Khartum Holds Out. 177 Nile in whaleboats, and it concentrated eventually in December at Korti.

During the advance of the expedition, Gordon employed every means to keep the enemy at a distance. On the 29th and 31st August his " fighting Pasha," Mohamed Ali Pasha, defeated Emir Abd el Kader at Gereif and Sheikh el Fighting Obeid at Halfaya respectively, but five days afterwards Khartum. was heavily defeated and killed by the latter at Om Dubban, whither he had followed him after a third victory at El Eilafun.

This defeat was a heavy blow to Khartum, and on the 10th September Gordon sent Stewart, Power, Herbin, and some Greeks downstream on the " Abbas " steamer to give an account of the state of affairs to the authorities. These officers were decoyed ashore and murdered on the Murder of 18th near Hebbeh, at the head of the Fourth Cataract. stewart»&c. On the 29th September Gordon sent three steamers down to Shendi to meet the British expedition, and these * remained on the river under the command of Nushi Pashn, lighting and reconnoitring, until the 21st January, when the British desert column met them near Metemma.

After the defeat near El Eilafun, the Mahdi summoned all the tribes to the attack of Khartum, and this city was closely invested. Omdurman, held by Faragallah Pasha, was repeatedly attacked, and was obliged by famine, on the fifth day of the New Year, to surrender.

The garrison of Khartum was now getting weaker and weaker through famine, and though Gordon despatched cheery messages to say he " could hold out for years," he knew it would be all over with Khartum if the expedition did not arrive in time.

On the 28th December a river column of 4 battalions,f Eiver 1 squadron, and details was sent upstream from Korti, colunm -under Major-General Earle, with the object of reaching Abu Hamed, communicating thence (for supplies) with Korosko (Major Bundle), and pushing on to seize Berber.

On the 30th December a desert column, chiefly com- Desert posed of camel corps, total about 1,100 fighting men, left couumu * The " Tel Howeiya," "Bordein," " Mansura," and. subsequently, the"Safieh."

f S. Stafford, Black Watch, D.C.L.I., Gordons.

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