366 THE NATIVE MANUSCRIPTS iv.d7.lvii.

'Abd el Latif. And, not content with the wrongs he inflicted himself, he let his sons also commit deeds of injustice and maHce. So in general the atrocities which he committed alienated the hearts of

his people, and especially those of the Fung nobility and others.

LVIII While things were thus he made ready a great army to fight

the Musaba'at, and in command was his vizier Walad Toma, and among the chiefs was 'Abdulla walad 'Agib, and among the famous warriors was Sheikh Muhammad Abu el Kaylak. Thus he set forth

with his army until he reached the Musaba'at, and a battle took place at a place called Kihayf in the year i i6o^, and the commander- in-chief Walad Toma and 'Abdulla walad 'Agib were killed and the army took to flight. But Sheikh Muhammad Abu el Kaylak rallied them and exhorted them and put strength into their hearts, and they

returned and met the Musaba'at a second time, and a furious struggle ensued, and Shammam walad 'Agi'b and el 'Agayl his son were slain. LIX Then the king was informed of all that had taken place in both encounters and of the determination and patience of Sheikh Muhammad Abu el Kaylak and how he had rallied the soldiers, and

he sent word appointing him commander-in-chief in Walad Toma's stead.

LX And when he had learnt of his appointment Abu el Kaylak

returned to war against the Musaba'at and used all his endeavours until God gave him the victory over them and suffered him to turn them out of Kordofan ; and this was in the early part of the year.

LXI Now there were with Abu el Kaylak a number of the Fung nobles, and news reached them that during their absence the king had ill-treated their dependants, so they came before Sheikh Muhammad and voiced their grievance against the king and asked for his consent to their deposing Badi and appointing another. And after discussion he consented to their plan and took up the matter in complete accord with them.

LXI I The same day he struck camp and set out for Sennar with such troops and great men of the Fung, that is slaves of the king,

as were with him. This was in 1174". And after he had crossed the White Nile he camped at el Is^ and sent to Nasir, the son of the Mek Badi, saying that if he came to him he would appoint him king.

LXI II And Nasir came secretly to Sheikh Muhammad at el Is"*, and they took the [usual] oaths and assurances from him, and set out for Sennar taking him with them.

LXIV On arriving there they besieged the Mek, and [finally]

^ 1747 A.D. 2 j^5q ^ d ^ reading ^j^)^ for v.^-JUb. ^ reading j^Jb for ^-sJ^W-