Events in 1884. 189 then mooted of a dash across to Berber, bat it was eventually dropped, and Graham's troops retired, Major Chermside being appointed Governor-General at Suakin. In April the garrison of Gedaref made terms with the Fail of j j i Gedaref. enemy and surrendered.

In order to evacuate Kassala and Amadib, the help of King John of Abyssinia was now called in, and in June Admiral Sir W. Hewett, R.N., and Mason Bey, visited him and concluded a treaty to this effect, by which he Abyssinian was to have Bogos and Keren if he succeeded in his task.

Ml8SIon -Later on he agreed also to relieve Gera and Gallabat.

Kassala had been besieged since November, 1883, and was begiuning to feel hard pressed. Its garrison consisted of 1,600 regulars and 2,300 irregulars, including a force of Bashi-Bazuks, nnder the command of Ahmed Bey Iffat; the Beni Amer and Homran tribes in the neighbourhood were also loyal.

In August Mason Bey, now Governor of Massawa, ordered Ahmed Bey Iffat to retire, but this was found to be impossible, as more than half the garrison was composed of natives of the district. John now proposed to relieve Kassala, but he was told that the case of Galabat was more urgent ; he therefore began his preparations, and Bogos was handed over to him on the 12th September.

During this latter month Great Britain took over Evacuation Berbera and Zeila from Egypt, and in November Harrar zeiand" was handed over to the natives and the evacuation began. Harrar.

6,500 of the garrison were sent down to the coast without incident, and under the auspices of Majors Hunter and Heath, a new government was established under the 1885. native Emir Abdullahi Mohamed Abd esh Shakur.

[Harrar, it may be noted here, remained under its Emir till the beginning of 1887, when Abdullahi was decisively defeated at Chalanko by Menelik, and the town occupied by the Abyssiuians.]

On the fall of Khartum becoming known, another Second British expedition. British expedition, assisted by Indian and Australian Bl troops, was despatched to Suakin under the command of General Graham. Its objects were to crush Osman Digna, to occupy the Hadendoa country, to make a railway towards Berber (at all events as far as Ariab), and