October 12.—Post left for Metemma by Towfikia to-day. I am almost decided to evacuate Halfeyeh, and put Shaggyeh, now there, at Goba.[119] I dug up a shell yesterday which was at the foot of a lay figure at north side, and see that the reason of their (the shells) not proving fatal is that they are buried too deep, and their force is expended laterally—a man must be over them to be hurt. Of course this would be remedied in regular warfare. Were I to put them out again, I would lay the shells on the surface of the ground, hiding the fuses or ignitors, and run the risk of their being seen. Men going to assault a place do not pick their steps, as if they were crossing a street. I have ordered the concentration of guns on part of lines opposite to which Arabs bombard us. I have ordered silence for the two or three first rounds of the Arabs, and then to give them some salvoes.
What with these people’s prayers, eating and sleeping, one’s patience is indeed tried. I know no people in the world who can take advantage of cover better than them—the cover being “I am ill;” that is a settler; for although you know it is the illness of laziness, you can say nothing; if you doubt it, you are universally voted a brute.
When you say to any escaped soldier, “Why do you come here?” he replies, “Why, the Arabs give us nothing. Why, with you I can get this or that.” It is merely a question of what they can get. The belly governs the whole world.
Have ordered the Bordeen steamer to creep up when the moon rises, and attack the Arab ferry at Kalakla.
Went over to Goba, and chose positions for the Shaggeyeh tribe. If we evacuate Halfeyeh, we shall have to give up three outer forts, and one central one (Seyd Mahomet Osman’s house).
It is quite a danger to pass through the yard of the Palace on account of the turkey-cock (though he has a harem of five); he killed two of his children the other day. I do not know if you have noticed it, but when not angry, or in full dress, the lobes of flesh about their necks are grey; but it does not need half a minute for them to make them of the most brilliant scarlet. I cannot understand how they make part of their heads blue, while the appendages are scarlet. I think the turkey-cock is a bird worth studying; the tuft in front is peculiar to him alone. I know no other bird which has it. I would give him the palm over all birds for pluck.
I have decided to bring those wretched Shaggyeh over to Goba, and have sent boats for them.[120]
I declare solemnly, that if it were not for the honour’s sake of our nation, I would let these people slide; they are of the very feeblest nature, and the Arabs are ten times better; but because they are weak, there is so much more the reason to try and help them; for I think it was because we were such worthless creatures, that Our Lord came to deliver us. These Shaggyeh know no shame. It is an unknown quantity with them. What a life one has to live. I wish I commanded the Arabs (speaking professionally). I think it is a great shame not giving me Zubair Pasha, for he would know how to deal with these people. They are the weariness of my life. From February until now they have been one continued worry to me, and I expect they worried the Arabs as much.
I have decided to put the Shaggyeh into the North Fort, and not to occupy Goba. A slave came in from Kerowé; had no news. The Arabs did not fire upon the lines to-day, so concentration of artillery fire on them did not come off. A woman came into the Lines from Waled a Goun with a letter.[121] Towfikia was to have left this morning; but late last night, happening to go to the telegraph office, and asking whether she was all ready, the captain replied he had no wood! so there was an end of her start to-day.
I particularly wish to ascertain how many communications were sent me from Cairo or elsewhere in Egypt between the 12th of March, when the telegraph wire was cut, and the present date.[122] I hope Stewart will get this information for me, and not be hoodwinked about it. I should also much like the substance of those communications.
The letter was from Abou Gugliz sending in a woman who had before been a spy. He begs me to become a Mussulman, &c. The woman who brought it, says the Mahdi comes to-night to Omdurman, and that he says, as soon as he comes, I shall ask to surrender! The Mahdi says he will write me three letters; he will then wait for five days, and that he will then advance across the river, which will divide for him. Looking at the date which will be arrived at, after these letters are written and the five days’ grace have expired, and making allowances for what is meant by the dividing of the waters, it would bring the Mahdi’s attack about the 21st October, the New Year’s day of 1302 a.h.[123]
We hear the Arabs are perplexed, because the other day, when they bombarded us, we did not answer. This was my doing to save ammunition. The Arabs asked the regulars with them, “why we did not answer?” and said they were sure the regulars were in communication with us. We are now weighing the pros and cons for not answering the artillery fire of the Arabs, which do us no harm and uses up their ammunition. By not doing so we do not lose the sympathies of the regulars, whereas if we do so we exasperate and render desperate those regulars. We had an instance of that at Bourré, where at first the regulars were well disposed towards us, and came over in numbers; whereas after we had killed a lot of them they ceased to come in, and used to fight us with viciousness.
The woman says, beyond the captured regulars, Arabs have no fighting force. These captured regulars are mostly all blacks.
Another plot? In town a man was discovered taking out a note couched in mysterious language, from one of the clerks in a Government office. With the note was £34, supposed to be a present to the Mahdi from Sheikh el Islam (the blind man) here. The efforts to square the circle are extraordinary. The people here, I expect, have all hedged. I am going to make a sort of general arrest to-night (similar to that made by Napoleon III. on the night of the 1st December) of all who are supposed to be in communication with the Mahdi. I shall not hurt them, but shall send them out to the Mahdi. Query, was it on the night of the 1st and 2nd December Napoleon took his foes prisoners, or on the night of the 2nd-3rd December? I think it was the night of the 1st-2nd December, and the so-called massacre happened during the day of the 2nd December. (Vide Kinglake in ‘Coup d’étât.’)
I shall not send out the Sheikh el Islam[124] although he is a disgrace. I asked Mahomet Edrees, my servant, “to become a Christian.” He said “he could not.” Then I said, “Why ask me to become a Mussulman, when your Sheikh el Islam is prepared to acknowledge Mahomet Achmet as the Mahdi?” 5 p.m.—The arrests are out. Sheikh el Islam, Cadi, and a host of swells are to be kept in their homes—sixteen in all! A good swoop; among them the Mudir Achmet Bey Jelaba. I have made Moussa Bey Mudir. There will be quite a scare about it. I have not sent any away to the Mahdi. The band boys are all armed, and are quite ferocious. It would be a great mistake to come up here and think to find soldiers in extremis; they are as cocky as possible. They strut along as if no one was their equal. The blacks are a stubborn race; and if one sticks to them, they will stick to you. Towfikia has left for Metemma at last.
A mouse has taken Stewart’s place at table; she (judging from her swelled-out appearance) comes up and eats out of my plate without fear.
The turkey-cock has become so disagreeable that I had to put his head under his wing and sway him to and fro till he slept. The cavasses thought he was dead, but he got up and immediately went at me. The putting the head under the wing acts with all birds, but it is the cock alone who gets mesmerised by the chalk lines drawn in front of his beak. How do you account for this?
I believe that a good recruitment of blacks and Chinese would give England all the troops she wants for expeditions, mixed with one-sixth English. As for those wretched Sepoys, they are useless. I would garrison India with Chinese and blacks, with one-sixth English, and no army could stand against us. The Chinese in Shanghai had the greatest contempt for the Bombay Sepoys, and used to knock them about. Beloochees and Sikhs are a different class. I have the greatest contempt for the pure Indian Sepoys. Chinese, or blacks, or Goorkas, or Belochees are far better. The moment he (the pure Sepoy) is off parade, he puts off all uniform that connects him with Her Majesty’s Government, and puts on his dish-clout. I hate these snake-like creatures. Any man accustomed to judge by faces sees that they hate us.
I would back the Mussulmans of India against the lot of those snakes. India, to me, is not an advantage; it accustoms our men to a style of life which they cannot keep up in England; it deteriorates our women. If we kept the sea-coast, it is all that we want. It is the centre of all petty intrigue, while if our energy were devoted elsewhere, it would produce tenfold. India sways all our policy to our detriment. Lord Cardwell replied (when I asked him the question as to the benefit we got from India), “that we could not get out of it,” and I suppose that is the answer that must be given.
October 13.—Cavalry sortie this morning from Bourré; captured fifteen slaves and killed thirteen men who resisted. This sortie was under Abdoul Hamid, the Sandjak of the Shaggyeh. We lost none.
The Arabs on Omdurman side have spread out their huts in a semicircle (but at a considerable distance) around Omdurman, on the left bank.
Shaggyeh from Halfeyeh will be in the North Fort to-day. The Arabs off South Front, near the White Nile, fired musketry against the lines, but did no harm.
Last night cavalry Shaggyeh captured three men who were going off to Sheikh el Obeyed from Halfeyeh; they had their arms with them. I have let them go again.
No definite news yet of the arrival of the Mahdi at Omdurman. The Mahdi will be furious with this cavalry sortie; it will be disagreeable news to him on his arrival here.
A man from the Arabs has come in to Omdurman with two letters;[125] it is too late to see them to-night. By telegraph I hear that the man brought two letters for the Commandant at Omdurman from Faki Mustapha, saying the Mahdi was coming the day after to-morrow, and inviting him to submit; so I have told them to send the man off again.
We are a wonderful people; it was never our Government which made us a great nation; our Government has been ever the drag on our wheels. It is, of course, on the cards that Kartoum is taken under the nose of the expeditionary force, which will be just too late.[126]
1. Daily News.——2. Times.——3. Standard.——4. Pall Mall Gazette.
The expeditionary force will perhaps think it necessary to retake it; but that will be of no use, and will cause loss of life uselessly on both sides. It had far better quietly return, with its tail between its legs; for once Kartoum is taken, it matters little if the Opposition say “You gave up Kartoum,” or “You gave up Kartoum, Sennaar,” &c., &c., the sun will have set, people will not care much for the satellites. England was made by adventurers, not by its Government, and I believe it will only hold its place by adventurers. If Kartoum falls, then go quietly back to Cairo, for you will only lose men and spend money uselessly in carrying on the campaign.[127]
October 14th.—I have been obliged to make some more arrests. Report in says many of the people, chiefs, &c., of Shendy come in to the three steamers now at Metemma; also that the steamers have been firing on the Arabs of Metemma; report says that expedition advance guard is at Abou Hamed, remainder at Merowé; that some English are coming from Kassala with Seyd Mahomet Osman to Gros Ragéb; that the Sakkeyer Arabs meditate a raid on Shoboloha tribes, who are favourable to Government. The Arabs fired on the lines this morning, doing no harm. Made Ferratch Ullah, who used to be at the Palace, a Miralli.[128]
In the two letters,[129] Faki Mustapha says the English are prisoners at Assouan, and that the Arabs had captured Abbas with Stewart at Cataract Dar Djumna, below Abou Hamed, which would be dismal!
Arabs are keeping a long way off the lines since the cavalry sortie.
No sign of the arrival of the Mahdi at Omdurman. Very few horsemen to be seen on the South Front. Query, have they gone down towards Berber?
This evening, some twelve of those arrested and allowed to stay in their houses are to be taken to the barracks; I hate those arrests, but one can scarcely doubt so many informants, who declare there was “trahison” meditated, not from any wish to join Mahdi, but for fear I was not strong enough to hold the city, and owing to Awaan’s statement, that he had written the letters I had received from Debbeh announcing that the expeditionary force was coming.
The North side is like a market, with the camels, horses, sheep, goats, donkeys, of the Shaggyehs, who have come up from Halfeyeh, &c.
I confess I am more perplexed about these arrests than I like; is it a good thing? or is it not? If I could be sure that the majority wished to go to the Mahdi, I could make up my mind at once what to do; it would be an immense relief to me, but does the mass wish it? If they do not, I ought to take all precautions against such an event. Then comes the query. Am I not, in these arrests, being made a tool of by the Turkish and Cairo elements? Are they not gratifying spites? Paul said, “I have learned” (as in a school) “in whatsoever state I am to be content.” I can only say, “I am learning,” but have “not learned.”
No sign this evening in Faki Mustapha’s camp of the arrival of the Mahdi.
Heavy thunderstorm and rain this evening, which will be made out by the proselytes of Mahomet Achmet as a proof of his divine pretensions. It is rather bad for our mines.
October 15th.—No spies in—everything quiet. Some begin to doubt if Mahdi is so near.
People say I must have some news of relief, otherwise I would not have made the arrest of Mudir, Cadi and Sheikh el Islam, &c., &c.
I see there was a total eclipse of the moon on 4th October, and there is a partial eclipse of the sun on the 18-19th October.
I reason thus respecting the arrests: if the people really want to go over to the Mahdi, it will make no difference beyond hastening the event; if they do not want to go to the Mahdi it will make no difference. If there is a minority to go to the Mahdi the arrests have upset their plans, at any rate for a time. To my idea, these people were only hedging, in order to be prepared for all contingencies.
Mahomed Pasha Hassan, who is a barometer of fear, approves of the step—so I hear in an indirect way:—of course every body approves of it, if asked by me, for fear of their own arrest.
I had to make three more arrests—when once one begins this detestable practice, one never can stop. As far as I can judge the mass of people approve of the arrests. I am now going on the principle “in for a penny, in for a pound.” Wilfrid Blunt will make a nice row about this. It is very odd we have had no one in from the Arabs for two days. Glad to say I found out one arrest not just, and have let the man out.
Jeremiah was arrested over and over again, and let out by King Zedekiah. I wonder how any man can possibly wish to enjoy despotic power: he can never be happy or comfortable if he has any pretensions to a conscience.
2 p.m.—Six flags appeared at Faki Mustapha’s camp. Report in town says the Mahdi is at his Isle of Abba, 160 miles up White Nile, attending to the circumcision of his son (poor little fellow). I hope it is true, for it will give us ten days’ respite. He may also have another dream there, which will tell him not to come to Kartoum, or he may persuade his followers to have one to same effect. What a comfort!!!
The Mahdi will make it an excuse that he came for this circumcision from Kordofan to Abba Island (where he received his first revelation that he was the Mahdi), if he sees things go against him.[130]
3 p.m.—The six flags at Faki Mustapha’s camp have increased to ten (gathering of waters). We have just completed our concentration of forces, and the steamers have just come in from their last trip from Halfeyeh. We may now be said to be in fighting trim, close hauled. Small steamer Husseinyeh will be completed to-morrow, I hope.
6.30 p.m.—Horsemen riding to and fro in Faki Mustapha’s camp. A letter has come in with two men from Slatin. Have received the letter, and send back the men who brought it, at once. “You must remember,” says England, “that when you entered my service, I bought you, as far as your body was concerned, giving you at first 5s. 3d. per diem, when no one else would have given you 1s., giving you also a beautiful plumage and the entrée partout. You have advanced now to higher pay, but on same terms (your whole life and body). You can never say you have done more than your duty. If you do not do it you break your word, and if you do it you merely fulfil your contract, and have no claim on me.”
The two men who came in with the letter of Slatin were one Arab and one slave. The latter questioned (apart) says that the report is that the Mahdi will come in two days to Omdurman; that he has not been seen; that the regular soldiers have gone back to Kordofan; and that Faki Mustapha told him (the slave) to frighten the Kartoumers. I am hoping the Mahdi will prove a bogie!
Steamers Bordeen and Ismailia went down below Kerowé to-day, and saw no Arabs on the left bank of the Nile.
The quietude of Sheikh el Obeyed’s forces is curious, for they have twice beaten us, with heavy loss, though they have been beaten by us, with loss, at other times, but in minor engagements.
I begin to get over my disquietude in re the arrests; from what I hear, I think public opinion is not dissatisfied; but really it was a strong measure to arrest Sheikh el Islam, Cadi and Mudir, and sixteen others, and that without turning the two former out of their employ.
A lot of people were pressing for harder measures, but my new chief clerk said “we would wish to leave it to you to do or not to do,” which is lively, as I am innocent of what goes on, or who is a traitor, or who is not; if ever there was a happy-go-lucky government, it is this, in Kartoum. I declare that, sometimes, I give a decision, and have no more idea of what the decision is about than a cow; these, however, are exceptional cases. I have had about six bad slips in ten years, not more, and these I have managed to rectify, with loss of prestige. Slatin is not with Faki Mustapha, so says the slave. What liars these spies are!
If in two days I find the news correct that the Mahdi is still in Kordofan, I shall let out all the political prisoners (which will shock the townpeople), but will be true joy and delight to me, for it has been a work utterly repugnant to me. I like free will (we left God with our own free will, we must return with our own free will). I hate a forced subjection, and I feel sure that to let these people out, with free will to go to the Arabs or not, will be good policy. I must say that I feel it a great compliment, when my counsellors say to me, “Do what you think right, irrespective of our advice,” when they know I am ignorant of all that goes on, ignorant of the Arabic language, except in my style, ignorant of the Arab customs, &c., &c. “You will do better than we do,” is what they say, and I, poor Devil, do not know where to turn. Oh! our Government, our Government! what has it not to answer for? Not to me, but to these poor people. I declare if I thought the town wished the Mahdi, I would give it up: so much do I respect free will.[131]
October 16.—The letters of Slatin have arrived.[132] I have no remarks to make on them, and cannot make out why he wrote them.
Heavy rain last night, I expect there is an end to the vitality of our mines, and we have now no more matches to renew them.
No spies in, no Arabs visible outside their camp: it is pretty certain that the Mahdi has not come to Omdurman.
The Austrian Consul[133] has asked me to let him write to Slatin, and to allow him to give him (Slatin), an interview on the Lines, which I have agreed to and sent out. Slatin’s letter to Hansall was quite in a different tone to the one he wrote to me. What astounding lies those spies have told about the Mahdi and his heterogeneous staff being close here.
Noon.—Two spies came in, one from Sheikh el Obeyed, one from Kordofan. The latter says the Mahdi is not coming to Kartoum, but has been recalled to Obeyed on account of the advance of expeditionary force; that the Mahdi has withdrawn all the regulars captured here and there from our vicinity to Kordofan; that a lot of the Arabs he forced to come with him have deserted him. That is about all; one feels disinclined to write these histories, which are contradicted a few days afterwards. Certainly the Arabs are very quiet, and one does not see many about. I hope to be able to let out the prisoners on New Year’s Day of Arab year 1302, which is on 21st October. I shall make Ferratch Pasha do the honours of the day, I cannot stand these pageants. A woman came in from the Dem on the South Lines; she says a few days ago there was a regular panic caused by report of troops having captured Katarif; half the Arabs went southward. However the report was contradicted and they have come back.
Slatin’s letter to Austrian Consul contains the remark “that if he comes over to me I must promise never to surrender the city, as he would then suffer terrible tortures and death.” He evidently is not a Spartan, he also says “that he changed his religion because he had not had much attention paid to his religious belief when young.” If he gets away I shall take him to the Congo with me, he will want some quarantine; one feels sorry for him.
Slatin says there is a rumour that a boat of Stewart’s expedition, down Nile, was captured by Arabs at the cataract Dar Djumna, below Abou Hamed, but he doubts its truth; this, in his letter to the consul.
The Arabs have not occupied Halfeyeh. The Shaggyeh are pulling down Goba and Hogali, the village opposite the Palace. The village of Omdurman is levelled. The little steamer Husseinyeh is finished and armed, and will go up against the Arabs (her virgin trip), on Saturday morning. They have put a little lion as figure-head to it.
Fancy post-office officials (of all people), who have done literally nothing for seven months (not being able to do anything), asking for increase of pay!! These people have no conscience. There were very few Arabs to be seen on south front this day, and few were seen going to Giraffe. At Faki Mustapha there also seems no numbers, in spite of the great array of grass huts erected for the Mahdi. Report in town says that the Arabs in Kordofan say the Mahdi is all fudge, and that they are robbed more now under his name than before, when they were under the Government.
Report says the Mahdi sent Sheikh el Obeyed (the man not the city) to tell him to come to Obeyed (the city not the man), and devotes himself to God’s service as a dervish. The Sheikh el Obeyed (the man not the city)[134] does not see it, for he is very rich (I know it is a horrid nuisance these names, but I did not give them). It would be a charity to execute the man, for those who are perplexed, and end the difficulty. We cannot execute the city.
October 17.—Church parade at minimum: that at Faki Mustapha’s Dem some 400: that at south front not more than a 1000.
Mr. Gladstone has a rival up here in shirt collars: Mohamed Bey Ibrahim appeared to-day with regular wings rather ragged, his collars up to his ears, regular orthodox patterns.
I am sending Bordeen and Husseinyeh up the White Nile to reconnoitre, and the horsemen out towards Giraffe and Halfeyeh.
I shall have nothing to do with Slatin’s coming in here to stay, unless he has the Mahdi’s positive leave, which he is not likely to get: his doing so would be the breaking of his parole, which should be as sacred when given to the Mahdi as to any other power, and it would jeopardise the safety of all those Europeans, prisoners with Mahdi.[135]
According to all accounts, the cataract at Dar Djumna below Abou Hamed is a very small one, so I am in hopes it is a false rumour that we have lost the boat. A slave came from Faki Mustapha, saying the Mahdi is at Jura Hadra, his people suffering from sickness: many have gone back to Khordofan. All regulars have gone back, they have little grain, and people are discontented. This man brought his rifle in with him; 219 days to-day we have been boxed up; four of the principal men were allowed to be prisoners in their houses, one of these allowed a man to come to him and bribe the sentry with two dollars: this man was whipped off to the prison at once. The Sheikh el Islam let two women come to him, he was only threatened. We caught a man going over to the Arabs to-day, he had under his ordinary costume the Dervish dress. If Zubair was here he would take off heads I feel sure. I content myself with fearful threats, which they know are nothing.
October 18.—The cavalry went out towards Giraffe, and captured five female slaves! and killed three Arabs, who resisted their being taken. I own I do not feel satisfied with the killing of these men, but I suppose it is war: we lost none. The captive ladies had little to say more than the Arabs had two guns at Giraffe.
Bordeen and Husseinyeh went up the White Nile, saw no Arabs at first, but coming back Arabs got down two guns and opened fire, they killed one man and wounded another. I had warned these steamers distinctly to keep in the middle of river, and not to go near the banks. The casualities were from musketry. Arabs fired fifteen rounds (gun), Husseinyeh fired ten rounds (gun), Bordeen fired ten rounds (gun). I have stopped these steamers going up the White Nile for the future. The officer is entirely responsible for the death of this man, for I had given orders that, even if they saw cattle or boats, they were not to be enticed to the banks to get them. I never will believe in ships against land batteries, unless troops are landed, for unless a steamer can get close alongside a battery, the battery will hold its own.
October 19.—This morning, in spite of my orders not to leave the lines, Bourré must needs send out men, and the consequence was that I have a Bimbashi and six men wounded, however I think I have stopped these excursions for the future. The cavalry went out from the North Fort to Halfeyeh, and saw no one, and captured a cow!
I hope it will be remembered that with respect to white troops (Fellaheen) on board the now four steamers at Metemma, I make you a handsome present of them (officers and all), and request that if you use the steamers you will disembark those men and take them on your list, for we never wish to see them (and to have to feed them) up here again. You will be carrying out the evacuation policy!!! If you do not use the steamers, please send them back empty of these Fellaheen troops, but send me their rifles. You will soon have a fine contingent? for I have everything ready for a general discharge of Cairo débris (Bashi Bazouks, &c., &c.), the moment I hear you are really at Berber; I shall not wait to ask your leave, for I have had enough of the débris up here, and you can feed them better than we can; at any rate, they will be off my hands, and on yours. I hope it will be an understood thing that every Egyptian soldier you find belongs to you, and that you will not send him back to me. I nobly present you with them all, and then, besides that, you have the glory of living representatives of your rescuing expedition. I object and protest against (when once Egyptian soldiers come into your lines) your returning them to Kartoum. As for their pay, &c., as far as I have been able to order, it ought to be quite clear what is owed them. I have given orders enough about that subject, as Stewart knows. I include officers as well as men. I want to see them no more. Pray attend to this request![136]
The Talataween came in this evening from Shendy; reports Seyd Mahomet Osman has come to Gros Rageb with English troops. English troops are coming from Debbeh by Nile, and have passed Abou Hamed. Arabs captured two boats of Stewart’s expedition, by means of the captured steamer Fascher above Abou Hamed, which our steamers had seen getting up steam: vide my journal. I had a feeling about this that when the steamers had seen the Arab steamer Fascher getting up steam they ought to have staid and tried to prevent the pursuit. The Arabs have a gun at Shendy, which came from Berber. The English troops are only two days distant from Berber. The steamers had twenty-five wounded, they collected eleven prisoners, and captured four boats. One of our men was killed. The Towfikia lost none on going down. I am sending down the Bordeen and Talataween the day after to-morrow to Shendy, with order to leave one steamer at Shendy, and go on with the other four to Berber, and to remain in its neighbourhood. The Mansowrrah will stay at Shendy, and the Talataween, Bordeen, Saphia, and Towfikia will go towards Berber. I shall keep Ismailia and Husseinyeh here.
Statement of Troops, Arms, Ammunition, Grain, &c., in Kartoum, 19th October, 1884.
| No. of | Black Troops, Regulars | 2316 | |
| A | White | 1421 | |
| B | Cairo Bashi Bazouks | 1906 | |
| Shaggyeh | 2330 | ||
| Townspeople enrolled | 692 | ||
| —— | |||
| Total | 8665 |
A and B will be sent to Berber as soon as it is possible to find Transport, and as soon as you get to Berber.
| No. of | Guns upon Lines | 12 |
| Steamers | 11 | |
| Rounds | Gun Ammunition | 21,141 |
| ” | Small Arms, Remington | 2,165,000 |
| ” | Arsenal turns out weekly | 40,000 |
Amount of Grain and Biscuit in Magazine.
| Grain | Ardebs | 4,018 |
| Biscuit | Okes | 349,000 |
| Weekly consumption of Troops | Ardebs | 500 |
| No. of Steamers | 7 | |
| Private Boats | 58 | |
| Government Boats | 53 | |
| Money in Specie | £2900 | |
| Paper | £39,195 |
October 20th.—Here is a summary of reports brought by Talataween, which left Shendy four days ago. Abbas went down to Hagar Homar with her four boats. She was pursued by Fascher, which captured two of her boats, with twelve Greeks. The Abbas turned and fired two cannon shots at the Fascher, which retired, and the Abbas went on her way and was seen no more. She is supposed to have been attacked by Arabs below Abou Hamed and drove off attack, killing seventy-two Arabs, the Greeks captured in the two boats were not hurt by the Arabs. When the Abbas got to Debbeh the troops advanced towards Berber. Three distinct parties moving on Berber: one through the desert of Korosko (the Arabs have put 1500 men and a gun at Abou Hamed); one from Merowé to Berber across the desert (making forts at intervals), and one with Seyd Mahomet Osman down the Atbara valley towards El Damer (which place is at the junction of the Atbara with the Nile) assisted by Awad Kerim. The steamers have been bombarding Metemma and Shendy, I expect with no great effect.
To-day came in from Waled a Goun two men and three women. They say the Mahdi is opposite Kalakla, i.e. within two miles of Kartoum, few people with him; those who came with him from Kordofan have, in great part, gone back.
In yesterday’s skirmish the Arabs lost two men in the steamer fight, the day before they lost more. Waled a Goun has sent his family to Gitana; many are deserting.
An officer and sergeant have escaped and come into Omdurman.
They say that the Arabs of Berber were warned by someone in the town of the descent of the Abbas. I have ordered the sale of 200 ardebs of Dhoora on the strength of this news. A man, who was at Berber, on board one of the captured steamers says Ferratch Pasha! and other officers have sent news to the Arabs, and that the Arab chief of Berber wrote to Cassim el Mousse, proposing he should kill me, which Cassim el Mousse refused to do. This Mahomet el Khair is a true cur, for I have ever treated him well. I expect if the truth was known very few notables or officials have not been hedging with the Arabs.
The Shaggyeh on the opposite side are yelling, on enquiring find it is for Dhoora; they have had their month’s rations and the month is not up. I went to the telegraph office and told them that “till the month was up I would give them none, but that the Sheikh el Obeyed had plenty, and that if they liked they could go to him;” no answer was given to this telegram.
The officer and sergeant who came in at Omdurman say the Mahdi with all Europeans, Hassan Khalifa, Saleh Pasha, and that Frenchman are opposite Kalakla, and that he means coming to Omdurman, that the Arabs are not in good heart.
The Saphia and the Mansowrrah ought to have laid off Berber, and prevented the exit of the Fascher when the Abbas went down, but I expect they only cared to come back here. I am much put out at the loss of those two boats. What one has felt so much here is the want of men like Gessi, or Massodaglia, or Slatin; but I have had no one to whom I could entrust expeditions like that. I do sincerely hope all Egyptians and Turks or Circassian officers and men may be taken out of the steamers and kept by you; it would be too bad to send them back to me.. I do not mean the captains or engineers of steamers. Twenty-two wounded men were brought to the hospital (four were gravely wounded) from Shendy steamer. I wish you to take command of steamers, but do not let any Khedival authority do so, for he will certainly be bribed to let back the Egyptians. Please acknowledge the receipt of the Journal, of which this is Vol. 4. As far as my experience goes, there are not more contemptible troops, officers, and men than the Egyptians, so beware of them, and, with scarcely an exception, all Turks and Circassians in Egyptian employ are emasculated.
I have prepared to clear out of the Palace, and have five houses ready for occupation. I hope Cuzzi’s baggage will be searched, for I feel sure he is a traitor. A slave came in this evening from Waled al Goun with the usual story of the near approach of the Mahdi; that Arabs want food; that regulars mean to desert when they get an opportunity. With the reiterated request that I may not have any Egyptians, Turks, or Circassians sent back to me, I end this Journal.
C. G. Gordon.
20/10/84.
The sunset to-night ends the year 1301, and begins 1302.
BOOK V.
On outside wrapper (handkerchief):
EVENTS AT KARTOUM.
20th Oct. to 5th Nov., 1884.
General Gordon’s Journal, Vol. V.
The Chief of the Staff of Expeditionary Force for the Relief of the Garrisons.
No secrets as far as I am concerned.
C. G. GORDON.
On cover:
EVENTS AT KARTOUM.
20th Oct. to 5th Nov., 1884.
General Gordon’s Journal, Vol. V.
To be pruned down if published.
C. G. GORDON.
On inside:
General Gordon’s Journal,
From 20th October to 5th November, 1884.
EVENTS IN KARTOUM.
The Chief of Staff of Expeditionary Force for Relief of Garrison.
Vol. V.
To be pruned down if published.
C. G. GORDON.