The governors imposed unjust taxes and harsh treatment, and the Egyptian government announced its intention to abolish slavery. This had a bad effect on the economic life of the country. When his movement grew stronger, Raouf Pasha, the governor of Sudan, sent to the Mahdi ordering him to appear before him in Khartoum because he had belittled his authority. The Mahdi paid no heed to his order, but responded by declaring himself the true master of the country and proclaiming jihad against the infidels. By infidels, he meant to include the unjust Egyptian Muslims. So Raouf Pasha sent a force against him consisting of two hundred men with their rifles and cannons. The Mahdi was at that time residing on Aba Island. Raouf Pasha ordered his soldiers to fire on the Mahdi's followers. This happened during the day, and the Mahdi had no rifles or cannons. He ordered his companions to remain silent and to hide in the bushes until nightfall. Then he ordered them to emerge from the bushes at night. They attacked the Egyptian soldiers, annihilated them, and seized their ammunition. From that time on, the Mahdi fought them with their own weapons. Then he moved to Kordofan to be far from the headquarters of the Egyptian government in Khartoum. The Egyptian government sent another strong expedition composed of about six thousand men, but it did not