November 24, 6 a.m.—Arabs came down and fired on the Isle of Tuti from Goba. Ferratch Ullah Bey of Omdurman reports all well; another man had been wounded, and one had died. A slave came in from the Arabs on the south front, who says there is no news of the Expedition in Walad a Goun’s camp. 12.15 p.m. The Arabs near Omdurman Fort are retiring from their position near the small steamer, and are burning the straw huts; our men are firing on them, and they do not reply, the Husseinyeh steamer has slipped down towards deeper water, of herself. I am sending down the Ismailia to reconnoitre. The Arabs have not fired from their gun at Omdurman to-day. It appears the Husseinyeh has sunk, so that may be the reason of the Arabs retiring. I expect the Mahdi wanted his troops, who were guarding the steamer Husseinyeh, and so he sent off men last night to sink her, and that is the history of the retreat. It is somewhat of a relief to me, for I expect it shows the Arabs will not make an assault on Omdurman Fort. Perhaps our fireworks last night all along the lines made the Mahdi think I had some great news, which he did not know of; we fired from five places fifteen sky-rockets at one concerted moment. They report from Mogrim that the Arabs retreated before Husseinyeh sank, but I expect that is a fib, and that they did not leave till she sank; it is against all reason with a falling river, and, fixed on a level as she was, she sank untouched. The fact is, I expect, that the man put to watch her was asleep, and the Arabs, trying to capture her, drew her into deep water, when the water got into her shot-hole. 1.30 p.m. The Ismailia went down to the junction of the Blue and White Niles, and the Arab guns opened on her, so she has come back. I have sent down to make inquiries on the quiet, whether the Arabs returned before or after the sinking of Husseinyeh. The Arabs fired five rounds at the Ismailia. The Arabs came back to their breastwork when the Ismailia appeared, but on her return they also went back. If Husseinyeh had not had a shot-hole in her, the Arabs would have captured her; but, as I had taken her steam-cocks off, they could not use her. We may be able to raise her if she has sunk evenly. The steamer has sunk evenly, for her funnel is above water.
I expect the Arabs put a slave-boy to turn the handle of the Nordenfeldt, for it keeps on grunting all day at intervals of half seconds, but does no harm.
November 25.—Arabs came to Goba this morning and fired on the Isle of Tuti for half an hour. It is quite true the Arabs did work at the Husseinyeh and caused her to sink, and on her sinking they retired; the sentries in our lines being all asleep, as I had supposed. Ferratch Ullah Bey of Omdurman Fort reports all well; he has another death among his wounded. I have promised him three days’ pay for every day he and his men are shut up. 1.15 p.m. Steamers in sight; the doctor saw them first. The steamers are firing; only one steamer in sight.
The Arabs had three guns at Halfeyeh against the coming-in steamer. 2.30 p.m. I have sent down the Ismailia to cover the incoming steamer. The Arabs are grunting with their Nordenfeldt, and firing from their gun. Mogrim is playing on them with the Krupp, and Tuti with their mountain gun. 2.45 p.m. For the last half-hour the firing on the part of Arabs on the advancing steamer has been most furious with guns and musketry; we replying. I am grateful to say that, after this hot reception, she has got in safe to Mogrim.
If any officer of the Expedition is on board, he will know what it is to be in a penny boat! under cannon fire. The Bordeen has come in; she has seven wounded. There are no Arabs at Shoboloha, or (consequently) guns; the wounded were from two shells fired by the Arabs from Halfeyeh. The expeditionary force is at Ambukol (which is lively!);[246] the Arabs had four guns at Halfeyeh; one woman was killed in the Bordeen: the letters received by Bordeen are of no great import, for they do not tell me the route the expedition will take, and I have received a later post—that of 14th October.
Two men were wounded at Mogrim to-day. According to the report of the two men who came from Dongola, it is not certain that the Abbas is captured.
I enclose a telegram,[247] which we cannot decipher. I imagine Colonel Stewart has the key, it being probably Foreign Office cipher.
Towfik, by a telegram, cancels his Firman, which gives up the Soudan,[248] which I have torn up, but enclose; (this telegram[249] I received to-day).
A telegram to the Ulemas from Towfik says: “Baring” is coming up with Lord Wolseley.
November 26.—One man came to Goba and fired two shots and retired. The Arabs fired three rounds at Fort Omdurman. The Fort reports all right. Nutzi Pasha reports that the money at Berber has been taken up to the Mahdi. He sends up four wounded. He says the Expedition is advancing in three parties—one to Berber from Ambukol, one from Ambukol to Metemma, and one from Ambukol to Shoboloha. This letter was written six days ago. A caravan came across from the north to the Mahdi’s camp to-day. The Arabs at Metemma have crossed to Shendy and gone into the interior. Four fellaheen soldiers deserted from Nutzi Pasha and went to the Arabs—I expect through his ill-treatment of them.