The clash between El-Matamma and Omdurman and the fighting of the women. They remained in the desert for about two weeks until they reached El-Matamma, although the distance did not exceed four days of travel by camel.

In the latter part of Dhu al-Qi'dah, year 1311 AH, Nasr Pasha and his army saw in their boats at El-Matamma the approaching army of Emir Moosa (Abu Tuleih), who was in the desert, three miles from El-Matamma.

This is what happened with the Mahdi's forces. As for the English forces, they set out from Korti in the early part of Dhu al-Qi'dah, year 1311 AH. Their army was numerous, and their commander, Sir Herbert Stewart, arrived at Abu Tuleih in the latter half of Dhu al-Qi'dah. Emir Moosa advanced towards them with thirty thousand fighters, joined by several thousand fighters from the Baggara tribes. They met at Abu Tuleih and attacked them like lions attacking prey. The fighting did not cease until the two armies clashed, and the battle became a close-quarters struggle. At that point, the commander, Sir Herbert Stewart, was wounded and replaced by Colonel Parry, who managed to regroup, leaving his banners and baggage in the battlefield. The Dervishes busied themselves with looting and plundering for a short while. During this time, the commander managed to restore order among his soldiers, who displayed remarkable bravery and steadfastness. He charged them against the Dervishes and rained heavy fire upon them. About sixteen thousand Dervishes fell, and Emir Moosa was killed, along with about twenty of his commanders, who were among the most prominent commanders of the Mahdi's army and the most steadfast and pious in their belief. The remaining Dervishes fled in panic, not believing they would survive. I saw one of them in Omdurman who had gone mad as a result of this battle. He said that the English are devils, not human beings. After they defeated us at Abu Tuleih, they entered the Sudan.