Route Ambukol to Metemma.—Itinerary of Arabs.
| Ambukol to Nesgee | 24 | hours. |
| Nesgee to Om Halfa | 12 | ” |
| Om Halfa to Gakdal | 12 | ” |
| Gakdal to Klela Abou | 18 | ” |
| Abou Klela to Metemma | 12 | ” |
| — | ||
| Caravan | 78 | ” |
Wells plentifully supplied.
No wells of import on flanks.
I expect water can be found along Wadi Abou Gir, as water is found at Kambok, which is on a higher level. I shall anticipate no danger for a force of 200 men as far as Gebil Gelif well—that takes 60 miles off this march of 150 and leaves 90 miles.
In the centre you have the wells Abou Halfa and Gakdul, 12 miles apart. This central portion is distant Ambukol 80 miles, Metemma 65 miles. There appear no wells on flanks where Arabs can assemble in any numbers.
October 31.—Three men, soldiers, came in from the Arabs on the White Nile last night. To-day it is 7-23/30 months, or 233 days, since the Arabs appeared in our immediate neighbourhood, since which date we have had no peace.
It will be bitter cold in the desert, and I think, of all the deserts, that of Dongola is the coldest. I do not think I should send Nutzi Pasha and the Egyptians you take out of the steamers down further than Dongola, for the moment, for if you do you will put Dongola on the qui vive as to the evacuation. Certainly, for those who are for a rapid retreat, having a tête du pont (so to say) at Metemma, much facilitates the movement; for the garrisons and the people of Kartoum and Sennaar. Shendy-Metemma is evidently the chief strategical point of the Soudan; for from it you reach Kartoum, Sennaar, and Berber by water, and Kassala by the Atbara valley; but, short of making Fowler’s railway to Shendy, I should prefer the making of stations along the Nile, for a peace route and for small forces, as by the Nile you get free of camel transport, which depends on the temper of the Arab tribes; besides, the Nile route is cheaper, and could be put into execution with one high Nile.
The three soldiers who came in last night have one sergeant-major among them. He says Mahmound Khalifa wrote to his father, who is with Mahomet Achmet, in which he says that the English General wants him to get camels in great haste; that he is delaying as much as possible; that the English General wants to go in one body; that he is trying to get him to go in four bodies; that Mahmound Khalifa is a traitor, like all his family; and he should catch it, for I expect this information is correct. The sergeant-major says that Mahmound Khalifa is at Dongola or Debbeh. The Mahdi is going into a cave for this month and next; he is now in his cave. All the Europeans are with the Mahdi (not in the cave). Slatin is very good friends with the Mahdi, and sees him every day (?). (This is rather against the cave report.)
The mysterious Frenchman is not with the Mahdi, but in Kordofan. The letter which I spoke of as coming from Mahmound Khalifa arrived at the Mahdi’s camp fifteen days ago, so left Dongola about twenty-two days ago (9th October). Can it be remembered whether at that time, viz. 9th October, any altercation took place on subject of march?[177] In the letter is a remark, that the English General said he wished “all to go together, for he would not leave a sick man behind.” The man says, Mahmound Khalifa wrote another letter to his father, stating the start from Dongola towards Berber. I can produce the sergeant-major who gave this information.