The doctor took a stone as big as a swan’s-egg from a man to-day.
There is nothing like a civil war to show what skunks men are. One of my greatest worries are the Shaggyeh, who are continually feathering towards me, or towards the Mahdi. I expect both sides despise them equally. According to history, the same thing went on during the reign of James II. When William of Orange landed, Queen Anne’s husband the Prince of Denmark did not show well in the affair, and I expect that the Empress Eugenie could say a good deal for “Rats,” during her time. I must say I cordially hate them, and if I had my way, I would smite the Shaggyeh, but policy says “give them rope.” I have told them distinctly, that I know it is self-interest alone which rules them, which however is a platitude, for it governs most of us.
September 21.—Six more escaped soldiers came in with their rifles to-day. They say the Arabs are furious at losing their Peacock dervish (who was one of their officers) yesterday, and also at the constant desertions, and have written to the Mahdi to ask whether they are to kill these blacks or not. The Mahdi hired one thousand camels at $3 a head, to bring dhoora to the Arab camp, but the people who engaged to do this, bolted with the money and the camels into the interior. The Mahdi is at Schatt.[65]
Messengers have arrived at Omdurman, saying that mixed force of British and Indian troops at Debbeh, on the Nile, north of Dongola, and that they had defeated a party of dervishes.
The Greek, who came in a few days ago from the Arabs, said the Mahdi had given Cuzzi an ointment to rub on his body, which would keep him in odour of sanctity!
Halfeyeh reports a foraging party of Arabs between Halfeyeh and Shoboloha.[66]
The three messengers from Dongola came in with two cipher telegrams from Egerton of same import, not legible, for want of cipher, which Stewart carried off. Some photograph letters which I could only partially make out, and notes from Floyer,[67] and Kitchener[68] saying forces were coming up. Letter from Mudir Dongola saying he had beaten the Arabs four times before the British advance! I have made him Pasha, and asked for the Order of St. Michael and St. George for him from the Khedive. I have ordered three guns to be fired from all the guns at 4 p.m. as a salute, and to warn the Arabs something is up. I shall send down spies to-morrow. I gave the three £50, and gave them each £10, with promise they will be paid £10 more when they get to Dongola. They say they had nothing given them on starting! which is curious if true.
Three more escaped soldiers came in this afternoon. They say the Arabs have disarmed all the black troops, and have told them to go where they liked, so I expect we will have a lot in to-morrow.
We fired a salute of three rounds from each gun on lines, to let the Arabs know of the advance expeditionary force. The men who came in say the Arabs were fully expecting an attack, and were in a great way.
I send down to-morrow a telegram to Cairo, which will settle the business as far as I am concerned. It is thus couched: “If you remove me from being Governor-General then all responsibility is off me; but if you keep me as Governor-General then I will, at the cost of my commission in Her Majesty’s Service, see all refugees out of this country.”