What with these people’s prayers, eating and sleeping, one’s patience is indeed tried. I know no people in the world who can take advantage of cover better than them—the cover being “I am ill;” that is a settler; for although you know it is the illness of laziness, you can say nothing; if you doubt it, you are universally voted a brute.
When you say to any escaped soldier, “Why do you come here?” he replies, “Why, the Arabs give us nothing. Why, with you I can get this or that.” It is merely a question of what they can get. The belly governs the whole world.
Have ordered the Bordeen steamer to creep up when the moon rises, and attack the Arab ferry at Kalakla.
Went over to Goba, and chose positions for the Shaggeyeh tribe. If we evacuate Halfeyeh, we shall have to give up three outer forts, and one central one (Seyd Mahomet Osman’s house).
It is quite a danger to pass through the yard of the Palace on account of the turkey-cock (though he has a harem of five); he killed two of his children the other day. I do not know if you have noticed it, but when not angry, or in full dress, the lobes of flesh about their necks are grey; but it does not need half a minute for them to make them of the most brilliant scarlet. I cannot understand how they make part of their heads blue, while the appendages are scarlet. I think the turkey-cock is a bird worth studying; the tuft in front is peculiar to him alone. I know no other bird which has it. I would give him the palm over all birds for pluck.
I have decided to bring those wretched Shaggyeh over to Goba, and have sent boats for them.[120]
I declare solemnly, that if it were not for the honour’s sake of our nation, I would let these people slide; they are of the very feeblest nature, and the Arabs are ten times better; but because they are weak, there is so much more the reason to try and help them; for I think it was because we were such worthless creatures, that Our Lord came to deliver us. These Shaggyeh know no shame. It is an unknown quantity with them. What a life one has to live. I wish I commanded the Arabs (speaking professionally). I think it is a great shame not giving me Zubair Pasha, for he would know how to deal with these people. They are the weariness of my life. From February until now they have been one continued worry to me, and I expect they worried the Arabs as much.
I have decided to put the Shaggyeh into the North Fort, and not to occupy Goba. A slave came in from Kerowé; had no news. The Arabs did not fire upon the lines to-day, so concentration of artillery fire on them did not come off. A woman came into the Lines from Waled a Goun with a letter.[121] Towfikia was to have left this morning; but late last night, happening to go to the telegraph office, and asking whether she was all ready, the captain replied he had no wood! so there was an end of her start to-day.
I particularly wish to ascertain how many communications were sent me from Cairo or elsewhere in Egypt between the 12th of March, when the telegraph wire was cut, and the present date.[122] I hope Stewart will get this information for me, and not be hoodwinked about it. I should also much like the substance of those communications.
The letter was from Abou Gugliz sending in a woman who had before been a spy. He begs me to become a Mussulman, &c. The woman who brought it, says the Mahdi comes to-night to Omdurman, and that he says, as soon as he comes, I shall ask to surrender! The Mahdi says he will write me three letters; he will then wait for five days, and that he will then advance across the river, which will divide for him. Looking at the date which will be arrived at, after these letters are written and the five days’ grace have expired, and making allowances for what is meant by the dividing of the waters, it would bring the Mahdi’s attack about the 21st October, the New Year’s day of 1302 a.h.[123]