and the Makkas, taking into consideration the alliances of the distances and the tribes that were entrenched, acting on the principle of "each side with its enemies." Thus, whenever he needed soldiers, he would send them to Khartoum, choosing them from his enemies, so that his authority would be strengthened by this over all. The author was appointed Director of Bahr al-Ghazal and the West.

A few weeks after our return from Khartoum (Sollum), Gordon issued an order appointing me Director and Governor of Bahr al-Ghazal and the West, which are among the largest directorates of the Equator Line. This appointment was announced in a speech he delivered to a group of officers. The date of this appointment was the date of my promotion to the rank of Bimbashi at the beginning of the Hijri year. After I received the orders and all that was necessary for me in terms of provisions and ammunition, I set out to Bahr al-Ghazal (Al-Mansura) to my place of work. I stayed in this region for about three months, carrying out the orders issued to me by the Governor of the Equator Line, Colonel Gordon, who continued during this period to travel between the north, south, east, and west of the country. During this year, I was asked to go down to the Egyptian Sudan in September. In my place, Lieutenant Colonel Al-Tayyib Bey was appointed, about whom there will be further discussion. This was our farewell.

We proceeded, with God's blessing, to Cairo and met Colonel Gordon on the day of our arrival, the late Al-Madbouh, the former, and I was with him at this meeting. He said to me, "Your rank is Lieutenant Colonel," and this was in the month of Ramadan of the year. Colonel Gordon gave an excellent testimony in my favor.

After this meeting, we returned to Al-Nuzha Palace, where Gordon was staying, and remained there.