3. The military weakness of Egypt. This was not, however, any real cause of rebellion, as the troops in the Sudan would have been sufficient, had they been properly handled.
1881. May.In May 1881 the Mahdi first advanced his claims to being the prophet foretold by Mohammed.
July.In July Rauf Pasha, then Governor of the Sudan, had his attention drawn to these pretensions. The Mahdi was then living at Marabia, near the Island of Aba.
August.In August he publicly proclaimed his mission during the Feast of Ramadan, and small parties of troops were sent to dispose of him, but failed to do so. He first showed himself in force in the neighbourhood of Sennar, and then took refuge in the Shilluk country, finally taking up his position at Jebel Gedir, about 90 miles west of Kaka on the White Nile.
9th December.A force of 350 regulars, under one Rashid Bey, attacked the Mahdi, but were defeated with loss.
The latter, having recruited his force, began early in spring to threaten the province of Kordofan.
1882. 4th March.Rauf Pasha was now recalled, and Abd el Gader appointed in his place. Pending the arrival of the latter, Giegler Pasha was temporarily appointed.
April.In April a concentration of troops was directed on Kaka, and 3,000 men collected there, whereby the garrisons throughout the country were much reduced.
The rebels, taking advantage of this concentration, attacked Sennar, and had many minor successes in that part of the country, until they were dispersed by Giegler Pasha, May.who arrived about the middle of May.
11th May.Abd el Kader reached Khartoum on the 11th May.