388 THE NATIVE MANUSCRIPTS IV. dt.ccxv.

ordered special leniency in the collection of taxes. We are also told that

as a result of the amount of fever in Sennar, Isma'il Pasha, in 1237^, moved with liis court to Wad Medani. In 1238"^ troops were sent for Hasan walad Ragab, but he decamped. Several of Isma'il's suite died this year.) . . .

CCXVI In Safar 1238^ His Excellence moved northwards by boats, and when he reached Shendi the Mek Nimr and the Mek Musa'ad met him, and he requisitioned from them many things, and they were unable to provide them all and were afraid. So they made outward show of obedience to his orders, but asked for an extension of time,

and engaged to fulfil his requirements before the time limit he ap-

pointed. They also begged him to leave his boats and honour them

w'ith his presence in the town. Accordingly he landed and camped in one of the houses at Shendi, unaccompanied by anyone except his Mamluks. Then they fell upon him in the night and set fire to the

house, and Isma'il Pasha [lit. "the late-lamented one"] and his Mamluks were burnt to death within. And, oh! To what deeds w^as the way thus prepared! Their act was the cause of the devastation of the land and the death of true believers, the shedding of their blood, the plunder of their goods, the dishonouring of their wives, the general ruin of the countryside, the captivity of the women and the children and the dispersal of the people into other districts.

CCXVII When the news reached Muhammad Sa'i'd Eff"endi el Kadakhdar at Walad Medani, he collected his scattered forces, and

fortified himself at Walad Medani, and sent Shama'dan Agha and Mustafa Kashif with some mounted men to verify the report; and they reached el Khartoum and then returned to him with the facts.

CCXVI 1 1 Then el Arbab Dafa'alla fled from Walad Medani and camped at 'Abud, and bands of men rallied to him there. . . (The author describes how an expedition was then sent from Wad

Medani to 'Abud but found the bird flown ; so they laid the village waste and killed the local khalifa, Muhammad walad 'Abd el 'Alim, and re- turned.

El Arbab had, meanwhile, gone south and joined Hasan walad Ragab,

and the two of them collected an army at Abu Shoka. Muhammad Sa'id then sent a second expedition, composed of Shaikia and Delatia, which gave battle to the rebels at Abu Shoka and defeated them with great slaughter. Hasan Ragab, his uncle Husayn and his son Muhammad were among the slain. Much booty was taken, and the force returned tri-

umphantly to Wad Medani.). . . CCXIX Now when the news of the murder of Isma'il Pasha reached Muhammad Bey Defterdar, who was at the time in charge of Kordo- fan, he at once started with some of his troops and a certain number of Fur for el Abwab, and [thence] proceeded, slaying and looting

' 1822 A.D. 2 1822 A.D. 3 1822 A.D.