The two men who came in with the letter of Slatin were one Arab and one slave. The latter questioned (apart) says that the report is that the Mahdi will come in two days to Omdurman; that he has not been seen; that the regular soldiers have gone back to Kordofan; and that Faki Mustapha told him (the slave) to frighten the Kartoumers. I am hoping the Mahdi will prove a bogie!
Steamers Bordeen and Ismailia went down below Kerowé to-day, and saw no Arabs on the left bank of the Nile.
The quietude of Sheikh el Obeyed’s forces is curious, for they have twice beaten us, with heavy loss, though they have been beaten by us, with loss, at other times, but in minor engagements.
I begin to get over my disquietude in re the arrests; from what I hear, I think public opinion is not dissatisfied; but really it was a strong measure to arrest Sheikh el Islam, Cadi and Mudir, and sixteen others, and that without turning the two former out of their employ.
A lot of people were pressing for harder measures, but my new chief clerk said “we would wish to leave it to you to do or not to do,” which is lively, as I am innocent of what goes on, or who is a traitor, or who is not; if ever there was a happy-go-lucky government, it is this, in Kartoum. I declare that, sometimes, I give a decision, and have no more idea of what the decision is about than a cow; these, however, are exceptional cases. I have had about six bad slips in ten years, not more, and these I have managed to rectify, with loss of prestige. Slatin is not with Faki Mustapha, so says the slave. What liars these spies are!
If in two days I find the news correct that the Mahdi is still in Kordofan, I shall let out all the political prisoners (which will shock the townpeople), but will be true joy and delight to me, for it has been a work utterly repugnant to me. I like free will (we left God with our own free will, we must return with our own free will). I hate a forced subjection, and I feel sure that to let these people out, with free will to go to the Arabs or not, will be good policy. I must say that I feel it a great compliment, when my counsellors say to me, “Do what you think right, irrespective of our advice,” when they know I am ignorant of all that goes on, ignorant of the Arabic language, except in my style, ignorant of the Arab customs, &c., &c. “You will do better than we do,” is what they say, and I, poor Devil, do not know where to turn. Oh! our Government, our Government! what has it not to answer for? Not to me, but to these poor people. I declare if I thought the town wished the Mahdi, I would give it up: so much do I respect free will.[131]
October 16.—The letters of Slatin have arrived.[132] I have no remarks to make on them, and cannot make out why he wrote them.
Heavy rain last night, I expect there is an end to the vitality of our mines, and we have now no more matches to renew them.
No spies in, no Arabs visible outside their camp: it is pretty certain that the Mahdi has not come to Omdurman.
The Austrian Consul[133] has asked me to let him write to Slatin, and to allow him to give him (Slatin), an interview on the Lines, which I have agreed to and sent out. Slatin’s letter to Hansall was quite in a different tone to the one he wrote to me. What astounding lies those spies have told about the Mahdi and his heterogeneous staff being close here.