CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION. FATHER OHRWALDER'S JOURNEY TO THE SUDAN. | |
| PAGE | |
| Description of Kordofan and Dar Nuba—The Mission Station at Delen | [1] |
CHAPTER I. THE MAHDI AND HIS RISE TO POWER. | |
| The rise of the Mahdi—Early successes—Personal appearance—His Khalifas described—Military organization—Makesnew laws—He summons El Obeid to surrender | [6] |
CHAPTER II. FATHER OHRWALDER AND HIS COMPANIONS TAKEN CAPTIVE. | |
| The storm rises in Dar Nuba—The Baggara begin toraid—KhojurKakum of Delen—Mek Omar besieges Delen—Theslave guard deserts the Mission—The priests andnuns surrender—They are sent to the Mahdi | [22] |
CHAPTER III. THE MISSIONARIES AND THE MAHDI. | |
| Description of El Obeid—Said Pasha's system of defence—TheMahdi's followers encircle the town—Townspeopledesert to the Mahdi—Unsuccessful attack on Governmentbuildings—Dervishes driven off with loss of 10,000 men—Themissionaries brought before the Mahdi—Threatenedwith death—Preparations for the execution—Reprievedat the last moment—The Mahdi's camp described—Deathof some of the missionaries—Illness of remainder | [34] |
CHAPTER IV. THE SIEGE OF EL OBEID. | |
| Terrible sufferings of the besieged—The Kababish—Fall ofBara—Fall of El Obeid—The Mahdi enters the town—Fateof the El Obeid Mission—Cold-blooded murder ofthe brave defenders—The Dervishes live a life of ease inEl Obeid—The Mahdi makes laws—He sends out proclamations—Prestigeincreased by capture of town—Newsfrom Khartum—Bonomi and Ohrwalder summoned beforethe Mahdi—The interview | [52] |
CHAPTER V. THE MAHDI'S VICTORY OVER HICKS PASHA. | |
| The European captives learn that General Hicks is advancing—SlatinBey's defence of Darfur—His heroism—TheMahdi prepares to resist Hicks—The march of the HicksExpedition—Extracts from the diary of Major Herlth—ColonelFarquhar's gallantry at Rahad—Gustav Klootzdeserts to the Mahdi—Klootz's interview with the Mahdi inwhich Ohrwalder and Bonomi act as interpreters—Theexpedition advances towards Shekan—Is surrounded andannihilated—Description of the battle—The Mahdi victorof Kordofan | [72] |
CHAPTER VI. THE MAHDI'S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO EL OBEID. | |
| Fall of Darfur—Slatin surrenders—The Mahdi'sdivinity creditedafter the annihilation of Hicks—King Adam ofTagalla—Stambuli's kindness to the European captives—Gordonwrites to the Mahdi—Power's letter—Thesisters seized and distributed amongst the emirs—Theyare tortured—The missionaries turned into slaves—Theterrible journey to Rahad—The Greeks come to the helpof the sisters—The proclamation concerning the treatmentof priests and hermits by Mohammedans—TheMahdi at Rahad—Ohrwalder's interviews with the Mahdiconcerning religion—The Dervishes attack the Nubas | [91] |
CHAPTER VII. FATHER OHRWALDER'S VIEWS OF GORDON'S MISSION. | |
| Ohrwalder describes his treatment at the hands of variousmasters—The Nubas surrender and afterwards desert—Newsfrom Khartum—The capture of the English mail—Itsarrival at the Mahdi's camp—The Mahdi decides toadvance on Khartum—Brief review of events in Khartumand Berber—Ohrwalder's views on Gordon's mission—TheMahdi sets out for Khartum—Mohammed Ali Pasha'sdefeat and death—Colonel Stewart, Mr. Power, and othersleave Khartum in ss. "Abbas"—Description of theirwreck and treacherous murder | [114] |
CHAPTER VIII. THE SIEGE AND FALL OF KHARTUM. | |
| The surrender of Omdurman fort—Gordon'sdispositions for defence—Hisgreat personal influence—The night before theassault—The attack and entry of the Dervishes—Gordon'sdeath—The adventures of Domenico Polinari—The massacrein Khartum—How most of the Europeans died—Ruthlesscruelty and bloodshed—The fate of the wivesand daughters of Khartum—Ohrwalder's views on thesituation in Khartum and the chances of relief by theBritish Expeditionary Force—His description of the townthree months after the fall | [131] |
CHAPTER IX. THE MAHDI'S LAST DAYS. | |
| Ohrwalder's criticisms on certain events connected with thedefence of Khartum—The Sudan devastated by small-pox—TheMahdi gives way to a life of pleasure—Descriptionof his harem life—The Mahdi sickens and dies—The effecton his followers—The Khalifa Abdullah succeeds—Partystrife and discord—Abdullah prevails—Events in Sennarand Kassala | [152] |
CHAPTER X. THE ESCAPE OF FATHER BONOMI. | |
| Ohrwalder continues to describe his personal experiences—Mahmudthe emir of El Obeid—His unsuccessful attemptsto entrap the Nubas—The arrival of Olivier Pain in ElObeid—His motives in joining the Mahdi—His journeytowards Omdurman—His sad fate—Lupton Bey arrivesat El Obeid from the Bahr el Ghazal—He is sent toOmdurman and thrown into chains—Life in El Obeid—Theescape of Father Bonomi—Ohrwalder's solitude—Thedeath of the Khojur Kakum | [169] |
CHAPTER XI. REVOLT AGAINST THE DERVISHES. | |
| The black soldiers of the old Sudan army—They revolt againstthe Dervishes in El Obeid—And march off to Dar Nuba—Theemir Mahmud pursues and is slain—Ohrwalderquits El Obeid for Omdurman—Zogal and Abu Anga atBara | [189] |
CHAPTER XII. OHRWALDER'S IMPRESSIONS OF OMDURMAN. | |
| Ohrwalder's arrival in Omdurman—His first impressions of theDervish capital—Khalifa Abdullah's intentions to conquerEgypt—Wad Suleiman of the beit el mal—Wad Adlansucceeds—Gordon's clothes, medals, &c.—Adlan reorganizesthe beit el mal—The slave market, museum, mint,and system of coinage—Counterfeit coining—The lithographpress—The Khalifa's system of justice | [204] |
CHAPTER XIII. THE KHALIFA DECIDES TO CONQUER ABYSSINIA. | |
| Events subsequent to the fall of Khartum—Capture ofGedaref and Galabat—Dervishes defeated by Abyssiniansat Galabat—Abu Anga's victorious expedition to Tagalla—Histriumphal return to Omdurman—The Khalifa'sgrand review—Destruction of the Gehena tribe—TheKhalifa decides to send Abu Anga's army to conquerAbyssinia—The battle of Dabra Sin—Abu Anga sacksGondar—The victorious Dervishes return to Galabat—Rejoicingsat Omdurman | [216] |
CHAPTER XIV. KING JOHN OF ABYSSINIA KILLED IN BATTLE. | |
| Destruction of the Kababish tribe and death of Saleh Bey—Eventsin Darfur—Revolt of Abu Gemaizeh—His deathand destruction of his army—Rabeh Zubeir—KingTheodore's son visits Omdurman—The conspiracy of"Sayidna Isa"—Death of Abu Anga—King John ofAbyssinia attacks Galabat—Success of Abyssinians, butthe king killed—Victory turned to defeat—The king'shead sent to Omdurman | [232] |
CHAPTER XV. DEFEAT OF NEJUMI AT TOSKI, AND OF OSMAN DIGNA AT TOKAR. | |
| The Khalifa's intentions regarding Egypt—Wad en Nejumidespatched north—Various operations on the Egyptianfrontier—Battle of Toski—Defeat and death of Nejumi—Subsequentevents in Dongola—Osman Digna's operationsagainst Sawakin—Is defeated at Tokar—EminPasha and events in Equatoria—Recent events in Ugandaand Unyoro | [254] |
CHAPTER XVI. THE FAMINE AT OMDURMAN—1888-1889. | |
| Ohrwalder describes Omdurman—The Mahdi's tomb, and howit was built—Pilgrimage to Mecca forbidden—A descriptionof the great mosque—The Khalifa's palace—Themarkets—The population—The Khalifa's tyrannical rule—Theterrible famine of 1888-1889—Awful scenes andsufferings—The plague of locusts | [273] |
CHAPTER XVII. | |
| The Khalifa's system of government—His household—Anoutline of his character—His system of prayers in themosque—His visions and dreams—His espionage system—Hishousehold troops—His great activity and circumspection—Thegreat Friday review described—The emigrationof the Baggara and western tribes to Omdurman—Theflight of Sheikh Ghazali—Management of the beitel mal—System of taxation | [293] |
CHAPTER XVIII. A CHAPTER OF HORRORS. | |
| The revolt of the Batahin tribe—Revolt suppressed withappalling cruelty—Wholesale executions—Method ofhanging—Punishment by mutilation—The execution ofAbdel Nur—Trade with Egypt—Wad Adlan the eminbeit el mal—His imprisonment and death | [315] |
CHAPTER XIX. SOCIAL LIFE AT OMDURMAN. | |
| System of public security and justice in Omdurman—Thecourt of small causes—Bribery and corruption—Thestory of the slave and her mistress—How the Khalifadeals with quarrelsome persons—Thieves and pickpockets—Thestory of Zogheir—Usurers and their trade—Thechief of police—Brigandage—Disproportion ofmales to females in Omdurman—How the Khalifa overcamethe difficulty—Immorality—The marriage ceremony | [328] |
CHAPTER XX. THE KHALIFA'S TREATMENT OF THE WHITE CAPTIVES. | |
| Description of the prison, or "Saier"—The "Abu Haggar"—Theimprisonment of Charles Neufeld—Terrible sufferingsof the prisoners—Domenico Polinari—The dangerof corresponding with the European prisoners—Neufeldthreatened with death—He is given charge of the saltpetrepits—The fate of Sheikh Khalil, the Egyptianenvoy—The Khalifa's treatment of the "Whites"—Exileto the White Nile | [344] |
CHAPTER XXI. LUPTON BEY AND THE AMMUNITION. | |
| The Khalifa's powder and ammunition begin to fail—LuptonBey makes fulminate—Unsuccessful attempts to makepowder—Yusef Pertekachi at last succeeds—The explosionin the powder factory | [366] |
CHAPTER XXII. AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE IN THE MAHDI'S KINGDOM. | |
| Remarks on the agriculture and commerce of the Mahdiistkingdom—A sandstorm in Omdurman—The paucity ofcattle—System of taxation on imports—Provincial beitel mals—Local manufactures—Slavery and the slave-markets—Tortureof slaves | [376] |
CHAPTER XXIII. THE BAGGARA MASTERS OF THE SUDAN. | |
| Relations between Abdullah and the rival Khalifas—Mahdiismpractically dead—The Khalifa's son Osman—His marriageto Yakub's daughter—His intentions regarding thesuccession—The Baggara and the Aulad-Belad—TheBaggara masters of the Sudan—Examples of theirtyranny—Emigration of the Rizighat tribe—Hostilitybetween the Khalifa's and the late Mahdi's households—TheAshraf conspiracy—Witchcraft—The dispute betweenthe Khalifas—Riots in Omdurman—The Mahdi's widows | [387] |
CHAPTER XXIV. PREPARATIONS FOR THE FLIGHT. | |
| Ohrwalder forms plans for escape—The fate of other Europeansattempting to fly—Stricter surveillance—Ohrwalder'smeans of livelihood—Letters from Cairo—The faithfulAhmed Hassan discloses his plan—Archbishop Sogaro—Miseriesof captivity in Omdurman—Death of SisterConcetta Corsi—Preparations for flight | [408] |
CHAPTER XXV. ON CAMELS ACROSS THE GREAT NUBIAN DESERT. | |
| Father Ohrwalder and Sisters Venturini and Chincarini escape—Theride for life—The rencontre with the Dervishguard near Abu Hamed—Alarm of the party—Thejourney across the great Nubian desert—Five hundredmiles on camel-back in seven days—Arrival at theEgyptian outpost at Murat—Safe at last—Arrival inCairo | [424] |
CHAPTER XXVI. THE PRESENT KHALIFA'S DESPOTISM IN THE SUDAN. | |
| Reflections on the situation in the Sudan—The horrors of thepresent Khalifa's rule—How long shall it continue? | [447] |
| INDEX. | [451] |