DESTRUCTION OF THE KHALIFA.
With regard to the further movements of the Khalifa. As already stated,
after leaving Omdurman Abdullah fled in the direction of Kordofan.
Following the course of the White Nile, he proceeded, with only a few
followers, to Duem, whence, quitting the river, he struck off in a
south-westerly direction to Lake Sherkeleh, about 120 miles further.
There he was joined by some of his shattered forces. Subsequently an
Egyptian fort was established at Duem and occupied by the 2nd Egyptian
Battalion.
Towards the end of 1898 it was reported that the Khalifa had with him
only a few hundred followers, and against these, in January, 1899,
Colonel Kitchener, a brother of the Sirdar, was despatched with 900 men
belonging to the 2nd and 14th Battalions, and about fifty irregular
Cavalry.
Starting from Duem in the following month, Colonel Kitchener's troops
arrived at the Khalifa's supposed position only to discover that he had
evacuated his camp, which bore traces of having been occupied by some
thousands of men, instead of the few hundreds reported as composing the
Dervish force.
A reconnaissance was then made to within three miles of Abdullah's new
position, and here Kitchener, having placed his men in a zeriba, sent
out his scouts.
They reported that the Khalifa had with him a force of about 7,000 men,
of which more than half were armed with rifles, and that they were drawn
up in fighting order.
Kitchener, realizing the insufficient number of his troops for an
attack, and running short of water, abandoned the zeriba and fell back
upon the river.
The Khalifa followed him as far as the deserted zeriba, but, fortunately
for the small Egyptian force, did not pursue further. The expedition was
then abandoned, and Colonel Kitchener returned to Cairo.[179]
In the subsequent month of June the Khalifa was still in the
neighbourhood of Lake Sherkeleh, and raiding the tribes in that
vicinity. According to later reports he had been attacked by the Tagalla
tribe and had sustained heavy losses, by which, and by other causes, his
adherents were reduced to as few as 4,000 men.
On this intelligence reaching Cairo it was determined that another
attempt should be made against him as soon as the rainy season, then
impending, should be over.
In September, news arrived that the still uncaptured Abdullah, with an
army increased to 10,000 men, had established himself near Jeb el
Gheddeer, a mountainous spot 100 miles north-west of Fashoda. A powerful
Emir named Arabi Dafalla, with a numerous following, was reported to be
on his way to Darfur, with a view to joining hands with the Khalifa. The
military authorities then decided that the moment had come for finally
crushing the Khalifa.
On the 26th September, the Sirdar reached Cairo from Europe, and
proceeded at once to Omdurman, where the arrangements for a further
expedition were being rapidly pushed forward. The greatest care was
taken to ensure secrecy, but it became known that the force, which was
to be under the personal command of the Sirdar, would consist of about
6,000 men, including four battalions of Egyptian Infantry, with Cavalry,
Camel Corps and Artillery, besides irregulars.
The troops were to concentrate at Kaka, on the White Nile, whence they
were to march upon Jeb el Gheddeer, 90 miles distant from the river, at
which place it was hoped the fight would come off. The expedition, which
was to proceed partly by land and partly by river, was so far advanced
that by the end of September the Cavalry, Camel Corps, and Artillery had
already been sent off from Omdurman, and they were joined soon after by
the Infantry, and on the 11th October the Sirdar and his staff followed
in the steamer _Dal_.
If the War Department was reticent with reference to Colonel Kitchener's
expedition, it was even more so with regard to that of the Sirdar. Of
the doings of the latter nothing was permitted to be made public until
the 26th October, when it was officially announced that the Khalifa had
fled from Jeb el Gheddeer, and, it being impossible to pursue him at
that time, the Sirdar had given orders for the troops to return to
Omdurman. It was added that a reconnaissance to Jeb el Gheddeer would be
made by the Cavalry and Camel Corps before their return.
The Sirdar's force, after leaving the river at Kaka, marched on the road
to Jeb el Gheddeer as far as a place called Fungar. Here it was found
that the Khalifa had got thirty hours' start and was moving in a
northerly direction across a waterless district, where it would have
been very difficult to follow him, and the evasive Abdullah was
therefore allowed to go his way.
Notwithstanding that the official announcement was followed by the
return of many of the troops to Omdurman, and by the appearance of the
Sirdar in Cairo, people were reluctant to believe in the final
abandonment of the expedition, and further developments were expected;
nor were such expectations doomed to be disappointed.
On the 12th November it became known that the Khalifa was seven days'
journey from Jeb el Gheddeer and was making his way towards Abba Island,
on the Nile, with a force estimated at considerably over 3,000 men.
In consequence of this information the Sirdar, on the 14th, suddenly
started on his return to Omdurman, and the British troops in Cairo were
ordered to prepare detachments to proceed to garrison Omdurman.
During the Sirdar's absence Colonel Sir F. R. Wingate, then in command
at Khartoum, learning that Dervishes had been seen in the neighbourhood
of Abba, despatched Colonel Lewis, with two battalions of infantry and a
flotilla of gunboats, to operate along the river and prevent raiding.
On Lewis reaching a place called Alobe, he found that a large Dervish
force, under Ahmed Fedil, was encamped close by, but, at daylight,
before Lewis was able to attack, they had all disappeared.
The Sirdar, on reaching Khartoum, at once ordered Wingate to follow up
Abu Fedil.
On the 20th, Wingate, with 3,700 men, composed of the 9th and 13th
Soudanese Battalions, one Battalion of Irregular Infantry, some Maxims,
and fifty Cavalry, arrived at Faki Shoya, to the west of Abba Island,
where he was joined by 250 of the Camel Corps, who crossed over from the
right bank of the Nile.
On the evening of the 21st, the Egyptian troops marched towards Nefissa,
23 miles from the river, whither it was reported that Ahmed Fedil had
retired. Nefissa was reached before daylight on the 22nd, and it was
then discovered that Fedil had moved on to Abu Aadil, four miles
further, where he was encamped with about 2,500 men.
The mounted troops, with guns and Maxims, were at once sent forward to
engage the Dervishes and hold them in check until Wingate's main body
should come up. This movement was ably carried out. The mounted force
promptly attacked the enemy's camp with gun and rifle fire, meeting with
a warm but badly-directed fire in return. The Dervishes rushed from the
wood and charged up to within sixty yards of the guns, only, however, to
be shot down in hundreds. Wingate then brought up the infantry in
support, and, making a general advance, cleared the whole position. The
Dervishes, utterly routed, bolted through the bush, followed by the
Cavalry. Four thousand of the enemy are said to have been killed in the
fight and pursuit. After the action, which began at 10 a.m. and lasted
only about an hour, the troops halted to rest.
It now remained to find the Khalifa Abdullah, who was known to be
advancing towards El Ghedid, with the object of joining his forces with
those of Ahmed Fedil. Thither it was resolved to push on, and at
midnight on the 22nd the troops again started, reaching El Ghedid about
10 a.m. on the 23rd. Here water, of which they were much in need, was
found, and news came that the Khalifa and his army were encamped only
seven miles off at Om Debrikat.
The Cavalry and Maxims were immediately sent out to reconnoitre, and
having ascertained the Dervish position, the whole of Wingate's force,
at 12.20 a.m. on the 24th, advanced by moonlight to within three miles
of the enemy, when a halt was called, and the troops deployed into
attack formation. The advance was then resumed. Although strict silence
was kept in the ranks, it soon became evident, from the sound of drums
and horns, that the Khalifa was aware of Wingate's approach. At 3.40
a.m. a gentle, rising slope, which laid between the troops and the
Dervish camp, was reached; here the force halted and the men were
allowed to sleep.
Soon after five, when only a faint light indicated the approach of day,
numerous white figures, moving towards the Egyptian position, were
recognized as Dervishes advancing to the attack. Wingate's troops were
at once on the alert, and opened fire on the indistinct mass. The fire
was returned by the enemy's riflemen, and in a few minutes the action
became general. Half an hour later the enemy's fire got slacker and
slacker, and Wingate's whole line advancing, swept through the Dervish
position for two miles till the enemy's camp was reached.
As the troops passed over the field of battle, the deadly effect of the
Egyptian fire was shown by the heaps of dead strewing the ground.
Amongst them was the Khalifa himself, who, surrounded by his bodyguard
and principal Emirs, made a gallant stand, but fell riddled with
bullets. He seems to have met his fate with dignity. Seeing that he was
defeated, he resolved to die, and gathering his Emirs around him, they
fell together. With him died Ahmed Fedil and Ali Wad Helu, also the
Khalifa's two brothers; Sennoussi Ahmed and Haroun Mohamed, as well as
Sadik, the son of the Mahdi. The Khalifa's son, Sheikh el Din, was
amongst the wounded.
Wingate was leading the pursuing party of cavalry in front when the dead
body of the Khalifa was discovered, and a little boy advanced towards
Watson Bey, who was following with the other troops, took Watson's hand,
led him to a group of three dead bodies, and, pointing to a figure in
the centre of the group, said, "That is my father." The other two were
the Emirs Abu Fedl and Ali Wad Helu. On this being reported to Wingate,
he directed that the burial of the dead Khalifa and his two companions
should be carried out by their own people, with all due pomp and
ceremony.
As soon as the news of the death of the Khalifa was spread the greater
part of his followers laid down their arms and surrendered. Every man of
importance, except Osman Digna, who left soon after the firing began,
was either killed or made prisoner. The total number of prisoners taken
was about 3,000, besides a crowd of women and children found in the
Dervish camp. The victory was complete; the enemy, out of a force of
from 5,000 to 6,000 men, lost over 1,000 in killed, as well as a vast
collection of arms, grain, and munitions. Wingate's losses were
inconsiderable, amounting only to three men killed and twelve wounded.
After Wingate's brilliant achievement his men moved back to the river.
Between the 21st and the 24th they had marched more than sixty miles
over trying ground, had fought two decisive engagements, and destroyed
the last army which the Khalifa was able to put into the field.
To Sir F. R. Wingate is due the conspicuous merit of effectually
suppressing Mahdism for ever in the Soudan.
CONCLUSION.
It may reasonably be expected that the present work, a considerable
portion of which is devoted to the intervention of England in Egypt,
should not be brought to a close without some reference to the results
attending it.
The military incidents, including the suppression of two formidable
rebellions, the abandonment and reconquest of extensive territories, and
the creation of a new national army, have already been mentioned.
Such of the political occurrences as were of sufficient general interest
have also been touched upon. The effect of England's action in the
Valley of the Nile, so far as it relates to the moral and material
condition of the country, has yet to be dealt with.
It is no exaggeration to say that never in the pages of history has
there been an instance of such rapid recovery as that of Egypt during
the last seventeen years. Unfortunately the exigencies of space will not
admit of more than a brief reference to the work which has been
accomplished. For further and more complete information the reader would
do well to consult Sir Alfred Milner's "England in Egypt," a book
already more than once quoted in these pages. In every direction a
transformation has taken place. Finances have been put in order; revenue
has increased; taxation has diminished; additional land has been brought
into cultivation; the cotton crop (Egypt's most valuable product) has
been doubled; foreign trade has augmented; railway, postal, and
telegraph services have been developed; the administration of justice
and the prison system have been reformed; sanitary matters have been
taken in hand; education has progressed, and lastly, the population has
increased to an extent hitherto unknown.
In support of the preceding statements a few figures may ere be given
with advantage.
The augmentation of the revenue may be seen from the following table:--
£E.
1882 8,852,857
1883 8,934,675
1884 9,403,294
1885 10,169,678
1886 9,726,937
1887 9,774,684
1888 9,868,124
1889 9,992,758
1890 10,432,889
1891 10,828,733
1892 10,475,766
1893 10,425,353
1894 10,444,650
1895 10,698,023
1896 11,015,702
1897 11,442,937
1898 11,347,980
1899 (estimated) 10,600,000[180]
A noteworthy circumstance in connection with the growth of revenue is
that it has been accompanied by an important diminution of taxation.
Taxes to the annual amount of £E.1,132,666 have been remitted since the
commencement of the Occupation, and the burden of taxation per head of
the population has been reduced from £E.1 2s. 6d. to 17s. 9d., a
diminution of 20 per cent.
Whilst the revenue was steadily increasing, the expenditure was so well
kept in hand that the chronic deficit which so long figured in Egyptian
Budgets was replaced in 1887 by a surplus, and this, with the exception
of the year 1888, has continued ever since.
The following table shows the general financial results obtained since
the commencement of the British occupation:--
SURPLUS. DEFICIT.
£E. £E.
1883 -- 920,000
1884 -- 460,000
1885 -- 697,000
1886 -- 684,000
1887 111,000 --
1888 -- 1,000
1889 160,000 --
1890 591,000 --
1891 951,000 --
1892 769,000 --
1893 720,000 --
1894 785,000 --
1895 1,088,000 --
1896 630,000 --
1897 690,161 --
1898 1,376,000 --
Out of the surpluses thus arising a "General Reserve Fund" has been
created, by which the stability of the finances has been secured, and a
fund provided for expenditure on productive public works, and for other
beneficial objects. On the 31st December, 1898, the sum to the credit of
the "General Reserve Fund" amounted to £E.3,893,000, of which
£E.2,616,000 was pledged for the execution of public works. In addition
to this Fund there is another Reserve Fund, consisting of the
accumulated economies resulting from the partial conversion of the
Public Debt, and destined to form eventually a Sinking Fund. This
amounted at the last-mentioned date to £E.3,218,000.
The increase in the cotton crop, due mainly to extended irrigation, has
been from 2,846,237 kantars[181] in 1882, to 5,954,000 kantars in 1898.
The improvement in the Foreign Trade is shown by the fact that the value
of the exports of merchandise increased from £E.10,418,213 in 1888 to
£E.11,706,258 in 1898, and the value of the imports during the same
period from £E.7,738,343 to £E.10,811,151. The Customs Revenue (which
amounted in 1882 to only £E.624,312) was more than doubled between the
dates above given, the returns in 1888 being £E.959,939, and in 1898;
£E.2,040,000.[182]
The progress made by the railways, post office, and telegraph
administrations since the commencement of the Occupation is shown by the
following figures:--
RECEIPTS.
RAILWAYS. POST OFFICE. TELEGRAPHS.
£E. £E. £E.
1883 1,213,000 102,000 67,000
1898 2,031,569 122,867 60,685[183]
According to Sir Elwin Palmer, 212 miles of new railways were opened
between 1881 and 1897.
The advance made in regard to Education appears from the fact that the
expenditure on Public Instruction in the fifteen years ending in 1897
increased by over 37 per cent., the number of Government schools rose
from 29 to 51, and the number of pupils from 2,000 to over 11,000.
The increase in the population, before referred to, is the more
remarkable when the drain occasioned by the repeated wars in the Soudan
is taken into account. In 1882 the inhabitants of Egypt numbered
6,813,919, and in 1897, when the last census was taken, the population
had risen to 9,734,405, showing an augmentation of no less than
2,920,486, or 43 per cent., in the space of 15 years.
It may be observed that Lane gives the population of Egypt in the time
of the Pharaohs as between six and seven millions. A French historian,
M. Mengin, puts the population in the time of Mehemet Ali as only
2,900,000.
Hitherto, mention has only been made of the advantages actually accrued
to Egypt under British guidance. But if the gigantic irrigation works
recently undertaken in Upper Egypt, known as "The Reservoir Scheme,"
fulfil only partially the expectations formed with regard to them, the
benefits which the country will receive in the future will far exceed
anything in the past.
These works, the foundation stone of which was laid in January, 1899,
will consist of a huge dam and lock across the Nile at Assouan, and a
similar, though less extensive, construction at Assiout--the whole
to be completed in five years from 1st July, 1898, at a cost of
£4,800,000--spread over 30 years.
By these works, the design for which, in its present modified form, is
due to Mr. W. Willcocks, C.E., late of the Egyptian Irrigation
Department, it is calculated that the failure of the cotton crop by
reason of a low Nile will in future be avoided; 774,000 acres of land
now imperfectly irrigated will receive perennial irrigation, other lands
will get additional water, and 172,000 acres will be reclaimed from the
desert.
The yearly increase to the wealth of the country is estimated at
£E.2,608,000, and the direct annual benefit to the State at £E.378,400.
In addition to this it is reckoned that the sale of such of the
reclaimed land as belongs to the Government will realize a sum of
£E.1,020,000 to the exchequer.[184]
Whilst dealing with prospective benefits, it is impossible to avoid some
reference to the advantages to Egypt which may eventually arise from
the opening up of the reconquered provinces of the Soudan to trade and
commerce.
The future government of these vast regions was provided for by the
Soudan Convention, made between the British and Egyptian Governments in
January, 1899. Under this the British and Egyptian flags are to be used
together, both on land and water, in the Soudan, and the supreme
military and civil command is to be vested in an officer termed the
Governor-General, nominated by Khedivial Decree, on the recommendation
of the British Government. The Governor-General is alone to have power
to make laws, and until otherwise provided the whole country will be
under martial law.
The orderly administration of the country having been thus provided for,
it only remains to wait and see the results. Though years may elapse
before these realize the hopes formed, it is impossible not to believe
that a territory which, under the most adverse circumstances, has
produced such riches in the past, should not, under the present improved
conditions, develop into a prosperous dependency of Egypt. Even should
this not prove to be the case, the mere rescue of such a vast territory
from barbarism will ever remain a triumph for the cause of civilization
well worth the cost.
Whilst every one must recognize the beneficent work which has been
accomplished in Egypt under England's guidance, there may be persons
inclined to doubt whether it can be regarded as permanent. To this there
is but one answer, viz., that England can never permit the country which
she has rescued to drift back into a state of ruin and chaos. This may
be thought to imply an indefinite prolongation of the Occupation. Such,
however, does not of necessity follow. It may well be that the direction
of Egyptian affairs will have to be left for some time in the hands of
the Power under whose influence so much has been accomplished. Until the
reforms effected have had time to consolidate, withdrawal would
jeopardize the edifice so laboriously erected, and be the worst of
calamities. But the progress which the country, under an enlightened
ruler, is daily making, joined to the growing intelligence of the
people, encourage the belief that the moment will arrive when England
may declare her mission on the banks of the Nile at an end, and leave to
a regenerated Egypt the control of her own destinies.
INDEX.
Abbas Pasha Hilmy, Prince (Khedive), page 497.
Abd-el-Al, 15, 17, 18, 184-5.
Abdel Kader Pasha, 210, 216, 233.
Abd-el-Kerim, 376-7.
Abdullah-el-Taaishi, see Khalifa.
Abu Hamid, battle of, 522-3.
Abu Klea, 340; battle of, 341-7;
retreat to, 388;
skirmish at, 389-90;
evacuation, 341.
Abu Kru, see Gubat.
Adye, Gen. Sir John, 110, 132.
Afafit, 489;
see Tokar.
Ahmed Arabi, see Arabi Pasha.
Ahmed Fedil, dervish leader, defeated, 593;
killed, 595.
Ahmed Saha, 216.
Akasheh, action at, 509.
Al-ed-Din Pasha, 235, 239.
Alcester (Lord), see Seymour (Admiral).
Alexandria, warships sent to, 9, 35-6, 58, 60;
riots, 44-60;
bombardment, 60-75, 78, 90-4;
forts, 67;
European quarter burnt, 87, 97;
outrages, 93, 97, 100, 102.
Ali Fehmi, 14, 17, 203, 208.
Ali Pasha Moubarek, 107, 109.
Alison, Gen. Sir A., 105, 114, 116, 117, 119, 120, 168, 174, 200.
Alleyne, Lieut.-Col., 394.
Amr-el-Makashef, 216, 233, 235, 237.
Anson (Lord), 316.
Arabi Dafalla (Emir), 591.
Arabi Pasha, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 32, 33, 35, 39, 40, 41,
43, 52, 57, 60, 88, 91, 99, 104, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113,
166, 183, 202-10.
Ardagh, Major, 111, 113.
Argin, battle of, 475-8.
Armour-clad train, 116, 187.
Army of Occupation, 199, 200, 230, 250, 450-9.
Ashburnham, Lieut.-Col., 172.
Aslam, Fort, 187.
Atbara, battle of the, 541-51.
Australian Infantry and Artillery in Souakim Expedition (1885),
410, 430, 432, 436.
Awad-el-Kerim, 217.
Azhar, El, 15, 109.
Baggaras, 213-14, 461-2, 472, 486, 509, 517.
Baker, Sir Samuel, 212, 243.
Baker, Gen. Val., 257-65.
Baring, Sir E. (Lord Cromer), 12, 232, 251-2, 357, 496, 501,
507, 590.
Barrow, Lieut.-Col., 284-5, 339.
Barthélemy St.-Hilaire, M., 36.
Bayuda desert, 333, 386, 388, 393.
Beale, Lieut.-Col., 397.
Benha, massacre at, 57, 107.
Berber, advance of Sirdar to, 519;
taken by Gen. Hunter, 523.
Beresford, Lord Charles, 71, 104, 329, 332, 344, 350, 363, 368,
370-1, 389.
"Black Watch" (The), 283, 296, 299, 303.
Blignières, M. de, 7, 12, 224.
Blunt, Mr. Wilfrid S., 31, 202.
Bombardment, see Alexandria.
Borelli Bey, 203.
Boscawen, Col., 364.
Brackenbury, Col., 316;
Brigadier-Gen., with Nile Column, 393;
succeeds Gen. Earle, 347, 398-401.
Brédif, M., 224-5.
Broadley, Mr., 202.
Broadwood, Col., 565.
Buller, Gen. Redvers, 274, 277-8, 291;
at Tamaai, 299-300, 305, 316-17;
chief of Wolseley's staff, 380;
commanding Desert Column, 387;
at Abu Klea, 391;
advises retention of Dongola, 344.
Burnaby, Col., 282, 339, 341, 344.
Burn-Murdoch, Lieut., 181;
(Major) 510-12.
Butler, Col. (Brigadier-Gen.), 394, 397, 400-1, 437, 447.
Cairo, alarm in, 34, 36;
Arabist plan for burning, 180 _note_;
captured by Gen. Drury-Lowe, 181-3.
Caldecott, Capt., killed at Omdurman, 564.
Camel Corps, 324, 330, 332.
Cartwright, Consul-Gen., 58, 108, 131.
Cavalieri, Lieut., 264.
Cave, Mr., 1, 2.
Channes, M. Gabriel, 191.
Cherif Pasha, 4-5, 21, 23, 39, 185.
Chermside, Col., 468-9.
Cholera epidemic among troops, 514.
Clery, Col., 289.
Coëtlogon, see De Coëtlogon.
Colborne, Col., 236.
Collinson, Lieut.-Col., commanding Egyptian Brigade, 553, 559-60,
567.
"Colonels," The, 15, 17.
Colville, Commander, and steam flotilla at Hafir, 515-16.
Colvin, Mr. (Sir) Auckland, 19, 33, 64-5, 111, 224.
Commission of Inquiry, 4, 6;
of Liquidation, 13;
of Public Debt, 2.
_Condor_, H.M.S., 71.
Conference at Constantinople, 120-7.
CONNAUGHT,. H.R.H. the Duke of, at Alexandria, 132;
at Tel-el-Mahuta, 156;
at Tel-el-Kebir, 172.
Control, Dual, see Dual Control.
Cook and Son, 316, 507, 554.
Cookson, Mr. (Sir) Charles, 20, 41, 45-6.
Cornish, Mr. J. E., 65, 112.
"Courbache" abolished, 494.
Coveney, Lieut., killed, 399.
Cromer, Lord, see Baring.
Curzon, Mr., 504.
Cuzzi, Mr., 311.
Damietta, capitulation of, 185.
Daoud Pasha, 18.
Davis, Gen., 274, 277, 291, 296, 304.
Decazes, Duc, 2.
De Chair, Mr. Dudley, 117.
De Coëtlogon, Col., 236, 271.
Dervish Pasha, 43, 55-6, 60, 106.
Desert march of Stewart's Column, 333-40.
Dickson, Major (Royals), killed at Abu Klea, 341.
Dongola, Wolseley at, 324;
the Mudir knighted, 325;
his _bon mot_ about camels, 404;
Wolseley again arrives, 437;
reconquest decided upon, expedition, 501-18;
capture, 517-18.
Dormer Gen., 404;
astonishes dervishes, 408.
Dorrien, Lieut., 62.
Dorward, Major, 322, 336, 350.
Dowell, Admiral, 63, 103, 185.
Drummond-Wolff Convention, 444;
Sir H., 458.
Drury-Lowe, Major-Gen., 133, 156, 162-3, 173, 183.
Dual Control, 7, 8, 12, 24, 224-5.
Dual Note, 39.
Duem attacked by Mahdists, 233.
Dufferin, Lord, 121-3-4, 128-31, 193-8, 200, 224-9.
Dum-dum bullets, 552-3.
Earle, Major-Gen. W., 132, 317, 332, 393-4;
killed, 397.
Egerton, Mr., 311, 367.
Egypt, financial condition (1875), 1-7;
English policy towards, 28;
Arabist troubles, see Alexandria, Arabi Pasha, Cairo;
benefits of British occupation, 595-600.
Egyptian troops, 260;
army, 505.
El Obeid, see Obeid.
El Teb disaster, 259-65;
victory, 277-87.
Eyre, Lieut.-Col., killed, 397.
Fakri Pasha, 499.
Farag Pasha, 376, 379.
Faragallah Bey, 373.
Farquhar, Col., 236-7, 240.
Fashoda, Capt. (Major) Marchand at, 585-8.
Fenwick, Capt, at Khor Wintri, 491.
Ferket, battle of, 510-12.
Fisher, Capt., and armour-clad train, 116.
Fitzmaurice, Lord E., 307.
Fitz-Roy, Capt. R. O. B., 135-6, 146.
Forts at Alexandria, armament, 67.
Frankfort, Lord, see Montmorency.
Freeman, Lieut., 285.
Fremantle, Gen. A. J. L., 410.
Galioub, outrage at, 107.
Gascoigne, Capt., 364-7, 370.
Gatacre, Major-Gen., with British Brigade in Soudan, 531-2;
at battle of the Atbara, 544-5;
with British force for Omdurman, 552.
Giegler Pasha, 216-17.
Ginnis and Kosheh, battles of: defeat of Khalifa, 451-3.
Girouard, Capt. (R.E.), 506, 513, 520.
Goodenough, Brigadier-Gen., 132, 173, 175.
Goodrich, Lieutenant-Commander (U.S.N.), 81 _note_.
Gordon, Gen. C. G. (Pasha), 212;
his mission, 267-72, 307-8;
relief expedition, 309-15, 321, 326-8, 337;
Journals, 355-62; 371;
death, 381.
Gordon, Major Staveley, 555.
Graham, Gen. Sir Gerald, 132, 153, 159, 172, 274, 307, 410, 430-7.
Granville, Lord, 27-8, 30, 36-7, 121-2, 125, 220, 222-3, 232, 253,
308, 311, 453.
Greaves, Major-Gen., 410.
Gregory, Sir W., 31.
Grenfell, Gen. Sir F., appointed Sirdar, 388;
to command frontier field force, 447;
at Souakim, 463;
at Assouan, 479;
at Toski, 481.
Grenfell, Lieut., killed, 566.
Grigolini, Sister Teresa, 577.
Gubat (Abu Kru), 352, 354, 363;
retreat from, 386-93.
Hafir, battle of, 515-16.
Hag Mahomed Ismail, 50 _note_.
Halton Pasha, 65 _note_.
Hamley, Gen. Sir E., 110, 132, 165, 172, 177, 185-6.
Hammill, Commander, 89, 98, 100, 313, 317-19.
Handoub, Osman Digna's camp at, 464-6.
Harman, Gen. G. B., 132.
Hasheen, battle of, 412-15.
Henderson, Commander, 120.
Herbin, M., 319, 320, 325.
Hewett, Admiral Sir W., 136, 149, 257, 265-6, 275;
at El Teb, 289.
Hicks Pasha (Col. W.) 235, 239, 243, 250.
Holled-Smith, Lieut.-Col., 464;
captures Handoub, 487;
defeats Osman Digna at Tokar, 488-9.
Hoskins, Admiral, 135, 142.
Houston Stewart, Lieut., 299.
Hudson, Gen., 432, 459, 460.
Hunter, Major, 477, 482, 490;
(Col.) at Wady Halfa, 505;
takes Akasheh, 508;
(Major-Gen.) at Merawi, 519;
victor at Abu Hamid, 522-3;
takes Berber, 523;
battle at Nakheila, 538-40;
Atbara, 546;
commands Egyptians at Omdurman, 553.
Hussein Ismail, 320, 394.
Hussein Pasha Serri, 234.
Ibrahim Pasha, 11.
Incendiarism at Alexandria, 97, 101, 106.
International Commission on Suez Canal, 455.
International Tribunals, 254;
see Mixed Tribunals.
Ismail Pasha (Khedive), 1-4, 6-12.
Ismail Pasha Saddyk (the "Mofettish"), 22.
Ismailia, British occupation, 145-9.
Italian Army defeated at Adowa, 503;
garrison at Kassala threatened, 504 (see Kassala);
Italians defeat 5,000 dervishes, 529.
Jaalin Arabs, 462, 472, 509, 517;
massacred by dervishes, 521.
Joint Notes (Eng. & French) to Khedive, 26-7.
Kafr Dowar, 104, 112, 168 _note_, 185, 187.
Kan, disaster at, 219.
Kashgil, Hicks Pasha defeated and killed, 246.
Kassala taken by Osman Digna, 528;
by Italians, _ibid._;
Italian garrison at, 504;
restored to Egypt, 528-30.
Kassassin, battle of, 159-67.
Kempster, Capt., 475-7.
Keppel, Commander, and gunboats at Metammeh, 525-6;
at Omdurman, 557-9.
Khalifa succeeds Mahdi, 448;
proclamations, 467;
army at Omdurman, 530;
defeated by Sirdar Kitchener, 559-72;
again by Sir F. R. Wingate and killed, 594.
Khartoum invested by Mahdists, 308;
"all right," 337, 361;
Wilson's voyage to, 361-71;
fall, 379-83.
Khasm-el-Mus, 319, 354, 363, 365-368.
Khedive, see Ismail Pasha, Tewfik Pasha.
Khor Wintri, 491.
Kinje Osman, 112, 116-17, 188.
Kirbekan, battle of, 394-9.
Kitchener, Major (Sir) Herbert, 325, 333, 336;
(Col.) Gov.-Gen. Eastern Soudan, 461;
wounded, 461, 464;
in command at Souakim, 466;
at Toski, 480;
Sirdar, 503;
takes over Kassala from Italian garrison, 528-9;
defeats Khalifa at Omdurman, 559-74;
created Baron Kitchener of Khartoum, 572;
demonstration at Khartoum, 582-3.
Kitchener, Col., sent against Khalifa, 590.
Klootz, Adolf ("Vizetelly"), 249.
Kordofan in power of Mahdi, 235.
Korti, Wolseley at, 330, 401;
withdrawal from, to Dongola, 437.
Kosheh and Ginnis, defeat of Khalifa, 451.
Lancers (21st) at Omdurman, 451.
Lesseps, M. Ferdinand de, 137-43;
M. Victor de, 137, 147;
M. Charles de, 142.
Lewis, Lieut.-Col., 536, 593.
London Convention, 454.
Lyons, Lord, 27, 61, 124, 142.
Lyttelton, Brigadier-Gen. Hon. A. G., 552.
Macdonald, Lieut.-Col., at battle of the Atbara, 536;
at battle of Omdurman, 568-71.
Machell, Lieut., 472.
McNeill, Major-Gen. Sir J. C., 410;
attack on his zeriba, 416-29.
Macpherson, Gen. Sir H., 173.
Mahdi, The, 213-19, 232-42;
second hanged by first, 233;
captures Khartoum, 378-83;
prepares to invade Egypt, 447;
death, 448 (see Khalifa);
tomb destroyed, 582.
Mahmoud Choukri Bey, 143.
Mahmoud (Emir), Khalifa's general, captured, 549.
Mahmoud Pasha Fehmi, 143, 186, 201.
Mahmoud Sami Pasha, 15-18, 23-6, 32-3, 35, 39, 201.
Mahmoud Talma Pasha, 255.
Mahomet Saleh, 214.
Mahsameh captured, 157.
Malet, Sir E., 26, 30, 34, 37, 58, 203.
Marabieh, Hicks defeats Mahdists at, 236-8.
Marchand, Capt. (Major), at Fashoda, 585-8.
Martin, Major, with Hicks Pasha, 236;
(Col.) at Omdurman, 566.
Massacre of foreigners in Alexandria, 44-53;
at Tantah, 107;
at Khartoum, 382;
of Jaalins at Metammeh, 521.
Massey, Capt., with Hicks Pasha, 236.
Maude, Commander, 105.
Mernat Island, 367.
Metammeh, advance on, 347-54;
attacked by Keppel (_q.v._), 525-6;
massacre of Jaalins, 521.
Milner, Sir Alfred, on British troops in Egypt, 459;
on Sir E. Baring, 498.
Mixed Tribunals, 3, 454.
"Mofettish," The, 22.
Mohammed-el-Kheir (Emir), 447, 466-7.
Mohammed Mousa, 301.
Moncrieff, Capt. (R.N.), 256.
Moncrieff, Sir Colin Scott, 495.
Money, Lieut.-Col., 536.
Montmorency, Major-Gen. Hon. R. H. de (Lord Frankfort), 467-8, 479.
Morice Bey, 176 _note_, 208, 257, 262, 289.
Moukhtar Pasha, 458.
Murray, Col. (Seaforth Highlanders), 536.
Mustapha Pasha Fehmi, 496, 499.
Mustaphazin, 46-9.
Nakheila, battle at, 538-40.
Napier, Hon. Mark, 202-3.
Naval Brigade at Abu Klea, 344.
Neufeld, Mr. Charles, 576.
Ninet, Mr. John, 74, 184 _note_, 189, 192.
Northcote, Sir S., on Soudan policy, 409.
Nubar Pasha, 91, 253-4, 441, 494-5, 501.
Nubir Yussef Pasha, 216-18.
Nur-el-Kanzi (Emir), 467-9.
Nusri Pasha, 354.
Obeid, Mahdi repulsed at, 218-19;
capitulates, 235.
Omar Pasha Loutfi, 41, 46, 56, 107.
Om Debrikat, battle of: Khalifa killed, 594.
Omdurman captured by Mahdi, 373-4;
retaken by Sirdar (Kitchener), 574.
Oman Azrak (Emir), 513.
Osman Digna, 255-75, 290, 301, 303, 306, 432-4, 436, 460-2, 465,
486, 488-92, 524, 595.
Osman Pasha Rifki, 14, 17, 33.
Parsons, Col., at Kassala, 529-30;
defeats Ahmed Fedil, 588-9.
Port Saïd, British occupation, 144-5.
Power, Mr., Brit. Consul at Khartoum, murdered, 319.
Probyn, Lieut., killed, 285.
Quayle-Jones, Col., 536.
Ragheb Pasha, 57, 185.
Ramleh, fight at, 114-15.
Reouf Pasha, 206, 214.
Riaz Pasha, 5, 12, 253, 495-6, 499, 500-1.
Ribton, Mr. H. P., case of, 49.
Riots at Alexandria, 44-60.
Rosières, 587, 589.
Rundle, Major, 468;
Col., 505 _note_;
Gen., 589.
Russell, Col. Sir Baker, 156, 163.
St. Vincent, Lord, 346.
Saleh Aga defeats Mahdists at Sennar, 216-17.
Salisbury, Marquis of, 8, 59, 409, 441-4, 493, 586-8.
Sami Pasha, see Mahmoud Sami Pasha.
Sarras seized by dervishes, 468, 470-1;
retaken, 485.
Sartorius, Col. (Pasha), 256, 260-1.
Seymour, Admiral Sir B., 41-2, 53, 60-5, 68, 103, 106, 137, 151-2,
199.
Sheikh-el-Din, son of Khalifa, 565.
Shendy, 363.
Sinkat, fall of, 266.
Sirdar, see Wood, Gen. Sir E.; Grenfell, Gen. Sir F.; Kitchener,
Sir H.
Slade, Major, killed at El Teb, 286.
Slatin Pasha, 381, 507, 551, 583.
Souakim Expedition (1884), 272-7;
(1885), 408-16.
Souakim-Berber Railway, 405-7, 410, 411, 435-6.
Soudan, state of, 210-19;
abandonment, 249;
Graham in Eastern, 430-7;
evacuation, 442.
Stephenson, Lieut.-Gen. F. C. A., 232, 274, 313-14;
takes over command from Wolseley, 442;
with frontier force at Wady Halfa, 450;
defeats Khalifa, 451.
Stewart, Col., with Gordon at Khartoum, 271;
murdered, 319-20.
Stewart, Gen., with Graham at El Teb, 278, 283;
at Tamaai, 294;
at Otao, 304, 349, 389;
death, 392.
Stuart-Wortley, Lieut., 364-5, 368.
Suez Canal: Ismail Pasha's shares, 1;
International Commission, 455;
Canal seized by British force, see Ismailia, Port Saïd, Lesseps.
Suleiman Pasha, 236, 239, 256.
Suleiman Wad Gamr, murderer of Col. Stewart, 320, 393, 400;
killed, 501.
Sultan Pasha, 35, 100, 192-3.
Talbot, Col., 363, 388.
Tamaai, Graham's victory at, 290-302.
Tapp, Col., killed, 462.
Tewfik Bey and garrison of Sinkat, 266.
Tewfik Pasha, 12, 21-2, 109, 198, 494;
death, 497.
Thackwell, Lieut.-Col., 119.
Tigrane Pasha, 499.
Tokar surrenders to Mahdi, 275;
retaken by Gen. Sir G. Graham, 289;
by Col. Holled-Smith, 488-90.
Toski, battle of, 480-5.
Toulba Pasha, 40, 62, 73, 99, 100.
Trafford, Capt., 364.
Tribunals, Mixed, 3, 454.
Turkish troops for Egypt, 193-8.
Tuson, Col., 120.
Urquhart, Major, killed, 545.
Vandeleur, Col., 339.
Van Koughnet, Lieut., 368-9.
Verner, Col., 546.
Vincent, Sir Edgar, 495.
Vivian, Hon. H. C., 3, 6.
Vyse, Lieut. Howard, killed, 119.
Wad-en-Nejumi, Mahdist general at Khartoum, 373 and _note_, 378,
448;
defeated and killed at Toski, 480-5.
Wad Helu (Emir), Mahdist general at Omdurman, 565, 570;
killed, 595.
Wady Halfa, Wolseley at, 318.
Walford, Capt. N. Z., 80 _note_.
Wardrop, Major, 390.
Warner, Capt., with Hicks Pasha, 235.
Watson, Capt. (R.E.), 181;
(Major) Gov.-Gen. Eastern Soudan, 460.
Wauchope, Gen. H. G., 552.
Way, Col., at McNeill's zeriba, 423.
Webster, Lieut.-Col., at El Teb, 284.
"Whalers," 315;
their failure, 322.
Willis, Lieut.-Gen. G. H. S., 110, 132, 172.
Willson, Col. Mildmay, 368 _note_.
Wilson, Capt. (H.M.S. _Hecla_), 282.
Wilson, Col. Sir Charles, 204, 209, 316, 345, 349, 353;
voyage to Khartoum, 361-71, 384-5, 440.
Wilson, Mr. (Sir) C. Rivers, 7, 9, 204-5.
Wingate, Major, 507;
Col. Sir F. R., defeats Ahmed Fedil and the Khalifa, 592-4.
Wodehouse, Col., 470, 475-9, 483.
Wolseley, Gen. Sir Garnet (Lord), appointed to command British
Expedition to Egypt, 110, 131, 152, 156-7, 168, 183, 199,
200, 312-13, 317, 331;
on fall of Khartoum, 402-3;
embarks for Souakim, 440;
advises retention of Dongola, _ibid._;
urges "smashing" of Mahdi, 442.
Wood, Col., at El Teb, 284.
Wood, Gen. Sir Evelyn, 132, 185-7;
appointed Sirdar, 226, 317;
chief of Wolseley's staff, 387-8.
Yacoub Pasha Sami, 55, 184, 187-8.
Zag-a-zig captured by Bengal Cavalry, 180-1.
THE END.
PRINTED BY
KELLY'S DIRECTORIES, LIMITED, KINGSTON-ON-THAMES;
AND HIGH HOLBORN.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The exact number of shares was 176,602, and the "mess of pottage"
for which Ismail bartered away his birthright was £3,976,582. The same
shares at to-day's prices are worth just £25,077,484.
[2] "Khedives and Pashas," page 172, by C. Moberly Bell.
[3] Cherif, who was as good a sportsman as he was a billiard player,
went to his "long rest" at Aix-les-Bains, on the 19th April, 1887.
[4] The Arabs have a proverb, "A dog's tail will never stand straight,"
meaning that evil habits, once acquired, cannot be got rid of.
[5] Ismail landed at Naples, and resided in many places in Europe,
principally in Paris and London, till in December, 1887, he was
permitted to settle at Constantinople, where he died in 1895. His body
was brought back to Egypt and interred with great ceremony.
[6] Tewfik went to Europe in 1870, but was recalled when he had only got
as far as Vienna.
[7] Saddyk was taken by Ismail in his carriage to the Palace at Ghezireh
on 14th November, 1876, and was never after seen alive.
[8] "Egypt and the Egyptian Question," by D. Mackenzie Wallace, page 85.
[9] Every reader of Egyptian history will remember that the Mamelukes
being in revolt against Mehemet Ali, were by a device induced to meet at
the Citadel, where, with the exception of one who escaped by a perilous
leap on horseback, they were all put to death.
[10] "Khedives and Pashas," pp. 111-2.
[11] Parliamentary Papers, Egypt, No. 4, 1883, page 88.
[12] It is gratifying to be able to add that, as an acknowledgment of
Mr. Cookson's services on this occasion, he received by telegraph an
expression of sympathy from Her Majesty's Government.
[13] The actual murderer of Mr. Ribton was Hag Mahomed Ismail, who was
subsequently convicted and hanged.
[14] Parliamentary Blue Book, Egypt, No. 16, 1882, page 17.
[15] It is only right to mention that the authenticated cases are less
than half the number above given.
[16] Mr. Simon Wolff, the United States Consul-General, was invited by
one of his colleagues to flee with the rest, as "there was to be a
massacre of all the Europeans and Christians." Mr. Wolff, who was a
member of the Hebrew community, remarked that he did not see how that
would affect him, as he was neither one nor the other, and he remained
at his post.
[17] This despatch was not delivered to the Admiral till the following
day.
[18] There were, however, two exceptions which deserve to be mentioned.
One was Mr. J. Easton Cornish, the English manager of the Alexandria
Water Works, who resolutely refused to desert his post. The other was
the Director-General of the Egyptian Postal Administration, the late
Halton Pasha, likewise an Englishman, who, having a large number of
European employés under his care, determined not to forsake them, and
embarked at the last moment with them in a small steamer which remained
moored alongside the breakwater during the bombardment.
[19] Although the fact in no way detracts from the gallant conduct of
Lord Charles Beresford's exploit, it is necessary to add that the only
real injury sustained by the fort was the burning of a small store.
There were several hits on the scarp, but none of the guns were touched.
[20] At the bombardment of Algiers, by Lord Exmouth, the British loss
was no less than 128 killed and 690 wounded.
[21] For his conduct on this occasion Mr. Harding received the Victoria
Cross.
[22] Mr. John Ninet, in his work, "Arabi Pasha," puts the number of
Egyptians killed during the bombardment at 680. General Stone, an
American officer, serving as the Khedive's Chief of the Staff, estimates
them at 700.
[23] The uncertainty attending the fire of war-ships in action was
recently illustrated, though under totally different circumstances, in
the engagement between the American and Spanish fleets at Santiago. On
that occasion, out of a total of 8,060 rounds fired from the United
States vessels, only 123, or 1·4 per cent., struck the enemy; whilst out
of 47 rounds fired by the 13-inch guns there was not a single hit. The
American loss was one man killed and one wounded, against 350 killed and
160 wounded on the Spanish side.
[24] There were 1,731 shot and shell fired from the heavy guns. Of
these, 88 were fired from the _Inflexible's_ 80-ton guns. The average
number of rounds for the heavy guns of the fleet was a little over 20
for each gun.
At the bombardment of Algiers one ship, H.M.S. _Queen Charlotte_, alone
fired 4,462 round shot.
[25] The writer is indebted for much of the following information to the
able report of Captain N. L. Walford, R.A.
[26] Report of Lieutenant-Commander Goodrich, U.S.N.
[27] In August, 1882, these two guns were removed to Ramleh for the
purpose of firing on the enemy's lines.
[28] The dead were taken along the Boulevard de Rosette to the native
hospital, where the bodies were at once interred.
[29] On the 13th the troops removed to Esbet Horshid, 5,000 metres south
of Millaha junction on the Cairo railway, so as not to be exposed to the
fire of the ships. On the 14th they moved to Kingi Osman and Kafr Dowar,
where they entrenched themselves.
[30] Afterwards Sir Edward Zohrab Pasha K.C.M G.
[31] At the time when the town was a mass of smouldering ruins, and such
shops as existed had been looted, a youthful midshipman of the fleet,
ashore, on being asked what he thought of Alexandria, replied, "Oh, the
place is well enough; the only thing is, _jam_ is so dear."
[32] The commander of the German gunboat _Habicht_, who landed on the
14th, found a dozen bodies of Europeans lying in the streets which he
had to pass through on his way to the German Hospital.
[33] The Hôtel Abbat, so well known to European visitors, was only saved
by a clever ruse on the part of the Berberine "Bowab," or doorkeeper,
who was left in sole charge of the premises. When a mob of native
pillagers hammered at the door to obtain admittance, the faithful
domestic, from the inside, recollecting some of the choice expressions
he had picked up from British tourists, shouted, "You b---- b----s;
what the b---- h---- do you want?" &c., &c. The effect was magical. The
assailants said to each other, "Why, the house is full of Inglesi!" and
hurriedly made a retreat, leaving the hotel uninjured.
[34] Of the pecuniary loss sustained through the pillage and
incendiarism some idea may be formed from the statistics subsequently
furnished by the International Commission of Indemnities. The total sum
awarded was 106,820,236 francs, or £4,341,011. Of this sum,
26,750,175fr., or £1,070,007, was given for house property destroyed,
and 34,635,050fr., or £1,385,402, for furniture, and 43,395,061 fr., or
£1,735,806, for merchandise. When one bears in mind that the Decree
appointing the Commission expressly excluded claims for money,
jewellery, securities, and works of art, it will be obvious that the
total value of property stolen or destroyed must have considerably
exceeded the sums above quoted.
[35] This wanton and useless work of destruction was repeated at all the
forts bearing on the sea. The light guns (6-1/2 inch S.B.) were hove off
their carriages, and the rifled guns treated with gun-cotton. Hundreds
of tons of gunpowder were ruined, and scores of valuable guns rendered
useless. The object of this destruction is hardly evident. It is the
more incomprehensible as on the 13th July Admiral Seymour had received a
despatch from the Admiralty in the following terms: "Opposition having
ceased, do not dismantle forts or disable guns."
[36] The reinforcements which were prepared after the despatch of the
first corps amounted to 280 officers and 10,800 men, so that the total
force despatched, or in the act of being despatched, to the end of the
war from Great Britain and the Mediterranean stations amounted to 1,290
officers and 32,000 men. The Indian contingent, including a small
reserve left at Aden, consisted of 170 officers and 7,100 men. Some of
these, consisting of depóts, and drafts, and one infantry battalion,
were stopped at the last moment, but on the whole not far short of
40,000 men were sent. The troops despatched from India were the 1st
Seaforth Highlanders and the 1st Manchester, two Bengal and one Bombay
battalions of Native Infantry, with one 9-pounder field battery and one
mountain battery, each of six guns, and three regiments of Bengal
cavalry, with some sappers and miners from Madras. The force was
accompanied by about 3,500 followers, including transport drivers, 1,700
horses, 840 ponies, and nearly 5,000 mules, some for regimental and
others for general transport purposes. The first battalion left Bombay
on the 22nd July. The rest of the force received their orders on the
24th July, and began to leave on August 5th. The Government engaged 71
transports in England and 54 in India.
[37] Mr. Cornish had the decoration of the C.M.G. conferred on him for
his conduct on this occasion.
[38] It is only fair to the British army to say that but very little
looting was ever proved against them during this period. Isolated cases
of breaking into houses and carrying off wines and spirits occurred, but
these were almost the only instances. The foreign population of
Alexandria and Ramleh have frequently borne testimony to this effect, as
well as to the perfect impartiality with which British cellars, as well
as those of other Europeans, were requisitioned by individual soldiers
and sailors in an informal manner.
[39] Mr. de Chair was sent by Arabi to Cairo, where, a report having
been circulated that Admiral Seymour was being brought a prisoner to the
capital, great crowds of natives assembled. Mr. de Chair was lodged in a
building at Abdin used as a school for the sons of officers of the army
and well treated, and at the conclusion of hostilities he was released.
[40] The picket on this occasion retired with some precipitancy, and the
circumstance was taken advantage of by one of the London newspapers to
publish a highly coloured account of the affair, which was afterwards
officially contradicted.
[41] The Mahmoudieh Canal, connecting Alexandria with the Nile, was one
of Mehemet Ali's greatest works. Whilst it was in course of construction
a French engineer was asked by the Pasha what he thought of the plan.
The Frenchman replied, "Your Highness must pardon me if I suggest that
your canal will be very crooked." "Do your rivers in France run in a
straight line?" asked the Pasha. "Certainly not," said the man of
science. "Who made them; was it not Allah?" again questioned the Pasha.
"Assuredly," was the reply. "Well then," the Pasha triumphantly
exclaimed, "do you think that either you or I know better than Allah how
water ought to run?"
[42] One of the three mutinous Colonels.
[43] It will be noticed that Lord Granville's proposal was no longer
limited to the protection of the Suez Canal, but pointed to a joint
military intervention to put an end to loss of life and anarchy.
[44] Port Saïd was held by the ship's marines and bluejackets until 16th
September, when they were relieved by 200 Royal Marine Light Infantry
and 100 Royal Marine Artillery sent from England.
[45] His relatives received £1,000 by way of compensation from the
British Government.
[46] This is absolutely untrue.
[47] But see letter from the Secretary to the Admiralty on the next
page.
[48] These dues were, with unnecessary liberality, paid subsequently by
the British Government.
[49] On the contrary, the ships in general were navigated by their own
officers and almost without accident.
[50] Despatches from the Captains of the _Orion_ and _Carysfort_.
[51] This vessel was one of the few which had a pilot (formerly in the
Canal Company's service) on board.
[52] It is related that the President of the Canal Company subsequently
posted himself at the landing-place at Ismailia at the moment when a
number of men from the ships were about to disembark, and emphatically
declared that "no one should land except over his dead body." This,
however, was without effect, for according to the story he was gently
pushed aside by a bluejacket with the observation--"We don't want any
dead bodies about here, sir; all you've got to do is to step back a
bit." Though the anecdote is probably apocryphal, it serves to
illustrate exactly the attitude adopted by the British Navy towards the
Canal authorities.
[53] It is related that one of the men-of-wars' men, when in working
dress and carrying a huge package of stores, was accosted by a smart
Commissariat officer, who asked the sailor who he was. Jack stopped in
his work, and wiping the perspiration from his brow, replied, "Well,
sir, I used to be a British sailor, but now I'm blowed if I don't begin
to think I'm a blooming Commissariat mule."
[54] The dam, which by threatening the water supply had necessitated the
advance, was found to have been made of bundles of reeds cleverly lashed
together with telegraph wire, with sand thrown over each layer. All the
next day the bluejackets, assisted by a fatigue party of soldiers, went
to work up to their necks in the water trying to cut through the dam.
Little or no impression, however, was made upon it. It was then operated
on with gun-cotton, which had but little effect on the sand. A large
hole was made, but it instantly filled up again. Pickaxes and shovels
were then set to work, but it was not until the 27th that the dam was at
last cleared away and the Canal opened to navigation.
[55] "Egypt in the Nineteenth Century," by A. D. Cameron, pp. 76-77.
[56] Mahmoud Pasha Fehmi, who was captured, was the Chief of the Staff
of the Egyptian Army. He missed the train and was found strolling,
apparently unconcerned, about the railway station at Mahsameh. As he was
in the ordinary Egyptian dress with a "tarboosh" and white umbrella, he
would probably have got away unobserved had he not been recognized and
denounced by a wounded Egyptian soldier.
[57] Tel-el-Kebir and Kafr Dowar are the two great strategical points to
be held in defending Lower Egypt. This will at once be seen on referring
to a map of the Delta.
[58] This was turned by the Highlanders, who passed to the south.
[59] This work was absolutely useless in the battle, being taken by the
Highlanders in the rear and by the 2nd Brigade in the flanks.
[60] As a fact 25,000 rations were served out to the Egyptian force at
Tel-el-Kebir on the 12th September.
[61] This order being disobeyed by a drunken soldier, who by his
shouting might have betrayed the presence of the force to the enemy, he
was promptly seized, bound, and chloroformed into a quiescent state.
[62] 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, Royal Marine Light Infantry,
2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment, 1st Battalion Royal Irish
Fusiliers.
[63] This firing, which is recorded in the Report of Commander Goodrich,
page 153, is in partial contradiction to Wolseley's despatch.
[64] 1st Battalion Royal Highlanders, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders,
1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders, 2nd Battalion Highland Light
Infantry. This brigade was supported by Colonel Ashburnham's, consisting
of the King's Royal Rifles and the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.
[65] 7--1 Royal Artillery (mountain battery), 1st Battalion Seaforth
Highlanders, 3rd Battalion Native Infantry, made up of detachments of
7th Bengal Native Infantry, 20th Punjaub Infantry, and 29th Beloochees.
[66] Meanwhile, on the other side of the Canal, the Naval Gatlings were
busily employed firing on the Egyptian lines in front and on either
hand.
[67] Household Cavalry, 4th Dragoon Guards, 7th Dragoon Guards, Mounted
Infantry, Royal Horse Artillery, Bengal Cavalry, Bengal Lancers.
[68] Sir Edward Hamley was of opinion that the alarm was given by
mounted scouts who were met on the march.
[69] Arabi subsequently told the late Morice Bey (who conducted him a
prisoner to Ceylon) that at the time of the attack he was in bed, and
the English did not leave him time enough to get his boots on.
[70] A naval officer who visited the redoubt the following day described
it as a perfect "charnel-house."
[71] Dr. Shaw, of the Royal Marines, whilst attending one of the
Egyptian wounded, happening to turn aside for a moment, was shot at by
his patient. This ingratitude was too much for the doctor's orderly,
who, with a bayonet, at once despatched the assailant.
[72] An elaborate plan was devised for the repetition of the Alexandria
outrages. According to this scheme Cairo was divided into a number of
districts, and fire was to be applied simultaneously to certain houses
indicated. This was to take place after the morning prayer on the 15th,
the very day after the city was taken by General Drury-Lowe's force.
[73] The cavalry had marched sixty-five miles in two days.
[74] According to "Arabi Pasha," by Mr. John Ninet, already quoted, the
majority of the Council were in favour of defending Cairo. The Citadel,
it was pointed out, was in good repair, and it would be easy to act as
the French did at the beginning of the century to put an end to any
revolt. Arabi, however, opposed.
[75] This officer was subsequently tried by court-martial and sentenced
to two years' imprisonment.
[76] Whilst the Egyptian arms were being handed over, a somewhat
amusing incident occurred at a café in the village, where some
Europeans and natives were sitting. As they were taking their coffee a
respectable-looking old Arab Sheikh rushed in and very excitedly asked
if there was any one present who spoke "Inglesi." One of the party
replied in the affirmative, and asked what the man wanted. He declared
that the soldiers were breaking into his harem, and he wanted some one
to go off with him to the General at once. The person addressed then
assured him that he ought not to mind, as it was always like that in war
time, and asked the old man to sit down and take a cup of coffee. The
man refused, and begged his would-be host to come at once, or it would
be too late. The latter again assured him that the proceeding complained
of was perfectly regular in a state of belligerency, and once more
pressed the man to take the coffee. The latter again asked if the other
was "quite sure," and receiving a reply in the affirmative he allowed
himself to be convinced, and then sitting down said, "In that case I
will take the coffee."
[77] This sentiment, however, subsided very quickly, and when, on a vote
of thanks being proposed in the House of Commons to the British army,
Sir Wilfrid Lawson moved as an amendment that "a vote of thanks should
be given to the Egyptian army for running away," his observations were
received with good-humoured laughter, if not with approval.
[78] Professor Palmer was murdered in the desert after the money was
taken from him.
[79] Mr. John Ninet.
[80] About the same period the Sultan bestowed a similar order on his
bootmaker at Constantinople. Upon the writer remarking to an Egyptian
official on the singularity of the circumstance, the latter replied,
"Yes; but he is a very good bootmaker, you know."
[81] Omar Ráhmi was Arabi's Private Secretary.
[82] This crime comes under Article 55 of the Ottoman Penal Code, which
lays down that every one who directly or indirectly incites subjects of
the Ottoman Empire to arm against the Imperial Government shall suffer
death.
[83] This crime comes under Article 111 of the Ottoman Military Penal
Code, viz.:--"Every Commander who, without motive, continues hostilities
after he has been officially informed of the conclusion of peace, or of
an armistice, shall suffer death."
[84] Suleiman Sami was subsequently convicted and hanged at Alexandria
on 9th June, 1883.
[85] Toulba, being in ill health, was permitted to return to Egypt early
in the present year (1899), and died in Cairo on the 16th July, 1899. On
the 18th July, 1899, a Decree was issued allowing Mahmoud Sami also to
return.
[86] The strength of a battalion varies from 700 to 750 men.
[87] Afterwards Sir Evelyn Baring.
[88] Two days before Lord Dufferin said farewell to Egypt, that is, on
the 1st May, 1883, he had the satisfaction of seeing established by
Khedivial Decree: 1st, Provincial Councils, for the purpose of fixing
the contributions to be levied for extraordinary local expenditure on
works of public utility; 2nd, a Legislative Council, to whom all new
laws have to be submitted for discussion; 3rd, a Chamber of Notables or
General Assembly, without whose consent no new tax can be levied.
[89] The reason for giving the nominal command to Suleiman was that the
Mahdist movement being a religious one, it was undesirable to increase
the fanaticism of its supporters by placing a Christian at the head of
the Egyptian troops.
[90] A German servant named Klein, attached to the expedition,
subsequently related that he remembered Colonel Farquhar coming into his
master's tent and saying, "We find the Mahdi has many friends among the
Egyptian officers."
[91] The account here given of Hicks' death is borne out to some extent
by another version, according to which, the cartridges being all spent,
Hicks put himself at the head of the army, and ordered bayonets to be
fixed. When last seen he was with his staff. Sword in one hand and
revolver in the other, he charged in the midst of the enemy, and
was in a few moments overpowered. Another report contains the
following:--"Surrounded by his staff, who dropped around him one by one,
Hicks fought like a lion, emptying his revolver thrice, and then hacking
with his sword, till a lance-thrust stretched him beside his slaughtered
companions." So impressed, according to one narrative, were the Arabs by
Hicks' gallantry that they resolved to build a tomb over his body in
recognition of his bravery. Klein, the German servant to one of Hicks'
officers (already referred to), and who managed to escape, reported that
Hicks was taken prisoner in the second day's fighting, and afterwards
killed at a place three days distant from Obeid. He adds that the
Pasha's hands were cut off, and he was cut to pieces afterwards.
[92] Klootz is the person referred to in many of the reports as
Vizetelly.
[93] He died in France, January, 1899.
[94] Lieutenant Cavalieri, and probably also many other officers, were
killed in this way.
[95] So sudden and rapid was the enemy's onset that only a single round
was fired, the Egyptian gunners bolting instantly afterwards.
[96] Colonel Barrow's life was saved by Quartermaster-Sergeant Marshall,
who caught him as he was falling, and seizing a loose horse belonging to
a dismounted trooper, was, with the assistance of the latter, placing
the colonel on it, when it fell. Marshall and the trooper then supported
the colonel through the scattered masses of the enemy. The danger run
may be imagined from the fact that Barrow and a corporal of the 19th,
named Murray, were the only two who, when unhorsed, escaped with their
lives. Murray had no less than four horses either speared, hamstrung, or
clubbed--a circumstance almost unexampled.
[97] Major Slade was not missed until the cavalry had for some time been
returning to the square. He is supposed to have been killed in an
attempt to help Lieutenant Probyn. Twelve spear wounds were found on his
body.
[98] Most of these were wholly untrained, and the rest only understood
one movement, viz., that of retreating in the presence of the enemy.
[99] Already in zeriba.
[100] This was the khor already spoken of.
[101] General Graham, who had taken the command of the brigade out of
the hands of General Davis, gave the order personally.
[102] It subsequently transpired that many of the "voyageurs" had
absolutely no experience in the management of boats, and were worse than
useless. There were some excellent men amongst them, and more
particularly among the Indians, but the general opinion was that the
bluejackets from the fleet could have performed the work far more
efficiently, besides being sober and amenable to discipline. When, in
addition, it is stated that the Canadians received very high salaries,
the wisdom of engaging these men for the Nile expedition appears open to
much doubt.
[103] A letter from the Mahdi states that all these fell into his hands.
[104] This is sometimes called New Dongola, and is not to be confused
with Old Dongola, some 60 or 70 miles further south, on the east bank.
[105] This was the notorious Oliver Pain.
[106] The prize, after a keen competition, was won by the Royal Irish
Regiment, the Royal Highlanders coming in second, and the West Kent
third.
[107] The appointment of Lord Charles Beresford was perhaps justly
regarded as a piece of favouritism. Commander Hammill, who had for
months been engaged in the preliminary work on the Nile, and whose
services in passing the steamers through the cataracts have been already
referred to, was passed over.
[108] The last whaler with troops did not arrive till 7th February,
1885.
[109] There was something anomalous in placing heavy cavalry in an
infantry square, a formation altogether contrary to the spirit of their
training and traditions. Notwithstanding this, the behaviour of the
force in the _mêlée_ which ensued, and the steadiness which enabled the
square to be re-formed under circumstances which rendered disaster
possible, were worthy of the finest traditions of the British Army.
[110] The screw guns of the Royal Artillery did immense service,
especially against the enemy's horsemen, three shrapnels going in their
midst, and again when a renewed attack was threatened from the enemy's
left. The shells caused utter demoralization. Altogether the battery
fired thirty-eight shrapnels, nineteen common shell and six case.
[111] Died of his wounds subsequently.
[112] Over a hundred camels with their loads were lost in this way.
[113] The story is told of one of the soldiers who on hearing the
creaking and groaning of one of the "sakheas," or waterwheels (a sound
which the troops had not heard since leaving Korti), exclaimed, "We
can't be far off now; I can hear them blooming musical boxes again."
[114] The men at the zeriba had passed an undisturbed night, part of
which they spent in looting the stores; the camel-drivers, native boys
from Aden, were the worst offenders.
[115] The command at Gubat was taken by Colonel Mildmay Willson, of the
Scots Guards, in the place of Colonel Boscawen, who had fallen ill.
[116] A court of inquiry was held at Gubat to investigate charges of
treachery against the two captains and one of the "Reises" (pilots) of
the wrecked steamers. The pilot was sentenced to death, but recommended
to mercy on account of his having brought down Stuart-Wortley in the
boat.
[117] Wad en Nejumi was subsequently killed at the battle of Toski, and
Abu Girgeh fell at Tokar.
[118] It should be explained that the word Dervish is derived from the
Persian language, and corresponds with the Arabic word "Fakir,"
signifying "poor." Strictly speaking, "Dervish" applies to a member of a
religious brotherhood or sect, but latterly, in matters dealing with the
Soudan, the term has been used to indicate all those who have assumed
the faith and uniform of the Mahdi.
[119] During the last six days before the fall of Khartoum, the rations
of the soldiers consisted of gum, and, when that failed, of palm-fibre
only.
[120] At a Court Martial held in Cairo on Hassan Bey, in June, 1887, on
a charge of treachery in connection with the fall of Khartoum, one of
the soldiers, being asked if the troops were exercised in "night
alarms," naïvely replied "that there was no necessity for any such
practice, as the enemy attacked every night."
[121] At the moment when the town was taken the train had not been
completely laid.
[122] The scheme fell through owing to a disagreement with the Greek
Consul. There is every reason to suppose that Gordon never had any
intention to escape himself in the steamer, although the Greeks formed
the design of taking him with them by force.
[123] For many of these details the author is indebted to "Mahdism and
the Egyptian Soudan," and to "Ten Years' Captivity in the Mahdi's Camp,"
both by Sir Francis R. Wingate, the head of the Intelligence Department
of the Egyptian army.
[124] Though the above is the generally accepted version of Gordon's
death, Mr. Charles Neufeld, in his lately published work "A Prisoner of
the Khalifa," gives the following narrative of the occurrence:--"Each
day at dawn, when he retired to rest, he bolted his door from the
inside, and placed his faithful body servant--Khaleel Agha Orphali--on
guard outside it. On the fatal night Gordon had, as usual, kept his
vigil on the roof of the Palace, sending and receiving telegraphic
messages from the lines every few minutes, and as dawn crept into the
skies, thinking that the long-threatened attack was not yet to be
delivered, he lay down, wearied out. The little firing heard a few
minutes later attracted no more attention than the usual firing which
had been going on continuously night and day for months, but when the
Palace guards were heard firing it was known that something serious was
happening. By the time Gordon had slipped into his old serge, or dark
tweed, suit, and taken his sword and revolver, the advanced Dervishes
were already surrounding the Palace. Overcoming the guards, a rush was
made up the stairs, and Gordon was met leaving his room. A small spear
was thrown, which wounded him, but very slightly, on the left shoulder.
Almost before the Dervishes knew what was happening, three of them lay
dead, and one wounded, at Gordon's feet; the remainder fled. Quickly
reloading his revolver, Gordon made for the head of the stairs, and
again drove the reassembling Dervishes off. Darting back to reload, he
received a stab in his left shoulder-blade from a Dervish concealed
behind the corridor door, and, on reaching the steps the third time, he
received a pistol-shot and spear-wound in his right breast, and then,
great soldier as he was, he rose almost above himself. With his life's
blood pouring from his breast--not his back, remember--he fought his way
step by step, kicking from his path the wounded and dead Dervishes; ...
and as he was passing through the doorway leading into the courtyard
another concealed Dervish almost severed his leg with a single blow.
Then Gordon fell."
[125] There is an entry in Gordon's Diary, dated the 12th November, to
the effect that the specie in the Treasury was then only £831, although
there was paper representing £42,800 more.
[126] Sir C. Wilson had left for Korti on the 5th.
[127] Major-General Sir Herbert Stewart was born in 1843, and was one of
the youngest generals in the service.
One of the earliest appointments made on the organization of the army
for the first Egyptian campaign was that of Stewart as Staff officer to
General Drury-Lowe, who was to command the cavalry division. He
distinguished himself at Tel-el-Kebir, and took part in Drury-Lowe's
brilliant ride to Cairo. When the Egyptians sent out a white flag to
meet the advancing British force, General (then Colonel) Stewart at the
head of a few Lancers and Dragoons, demanded, and received, the
surrender of the Egyptians at Abbassieh. He accompanied General Graham
to Souakim, and displayed conspicuous soldierly qualities at Tamaai.
[128] A private of the Duke of Cornwall's Regiment found in a donkey's
saddle-bag a letter in Arabic from the Governor of Berber to the
Governor of the district, and which was as follows:--"I inform you that
to-day, after the mid-day prayer, we received a letter from the faithful
Khalifa Abdullah Eben Mohammed, in which he tells us that Khartoum was
taken on Monday, the 9th Rabi, 1302, on the side of El Haoui, in the
following manner:--The Mahdi prayed his dervishes and his troops to
advance against the fortifications, and entered Khartoum in a quarter of
an hour. They killed the traitor Gordon, and captured the steamers and
boats. God has made him glorious. Be grateful and thank and praise God
for His unspeakable mercy. I announce it to you. Tell your troops."
Dated the 13th Rabi.
[129] There is an Arab proverb which here seems not inapplicable, "Being
worsted by his mother-in-law, he rounded on his wife," said of one who,
having been beaten by a person stronger than himself, takes his revenge
upon a weaker individual.
[130] It is said that the Mudir of Dongola being asked at this time if
there was any prospect of good camels being obtained, answered that "he
did not see why not, as the English had already bought up all the bad
ones."
[131] Lord Wolseley's reply did not appear in the Blue Book.
[132] The troops at Korti about this time received a visit from some
emissaries of the Mahdi, who interviewed General Dormer and pointed out
the wonderful things which their leader could do. He could, they said,
even interfere with the forces of nature, and drying up rivers and
causing floods were only some of the trifling miracles which he was
capable of bringing about. The General, who wore a glass eye, promptly
took it out, spun it into the air, and replaced it. "Can the Mahdi do
that?" he asked, at the same time winking with the restored eye. The
astonished Dervishes made no reply, but quietly "salaamed" and retired,
as if unwilling to continue longer in the society of one so evidently in
league with evil spirits.
[133] According to the account of an eye-witness the Horse Artillery was
stationed at one period at a point where the underwood grew so thickly
that the gunners could not see seventy yards away from the guns.
[134] Much of the narrative which follows is taken from "The Battle of
Tofrek," by William Galloway (1887).
[135] The salient for the guns was so far advanced that the remaining
Gardner guns had been brought up ready to be placed in position. The
other half battalion of the Berkshires remained outside in its original
position, the men engaged in having their dinners.
[136] Osman wrote to the Mahdi that "God struck fear into the hearts of
the English, and they went away."
[137] A return of the approximate cost, as nearly as can be ascertained,
of the military expeditions, has been issued. The extra cost of the
first expedition to Souakim, in 1884, was £352,352; the extra cost of
the second expedition, in 1885, was £2,127,762; and the cost of the
Souakim-Berber railway, including pipe line and water supply, was
£865,369; making a total of £3,345,483. This is the cost incurred over
and above the normal charge for the maintenance of the troops concerned.
[138] Lord Wolseley was created a Viscount for his services with the
Expedition.
[139] For much of the information contained in the present chapter the
author is indebted to the excellent work "Mahdism and the Egyptian
Soudan," already referred to.
[140] Frequently spelt "Delligo."
[141] Ginnis and Kosheh are two villages on the east bank of the Nile,
and are only separated by a short distance.
[142] Osman was reported as slain on the 23rd September, 1885, when the
Dervishes were routed by the Abyssinians at Kufeit. So far from this
being the case, he shortly after marched into Kassala, in triumph.
[143] Much of the narrative of the fight which follows is derived from
"Mahdism and the Egyptian Soudan."
[144] Grenfell's fighting force amounted to over 5,000 men.
[145] The Author is indebted to "Mahdism and the Egyptian Soudan" for
the greater part of these details.
[146] Matuka is situated on the west bank of the Nile, five and a half
miles south of Khor Mussa.
[147] Alongside the camel was found the one-year-old child of the dead
chief. The infant was duly cared for, and is now an intelligent and well
educated boy in Cairo.
[148] This engagement, which took place at Tokar, for some unknown
reason is referred to by some writers as the battle of Afafit.
[149] Egypt's contribution to the expenses of the Army of Occupation at
this period amounted to £200,000 per annum.
[150] The new coins, although "made in Germany," had impressed on them
in Arabic characters the words "struck in Cairo," with the year of the
Sultan's reign in which they were made superadded.
[151] An instance of this occurred to the Author personally. On asking a
native landowner if, under the new regime, his taxes were not lighter,
and were not collected at a more convenient season than formerly, he
replied in the affirmative. Interrogated further if his water supply was
not more regular, and the increase of his crops was not also greater
than before, he answered with an emphatic "Yes." When, however, the
question was put to him, "To whom do you attribute these changes for the
better?" the man simply replied, "'Tis the will of Allah."
[152] The above figures represent ordinary receipts only.
[153] It is said that Colonel Rundle, Chief of the Staff of the Egyptian
army, was aroused to hear the news by stones thrown at his window in the
middle of the night, and that no one could be found bold enough to awake
and inform the Sirdar, who remained in ignorance until the morning.
[154] In this short campaign the battalion lost no less than sixty-four
of their number (including those who died in Cairo soon after their
return, principally from enteric fever).
[155] Reckoning six companies to a battalion, this would make Hunter's
force amount to about 2,500 men.
[156] For a great part of the description above given the Author is
indebted to Mr. Bennett Burleigh's "Sirdar and Khalifa."
[157] Later on Ed Damer was disestablished, and Fort Atbara, at the
northern angle of the two rivers, was substituted for it.
[158] This has an important bearing on the choice of routes on the
occasion of the despatch of "The Gordon Relief Expedition," dealt with
in a previous chapter.
[159] Many of the above details of the engagement are taken from the
"Morning Post."
[160] The new frontier was fixed at a spot called Zabderat.
[161] The trains attained a speed of twenty-five miles an hour.
[162] A firm of brewers who had forwarded several hundred barrels of
beer to Wady Halfa had them all returned on their hands.
[163] During the stay of the troops, the heat was intense, the
thermometer frequently standing at 117° in the shade.
[164] According to a report to the War Department drawn up by
Surgeon-Major Carr, out of the entire British force there were only
three men whose wounds were caused by spears, all the rest being the
result of gunfire. This would tend to show that the amount of
hand-to-hand fighting engaged in was inconsiderable.
[165] Later on Mahmoud stated that 4,000 of his horsemen were half a
day's journey distant on the occasion of the fight.
[166] Their conversation, which is too long to be reproduced here, after
reference to old times, dwelt principally on the impending advance on
Omdurman. Its substance was somewhat as follows:--Slatin: "Hullo,
Mahmoud! Got _you_ this time, dear boy!" Mahmoud: "Right you are,
Slatin, but just you wait till you come across Abdullah! Then you will
see what happens, and he may have you again."
[167] As this is the last occasion on which it will be necessary to
refer to Messrs. Cook & Son, it may not be out of place to recall some
of the services rendered by that firm in the various operations on the
Nile in which British troops participated. The important part taken by
Messrs. Cook in regard to the "Gordon Relief Expedition" in 1884 has
been already mentioned in these pages. On that occasion the firm
transported Lord Wolseley's entire force from Assiout to the Second
Cataract. In pursuance of their contract, on this occasion the firm's
steamers transported altogether no less than 11,000 British and 7,000
Egyptian troops, 800 whalers, and 130,000 tons of stores and war
material. When the melancholy failure of the expedition is contrasted
with the admirable manner in which Messrs. Cook performed their
contract, one is tempted to regret that the latter was not made to
include the rescue of Gordon and the Soudan garrisons. In the
disturbances on the Nile frontier in 1885 and 1886, Messrs. Cook's fleet
was again occupied in satisfying the military requirements of the
British and Egyptian Governments. In the spring of 1896, when the
hurried advance to Dongola was made, all of Cook's steamers were once
more requisitioned for the purpose of conveying troops, both British and
Egyptian, from Belianah to Assouan.
Nor were the services of the firm of a military character only. The late
Mr. John Mason Cook, the managing partner, was a man of a singularly
benevolent character. The founding of the Luxor Hospital for Natives was
only one of many charitable works due to his liberality and energy. When
the fighting at Tel-el-Kebir was over, he undertook the transport of the
wounded to Cairo by water, and later on, when Wolseley's army was
decimated with enteric fever, Mr. Cook conveyed the convalescents by
special steamers up the Nile, in each case making no charge beyond that
of the actual cost of running the vessels.
Probably few men have done better work in the cause of humanity and
civilization than the late head of the firm of "Thomas Cook & Son." His
influence with the natives, particularly on the Nile, was immense. He
was, in fact, regarded as the "King of Upper Egypt." This is illustrated
by at least two good stories told in Cairo. One relates to a native
schoolboy, who, with a view to testing his proficiency, being asked to
name the greatest personage in Egypt, replied, "The Khedive." He was
then asked to name the second, and promptly answered, "Mr. John Cook."
The other anecdote is that of the provincial governor, who when
introduced by Cook's chief dragoman to Lord Cromer, then visiting Upper
Egypt, said, "I never heard of Lord Cromer, but I am very happy to know
any friend of Mr. Cook."
John Mason Cook died at Walton-on-Thames on the 4th March, 1899, after
having enjoyed the unique distinction of being honoured and decorated by
the sovereigns of almost every country in Europe but his own.
[168] It subsequently appeared that the actual numbers were between
40,000 and 50,000.
[169] These guns fired 50 lb. shells with the new explosive called
"Lyddite."
[170] The British were armed with the Lee-Metford magazine rifle, and
the Egyptians with the Martini-Henry.
[171] The bush defence turned out a mistake, as the men had to stand up
to fire over it, and thus exposed themselves to the enemy's bullets,
whereas the Egyptian troops were able to lie down under the shelter of
their trench.
[172] Captain Kenna and Lieutenant De Montmorency received the Victoria
Cross for their gallantry on this occasion.
[173] Sir Herbert Kitchener was created Baron Kitchener of Khartoum, and
a sum of £30,000 was awarded him.
[174] Sir F. R. Wingate says in his report of 3rd March, 1899:--"Of the
4,000 Dervish black troops who surrendered 1,222 were wounded; there
were wounded in almost every house in Omdurman; and, in view of the fact
that almost every able-bodied man in the town had been forced to take
part in the battle, it is fair to conclude that the number of wounded
(16,000) as telegraphed was not over-estimated."
[175] The total number of prisoners eventually set free at Omdurman was
no less than 10,854, of whom 8,667 were civil and military employés of
the Egyptian Government, taken captive when Khartoum, Obeid, and other
places fell into the hands of the Mahdi.
[176] Mr. Bennett in the "Contemporary Review."
[177] See Lord Cromer's despatch to the Marquis of Salisbury, dated 12th
March, 1899.
[178] Lord Cromer, as a recognition of his services in Egypt, was
created Viscount Cromer in January, 1899.
[179] The Egyptian War Department was signally reticent with regard to
this expedition, and for most of the foregoing particulars the author is
indebted to a work recently published called "Sudan Campaigns,
1896-1899."
[180] These figures, which include both ordinary and extraordinary
receipts, are, with the exception of those relating to the years 1898
and 1899, taken from statistical tables compiled by Sir Elwin Palmer,
late Financial Adviser to the Egyptian Government.
It should be added that the Egyptian pound may be regarded as the
equivalent of £1 0s. 6d. in English money.
[181] The kantar is equal to 101lbs. 5oz.
[182] These figures are taken from Mr. A. Silva White's lately published
work called "The Expansion of Egypt."
[183] The diminution in the telegraph receipts is due to a large
reduction in the tariff.
[184] See Memorandum by Sir W. E. Garstin, C.E., dated 19th November,
1897, "Parliamentary Papers, Egypt No. 1, 1898."
Transcriber's Notes:
Punctuation and spelling were made consistent when a predominant
preference was found in this book; otherwise they were not changed.
Simple typographical errors were corrected.
Original publication used symbols for Footnotes. This eBook uses one
sequence of numbers for them.
Page 101: Missing footnote anchor [31] added by Transcriber, based on
context.