out fully armed; but they soon recognized us, +and answered our salute by discharging their guns in +the air. These good people received us most kindly, +asked us a thousand questions, and, surrounding us, +brought us to the commandant's hut. Here, on the +8th of December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, +we alighted from our camels, and the hopes which +had kept us alive for years, were at last realized. This +supreme moment, about which we had so often talked +with our companions in adversity, which we had thought +about, dreamed about, and pictured to ourselves, this +delicious moment had come at last, and we were free!</p> + +<p>But the effects of hunger, fatigue, and the sights and +scenes we had gone through during the last month, did +not disappear so easily; our senses seemed dulled, and +our first thought on entering the commandant's hut was +to lie down on the floor and go to sleep, but, strange to +say, that wonderful restorer would not come; we sat +gossiping with the Ababdehs, who could scarcely credit +that we, especially the sisters, could have survived such +a ride. We had covered the entire distance of 500 miles +between Omdurman and Murat in seven days, including +the day we had spent wandering about in the hills +before crossing the river.</p> + +<p>The staying power of our camels had astonished me; +how easily one of them might have stumbled and broken +its leg as we trotted hard through the dark nights, +unable to see where we were going! But Ahmed and +his companions had used all their knowledge in securing +thoroughly good animals; our excellent guides had been +ever ready to help and assist us; full of energy and +pluck, they had carried out their enterprise with the +utmost sagacity and integrity.</p> + +<p>Poor Ahmed had dwindled down almost to a skeleton, +and when he dismounted at Murat was overcome by a +fit of dizziness, from which he did not recover for an hour.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile we had refreshed ourselves with a cup of +coffee and some bread and milk which the commandant,<a name="Page_442" id="Page_442"></a> +Mohammed Saleh, had offered us, and which had revived +us considerably. Murat is situated in the desert, about +midway between Korosko and Abu Hamed; here three +valleys unite in a sort of crater, and the hill-tops are +crowned with small forts built by the Ababdehs, from +whence they can keep guard over the main wells, and, +besides, see for an immense distance all around.</p> + +<p>This, the most advanced Egyptian outpost, is garrisoned +by the Ababdeh Arabs of Saleh Bey, the son of +Hussein Pasha Khalifa; these people live very simply +in the midst of this great desert, drawing their provisions +monthly from Korosko. There are a number of +wells, but the water is brackish and in summer almost +undrinkable, though it is not so bad in the winter; but +we had still some of our Nile water, which had cost us +so dearly at Meshra Dehesh. Close to the wells is a +little hut, built by Gordon's orders.</p> + +<p>Murat is a most desolate and lonely spot, unbearably +hot in the summer, when the fierce rays of the sun are +reflected from all sides of the deep crater-like valley in +which it lies. The same day that we arrived one of +Ahmed Hassan's nephews had reached Murat from +Korosko, and gave us some of the dates and flour he +was taking into the Sudan; he left for Abu Hamed the +next day, and no doubt the news of our safe arrival +was soon announced in Omdurman.</p> + +<p>During the 8th and 9th of December we rested. +Mohammed Saleh supplied us with some biscuit, and on +the 9th we again set off from Murat towards Korosko. +Our rest had greatly refreshed us, and now we could +ride quietly without any fear of pursuit. One of our +guides was mounted on a she-camel, which the commander +had supplied, and she gave us plenty of milk. +A few days before starting her little baby-camel had +died, the owner had skinned it, and now whenever we +required milk, we had only to stretch out the skin in +front of her and let her smell it.</p> + +<p>We now rode only by day, and rested at night. +Heavy rain had fallen about a month before, and we +found a reservoir of good water about a day out of<a name="Page_443" id="Page_443"></a> +Murat. Some of the Murat garrison had, previous to +our arrival, gone into Korosko to get their monthly +pay and were now returning; they happened to encamp +near this natural reservoir, and seeing us took us for +Dervishes, rushed to their arms, took up a position +behind a rock and levelled their rifles at us, but Ahmed, +who knew them at once, called out and they hurried up +to us, begging pardon for the mistake they had made. +They gave us some of their flour, dates, and tobacco, +and we chatted with them till nightfall.</p> + +<p>We made no further extended halt, and on the early +morning of the 13th of December reached Korosko. +In the deep valley which debouches suddenly on to the +Nile at this place we alighted, cleaned ourselves as best +we could, and then mounted our camels for the last +time, and soon came in sight first of the palm-trees and +then of the Nile, which we had last seen at Abu Hamed. +We were at once surrounded by numbers of people, who +bore us off to the fort, and here the commandant, +Lieutenant-Colonel Ali Bey Haider, greeted us most +cordially, and for the first time for many years we +found ourselves in comfortable rooms again, and listening +to the regimental band, which we greatly enjoyed.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the 15th of December we got on +board a steamer which took us down most comfortably +to Assiut. Here we were greeted by Mr. Santoni and +Brother Sayer, who had been directed by the Cairo +Mission to come on board and welcome us. From +Assiut we took the train to Cairo, where we arrived +safely on the 21st of December, 1891.</p> + +<p>The rapid transition from barbarism to civilization, +our pleasant journey from Korosko to Cairo, intercourse +with educated people, the incessant change of scene, all +affected us greatly; but our joy and delight at being +free was somewhat saddened by the thought of the +sufferings of our poor companions in our adversity, +whom we had left behind in slavery and captivity. Our +guides accompanied us to Cairo, where they received +the money agreed upon, and we felt full of thankfulness +to the energetic Ahmed Hassan and his two companions;<a name="Page_444" id="Page_444"></a> +but to our good Archbishop Sogaro we owe a deep debt +of gratitude, for it was through his intermediary all +arrangements for our happy release had been effected.</p> + +<p>It may be as well to insert here the terms of agreement +made in Arabic between Monsignor Sogaro and +Ahmed Hassan regarding our release. The wording is +as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I, the undersigned, Ahmed Hassan el Abbadi, of +Bashri Mohammed Ali's Arabs, agree to proceed at once +to Omdurman to bring Father Ohrwalder and the two +nuns from Omdurman to Cairo. I agree to take care of +them on the journey, and to do all in my power to bring +them here and to give them every satisfaction. As a +reward and to recompense me for the expenses which I +shall incur between Omdurman and Cairo, Monsignor +Sogaro has agreed to give me:—</p> + +<p>"1. All the goods to the value of £100 now in +possession of Sheikh Abdel Hadi at Korosko.</p> + +<p>"2. £20 in advance before leaving Cairo.</p> + +<p>"3. On my return from Omdurman with Father +Ohrwalder and the two nuns, a sum of £300, <i>i.e.</i> £100 +for each person.</p> + +<p>"This is the agreement between me and Monsignor +Sogaro, and I have made it of my own free will and +accord, and have been in no way forced to do so by +any one. Monsignor Sogaro and myself signed this +agreement, and Wingate Bey, Assistant Adjutant-General, +Intelligence, stands as a witness. This agreement +will be kept in the War Office until I return from +Omdurman with the three persons above-named, and I +shall be dealt with in accordance with its contents.<a name="FNanchor_U_21" id="FNanchor_U_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_U_21" class="fnanchor">[U]</a></p> + +<p style="text-indent:3.5em;line-height:.5">"Signed,<span class="smcap alignright" +style="margin-right:1.75em;"> Ahmed Hassan el Abbadi</span>,</p> +<p style="text-align:right;margin-right:1.25em;line-height:.5">"of Sayala, Frontier Mudirieh.</p> +<p style="text-align:right;line-height:.5">"<span class="smcap">Léon Henriot</span> (for Monsignor Sogaro).</p> +<p style="text-indent:1.5em;line-height:.5">"Cairo, 9th July, 1891."</p> + +</div> + +<a name="Page_445" id="Page_445"></a> + +<p>Below is written in English:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This is a private agreement between Monsignor +Sogaro and Ahmed Hassan el Abbadi, who leaves Cairo +for Omdurman on Friday, the 20th July, 1891, and will +attempt to bring Father Ohrwalder to Egypt.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:4em;line-height:.5">"Witnessed by me,<span class="smcap alignright" +style="margin-right:2.25em;"> <span class="smcap">F. R. Wingate</span>,</span></p> +<p style="text-align:right;margin-right:1.25em;line-height:.5">"Kaimakam,</p> +<p style="text-align:right;line-height:.5">"A. A.-G., Intelligence, Egyptian Army.</p> +<p style="text-indent:1.5em;line-height:.5">"War Office,</p> +<p style="text-indent:3em;line-height:.5">"9th July, 1891."</p> +</div> + + + +<p>I was, of course, intensely anxious to hear what had +occurred in Omdurman after our departure. I thought +that our flight would have remained undiscovered that +night, the following day, and possibly the following +night; but it was not so. Early in the morning on the +30th of November our absence was discovered by some +women who had been standing before the door of my +house. They had seen us and were surprised, because +we did not usually leave the house after sunset.</p> + +<p>The idea of flight did not probably at once occur to +them, but their suspicions were aroused. Early in the +morning they had knocked at my door, and receiving +no answer, related what they had seen to my neighbour's +slave, who in turn informed her master. He, in +great terror, carried the information to the mukuddum +of the Europeans. This man, accompanied by many of +my friends, hastened to my house, and, breaking open +the door, was assured of my flight by finding a letter +which I had left.</p> + +<p>The poor man had, to save his life, to at once inform +the Khalifa, who ordered the sheikh of the market to +find us even should we be buried in the earth. Wad +er Rais therefore closed all the houses and arrested every +one who could possibly have known of my flight, and +threw them into chains, with threats of the gallows +and the knife. My neighbours were also arrested. +When he could get no information whatever from these +people, the Khalifa sent to Metemmeh a certain Ibrahim<a name="Page_446" id="Page_446"></a> +Wad el Ahmer, who had three camels, and was ordered +to bring us back at all hazards. But the beit el mal +had first to buy the camels at very high prices—120, +110, and 87 dollars respectively—and before they could +start some busybody told the Khalifa that Khalifa +Sherif had concealed me in a boat belonging to a +certain Osman Fauzi, and had aided my flight in order +that I should move the Egyptian Government to the +support of his oppressed party. Another declared that +he had seen white faces in the boat.</p> + +<p>These statements impressed the Khalifa, who sent +men at once to recapture the boat and examine the +passengers. The boat was captured near Omdurman +and examined, of course, with no result, on which the +Khalifa was pacified, and sent off the camels. Ibrahim +inquired minutely along the route to Metemmeh, but +could get no information. In the meantime those well +disposed towards us lived in the keenest apprehension +lest we should be recaptured. Only on Ibrahim's return +without any news could our friends breathe freely and +feel sure that we must have got away safely. Then +those who had been imprisoned were released.</p> + +<p>Later on I received a letter from Omdurman telling +me that our flight had raised a commotion throughout +the whole city, and that the prisoners had to suffer very +much. It may be learned from this what grave consequences +had to be considered before I took the important +step of flight. Should anyone else attempt it, +those who remain must suffer. May God protect our +poor companions!</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_U_21" id="Footnote_U_21"></a> +<a href="#FNanchor_U_21" class="fnlabel">[U]</a> This contract and all correspondence connected with it was kept +sealed in the Intelligence Office, and was opened by General Sir F. +Grenfell, Sirdar, on the 14th day of December, 1891, when the news +of the arrival of the party at Korosko reached Cairo.—F. R. W.</p></div> +</div> +<a name="Page_447" id="Page_447"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<p class="chapterhead">THE PRESENT KHALIFA'S DESPOTISM IN THE SUDAN.</p> + +<p class="chapternote">[The reader is reminded that all opinions expressed are those of +Father Ohrwalder.—F. R. W.]</p> + +<p class="chapterdescribe">Reflections on the situation in the Sudan—The horrors of the +present Khalifa's rule—How long shall it continue?</p> + + +<p class="firstpara"><span class="firstwords">In</span> the foregoing pages we have glanced at a bloody +period in the history of the Sudan—the rise of the +Mahdi, his victorious career through Kordofan, and his +conquest of Khartum. We have sketched the development +of his mighty empire, founded in bloodshed and +revolution, and we have seen him honoured as a messenger +of God by the millions of the Sudan; glorified—nay, +almost worshipped—by his own people, and watched +by the Muslim neighbours of his empire with an admiration +mingled with the keenest anxiety. Then, in the +full enjoyment of his victories, at the supreme moment +of his power, while seated in his capital of Omdurman, +he revolved schemes of conquest of the whole world he +knew; then dead—dead of debauchery and disease, dead +at an age when most lives' promises are brightest. +Then we have seen the empire tottering, Abdullah rising +to its support, slowly but firmly strengthening the +trembling power, and, with the strength of bigotry and +ignorance, replacing a shattered superstition by the iron +rule of might.</p> + +<p>Here I may properly submit some reflections on the +general situation.</p> + +<p>Mohammed Ali conquered the Sudan, and in the train +of his conquest followed all the triumphs of progress +and civilization. Wide new territories were discovered, +fertile and thickly populated; explorers and missionaries +advanced to the very heart of negro-land; Nile's soli<a name="Page_448" id="Page_448"></a>tudes +were rippled by the advancing steamer. Far +beyond the Equator reached the telegraph, and the +metropolis of the Sudan formed part of the international +postal system. Trade blossomed in security, +and the white man could march to the countries of the +Niam Niam, and there join hands with his brother +from the Congo. European culture spread throughout, +and the religion of Christ planted the world-saving +banner in remotest frontiers.</p> + +<p>The progress of fifty years was ruined by the Mahdi's +revolt. The Sudan fell back into the darkness from +which philanthropy had rescued it. Civilization was +swamped in the flood of fanaticism. The sign of +salvation was blotted out, the bearers of it chained +as slaves, and the flag of tyranny waved over smoking +ruins from Darfur to the Red Sea, and from Regaf +northwards to the second cataract. Bands of fanatics +have swept over the face of the land, destroying every +Christian sign. The Sudan lies open in its desolation +and nakedness. Everything but a little cloth and a +little corn is superfluous,—nay wicked,—for those who +accept the Mahdi's promise of eternal life. The minds +of men are savage through years of warfare. The ignorant +Baggara rule and the gentler Jaalin and Danagla +are oppressed; the land is fallen back to wilderness.</p> + +<p>The present ruler, Abdullah, is marching steadily in +the path of desolation. He roots out eagerly every +vestige of Egyptian rule; all foreign influence he keeps +at a distance, for he will rule over an ignorant people. +He wants nothing from beyond his own boundaries. +If he has no money, cloth becomes the medium of +exchange; ammunition he makes himself. With his +Baggaras he rules with an iron hand. Those who +resist are pitilessly robbed, imprisoned, or exiled.</p> + +<p>Abdullah rules in the name of the Mahdi, whose +religious prestige is the readiest weapon for swaying +the multitude. He keeps unaltered the decisions, the +visions, the wild dreams which so powerfully established +the imposture. The pilgrimage to Mecca he +regards as dangerous. Even from such enlightenment<a name="Page_449" id="Page_449"></a> +as they might find at the shrine of their faith, his +people are heedfully kept away.</p> + +<p>A Spartan habit of life was enjoined by the Mahdi. +This Abdullah still attempts to maintain, for he wishes +the people to be ready to follow him, and is careful +that they shall have no inducement to stay at home. +Like the Mahdi, the Khalifa puts his orders in the +form of visions, which have the weight of divine manifestations. +Often he locks himself in darkness in the +Mahdi's tomb, and spends nights in pretended commune +with his master.</p> + +<p>The policy of Abdullah is directed to strengthening +his power and concentrating it in the hands of his +Baggaras. Once he is sure of what he has got, he +will try to enlarge his dominion. Barbarism and +desolation will be extended to provinces which internal +difficulties have so far prevented him from absorbing. +He thinks of nothing but war. Omdurman is one vast +camp. All men bear arms or are flogged; whoso rides +must carry a spear and five javelins. Speeches and +harangues all raise the spirit of war.</p> + +<p>The weakness of the monarchy lies in the dissensions +between the Baggara and the Aulad-belad—that is, +the Jaalin, Danagla, and others. The Danagla are objects +of the Khalifa's special aversion, and he would gladly +exterminate them. But with his Baggaras he can at +present maintain himself with ease.</p> + +<p>Mahdiism is founded on plunder and violence, and +by plunder and violence it is carried on. In some districts +half the people are dead, in others the loss of life +is even greater. Whole tribes have been completely +blotted out, and in their places roam the wild beasts, +spreading and increasing in fierceness and in numbers, +until they bid fair to finish the destruction of the +human race; for they enter huts, and women and +children are no longer safe.</p> + +<p>How long shall this condition of affairs continue? +Negotiation with Abdullah is hopeless; that has been +proved by many well-intentioned efforts, but shall +savagery and desolation continue for ever? Shall the<a name="Page_450" id="Page_450"></a> +roads remain always closed that lead from Halfa and +Sawakin to the richest provinces of Africa? The Sudan +has lost faith in the humanity of Europe, nor does it +cease from wonder why Europe has not yet stepped in. +Consuls of the greatest nations have been murdered, +their flags torn down, their agents kept in slavery.</p> + +<p>Interference while the revolt was at its height could +not perhaps be efficient—that is understood. But now +the face of things is changed. The Sudanese have been +heavily punished for their mistaken trust; they have +suffered to the bitter end. Where may they look for a +deliverer?</p> + +<p>For the sake of three people did not England undertake +a costly and difficult war? Is not even a more +worthy object the punishment of Abdullah and the +delivery of the enslaved and decimated peoples? I +have pined ten years in bondage, and now, by the help +of God, I have escaped. In the names of the companions +with whom I suffered, in the name of the +Sudan people, whose misery I have seen, and in the +name of all civilized nations, I ask this question:</p> + +<p>How long shall Europe—and above all that nation +which has first part in Egypt and the Sudan—which +stands deservedly first in civilizing savage races, how +long shall Europe and Great Britain watch unmoved +the outrages of the Khalifa and the destruction of +the Sudan people?</p> + +<a name="Page_451" id="Page_451"></a> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a> +<h2>INDEX.</h2> + +<div class="figcenter" style="padding-bottom:1em;padding-top:.9em;"> +<img src="images/line.png" alt="------" title="" width="90" height="9"></div> +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Ababdeh</span> tribe, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>-<a href="#Page_125">5</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>-<a href="#Page_442">2</a>. +<li>Abba Island, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>-<a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>.</li> +<li><i>Abbas</i>, steamer, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>-<a href="#Page_128">8</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Baki, emir, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>-<a href="#Page_319">9</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Gayum, eunuch, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Hadi (Arab), <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Halim, Emir, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Kader Pasha, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Kader (Mahdi's uncle), <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Kader Guru, death of, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Karim (Mahdi's uncle), <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>-<a href="#Page_165">5</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Majid, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Maula, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Nur, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>-<a href="#Page_322">322</a>.</li> +<li>Abdel Samad, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> +<li>Abderrahman Wad Abu Degel, <a href="#Page_253">253</a>.</li> +<li>Abderrahman Wad en Nejumi, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>-<a href="#Page_126">6</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>-<a href="#Page_261">61</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>vanquished at Argin, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>-<a href="#Page_265">5</a>;</li> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Abdullah et Taishi, Khalifa, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>-<a href="#Page_11">1</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>-<a href="#Page_46">6</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>-<a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and King Adam, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>;</li> + <li>and the sisters, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> + <li>and Father Ohrwalder, <a href="#Page_116">116</a>-<a href="#Page_117">7</a>;</li> + <li>succeeds the Mahdi, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>-<a href="#Page_163">3</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>;</li> + <li>and revolt of black soldiers of old Sudan <a name="tn_png_467"></a><!--TN: Comma added after "army"-->army, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>-<a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</li> + <li>at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>-<a href="#Page_203">3</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>;</li> + <li>and Wad Suleiman, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>-<a href="#Page_207">7</a>;</li> + <li>Ibrahim Wad Adlan, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>-<a href="#Page_208">8</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>-<a href="#Page_327">7</a>;</li> + <li>and coinage at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>-<a href="#Page_213">3</a>;</li> + <li>system of justice, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>-<a href="#Page_215">5</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>-<a href="#Page_335">335</a>;</li> + <li>and Fiki Medawi, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>;</li> + <li>and Yunis emir, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>-<a href="#Page_220">20</a>;</li> + <li>and King John, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>;</li> + <li>and Abu Anga, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>;</li> + <li>grand review at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>-<a href="#Page_226">6</a>;</li> + <li>war with Abyssinia, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>-<a href="#Page_231">31</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>-<a href="#Page_252">52</a>;</li> + <li>and Saleh Bey, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>-<a href="#Page_234">4</a>;</li> + <li>and Darfur, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>-<a href="#Page_241">41</a>;</li> + <li>and Egypt, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>-<a href="#Page_256">6</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>-<a href="#Page_269">69</a>;</li> + <li>letters from, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>;</li> + <li>sends expedition up the White Nile, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>-<a href="#Page_272">72</a>;</li> + <li>and the Mahdi's decrees, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</li> + <li>followers of, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>;</li> + <li>and the Mahdi's tomb, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>-<a href="#Page_279">9</a>;</li> + <li>palace and houses of, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>-<a href="#Page_281">1</a>;</li> + <li>and war requisites, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>-<a href="#Page_375">75</a>;</li> + <li>and the famine in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>-<a href="#Page_292">92</a>;</li> + <li>description of, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>;</li> + <li>dress and food of, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>-<a href="#Page_294">4</a>;</li> + <li>harem of, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>;</li> + <li>illnesses of, <a href="#Page_294">294</a>-<a href="#Page_295">5</a>;</li> + <li>character, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>-<a href="#Page_296">6</a>;</li> + <li>spies of, <a href="#Page_295">295</a>;</li> + <li>and political conversations, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>;</li> + <li>mosque at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>-<a href="#Page_298">8</a>;</li> + <li>and visions, <a href="#Page_298">298</a>-<a href="#Page_299">9</a>;</li> + <li>a man of great activity, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>;</li> + <li>fondness for music, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>;</li> + <li>his barber, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>;</li> + <li><a name="tn_png_467a"></a><!--TN: "lifeguards" changed to "life-guards"-->life-guards and household cavalry of, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>-<a href="#Page_302">2</a>;</li> + <li>and business affairs of the State, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>;</li> + <li>displays of magnificence, <a href="#Page_302">302</a>-<a href="#Page_304">4</a>;</li> + <li>cleanliness of, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>;</li> + <li>grand reviews at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>-<a href="#Page_308">8</a>;</li> + <li>and the Taisha Arabs, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>-<a href="#Page_311">11</a>;</li> + <li>and firearms, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>-<a href="#Page_312">2</a>;</li> + <li>his brother, <i>see</i> "Yakub";</li> + <li>and the Batahin tribe, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>-<a href="#Page_320">20</a>;</li> + <li>and Abdel Nur, <a href="#Page_321">321</a>-<a href="#Page_322">2</a>;</li> + <li>and the Saier at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>-<a href="#Page_352">52</a>;</li> + <li>and Charles Neufeld, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>-<a href="#Page_360">60</a>;</li> + <li>and Sheikh Khalil, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>-<a href="#Page_364">4</a>;</li> + <li>and the slave trade, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>-<a href="#Page_385">5</a>;</li> + <li>and the Baggaras, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>-<a href="#Page_405">405</a>;</li> + <li>his son Osman, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>-<a href="#Page_391">1</a>;</li> + <li>strict surveillance over the whites, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>-<a href="#Page_413">3</a>;</li> + <li>horrors of his rule, <a href="#Page_447">447</a>-<a href="#Page_450">50</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Abdullah Wad en Nur, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>.</li> +<li>Abdullah Wad Ibrahim, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Abyssinia, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>-<a href="#Page_253">3</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Abu Anga (commander-in-chief of Mahdi's forces), <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>-<a href="#Page_89">9</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>-<a href="#Page_112">2</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>description and history of, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>-<a href="#Page_231">31</a>;</li> + <li>and Abyssinia, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>-<a href="#Page_244">4</a>;</li> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>-<a href="#Page_246">6</a>;</li> + <li>and slave trade, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452"></a>Abu Gemaizeh, religious reformer, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>-<a href="#Page_240">40</a>.</li> +<li>Abu Girgeh, emir, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>-<a href="#Page_168">8</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.</li> +<li>Abu Habl, the Khor, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>-<a href="#Page_79">9</a>.</li> +<li>Abu Hamed, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>rebels at, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Abu Haraz, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>.</li> +<li>Abu Klea, battle of, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>-<a href="#Page_148">8</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>.</li> +<li>Abu Kru, battle of, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>.</li> +<li>Abu Kuka, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li> +<li>Abu Saud, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> +<li>Abyssinia, and Kassala garrisons, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>-<a href="#Page_167">7</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Galabat, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>-<a href="#Page_220">20</a>;</li> + <li>Abu Anga and, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>-<a href="#Page_231">31</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>-<a href="#Page_244">4</a>;</li> + <li>defeat of King John's army, <a href="#Page_245">245</a>-<a href="#Page_253">53</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Adam, King, of Tagalla, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.</li> +<li>Adansonia trees, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>.</li> +<li>Adila, girl at the Khartum Mission, <a href="#Page_421">421</a>, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>.</li> +<li>Adultery, the Mahdi's punishment for, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>.</li> +<li>Agriculture in the Mahdiist kingdom, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>-<a href="#Page_385">85</a>.</li> +<li>Ahmed Bey Daffallah, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>.</li> +<li>Ahmed Bey Defterdar, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>.</li> +<li>Ahmed Hassan and escape of Father Ohrwalder, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>-<a href="#Page_445">45</a>.</li> +<li>Ahmed Sharfi, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>-<a href="#Page_407">7</a>.</li> +<li>Ahmed Wad Suleiman, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>-<a href="#Page_84">4</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>-<a href="#Page_97">7</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>-<a href="#Page_145">5</a>, <a href="#Page_161">161</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>-<a href="#Page_207">7</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +<li>Aigella, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>.</li> +<li>Aisha, the Mahdi's principal wife, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.</li> +<li>Ala ed Din Pasha, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>.</li> +<li>Alchemy, Sudanese and, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>.</li> +<li>Alcoholic drinks, the Sudanese and, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li><a name="tn_png_468"></a><!--TN: Italics added to "also" and removed from "Marissa"--><i>see also</i> Marissa.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Ali Bakhit, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li> +<li>Ali Bey Haider, Lieut-Col., <a href="#Page_443">443</a>.</li> +<li>Ali Esh Sherif, Khalifa, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>-<a href="#Page_15">5</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>-<a href="#Page_203">3</a>, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>-<a href="#Page_407">407</a>, <a href="#Page_446">446</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Ali Pasha, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</li> +<li>Ali Wad Helu, Khalifa, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>-<a href="#Page_407">7</a>.</li> +<li>Allegiance, sheikhs' oath of, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>.</li> +<li>Aluba, Hicks at, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>.</li> +<li>Amarar Arabs, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>-<a href="#Page_267">7</a>.</li> +<li>Andreis, Sister A., <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> +<li>Amhara, the chief of, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>.</li> +<li>Amina (a black girl), <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> +<li>Ammunition, the Khalifa's, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>-<a href="#Page_375">75</a>.</li> +<li>Amulets, the fikis and, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>-<a href="#Page_275">5</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>.</li> +<li>Ansar, the, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>-<a href="#Page_308">8</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>.</li> +<li>Arabi, Baggara called, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.</li> +<li>Arabi Pasha, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.</li> +<li>Arabs; in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li><i>see</i> "Baggaras," "Bederieh," "Beni Jerrar," "Dar Hamed," "Ghodiat," "Gowameh," "Hawazma," "Kababish," &c.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Argin, battle of, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> +<li>Aser, American Consul, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>.</li> +<li>Ashaf Station, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> +<li>Ashraf, the, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>.</li> +<li>Assiut, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>.</li> +<li>Assuan, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.</li> +<li>Atbara River, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>.</li> +<li>Aulad-belad, the, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>-<a href="#Page_392">2</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>-<a href="#Page_406">6</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>.</li> +<li>Austrian Mission, at Delen, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>-<a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>-<a href="#Page_30">30</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>church at Khartum, <a href="#Page_137">137</a>-<a href="#Page_138">8</a>;</li> + <li>at El Obeid, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</li> + <li><a name="tn_png_468a"></a><!--TN: Italics added to "also"--><i>see also</i> "Sisters."</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Awad el Kerim Abu Sin, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Baggara,</span> tribe, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>-<a href="#Page_15">5</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>-<a href="#Page_26">6</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>-<a href="#Page_163">3</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>, <a href="#Page_287">287</a>, <a href="#Page_293">293</a>, <a href="#Page_314">314</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>horsemanship of, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>;</li> + <li>emirs, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>;</li> + <li>women, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>;</li> + <li>masters of the Sudan, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>-<a href="#Page_407">407</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>;</li> + <li><i>see also</i> "Taisha Arabs."</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bahr el Arab, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li>Bahr el Ghazal, slave trade in, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>-<a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>revolt in, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bahr el Karrar, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>-<a href="#Page_258">8</a>.</li> +<li>Baker Pasha, General Valentine, defeat of, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at El Teb, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Banners of the Mahdi's Khalifas, <i>see</i> "Flags."</li> +<li>Bara town, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>-<a href="#Page_202">2</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>fall of, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Barabra tribe, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>language of, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bashra, the Mahdi's son, <a href="#Page_159">159</a>.</li> +<li>Batahin tribe, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>-<a href="#Page_320">20</a>.</li> +<li>Bayuda Desert, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>.</li> +<li>Bederieh Arabs, the, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.</li> +<li>Beit el mal at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>-<a href="#Page_214">14</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_393">393</a>-<a href="#Page_395">5</a>.</li> +<li>Ben en Naga Bey, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>-<a href="#Page_89">9</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>son of, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>;</li> + <li>daughter of, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Benga village, <a href="#Page_430">430</a>.</li> +<li>Beni Helba tribe, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</li> +<li>Beni Jerrar Arabs, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>.</li> +<li>Berber, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>fall of, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>-<a href="#Page_125">5</a>;</li> + <li>Gordon at, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_430">430</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>;</li> + <li>Osman Digna at, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>;</li> + <li>old, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>;</li> + <li>famine in, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Berghof, a German, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.</li> +<li>Birket, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>-<a href="#Page_21">1</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> + +<li><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453"></a>Bishir, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>.</li> +<li>Bishir Bey, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>.</li> +<li>Blue Nile, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>-<a href="#Page_134">4</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>towns on the, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Bonomi, Father, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>-<a href="#Page_32">2</a>, <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>-<a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>-<a href="#Page_173">3</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>escape of, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>-<a href="#Page_184">84</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Books, the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Khalifa Abdullah and, <a href="#Page_299">299</a>, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>-<a href="#Page_401">1</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Borgo, Sultan of, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.</li> +<li>Brick-making at Delen, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>.</li> +<li>Bringi, executioner at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_318">318</a>, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>, <a href="#Page_356">356</a>.</li> +<li>British East Africa, Imperial, Co., <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +<li>'Bruce's Travels' and the Batahin tribe, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>. +<li>Buri village, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_132">132</a>.</li> +<li>Busata village, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Cairo</span>, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>merchants of, and El Obeid, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>;</li> + <li>Ohrwalder's arrival at, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Camels, in Kordofan, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>-<a href="#Page_36">6</a>, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>of the Gehena tribe, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_228">228</a>;</li> + <li>of the Kababish tribe, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>;</li> + <li>for Ohrwalder's escape, <a href="#Page_422">422</a>, <a href="#Page_427">427</a>, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Cattle in Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Kordofan, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>;</li> + <li>of the Arabs, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>;</li> + <li>of the Gehena tribe, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>;</li> + <li>breeding in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>-<a href="#Page_379">9</a>;</li> + <li>cows of the Shilluks, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Cemetery, European, at Khartum, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>.</li> +<li>Chad Lake, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li> +<li>Chincarini, Sister C., <a href="#Page_413">413</a>-<a href="#Page_445">45</a>.</li> +<li>Clementino, George, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.</li> +<li>Clothing in the Mahdi's kingdom, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.</li> +<li>Coins in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>-<a href="#Page_213">13</a>.</li> +<li>Comboni, Bishop, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>grave of, at Khartum, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Combotti, Marietta, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.</li> +<li>Comet, a wonderful, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>.</li> +<li>Commerce in the Mahdiist kingdom, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>-<a href="#Page_385">85</a>.</li> +<li>Corsi, Sister Concetta, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_419">419</a>.</li> +<li>Cripples in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>.</li> +<li>Curios, museum of, at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li>Cuzzi, Joseph, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>-<a href="#Page_126">6</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Dabarosa</span> bazaar, the, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li> +<li>Dabra Sin, battle of, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>.</li> +<li>Dair, Jebel, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li>Damur, pieces of cloth, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>-<a href="#Page_382">2</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>used as coins, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Danagla, <i>see</i> "Dongola."</li> +<li>Dara, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>.</li> +<li>Dar Fertit, singers from, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>.</li> +<li>Darfur, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Slatin Bey, Governor of, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>;</li> + <li>the Mahdi conquers, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-<a href="#Page_94">4</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>;</li> + <li>historical sketch of, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>-<a href="#Page_241">41</a>;</li> + <li>Zogal and, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>-<a href="#Page_203">3</a>;</li> + <li>revolt in, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>;</li> + <li>horses in, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>;</li> + <li>women and spinning, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>;</li> + <li>slaves from, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Dar Homr (Arabs), <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>, <a href="#Page_309">309</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>.</li> +<li>Dar Nauli tribe of Arabs, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.</li> +<li>Dar Nuba, <i>see</i> "Nuba."</li> +<li>Dar Shaggieh, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>.</li> +<li>Dead, the Mahdi's law about the, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> +<li>Debaineh tribe, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> +<li>Degheim tribe, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> +<li>Delen, arrival at, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Mission at, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>;</li> + <li>news of the Mahdi at, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>;</li> + <li>description of, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>-<a href="#Page_31">31</a>;</li> + <li>quicksilver at, <a name="tn_453"></a><!--TN: Semicolon replaced by comma after "35"--><a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Dervishes, the Mahdi's, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at El Obeid, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>-<a href="#Page_59">9</a>;</li> + <li>and Hicks Pasha's army, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>;</li> + <li>in Khartum, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>;</li> + <li>and Olivier Pain, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>;</li> + <li>revolt against, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>-<a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</li> + <li>at Galabat, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>-<a href="#Page_219">9</a>;</li> + <li>review of, at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>-<a href="#Page_226">6</a>;</li> + <li>and tobacco chewing, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>;</li> + <li>and the famine in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>;</li> + <li>at Fashoda, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Dhurra in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.</li> +<li>Dichtl, Johann, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.</li> +<li>Dinka tribe, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>.</li> +<li>Disease in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>.</li> +<li>Dispensary at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li>Dobab mountain, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>.</li> +<li>Dogman mountain, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> +<li>Dogs, Mahdi's doctrine about, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_335">335</a>.</li> +<li>Doka, Sheikh Egeil and, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>.</li> +<li>Dome to Mahdi's tomb at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>.</li> +<li>Dongola, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>-<a href="#Page_265">65</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>famine in, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>;</li> + <li>language, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Doorway of the Mahdi's tomb, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>.</li> +<li>Dreams, the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>-<a href="#Page_111">1</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>.</li> +<li>Drums of the Mahdi's Khalifas, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>-<a href="#Page_306">6</a>.</li> +<li>Dud Benga, Sultan, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>.</li> +<li>Duem, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>General Hicks at, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Dwarf, a, at Rahad, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Ed Din</span>, Sheikh, <i>see</i> "Osman, Khalifa."</li> +<li>Egeil, sheikh, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>-<a href="#Page_219">9</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.</li> +<li>Egypt, and Delen, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and the Sudan, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>;</li> + <li>Abdullah and, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>-<a href="#Page_256">6</a>, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>-<a href="#Page_269">69</a>;</li> + <li>and the Sudan, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>;</li> + <li>Wad Adlan and, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>;</li> + <li>the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Egyptian troops, Hicks Pasha's, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>-<a href="#Page_90">90</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>-<a href="#Page_93">3</a>.</li> +<li><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454"></a>El Eilafun, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</li> +<li><i>El Fasher</i>, steamer, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> +<li>El Merhdi Abu Rof, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>-<a href="#Page_227">7</a>.</li> +<li>El Obeid, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>garrison of, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>;</li> + <li>the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>-<a href="#Page_41">41</a>;</li> + <li>description of, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>-<a href="#Page_36">6</a>;</li> + <li>siege of, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>-<a href="#Page_57">7</a>, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;</li> + <li>Zogal at, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> + <li>the Mahdi leaves, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>-<a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> + <li>triumphal return to, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>-<a href="#Page_93">3</a>, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>-<a href="#Page_172">2</a>;</li> + <li>King Adam at, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>;</li> + <li>Lupton Bey at, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>;</li> + <li>small-pox in, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>;</li> + <li>revolt of black soldiers at, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>-<a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>;</li> + <li>slaves at, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>-<a href="#Page_384">4</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>El Obeid, Sheikh, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>.</li> +<li>El Teb, battle of, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> +<li>Elephants, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>; in Darfur, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li> +<li>Elias el Kurdi, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>.</li> +<li>Elias Pasha, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>son of, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Elias Wad Kanuna, emir, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +<li><a name="tn_png_470"></a><!--TN: Corrected alphabetical order of "Emin Pasha" in index-->Emin Pasha, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Gordon and, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>;</li> + <li>and Lupton Bey, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>;</li> + <li>Khalifa Abdullah and, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>-<a href="#Page_272">72</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Emirs, the, of the Sudan provinces, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</li> +<li>England and Egypt, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and the Sudan, <a href="#Page_450">450</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>English mail, capture of an, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.</li> +<li>English Relief Expedition to Khartum, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>-<a href="#Page_149">9</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>-<a href="#Page_178">8</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Kababish tribe, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>;</li> + <li>at Dongola, June 1885, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Equatoria, Abdullah's expedition to, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>-<a href="#Page_272">72</a>.</li> +<li>Exports from Kordofan, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Fadl Maula Bey</span>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>, <a name="tn_454"></a><!--TN: Period inserted after "401"--><a href="#Page_401">401</a>.</li> +<li>Fallata tribe, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li> +<li>Famines; in El Obeid, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>-<a href="#Page_184">4</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_252">252</a>-<a href="#Page_253">3</a>;</li> + <li>in Dongola, <a href="#Page_261">261</a>;</li> + <li>in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>-<a href="#Page_289">9</a>;</li> + <li>in Berber, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>;</li> + <li>in the Provinces, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>-<a href="#Page_291">1</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Farag Pasha, <a href="#Page_135">135</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>.</li> +<li>Faragallah Pasha, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>-<a href="#Page_132">2</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +<li>Farquhar, Colonel Arthur, <a href="#Page_79">79</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.</li> +<li>Fasher, El, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>besieged, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>-<a href="#Page_241">41</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Fashoda, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>corn from, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Fedasi, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>.</li> +<li>Festivals, Khalifa Abdullah and, <a href="#Page_362">362</a>.</li> +<li>Fiki, Abdullah and the name, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>.</li> +<li>Flags of the Khalifas, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.</li> +<li>Furs, annihilation of the, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Galabat</span>, province and town, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>-<a href="#Page_219">9</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>attack on, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>-<a href="#Page_248">8</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>;</li> + <li>famine at, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gallows at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>-<a href="#Page_318">8</a>.</li> +<li>Gedaref, garrison of, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>-<a href="#Page_217">7</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> +<li>Gedir, Jebel, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.</li> +<li>Gehena tribe, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>-<a href="#Page_227">7</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>-<a href="#Page_261">1</a>.</li> +<li>Gellabas (traders), <a href="#Page_14">14</a>-<a href="#Page_15">5</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>.</li> +<li>Georges Bey, Dr., <a href="#Page_86">86</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>son-in-law of, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gessi Pasha, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and the slave trade, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>-<a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gezireh, the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-<a href="#Page_94">4</a><a name="tn_454a"></a><!--TN: Semicolon changed to comma after "4"-->, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_390">390</a>.</li> +<li>Ghazali, Sheikh, <a href="#Page_310">310</a>-<a href="#Page_311">1</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +<li>Ghittas, festival known as, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.</li> +<li>Ghodiat Arabs, the, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>.</li> +<li>Gianzara Hill, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.</li> +<li>Giegler Pasha, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> +<li>Giniss, battle of, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.</li> +<li>Girls in Khartum, Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_144">144</a>.</li> +<li>Goats in Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in the Sudan provinces, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gold in Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li>Golfan-Naïma, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>-<a href="#Page_23">3</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>-<a href="#Page_224">4</a>.</li> +<li>Gondar, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>-<a href="#Page_231">1</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>-<a href="#Page_249">9</a>.</li> +<li>Gordon, General, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>arrives at Khartum, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>-<a href="#Page_122">2</a>;</li> + <li>letter to the Mahdi, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>;</li> + <li>the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</li> + <li>English letters to, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>;</li> + <li>at Berber, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>-<a href="#Page_124">4</a>;</li> + <li>defeat of Gordon's troops, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>-<a href="#Page_125">5</a>;</li> + <li>successful attack by, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</li> + <li>besieged, and death of, at Khartum, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>-<a href="#Page_154">54</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>-<a href="#Page_208">8</a>;</li> + <li><a name="tn_png_470a"></a><!--TN: "and" removed before "Sheikh"-->Sheikh Khalil and, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>;</li> + <li>at Murat, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gordon Relief Expedition, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>-<a href="#Page_149">9</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>-<a href="#Page_178">8</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>viâ Berber, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gowameh tribe, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>.</li> +<li>Graham, General, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>-<a href="#Page_121">1</a>, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> +<li>Greeks, the, at Khartum, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>-<a href="#Page_143">3</a>.</li> +<li>Greger Hamed (Emir), <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</li> +<li>Grenfell, General Sir F., <a href="#Page_256">256</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_444">444</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>battle at Toski, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Gubat, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>.</li> +<li>Guineas coined at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>.</li> +<li>Gum, in Kordofan, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>used as food at El Obeid, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> + <li>at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Habbanieh</span> tribe of Arabs, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li> +<li>Hadarba merchants, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>.</li> +<li>Hadendoa Arabs, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li> +<li>Haimar Wells, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>.</li> +<li>Haj Ali Wad Saad, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>-<a href="#Page_124">4</a>.</li> +<li>Hajji Abdullah Granteli, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>.</li> +<li>Hajji Khaled (Emir), <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>son of, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hajji Mohammed Ben en Naga, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> +<li><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455"></a>Hajji Selim (soldier), <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>-<a href="#Page_191">1</a>.</li> +<li>Hajji Zubeir, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>-<a href="#Page_350">50</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>-<a href="#Page_397">7</a>.</li> +<li>Halfaya, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</li> +<li>Hamran Arabs, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>.</li> +<li>Handub, battle of, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>.</li> +<li>Hansal (Austrian consul), <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>-<a href="#Page_69">9</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>-<a href="#Page_119">9</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_139">139</a>-<a href="#Page_140">40</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hashish, use of, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>.</li> +<li>Hasib, emir, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +<li>Hassan Khalifa, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>-<a href="#Page_365">5</a>.</li> +<li>Hassan en Nejumi (emir), <a href="#Page_264">264</a>.</li> +<li>Hassan Husni (interpreter), <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>.</li> +<li>Hassan Sadik, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>.</li> +<li>Hassan Zeki, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> +<li>Hebbeh village, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> +<li>Heddai, sheikh, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>.</li> +<li>Herlth, Major, extracts from diary of, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>-<a href="#Page_79">9</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>.</li> +<li>Hicks Pasha, General, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Wad Makashef, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</li> + <li>expedition of, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>;</li> + <li>at Duem, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>;</li> + <li>at Rahad, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>-<a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</li> + <li>defeat and death of, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>-<a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>;</li> + <li>white horse of, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>;</li> + <li>Bible of, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> + <li>stable, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hilmi Gorab, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> +<li>Horses, the Sudanese and, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.</li> +<li>Housebreakers in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>-<a href="#Page_335">5</a>.</li> +<li>Howazma Arabs, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</li> +<li>Hussein Pasha, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>son of, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Hussein Wad ed Dayim, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>-<a href="#Page_340">40</a>.</li> +<li>Hyenas, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_289">289</a>-<a href="#Page_290">90</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Ibrahim Nur</span>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>-<a href="#Page_395">5</a>.</li> +<li>Ibrahim Pasha Fauzi, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>.</li> +<li>Ibrahim Ramadan, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>.</li> +<li>Ibrahim Wad Adlan, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_207">207</a>-<a href="#Page_210">10</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>-<a href="#Page_324">4</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_325">325</a>-<a href="#Page_327">7</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Ibrahim Wad Abu Tagalla, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>.</li> +<li>Ibrahim Wad el Ahmer, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>-<a href="#Page_446">6</a>.</li> +<li>Idris (sheikh), <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>-<a href="#Page_117">7</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Imbrien, Bishop, of the Tyrol, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>.</li> +<li>Immorality, Mahdi's law regarding, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>-<a href="#Page_343">3</a>;</li> + <li>of slaves, <a href="#Page_385">385</a>-<a href="#Page_386">6</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Imports of the Mahdi's kingdom, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>.</li> +<li>Insects, at Delen, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Neufeld and, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>;</li> + <li>white ants as food, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> + <li>lizards, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>;</li> + <li>flies, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Iron in Kordofan, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> +<li>Isa, <a name="tn_png_471"></a><!--TN: "skeikh" changed to "sheikh"-->sheikh, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> +<li>Isa, fiki, of the Shanabla, <a href="#Page_194">194</a>.</li> +<li>Ismail el Kheir, <a href="#Page_400">400</a>.</li> +<li>Ismail Wad el Andok, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_227">227</a>, <a href="#Page_229">229</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +<li>Ismail Pasha, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>-<a href="#Page_235">5</a>.</li> +<li>Italy and Kassala, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>.</li> +<li>Ivory, expedition to Equatoria to collect, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_323">323</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Jaalin</span> tribe, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>, <a href="#Page_399">399</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>.</li> +<li>Jabrallah, Sultan, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +<li>Jebel Dair, the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>-<a href="#Page_112">2</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li> +<li>Jebel Naïma, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>.</li> +<li>Jerusalem, the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>.</li> +<li>Jew merchants at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_312">312</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at Kassala, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Jibbehs, the Mahdi and the manufacture of, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>.</li> +<li>Jinns, the, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>.</li> +<li>John, King of Abyssinia, throne of, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Galabat, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>-<a href="#Page_249">9</a>;</li> + <li>Abdullah and, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>;</li> + <li>and Abu Anga, <a href="#Page_243">243</a>;</li> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>-<a href="#Page_252">2</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Justice, system of, at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>-<a href="#Page_215">5</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>-<a href="#Page_334">34</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Kaba</span>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>-<a href="#Page_37">7</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li> +<li>Kababish tribe (Arabs), <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>destruction of the, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>-<a href="#Page_234">4</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Kadi Ahmed, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>-<a href="#Page_215">5</a>, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>-<a href="#Page_247">7</a>, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +<li>Kakum of Delen, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>-<a href="#Page_28">8</a>, <a href="#Page_31">31</a>-<a href="#Page_32">2</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>-<a href="#Page_187">7</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Kalabsheh, village of, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>.</li> +<li>Kalakala, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>-<a href="#Page_132">2</a>.</li> +<li>Kamal ed Din, and manufacture of powder, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>-<a href="#Page_368">8</a>.</li> +<li>Karamallah (slave-dealer), <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Darfur, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>-<a href="#Page_236">6</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Karkoj, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>.</li> +<li>Kashgeil, Hicks at, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>.</li> +<li>Kashm el Mus, Pasha, <a href="#Page_148">148</a>.</li> +<li>Kassala, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>-<a href="#Page_165">5</a>, <a href="#Page_168">168</a>, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>siege of, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>-<a href="#Page_167">7</a>;</li> + <li>Osman Digna at, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>;</li> + <li>famine at, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Kavalli, Stanley's camp at, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +<li>Kawakla, natives called, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> +<li>Kebkebieh, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> +<li>Kedaro hill, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li>Kenana tribe, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>.</li> +<li>Kererri, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>, <a href="#Page_311">311</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> +<li>Khabir, Pasha, of Darfur, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>.</li> +<li>Khalifas in the Sudan, <i>see</i> "Abdullah," "Ali Wad Helu," "Ali Esh Sherif," Hassan, "Osman," &c.</li> +<li>Khalil, sheikh, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>-<a href="#Page_364">4</a>.</li> +<li>Khartum, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-<a href="#Page_94">4</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>-<a href="#Page_97">7</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>the Mahdi's advance on, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>-<a href="#Page_127">7</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</li> + <li>Gordon arrives at, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>-<a href="#Page_123">3</a>;</li> + <li>siege and fall of, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>-<a href="#Page_154">54</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>;</li> + <li>in ruins, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>;</li> + <li>materials <a name="Page_456" id="Page_456"></a>for Mahdi's tomb from, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>;</li> + <li>the Batahin tribe and, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>;</li> + <li>Neufeld at, <a href="#Page_357">357</a>, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>;</li> + <li>survivors of, <a href="#Page_372">372</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Khatafin (snatchers) in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_286">286</a>-<a href="#Page_288">8</a>.</li> +<li>Khojali, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>.</li> +<li>Khojur, the, in Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>.</li> +<li>Khor Musa, fort at, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>.</li> +<li>Kirkesawi (slave-dealer), <a href="#Page_176">176</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>.</li> +<li>Kitchener Pasha, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>wounded at Handub, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Klein, tailor, of Khartum, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>-<a href="#Page_141">1</a>.</li> +<li>Klootz, Gustav, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>-<a href="#Page_85">5</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>-<a href="#Page_175">5</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_411">411</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Korbatsh, Mount, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_179">179</a>, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>.</li> +<li>Kordofan, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>deserts of, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>-<a href="#Page_3">3</a>;</li> + <li>military stations in, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>-<a href="#Page_12">2</a>;</li> + <li>the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>;</li> + <li>mountains, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>;</li> + <li>exports from, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>-<a href="#Page_36">6</a>;</li> + <li>camels in, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>-<a href="#Page_36">6</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>;</li> + <li>agriculture in, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>-<a href="#Page_379">9</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Korosko, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>-<a href="#Page_443">3</a>.</li> +<li>Korsi, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>.</li> +<li>Kudru hill, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>.</li> +<li>Kumbo, King, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>-<a href="#Page_99">9</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>-<a href="#Page_118">8</a>.</li> +<li>Kuran, the, concerning ministers of Christianity, <a href="#Page_104">104</a>-<a href="#Page_106">6</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>first chapter in, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Kurun hill, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Lado</span> Station, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.</li> +<li>Languages in the Sudan provinces, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li> +<li>Laws made by the Mahdi, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>-<a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>-<a href="#Page_63">3</a>.</li> +<li>Lead, manufacture of, at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>-<a href="#Page_370">70</a>.</li> +<li>Legnani (Italian consul), <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.</li> +<li>Leontides, Consul N., <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_134">134</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.</li> +<li>Lime, near Delen, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>pits in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Limona, Bianca, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> +<li>Locatelli (missionary), <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>-<a href="#Page_57">7</a>.</li> +<li>Locusts, plague of, in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>.</li> +<li>Losi, Father Johann, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>.</li> +<li>Lugard, Captain, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +<li>Lupton Bey, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>-<a href="#Page_177">7</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>-<a href="#Page_413">3</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Madibbo</span>, sheikh, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>son of, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Mahbas, wells of, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</li> +<li>Mahdi, the, <i>see</i> "Mohammed Ahmed."</li> +<li>Mahdiism, belief in, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Egypt, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>;</li> + <li>in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>, <a href="#Page_326">326</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_403">403</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>;</li> + <li>and the slave trade, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>-<a href="#Page_386">6</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Mahdiist kingdom, agriculture and commerce in, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>-<a href="#Page_386">86</a>.</li> +<li>Mahmud Wad Ahmed, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>-<a href="#Page_241">1</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>-<a href="#Page_249">9</a>.</li> +<li>Mail, capture of an English, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>.</li> +<li>Makada tribe, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li> +<li>Makani village, <a href="#Page_428">428</a>.</li> +<li>Makbul dollar, the, in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>-<a href="#Page_214">4</a>.</li> +<li>Makias (chains), <a href="#Page_345">345</a>-<a href="#Page_346">6</a>.</li> +<li>Makin Wad en Nur, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +<li>Manoli, a Greek, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>.</li> +<li><i>Mansureh</i>, steamer, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</li> +<li>Marcopoli Bey, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>.</li> +<li>Mariani, Gabriel, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> +<li>Marissa (a kind of beer), <a href="#Page_4">4</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>the Mahdi and drinking of, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Market at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>.</li> +<li>Marquet, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> +<li>Marriage ceremonies in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>-<a href="#Page_18">8</a>, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>-<a href="#Page_343">3</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>-<a href="#Page_390">90</a>.</li> +<li>Masalit, Sultan of, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>; people, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.</li> +<li>Mecca, pilgrimage to, <a href="#Page_278">278</a>-<a href="#Page_279">9</a>, <a href="#Page_448">448</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_110">110</a>;</li> + <li>a Sherif of, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Medawi, fiki, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>.</li> +<li>Mek Omar, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>-<a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>-<a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>son of, <i>see</i> "Naser."</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Melbeis, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_196">196</a>.</li> +<li>Meshra Dehesh, <a href="#Page_434">434</a>, <a href="#Page_437">437</a>.</li> +<li>Messalamieh gate at Khartum, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>.</li> +<li>Metemmeh, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a>, <a href="#Page_429">429</a>.</li> +<li>Miracles, the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>-<a href="#Page_8">8</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>performed by Sid el Hassan, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Miserieh tribe of Arabs, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>.</li> +<li>Mice, plague of, at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>-<a href="#Page_292">2</a>.</li> +<li>Minneh, fiki, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_37">37</a>, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>-<a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>-<a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> +<li>Mint, the, at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_209">209</a>-<a href="#Page_213">13</a>.</li> +<li>Missionaries, at El Obeid, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>-<a href="#Page_51">51</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li><i>see also</i> "Bonomi," "Losi," "Ohrwalder," "Rossignoli."</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Mission Stations; <i>see</i> "Austrian Mission."</li> +<li>Mohammed Ahmed, sheikh, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>.</li> +<li>Mohammed Ahmed (the Mahdi), rise of, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>-<a href="#Page_9">9</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Kordofan, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>-<a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</li> + <li>antecedents of, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>;</li> + <li>outward appearance of, <a href="#Page_13">13</a>;</li> + <li>Khalifas of, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>-<a href="#Page_15">5</a>;</li> + <li>military organization of, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>-<a href="#Page_16">6</a>;</li> + <li>new laws made by, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>-<a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>-<a href="#Page_63">3</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a>;</li> + <li>summons El Obeid to surrender, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>-<a href="#Page_21">1</a>;</li> + <li>defeat of, before El Obeid, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>-<a href="#Page_41">41</a>;</li> + <li>and the missionaries, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>-<a href="#Page_51">51</a>;</li> + <li>siege of El Obeid, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>-<a href="#Page_59">9</a>;</li> + <li>finances, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>-<a href="#Page_63">3</a>;</li> + <li>art of winning over people, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>-<a href="#Page_67">7</a>;</li> + <li>and Consul Hansal's letter, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>-<a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</li> + <li>victory over Hicks Pasha, <a href="#Page_75">75</a>-<a href="#Page_90">90</a>;</li> + <li><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457"></a>triumphal entry into El Obeid, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>-<a href="#Page_92">2</a>;</li> + <li>and province of Darfur, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-<a href="#Page_94">4</a>;</li> + <li>General Gordon and, <a href="#Page_98">98</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>;</li> + <li>and the sisters, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>-<a href="#Page_106">6</a>;</li> + <li>and Father Ohrwalder, on religion, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>-<a href="#Page_111">11</a>;</li> + <li>and Slatin Bey, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>;</li> + <li>and violation of moral laws, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>;</li> + <li>religious movement of, <a href="#Page_122">122</a>-<a href="#Page_123">3</a>;</li> + <li>and Cuzzi, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>-<a href="#Page_126">6</a>;</li> + <li>siege of Khartum, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>-<a href="#Page_154">54</a>;</li> + <li>his life of ease and luxury, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>-<a href="#Page_64">4</a>, <a href="#Page_155">155</a>-<a href="#Page_159">9</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>;</li> + <li>principal wife of, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>;</li> + <li>dwelling of, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>;</li> + <li>harem, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>;</li> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>-<a href="#Page_162">62</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>;</li> + <li>and Olivier Pain, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>-<a href="#Page_175">5</a>;</li> + <li>and Egypt, <a href="#Page_254">254</a>-<a href="#Page_256">6</a>;</li> + <li>tomb of, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>-<a href="#Page_280">80</a>;</li> + <li>and immorality, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>, <a href="#Page_343">343</a>;</li> + <li>and property, <a href="#Page_398">398</a>;</li> + <li>wives of, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>, <a href="#Page_406">406</a>;</li> + <li>capital of the Mahdi's kingdom, <i>see</i> "Omdurman."</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Mohammed Ali, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_315">315</a>, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>, <a href="#Page_447">447</a>.</li> +<li>Mohammed el Kheir, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>.</li> +<li>Mohammed Pasha Khabir, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>.</li> +<li>Mohammed Suleiman, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>.</li> +<li>Monasir tribe, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>, <a href="#Page_438">438</a>.</li> +<li>Monogamy in Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li> +<li>Moral laws, the Mahdi and violation of, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>.</li> +<li>Moslem law, <a href="#Page_322">322</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>the killing of priests, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>;</li> + <li>and justice, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>-<a href="#Page_62">2</a>;</li> + <li>Sudanese and, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Mosque at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_279">279</a>, <a href="#Page_297">297</a>.</li> +<li>Mukran Fort, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</li> +<li>Munzinger Pasha, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>.</li> +<li>Murat, Saleh Bey and, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>wells of, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>;</li> + <li>Ohrwalder at, <a href="#Page_440">440</a>, <a href="#Page_442">442</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Murders in the Sudan provinces, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>.</li> +<li>Musa, sheikh, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>.</li> +<li>Musallem, Sultan, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>.</li> +<li>Museum of curios at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li>Mussaid, Emir, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>.</li> +<li>Mustafa Hadal, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>.</li> +<li>Mustafa Yawer, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>-<a href="#Page_66">6</a>, <a href="#Page_358">358</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Nahut</span>, in Kordofan, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>-<a href="#Page_241">1</a>.</li> +<li>Naïma Jebel, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.</li> +<li>Naser (son of Mek Omar), <a href="#Page_32">32</a>-<a href="#Page_33">3</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>-<a href="#Page_41">1</a>.</li> +<li>Nasri, sheikh, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>-<a href="#Page_168">8</a>.</li> +<li>Nejumi, <i>see</i> "Abderrahman Wad en Nejumi."</li> +<li><a name="tn_png_473"></a><!--TN: Alphabetical order of "Nesim" corrected in index-->Nesim, Major, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> +<li>Neufeld, Charles, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>-<a href="#Page_360">60</a>, <a href="#Page_363">363</a>.</li> +<li>News, the Sudanese and, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>-<a href="#Page_73">3</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Niam Niam, singers from, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>.</li> +<li>Nile, <i>see</i> "White Nile," "Blue Nile."</li> +<li>Noaïa, sheikh, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>-<a href="#Page_223">3</a>.</li> +<li>Nuba, country and people of, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>-<a href="#Page_5">5</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>-<a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>-<a href="#Page_49">9</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>-<a href="#Page_114">4</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>-<a href="#Page_118">8</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>-<a href="#Page_172">2</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>-<a href="#Page_200">200</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>.</li> +<li>Nubian desert, crossing the, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>-<a href="#Page_442">42</a>.</li> +<li>Nur Angar, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_112">112</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +<li>Nur Bey, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>-<a href="#Page_165">5</a>.</li> +<li>Nur Gereifawi, <a href="#Page_327">327</a>, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>, <a href="#Page_404">404</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>son of, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Nuri, sheikh, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Oath</span> of allegiance, sheikhs taking the, <a href="#Page_70">70</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>evidence on, at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Obeid, <i>see</i> "El Obeid."</li> +<li>O'Donovan, Mr. (<i>Daily News</i> correspondent), <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>.</li> +<li>Ohrwalder, Father, visit to Mek Omar, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>illtreated by a sheikh, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>-<a href="#Page_70">70</a>;</li> + <li>taken before Abdullah, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>;</li> + <li>journey to Rahad, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>-<a href="#Page_103">3</a>;</li> + <li>interview with the Mahdi on religion, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>-<a href="#Page_111">11</a>;</li> + <li>treatment of, by various masters, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>-<a href="#Page_117">7</a>;</li> + <li>in Khartum, <a href="#Page_149">149</a>-<a href="#Page_150">50</a>;</li> + <li>farewell to Father Bonomi, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>-<a href="#Page_184">84</a>;</li> + <li>down with fever, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>;</li> + <li>sent to Omdurman, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>;</li> + <li>and famine in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_288">288</a>;</li> + <li>made a prisoner, <a href="#Page_351">351</a>-<a href="#Page_352">2</a>;</li> + <li>departure from Omdurman, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>;</li> + <li>plans of escape, <a href="#Page_408">408</a>-<a href="#Page_423">23</a>;</li> + <li>and Lupton, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>-<a href="#Page_413">3</a>;</li> + <li>escape of, to Cairo, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>-<a href="#Page_446">46</a>;</li> + <li>present situation in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_447">447</a>-<a href="#Page_450">450</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Omala (tax-gatherers) in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</li> +<li>Omar Kisha (merchant), <a href="#Page_267">267</a>, <a href="#Page_397">397</a>.</li> +<li>Omar Saleh, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>-<a href="#Page_271">71</a>.</li> +<li>Omar Wad Elias, Pasha, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +<li>Omberer, a merchant, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> +<li>Omdurman, the Dervish capital, <a href="#Page_146">146</a>, <a href="#Page_151">151</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>, <a href="#Page_281">281</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>, <a href="#Page_380">380</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>the Mahdi at, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>;</li> + <li>surrender of fort at, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>;</li> + <li>small-pox in, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>-<a href="#Page_155">5</a>;</li> + <li>and the Mahdi's death, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>-<a href="#Page_163">3</a>;</li> + <li>events in, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>-<a href="#Page_203">3</a>;</li> + <li>hill of, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>;</li> + <li>scarcity of small coins in, <a href="#Page_210">210</a>-<a href="#Page_213">3</a>;</li> + <li>museum at, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>;</li> + <li>the beit el mal at, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>-<a href="#Page_209">9</a>;</li> + <li>Abyssinians in, <a href="#Page_220">220</a>-<a href="#Page_221">1</a>;</li> + <li>Abu Anga and, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>, <a href="#Page_230">230</a>-<a href="#Page_231">1</a>;</li> + <li>grand review at, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>-<a href="#Page_226">6</a>;</li> + <li>panic in, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>;</li> + <li>Osman Digna at, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>-<a href="#Page_268">8</a>;</li> + <li>Mahdi's tomb at, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>-<a href="#Page_279">9</a>;</li> + <li>Khalifa's palace, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>;</li> + <li>roads in, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>-<a href="#Page_281">1</a>;</li> + <li>market-place, <a href="#Page_282">282</a>;</li> + <li>gallows at, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>, <a href="#Page_317">317</a>-<a href="#Page_318">8</a>;</li> + <li>inhabitants of, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>;</li> + <li>population, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>-<a href="#Page_284">4</a>;</li> + <li>famine in, <a href="#Page_284">284</a>-<a href="#Page_289">9</a>;</li> + <li>plagues of locusts and mice in, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>-<a href="#Page_292">2</a>;</li> + <li>thieves in, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>-<a href="#Page_329">9</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>-<a href="#Page_335">5</a>, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>;</li> + <li>system of justice at, <a href="#Page_329">329</a>-<a href="#Page_333">33</a>;</li> + <li>cripples in, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>;</li> + <li><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458"></a>immorality in, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>;</li> + <li>marriages in, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>-<a href="#Page_343">3</a>;</li> + <li>Saier, or prison at, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>-<a href="#Page_365">65</a>;</li> + <li>Neufeld in, <a href="#Page_355">355</a>-<a href="#Page_360">60</a>;</li> + <li>scarcity of powder at, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>-<a href="#Page_375">75</a>;</li> + <li><a name="tn_png_474"></a><!--TN: "sandstorms" changed to "sand-storms"-->sand-storms at, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>-<a href="#Page_377">7</a>;</li> + <li>slaves in, <a href="#Page_383">383</a>-<a href="#Page_386">6</a>;</li> + <li>the Greeks in, <a href="#Page_412">412</a>;</li> + <li>dress of women in, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>;</li> + <li>Ohrwalder's last day at, <a href="#Page_424">424</a>;</li> + <li>flight from, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>, <a href="#Page_449">449</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Om Herezeh mountain, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.</li> +<li>Om Sadik, <a href="#Page_224">224</a>.</li> +<li>Omshanga, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>.</li> +<li>Onbeïa (wind instrument), <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.</li> +<li>Ongat wells, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>.</li> +<li>Ornaments, the Mahdi and Sudanese, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>.</li> +<li>Ornithology: Birds in Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>-<a href="#Page_4">4</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>kites at El Obeid, <a href="#Page_53">53</a>;</li> + <li>vultures, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Oshra Well, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>.</li> +<li>Osman, Khalifa, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>-<a href="#Page_354">4</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>.</li> +<li>Osman Azrak, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.</li> +<li>Osman Digna, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>-<a href="#Page_167">7</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>defeat of, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>-<a href="#Page_268">8</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Osman Wad Adam, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Abu Gemaizeh, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>-<a href="#Page_241">41</a>;</li> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Osman Wad Dekeim, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>.</li> +<li>Ostrich farms in Kordofan, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Pain, Olivier</span>, at El Obeid, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>-<a href="#Page_175">75</a>.</li> +<li>Palace, the Khalifa's, at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>.</li> +<li>Passioni, Jew named, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>.</li> +<li>Pesavento, Sister E., <a href="#Page_48">48</a>.</li> +<li>Pilgrims at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>.</li> +<li>Pimezzoni, Franz, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.</li> +<li>Plagues in the Sudan: of locusts, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>of mice, <a href="#Page_291">291</a>-<a href="#Page_292">2</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Plough, a, in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>.</li> +<li>Poetry, the Arabs and, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>.</li> +<li>Polinari, Domenico, <a href="#Page_138">138</a>-<a href="#Page_140">40</a>, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>-<a href="#Page_350">50</a>.</li> +<li>Postal service in the Mahdi's kingdom, <a href="#Page_300">300</a>-<a href="#Page_301">1</a>.</li> +<li>Powder, scarcity of, at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_359">359</a>, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>-<a href="#Page_375">75</a>.</li> +<li>Power, Consul, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>-<a href="#Page_130">30</a>.</li> +<li>Prayers, the Mahdi and, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>book of, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>;</li> + <li>form of, <a href="#Page_296">296</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Printing press at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li>Prison at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_344">344</a>-<a href="#Page_365">65</a>.</li> +<li>Proclamation by the Mahdi, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Quicksilver</span> found at Delen, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> +</ul> + <ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Rabeh Zubeir</span>, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li> +<li>Rahad, General Hicks at, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>-<a href="#Page_85">85</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>the road to, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>-<a href="#Page_103">3</a>;</li> + <li>the Mahdi at, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>-<a href="#Page_121">21</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>-<a href="#Page_126">6</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Rahma, fiki, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>.</li> +<li>Rain in Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Ramadan, fast of, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>, <a href="#Page_158">158</a>.</li> +<li>Ras Adal, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>; and Galabat, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>-<a href="#Page_220">20</a>.</li> +<li>Ras Alula, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>.</li> +<li>Rashid Bey, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>.</li> +<li>Ratibs (Mahdi's book of prayers), <a href="#Page_213">213</a>.</li> +<li>Rauf Pasha, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>-<a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>-<a href="#Page_7">7</a>.</li> +<li>Regaf Station, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>-<a href="#Page_272">2</a>, <a href="#Page_340">340</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>.</li> +<li>Religion, interview with the Mahdi on, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>-<a href="#Page_111">11</a>.</li> +<li>Reptiles, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>snakes, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>-<a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_433">433</a>;</li> + <li>scorpions, <a href="#Page_114">114</a>, <a href="#Page_347">347</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Review of Dervishes at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>-<a href="#Page_226">6</a>, <a href="#Page_307">307</a>-<a href="#Page_308">8</a>.</li> +<li>Rizighat tribe of Arabs, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>-<a href="#Page_397">7</a>.</li> +<li>Roads in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_280">280</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Rognotto, Joseph, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>.</li> +<li>Rossignoli, Father, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>.</li> +<li>Roversi (inspector of slaves), <a href="#Page_22">22</a>-<a href="#Page_23">3</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>-<a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Rundle Bey, <a href="#Page_439">439</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Saburi</span> Mountain, <a href="#Page_5">5</a>.</li> +<li>Saddlers at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.</li> +<li><i>Safia</i> steamer, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>.</li> +<li>Said Bey Guma, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_202">202</a>-<a href="#Page_203">3</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>.</li> +<li>Said Mohammed, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>.</li> +<li>Said Pasha, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>-<a href="#Page_11">1</a>, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>-<a href="#Page_21">1</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>defence of El Obeid, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>-<a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>-<a href="#Page_59">9</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Said el Mek, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>.</li> +<li>Saier at Omdurman, see "Prison."</li> +<li>Saleh, sheikh, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li> +<li>Saleh Pasha Wad el Mek, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +<li>Saleh Bey, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>-<a href="#Page_218">8</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_352">352</a>-<a href="#Page_353">3</a>, <a href="#Page_364">364</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> +<li>Saleh Bey Fadlallah, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>-<a href="#Page_234">4</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.</li> +<li>Salem, sheikh, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>.</li> +<li>Salisbury, Lord, letter to King John, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>-<a href="#Page_251">1</a>.</li> +<li>Sandalia, perfume called, <a href="#Page_157">157</a>.</li> +<li>Sandstorm, a fearful, <a href="#Page_203">203</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>-<a href="#Page_377">7</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Santoni, A., <a href="#Page_443">443</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Father Bonomi, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>-<a href="#Page_179">9</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Sarras, Dervishes at, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>-<a href="#Page_258">8</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> +<li>Sawakin, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>, <a href="#Page_121">121</a>, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>-<a href="#Page_167">7</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Osman Digna besieges, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>-<a href="#Page_267">7</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Sayer, Brother, <a href="#Page_443">443</a>.</li> +<li>Sayid el Mek, <a href="#Page_407">407</a>.</li> +<li>Sayid Hamed, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>-<a href="#Page_168">8</a>.</li> +<li>Sayid Osman, <i>see</i> "Osman, Khalifa."</li> +<li><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459"></a>"Sayidna Isa," <a href="#Page_244">244</a>-<a href="#Page_5">5</a>. +<li>Schuver, Jean M., <a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> +<li>Seckendorf, Baron, death of, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>servant of, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Selima wells, <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</li> +<li>Selim Bey in Equatoria, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +<li>Sennar, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>, <a href="#Page_160">160</a>, <a href="#Page_162">162</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>-<a href="#Page_165">5</a>, <a href="#Page_226">226</a>, <a href="#Page_256">256</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> +<li>Senussi, sheikh, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_173">173</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.</li> +<li>Shaggieh troops, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>.</li> +<li>Shaggieh tribe, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>.</li> +<li>Shakka, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_384">384</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>.</li> +<li>Sharé River, <a href="#Page_241">241</a>.</li> +<li>Shatt Station, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>.</li> +<li>Shebba, a (forked wood), <a href="#Page_97">97</a>.</li> +<li>Sheep of the Kababish tribe, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>, <a href="#Page_234">234</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in the Sudan provinces, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Shekan forest, battle near, <a href="#Page_87">87</a>, <a href="#Page_92">92</a>, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>.</li> +<li>Shendi, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> +<li>Sherif, Khalifa, <i>see</i> "Ali Esh Sherif."</li> +<li>Sherif Mahmud, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_169">169</a>-<a href="#Page_172">72</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_176">176</a>-<a href="#Page_178">8</a>, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>-<a href="#Page_189">9</a>, <a href="#Page_197">197</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>death of, <a href="#Page_198">198</a>-<a href="#Page_199">9</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Shilluk tribe, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>.</li> +<li>Shirkeleh, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>.</li> +<li>Shirra, Baggara chief, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.</li> +<li>Shukrieh tribe, <a href="#Page_166">166</a>, <a href="#Page_216">216</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +<li>Sideham, a Copt, <a href="#Page_178">178</a>.</li> +<li>Sid el Hassan, the celebrated Moslem, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>-<a href="#Page_166">6</a>.</li> +<li>Sidi Hamdan, <i>see</i> "Abu Anga."</li> +<li>Sieges, <i>see</i> "Bara," "El Fasher," "El Obeid," "Galabat," "Kassala," "Khartum," "Sennar," "Sawakin," "Tokar," &c.</li> +<li>Singiokai, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_49">49</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</li> +<li>Sisters of the Austrian Mission, before Abdullah, <a href="#Page_100">100</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>at Rahad, <a href="#Page_103">103</a>-<a href="#Page_106">6</a>;</li> + <li>escape of, from Omdurman, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>-<a href="#Page_415">5</a>, <a href="#Page_418">418</a>-<a href="#Page_445">45</a>;</li> + <li><i>see also</i> "Andreis," "Corsi," "Chincarini," "Pesavento," "Venturini."</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Siwar ed Dahab, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_264">264</a>.</li> +<li>Skander Bey, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>.</li> +<li>Skander, fate of Mulatte, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>.</li> +<li>Slatin Bey, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>-<a href="#Page_75">5</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_153">153</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>-<a href="#Page_175">5</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_348">348</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Darfur, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>;</li> + <li>and waterskins, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Slave trade, in Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in the Bahr el Ghazal, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>-<a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>;</li> + <li>in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_382">382</a>-<a href="#Page_386">6</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Slaves, the Mahdi's law regarding, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>of Khartum, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>;</li> + <li>at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_208">208</a>-<a href="#Page_209">9</a>, <a href="#Page_333">333</a>, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Small-pox, in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>-<a href="#Page_155">5</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>in El Obeid, <a href="#Page_183">183</a>-<a href="#Page_184">4</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Soap-boiling at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>-<a href="#Page_214">4</a>, <a href="#Page_303">303</a>, <a href="#Page_413">413</a>.</li> +<li>Sobei, the Khojur of, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.</li> +<li>Sogaro, Archbishop Franz, <a href="#Page_415">415</a>-<a href="#Page_417">7</a>, <a href="#Page_420">420</a>, <a href="#Page_444">444</a>-<a href="#Page_445">5</a>.</li> +<li>Soil, of Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>of Bara, <a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</li> + <li>in the Gezireh, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Stambuli, George, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>-<a href="#Page_48">8</a>, <a href="#Page_54">54</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>-<a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>-<a href="#Page_97">7</a>, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>.</li> +<li>Stanley, H. M., and Emin Pasha, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +<li>Starvation in the Mahdi's camp, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>.</li> +<li>Stewart, Col., murder of, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>-<a href="#Page_130">30</a>, <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>, <a href="#Page_438">438</a>.</li> +<li>Sudan, Egypt and the, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_123">123</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>the Mahdi master of the, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>;</li> + <li>English troops in the, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>;</li> + <li>custom to drink melted butter, <a href="#Page_175">175</a>;</li> + <li>revolt of black soldiers of army of, <a href="#Page_189">189</a>-<a href="#Page_200">200</a>;</li> + <li>witchcraft in, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>-<a href="#Page_275">5</a>;</li> + <li>famine in the, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>-<a href="#Page_292">2</a>;</li> + <li>horsemanship in the, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>;</li> + <li>immorality in the, <a href="#Page_341">341</a>-<a href="#Page_343">3</a>;</li> + <li>cattle breeding in the, <a href="#Page_376">376</a>-<a href="#Page_379">9</a>;</li> + <li>disease in the, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>;</li> + <li>present situation in the, <a href="#Page_387">387</a>-<a href="#Page_407">407</a>, <a href="#Page_447">447</a>-<a href="#Page_450">50</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Sudanese, the, marriage ceremony of, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>-<a href="#Page_18">8</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and <a name="tn_png_475"></a><!--TN: "smallpox" changed to "small-pox"-->small-pox, <a href="#Page_154">154</a>-<a href="#Page_155">5</a>;</li> + <li>and alchemy, <a href="#Page_369">369</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Suez, <a href="#Page_1">1</a>.</li> +<li>Suk Abu Sin, <i>see</i> "Gedaref."</li> +<li>Suleiman Bey, Gessi and, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>-<a href="#Page_10">10</a>.</li> +<li>Suleiman, Capt. M., <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>.</li> +<li>Suleiman el Hejazi, <a href="#Page_240">240</a>.</li> +<li>Suleiman Wad Naaman, sheikh, <a href="#Page_129">129</a>-<a href="#Page_130">30</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> +<li>Superstition, in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>-<a href="#Page_275">5</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>the Nubas and, <a href="#Page_186">186</a>;</li> + <li><i>see also</i> "Witchcraft."</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Surur Effendi, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>.</li> +<li>Swindlers in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>, <a href="#Page_337">337</a>-<a href="#Page_339">9</a>.</li> +<li>Syria, Sherif of, <a href="#Page_111">111</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Tagalla, Jebel</span>, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_222">222</a>-<a href="#Page_223">3</a>, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li><i>see also</i> "Adam, King."</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Taha, Sayid Mohammed, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>.</li> +<li>Taher, sheikh, <a href="#Page_316">316</a>-<a href="#Page_317">7</a>.</li> +<li>Taisha Arabs, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>, <a href="#Page_301">301</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Abdullah and, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>-<a href="#Page_311">11</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_395">395</a>-<a href="#Page_396">6</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Takruri tribe, <a href="#Page_171">171</a>-<a href="#Page_172">2</a>, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>, <a href="#Page_248">248</a>, <a href="#Page_283">283</a>.</li> +<li>Tamai, battle of, <a href="#Page_266">266</a>.</li> +<li>Tamarinds in Kordofan, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>.</li> +<li>Taxation in the Mahdi's kingdom, <a href="#Page_379">379</a>-<a href="#Page_380">80</a>.</li> +<li>Tax-gatherers of the Sudan provinces, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</li> +<li>Tax levied at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_205">205</a>.</li> +<li><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460"></a>Tayara Station, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</li> +<li>Testament, King John's copy of New, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>.</li> +<li>Thieves in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_328">328</a>-<a href="#Page_329">9</a>, <a href="#Page_334">334</a>-<a href="#Page_337">7</a>, <a href="#Page_339">339</a>-<a href="#Page_340">40</a>.</li> +<li>"Three Holy Kings," festival of the, <a href="#Page_218">218</a>. +<li>Tira hill, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li>Tobacco, the Sudanese and, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>chewing, <a href="#Page_276">276</a>;</li> + <li>punishment of smokers of, <a href="#Page_330">330</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Tobji, Osman, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>-<a href="#Page_66">6</a>.</li> +<li>Todros Kasa, son of King Theodore, <a href="#Page_242">242</a>-<a href="#Page_245">5</a>.</li> +<li>Tokar, <a href="#Page_267">267</a>-<a href="#Page_268">8</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>capture of, <a href="#Page_367">367</a>, <a href="#Page_386">386</a>, <a href="#Page_414">414</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Tolodi, Jebel, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>.</li> +<li>Tomb of the Mahdi at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_275">275</a>-<a href="#Page_280">80</a>.</li> +<li>Tome, sheikh, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_64">64</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>brother of, <a href="#Page_232">232</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Toski, battle at, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_320">320</a>, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>.</li> +<li>Trades in Omdurman, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>-<a href="#Page_382">2</a>.</li> +<li>Treasure in Khartum, <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</li> +<li>Trees in Dar Nuba, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>.</li> +<li>Tur el Hadra, <a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> +<li>Tuti Island, <a href="#Page_147">147</a>, <a href="#Page_375">375</a>.</li> +<li>"Turk," Arabs and the term, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>. +<li>Turkey, Sultan of, letter to, from Khalifa, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Uganda</span>, events in, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +<li>Unyoro, events in, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Venturini</span>, Sister E., <a href="#Page_413">413</a>-<a href="#Page_445">45</a>.</li> +<li>Victoria, Queen, and King John of Abyssinia, <a href="#Page_250">250</a>-<a href="#Page_251">1</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>letter to, from Abdullah, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Wad</span> Ali, <a href="#Page_246">246</a>, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>.</li> +<li>Wad Arbab, Emir, <a href="#Page_217">217</a>-<a href="#Page_218">8</a>.</li> +<li>Wad Bishara, village of, <a href="#Page_426">426</a>.</li> +<li>Wad el Bedri, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_319">319</a>, <a href="#Page_395">395</a>.</li> +<li>Wad el Besir, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>, <a href="#Page_124">124</a>, <a href="#Page_258">258</a>, <a href="#Page_306">306</a>.</li> +<li>Wadelai, <a href="#Page_271">271</a>.</li> +<li>Wad el Areik (merchant), <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_131">131</a>, <a href="#Page_405">405</a>.</li> +<li>Wad el Banna, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>.</li> +<li>Wad el Hashmi, Emir, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_193">193</a>-<a href="#Page_194">4</a>, <a href="#Page_199">199</a>.</li> +<li>Wad el Makashef, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_72">72</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>.</li> +<li>Wad er Reis, <a href="#Page_445">445</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li><i>see</i> "Hussein Wad Dayim."</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wad Gubara (Emir), <a href="#Page_38">38</a>-<a href="#Page_39">9</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_125">125</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.</li> +<li>Wad Gesuli, <a href="#Page_96">96</a>.</li> +<li>Wad Guzuli, <a href="#Page_345">345</a>.</li> +<li>Wad Hamdu Allah, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>.</li> +<li>Wadi Gamr cataracts, <a href="#Page_128">128</a>.</li> +<li>Wadi Halfa, <a href="#Page_257">257</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>.</li> +<li>Wad Nubawi (Emir), <a href="#Page_233">233</a>.</li> +<li>Wad Zaid, <a href="#Page_350">350</a>.</li> +<li>War materials at Omdurman, <a href="#Page_349">349</a>, <a href="#Page_381">381</a>.</li> +<li>Waterskins, the Masalit people and, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>.</li> +<li>Water-wheels along the Nile, <a href="#Page_378">378</a>.</li> +<li>White Nile, <a href="#Page_3">3</a>, <a href="#Page_6">6</a>, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, <a href="#Page_133">133</a>-<a href="#Page_135">5</a>, <a href="#Page_150">150</a>, <a href="#Page_204">204</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>expedition up the, <a href="#Page_269">269</a>-<a href="#Page_272">272</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Witchcraft, the Mahdi's success attributed to, <a href="#Page_94">94</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>the bark of Adansonia tree, <a href="#Page_170">170</a>;</li> + <li>in the Sudan, <a href="#Page_274">274</a>-<a href="#Page_275">5</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wodehouse, Colonel, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_259">259</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>battle at Argin, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Wolseley (Lord), 'Soldier's Pocket-Book,' <a href="#Page_101">101</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Yakub</span> (Khalifa Abdullah's brother), <a href="#Page_243">243</a>, <a href="#Page_277">277</a>, <a href="#Page_304">304</a>, <a href="#Page_313">313</a>-<a href="#Page_314">4</a>, <a href="#Page_324">324</a>-<a href="#Page_326">6</a>, <a href="#Page_361">361</a>, <a href="#Page_366">366</a>, <a href="#Page_368">368</a>, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>-<a href="#Page_373">3</a>, <a href="#Page_389">389</a>-<a href="#Page_390">90</a>, <a href="#Page_394">394</a>, <a href="#Page_402">402</a>-<a href="#Page_407">7</a>.</li> +<li>Yesin, Major, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>.</li> +<li>Yunis Ed Dekeim, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.</li> +<li>Yusef Angeli (Greek), <a href="#Page_373">373</a>-<a href="#Page_374">4</a>.</li> +<li>Yusef Pertekachi, and manufacture of <a name="tn_png_476"></a><!--TN: "power" changed to "powder"-->powder, <a href="#Page_371">371</a>-<a href="#Page_374">4</a>.</li> +<li>Yunis, Emir, <a href="#Page_206">206</a>, <a href="#Page_219">219</a>-<a href="#Page_220">20</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Abu Anga, <a href="#Page_244">244</a>-<a href="#Page_245">5</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Yusef, Sultan of Darfur, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_236">236</a>, <a href="#Page_308">308</a>.</li> +<li>Yusef Kurdi (merchant), <a href="#Page_333">333</a>-<a href="#Page_334">4</a>.</li> +<li>Yusef Pasha, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>-<a href="#Page_11">1</a>, <a href="#Page_42">42</a>, <a href="#Page_90">90</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<ul class="IX"> +<li><span class="firstwords">Zeki Tummal</span> and Abyssinia, <a href="#Page_225">225</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_249">249</a>, <a href="#Page_251">251</a>-<a href="#Page_252">2</a>, <a href="#Page_272">272</a>, <a href="#Page_285">285</a>, <a href="#Page_290">290</a>.</li> +<li>Zeregga, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>.</li> +<li>Zogal (the Mahdi's uncle), <a href="#Page_75">75</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>-<a href="#Page_94">4</a>, <a href="#Page_164">164</a>, <a href="#Page_184">184</a>, <a href="#Page_223">223</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_265">265</a>-<a href="#Page_267">7</a>, <a href="#Page_360">360</a>, <a href="#Page_388">388</a>, <a href="#Page_396">396</a>, <a href="#Page_401">401</a>, <a href="#Page_417">417</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>and Darfur, <a href="#Page_201">201</a>-<a href="#Page_203">3</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Zogheir (a celebrated thief), <a href="#Page_335">335</a>-<a href="#Page_337">7</a>, <a href="#Page_353">353</a>.</li> +<li>Zubeir, feast known as, <a href="#Page_4">4</a>.</li> +<li>Zubeir Pasha, <a href="#Page_172">172</a>, <a href="#Page_391">391</a>; + <ul class="IX"> + <li>Abu Anga and, <a href="#Page_221">221</a>;</li> + <li>and Kingdom of Shakka, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>.</li> + </ul></li> +<li>Zurbuchen, Dr., <a name="tn_png_476a"></a><!--TN: Space inserted before "2"--><a href="#Page_2">2</a>.</li> +</ul> + +<hr style="width: 35%;margin-bottom:.2em;"> +<p class="center" style="font-size:.7em;padding-top:.2em;">LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,<br> +STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.</p> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="plan"></a><div class="figcenter" style="width:500px;padding-bottom:2em;"><a href="images/plan.png"> +<img src="images/plan_small.png" border="1" alt="" title="" width="400" height="325"></a> +<p class="caption2">A PLAN OF OMDURMAN<br>Drawn in the Intelligence Department, +Egyptian Army from descriptions given by natives and revised by Father Ohrwalder</p> +<p class="caption2">Scale 1/14400 or 1 to 400 yards</p> +<p class="center"><a href="images/plan.png">Larger Version of Plan</a></div> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="map"></a><p class="caption2"><span style="font-size:.9em;font-weight:bold;">THE NILE BASIN</span><br>shewing the course of Hicks Pasha's Expedition +and the Flight of Father Ohrwalder</p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width:500px;padding-bottom:2em;"><a href="images/map.png"> +<img src="images/map_small.png" border="1" alt="" title="" width="164" height="400"></a> +<p class="caption2">London: Sampson Low & Co. </p> +<p class="center"><a href="images/map.png">Larger Version of Map</a></div> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="map2"></a><p class="caption2"><span style="font-size:.9em;font-weight:bold;">Sketch Map +showing correct Position of I.B.E.A. Co's Forts & Boundary of Uganda</span></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;padding-bottom:2em;"><a href="images/map2.png"> +<img src="images/map2_small.png" border="1" alt="" title="" width="400" height="345"></a> +<table width="450" border="0" align="center" summary="Attribution of Map"> +<tr> +<td width="50%" align="left"><p class="caption2" style="text-align:left;">London: Sampson Low & Co. Limited</p></td> +<td width="50%" align="right"><p class="caption2" style="text-align:right;">G. Philip & Son, London & Liverpool</p></td> +</tr> +</table> +<p class="captionserif">NOTE--At the last moment when this book was passed for press, +the return to England of Captain Lugard enables me, through his courtesy, to give the +names and positions of the forts in Uganda and Unyoro now occupied by the troops +in the service of the Imperial British East Africa Company.--F. R. W. </p> +<p class="center"><a href="images/map2.png">Larger Version of Map</a></div> + +<hr class="newpg" style="width: 65%;"> +<div class="footnotes"><h2>Transcriber's Note</h2> +<p style="margin-right:5%;margin-left:5%;text-indent:0em;">Illustrations have been moved +near the relevant section of the text.</p> +<p style="margin-right:5%;margin-left:5%;text-indent:0em;">The question mark after "thousand men" on Page 115 has been retained. +Inconsistent use of quotes following "known as" have been left as-is. +Inconsistent capitalization has been retained for "sub-Mudir" and "Sub-Mudir". +The lack of an apostrophe after "days" in the expression "days later" has been left +unchanged. Inconsistent hyphenation and use of separate words +have been retained for +"anyone" / "any one", "bodyguard" / "body-guard", "camelmen" / "camel-men", "contradistinction" / "contra-distinction", +"headquarters" / "head-quarters", "hundredweight" / "hundred-weight", +"nicknamed" / "nick-named", "reaction" / "re-action", "recaptured" / "re-capture", +"reoccupy" / "re-occupy", and "waterskins" / "water-skins".</p> +<p style="margin-right:5%;margin-left:5%;text-indent:0em;">I have added a link to the Index in +the Contents section at the start of the book as well as a link to the second map in the +List of Illustrations, Map and Plan section.</p> +<p style="margin-right:5%;margin-left:5%;text-indent:0em;">Page numbers are documented in the source code.</p> +<p style="margin-right:5%;margin-left:5%;text-indent:0em;">Here is a list of the minor typographical corrections made:</p> +<div style="margin-right:15%;margin-left:15%;"> +<ul> +<li><a href="#tn_png_11">Period added after "GOVERNMENT"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_32">Hyphen removed following "Emir"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_34">"forbad" changed to "forbade"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_38">"befel" changed to "befell"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_38a">"Goverment" changed to "Government"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_40">Comma added after "age"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_45">"succeded" change to "succeeded"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_52">Comma changed to period after "merchants"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_58">"Madhi" changed to "Mahdi"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_70">"garrrison" changed to "garrison"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_82">Quote added after "Mahdi"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_111">"Madhi" changed to "Mahdi"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_114">Comma removed following "viz."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_147">Extra dash removed after "Khartum"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_154">"mattrass" changed to "mattress"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_187">Period added after "it"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_192">"the the" replaced by "the"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_205">"I.e" italicized</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_257">Period added after "off"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_279">Period added after "defeated"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_367">"out-of-the way" changed to "out-of-the-way"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_467">Comma added after "army"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_467a">"lifeguards" changed to "life-guards"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_468">Italics added to "also" and removed from "Marissa"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_468a">Italics added to "also"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_453">Semicolon replaced by comma after "35"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_470">Corrected alphabetical order of "Emin Pasha" in index</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_470a">"and" removed before "Sheikh"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_454">Period inserted after "401"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_454a">Semicolon changed to comma after "4"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_471">"skeikh" changed to "sheikh"</a></li> + +<li><a href="#tn_png_473">Alphabetical order of "Nesim" corrected in index</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_474">"sandstorms" changed to "sand-storms"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_475">"smallpox" changed to "small-pox"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_476">"power" changed to "powder"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_png_476a">Space inserted before "2"</a></li> + +</ul> +</div> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Ten Years' Captivity in the Mahdi's +Camp 1882-1892, by F. 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