Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 edition. Excerpt: ...felt--not, it is true, by the Baggara, but by the rural population, who, tired of this constant warfare, sighed for the return of a rule which, with all its faults, had at least given them enough to eat. By the end of June the original price of corn at Omdurman had been trebled, and there was a complete dearth of luxuries, such as sugar, rice, etc. In the meantime, Nejumi had been ordered to return to Omdurman to confer with the Khalifa on the plan of campaign. Towards the end of the month he again came back to Berber, and was reinforced by the emir Abd el Halim and his men, fresh from their successes on the Atbara. Him he appointed as his wakil. The next few months were spent in collecting the forces and pushing them on to the various posts; but delays in an ill-organised army are inevitable--troubles on the Abyssinian frontier, in Kordofan and Darfur, prevented the Khalifa from sending Nejumi the reinforcements he required. The left flank of his advance, too, was continually threatened by the restless Saleh, sheikh of the Kababish. All these circumstances delayed and hampered the impatient Nejumi, and it was not until the 14th of October that he at last advanced across the desert from Berber to Merawi, to again delay at the latter place to recruit from the inhabitants of that district. His advanced posts, however, were active, probably owing to the recall of Mohammed el Kheir to Omdurman; and the command from Kermeh north devolving on Osman Azrak, he in October pushed on small parties to Suarda and Ferkeh under Nur el Kanzi.1 The Egyptian advance post at Gemai, twenty-two miles from Halfa, was now withdrawn to Khor Mussa, some five miles distant from Halfa. The command of all the troops on the frontier was held by Brigadier-General the...
