CHAPTER IX:  ABU HAMED

The last chapter carried the account of the war forward at express speed.  The reader, who had already on the railway reached the Atbara encampment and was prepared for the final advance on Khartoum, must allow his mind to revert to a period when the Egyptian forces are distributed along the river in garrisons at Dongola, Debba, Korti, and Merawi; when the reorganisation of the conquered province has been begun; and when the Desert Railway is still stretching steadily forward towards Abu Hamed.

The news of the fall of Dongola created a panic in Omdurman.  Great numbers of Arabs, believing that the Khalifa’s power was about to collapse, fled from the city.  All business was at a standstill.  For several days there were no executions.  Abdullah himself kept his house, and thus doubtfully concealed his vexation and alarm from his subjects.  On the fifth day, however, having recovered his own confidence, he proceeded to the mosque, and after the morning prayer ascended his small wooden pulpit and addressed the assembled worshippers.  After admitting the retreat of the Dervishes under Wad Bishara, he enlarged on the losses the ‘Turks’ had sustained and described their miserable condition.  He deplored the fact that certain of the Jehadia had surrendered, and reminded his listeners with a grim satisfaction of the horrible tortures which it was the practice of the English and Egyptians to inflict upon their captives.  He bewailed the lack of faith in God which had allowed even the meanest of the Ansar to abandon the Jehad against the infidel, and he condemned the lack of piety which disgraced the age.  But he proclaimed his confidence in the loyalty of his subjects and his enjoyment of the favour of God and the counsels of the late Mahdi; and having by his oratory raised the fanatical multitude to a high pitch of excitement, he thus concluded his long harangue:  ’It is true that our chiefs have retired from Dongola.  Yet they are not defeated.  Only they that disobeyed me have perished.  I instructed the faithful to refrain from fighting and return to Metemma.  It was by my command that they have done what they have done.  For the angel of the Lord and the spirit of the Mahdi have warned me in a vision that the souls of the accursed Egyptians and of the miserable English shall leave their bodies between Dongola and Omdurman, at some spot which their bones shall whiten.  Thus shall the infidels be conquered.’  Then, drawing his sword, he cried with a loud voice:  ’Ed din mansur!  The religion is victorious!  Islam shall triumph!’ Whereupon the worshippers, who to the number of 20,000 filled the great quadrangle—­although they could not all hear his voice—­saw his sword flashing in the sunlight, and with one accord imitated him, waving their swords and spears, and raising a mighty shout of fury and defiance.  When the tumult had subsided, the Khalifa announced that those who did not wish to remain faithful might go where they liked, but that he for his part would remain, knowing that God would vindicate the faith.  Public confidence was thus restored.