The Khalla's silence about their pursuit was broken by a Dervish who approached within sight of the camp. He saw the fires burning day and night, and the light of the lantern, which obscured its glow. He returned and informed the others, and he hastened with three thousand horsemen to catch up with the Mahdi's forces at Abu Talih, which had departed two nights prior. They were within sight of Kuri, where Lord Wellesley was, and it was impossible to catch up with them.

Abd al-Rahman al-Najdi arrived at the Mahdi's headquarters a few days after the forces had left. At the end of the first Jumada, in the year 1299 AH, the Mahdi's forces reached Kuri. Sir Charles Wilson submitted his report on the fall of Khartoum and the death of General Gordon. When the news of the British evacuation of the Mahdi's headquarters reached him, he wrote to the Amir of Berber, ordering him to gather the troops and advance to the borders of Dongola. In the month of Sha'ban, in the year 1299 AH, the British evacuated Dongola, and after that, Muhammad Amir entered it and took control of the entire region. His armies advanced south of Halfa, and thus the Sudanese regions came under the rule of the Mahdi. He began to inform his followers that he would march on Dongola in a few months, and from there to Cairo. Two letters were sent, one addressed to the Khedive of Egypt and the other to the Khedive of Egypt.

Here is a copy of the two letters, taken from the book "Publications."

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah.

To the noble ruler, and prayers be upon our master Muhammad and his family, with peace.

From the Mahdi, the divinely guided, Muhammad ibn Abd Allah, to the Khedive of Egypt.

Know that the true religion is Islam, which was brought by our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and revealed in the Quran. Whoever adheres to it will be saved by Allah.