A Prisoner of the Khaleefa: Twelve Years Captivity at Omdurman

by Charles Neufeld

1899

PRINTED BY

WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED.

LONDON AND BECCLES.

Dedication

TO

PUBLIC OPINION

CHARLES NEUFELD

• CONTENTS
  • [INTRODUCTION]
  • The calumnies of critics—My female slave—Real object of my journey—Preliminary arrangements—General Stephenson’s letter . . . 1–7
  • [CHAPTER I] I START FOR KORDOFAN
  • Engagement of guides—A neglected warning—Hasseena accompanies the party—Dervishes reported on the road—Non-arrival of Hogal—Dervishes sighted at Selima Wells . . . 8–14
  • [CHAPTER II] BETRAYED BY GUIDES
  • Different routes over the desert—A quarrel amongst the guides—Scouts sent out—Hassan convicted of error—Zigzagging in the desert—A council of war—Surprised by the dervishes—The fight—Taken prisoners . . . 15–28
  • [CHAPTER III] IN THE HANDS OF THE DERVISHES
  • Conference of the Emirs Farag and Hamza—Halt for the night—Baggage looted by dervishes—The Emirs confiscate all treasure for the Beit-el-Mal—Cross-questioned on my letters—Called a Government spy—Tortured by dervish guards—Rescued by Hamza and reserved for Wad en Nejoumi . . . 29–40
  • [CHAPTER IV] ARRIVAL IN DONGOLA
  • Display of dervish horsemanship—Flogging among the Ansar—Hasseena is searched—Insults of the rabble—I am brought before Nejoumi—I declare myself a merchant—Evidence of a Christian girl-convert against me—Execution of fourteen Arabs of the party—I am re-examined and sent to the Khaleefa . . . 41–52
  • [CHAPTER V] THE REAL HISTORY OF THE CAPTURE
  • Extracts from newspaper and official accounts—The antecedents of the guide Gabou—Dissensions in the Kabbabish tribe—Gabou schemes for his own section—Hassan’s part in the matter—Gabou reveals the plot to Nejoumi and enlists Hogal on his side—The Emirs prepare to intercept me—Capture of the caravan—Hogal’s deceit and its excuse . . . 53–63
  • [CHAPTER VI] DONGOLA TO OMDURMAN
  • Preparations for the journey—Nejoumi’s friendly disposition to the Government—His loss of faith in the Mahdist movement—Why the guide Amin was executed—Horrible death of an old Arab woman—In the market-place of Omdurman—First meeting with Slatin—I am chained and tortured—I defy the Khaleefa—A mock execution—The Khaleefa is merciful—Slatin intervenes—Letter to Mankarious Effendi—Imprisoned by Slatin’s advice . . . 64–79
  • [CHAPTER VII] THROWN INTO PRISON
  • Methods of shackling—My first night in prison—Hasseena sent to the head-gaoler’s hareem—Mahmoud Wad Said—Ajjab Abou Jinn—The three sons of Awad el Kerim—Sheikh Hamad El Nil—Ahmed Abdel Maajid and his bride—Lessons in Mahdieh—I visit Khartoum in chains—Again before the Khaleefa—My chains removed . . . 80–92
  • [CHAPTER VIII] PRISON LIFE
  • Prayers—Night in the Abou Hagar—Possibilities of escape—News from Egypt—Idris-es-Saier—His methods of extortion—A prison homily—Effectual blackmail . . . 93–104
  • [CHAPTER IX] MY FIRST CHANCE OF ESCAPE
  • Ahmed Nur ed Din—His relations with Gabou—We plan an escape—Death of Nur ed Din—My sickness and recovery—Treatment of typhus—I decline to be converted—Meal-time in the Saier—Father Ohrwalder’s charity—A famine—The struggle for food—Ministrations of Hasseena—Mutual help amongst the prisoners . . . 105–119
  • [CHAPTER X] PRISON JUSTICE
  • Escapes from the Saier—The advantages of matrimony—Tactics of the gaolers—I become doctor to the hareems—Discipline amongst women prisoners—My first flogging—The gaoler dismissed—Method of flogging—I am flogged again—My mental agony . . . 120–133
  • [CHAPTER XI] A SERIOUS DILEMMA
  • Newspaper calumnies—Hasseena’s condition—A disputed paternity—Mohammedan laws of marriage and divorce—I decide to claim the child—Idris disputes the claim—A jury of matrons decides in my favour—Birth of “Makkieh”—The Khaleefa’s congratulations—Joseppi, the German baker . . . 134–144
  • [CHAPTER XII] IBRAHIM WAD ADLAN
  • Friendship with Wad Adlan—His directorship of the Beit-el-Mal—The Khaleefa grows jealous—Adlan thrown into prison—The advantages of trading—Adlan reinstated—I design the Mahdi’s tomb—Letters to Mankarious Effendi—The guide Moussa Daoud el Kanaga—Reports from Egypt—Escape of Joseppi—Treachery of spies—Disgrace and death of Adlan . . . 145–159
  • [CHAPTER XIII] THE TRUE HISTORY OF MY ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE
    • [I.] Hassan Bey Hassanein . . . 325–331
    • [II.] Orphali . . . 332–337
    • [III.] Letter dictated by the Khaleefa to General Stephenson . . . 338–339
    • [IV.] Ibrahim Pasha Fauzi—Gordon’s favourite officer . . . 340–345
    • [V.] Ahmed Youssef Kandeel . . . 346–348
    • [VI.] The Soudan: its Past, Present, and Future . . . 349–359
  • Letters of the German Consul and my manager to Mankarious—Kanaga’s visit to Cairo—He receives a letter to Slatin—He is captured at Berber and turns back—The War Office letter to my wife—My answer to calumnies . . . 160–169
  • [CHAPTER XIV] A PRISONER AT LARGE
  • Belief in evil spirits—Shwybo as an alchemist—He is flogged for his pains—I am told to make saltpetre—Released from my fetters—The gunpowder factory at Halfeyeh—Death of Makkieh—I am transferred to Khartoum—Our gunpowder a deliberate failure—Visits of Father Ohrwalder—News of his escape . . . 170–184
  • [CHAPTER XV] DIVORCED AND MARRIED
  • Hasseena’s thievish propensities—I am compelled to divorce her—The Khaleefa finds me a wife—I forestall his good offices—Umm es Shole—Mohammedan divorce and re-marriage—A further dilemma—The second child dies—Hasseena proves irreclaimable . . . 185–194
  • [CHAPTER XVI] HOPE AND DESPAIR
  • Mankarious’ first envoy returns—Arrival of second envoy—Rossignoli’s guide Abdallah—Projected method of escape—Abdallah’s treatment of Rossignoli—Slatin escapes—My chains redoubled—The Khaleefa’s fury—Slatin’s reputation amongst the Mahdists—His letter read to the Muslimanieh—Confiscation of his wives and property—My deliverer returns—I am again in the Saier . . . 195–208
  • [CHAPTER XVII] A NEW OCCUPATION
  • Nahoum Abbajee engages me—Emptiness of the treasury—Unsatisfactory state of the currency—I am transferred to the arsenal—I design blocks for the Mint—We do great damage—The Khaleefa’s buried treasure . . . 209–215
  • [CHAPTER XVIII] MY SECOND IMPRISONMENT
  • Idris a reformed character—He ensures my kind treatment—Fauzi’s first night in prison—Kadi Ahmed’s captivity—His death by starvation—Death of Wad Zarah—Letters from Europe—My replies—My reflections in prison . . . 216–225
  • [CHAPTER XIX] RUMOURS OF RELIEF
  • Khartoum again—Thoughts of Gordon—At work in the arsenal—Extracting precious metals—Chemical experiments—The troops advancing—I invent a powder-mill—Its manifold defects—I scheme to gain time—Wholesale destruction of metal—Repairing a steamer—My letter to Onoor—In a fever for news . . . 226–241
  • [CHAPTER XX] PREPARING TO RECEIVE THE GUNBOATS
  • In the Saier as a visitor—I send intelligence to the English—Anxiety amongst my circle—Embassy from Abyssinia—The Khaleefa’s reply—Mahmoud disobeys orders—Defeat of Osman and Mahmoud at the Atbara—Manufacture of torpedoes—I decline to assist—My chains redoubled—The torpedoes explode—I become a centre for Government sympathizers—Frustrating the mines . . . 242–256
  • [CHAPTER XXI] NEARING THE END
  • Conflicting rumours—Appeals to prophecy—I suggest a night attack—I send more information to the army—Mad struggle with a gaoler—Negotiations with Idris—The Khaleefa sallies out—The gunboats open fire—I go mad—Arrival of fugitives—The riderless horse—The Khaleefa’s despair . . . 257–268
  • [CHAPTER XXII] AT LAST
  • Threats of the prisoners—The routed army in flight—Macdonald’s brigade—Illuminating the Ratib—Soudanese sang-froid—Sheikh ed Din repulsed—Attack upon Macdonald—Destruction of Yacoub—Flight of the Khaleefa—His narrow escape from the Sirdar—The Sirdar enters the prison—We meet—The head-quarters’ mess—Mr. Bennet Burleigh—My German tongue forsakes me . . . 269–280
  • [CHAPTER XXIII] THE SIRDAR AND SAVAGE WARFARE
  • The looting of Omdurman—Soudanese troops to the rescue—Genial horseplay—A war correspondent’s article—The Sirdar errs in giving quarter—Lex talionis—The ferocity of wounded dervishes—No succour desirable—A challenge to correspondents . . . 281–288
  • [CHAPTER XXIV] BACK TO CIVILIZATION
  • High hopes—Disillusionment—Attitude of the War Office—I am forced to defend myself—Newspaper calumnies—The News Agency representative—A good Samaritan—Sir George Newnes . . . 289–299
  • [CHAPTER XXV] HOW GORDON DIED
  • Conflicting accounts—A hero’s death—Hope deferred—Gordon’s last night—Value of my testimony—Father Ohrwalder’s evidence—“Ten Years’ Captivity” criticized—Justification of Gordon—The trader as missionary—A tribute to Gordon . . . 300–324
  • APPENDICES

• LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
  • [1.] Neufeld as found by the Sirdar . . . Frontispiece
  • [2.] An Arab Guide . . . 8
  • [3.] The Khaleefa’s Eunuchs at Attention . . . 37
  • [4.] The Khaleefa’s Tender Mercies . . . 45
  • [5.] Sheikh ed Din’s Eunuch in his Master’s Marriage-Jibbeh . . . 64
  • [6.] Writing under Difficulties . . . 77
  • [7.] A Group of Prisoners . . . 84
  • [8.] Learning the Mahdi’s Ratib . . . 94
  • [9.] Idris-es-Saier . . . 103
  • [10.] Catarina . . . 114
  • [11.] A Flogging by Order of the Khaleefa . . . 129
  • [12.] Meal-time in the Saier . . . 143
  • [13.] Moussa Daoud el Kanaga . . . 154
  • [14.] Mankarious Effendi with Guides . . . 164
  • [15.] Umm es Shole and two Children . . . 189
  • [16.] Said Bey Gumaa . . . 203
  • [17.] Fauzi Pasha in Dervish Dress . . . 218
  • [18.] Neufeld’s Hut in the Saier, showing the Famous Anvil . . . 223
  • [19.] Onoor Issa . . . 226
  • [20.] Powder-machines . . . 236
  • [21.] A Group—from Photograph taken at the Feast of Beiram, 1899 . . . 242
  • [22.] Neufeld doubly fettered . . . 252
  • [23.] Shereef, the “False Fourth Khaleefa” . . . 263
  • [24.] The Flag of Khaleefa Shereef . . . 273
  • [25.] Trophies taken at Omdurman . . . 282
  • [26.] Khaleel Agha Orphali . . . 303
  • [27.] Hassan Bey Hassanein . . . 325
  • [28.] Fauzi Pasha in Uniform . . . 340
  • [29.] Ahmed Youssef Kandeel . . . 346
  • [Map] showing Proposed Route and Route actually taken by Caravan . . . 15
  • [Sketch] accompanying Author’s Account of Capture . . . 23
  • [Plans] of Palace at Khartoum illustrating the Death of Gordon . . . 334