398 THE NATIVE MANUSCRIPTS iv. d 7. cclxxxi.

CCLXXXI In 1253^ Mustafa Bey came as Governor of the whole of the Gezira of Sennar, He had previously been in Kordofan.

CCLXXXII In the same year there was an eclipse of the moon for about two hours and it became very dark.

CCLXXXIII This year too occurred the battle of Walad Kaltabu, which is a place near Rashid, where the Abyssinians and the Muhammadan troops met and fought. In this battle was killed Sheikh Miri, the Sheikh of el Kallabat, and Sheikh Ahmad walad

'Abud of the Shaikia Sowarab cavalry and many men; and the major of the battalion, and 'Ali Agha el Sahbi, the Sanjak of the Mogharba, and the Malik Sa'ad of the Shaikia cavalry were all taken prisoners and ransomed.

CCLXXXIV And towards the end of the year the Hakimdar led a large expedition against the Mekada, and left Sulayman Kashif Abu Daud to act for him at el Khartoum.

CCLXXXV In el Ka'ida of the same year Mirmiran Ahmad Pasha with Firhad Bey, Miraldi of the Gehadia, arrived with troops from el Mahrusa to assist the Hakimdar, and overtook him on the road as he was returning without having met the Abyssinians. Then they went back together to el Khartoum and stayed there until the begin-

ning of 1254'^. CCLXXXVI In Rabfa el Atcal 1254 dispatches came for Khurshid Pasha, permitting him to go back to el Mahrusa and appointing Ahmad Pasha to succeed him as Hakimdar of the Sudan.

CCLXXXVII So Khurshid Pasha made all preparations for his family and belongings and set forth by boat; and this was a great sorrow to all the people, and when he bid them farewell they began

to weep, and of Sheikh 'Abd el Kadir it is even said that he abstained from eating or drinking for two days from grief at the parting.

CCLXXXVIII And when Ahmad Pasha heard of the affliction of this

Sheikh he sent for him and promised him all prosperity and happi-

ness, until his grief was assuaged; for Khurshid Pasha had recom-

mended him strongly to his successor. And indeed Ahmad Pasha fulfilled his promises, because he entrusted him with the whole direction of the Government and never issued a single order except

by his advice, so that Sheikh 'Abd el Kadir had more influence than a Governor. . .

CCLXXXIX (The author describes how Ahmad Pasha devoted himself to reorganization and efficiency and put a stop to unauthorized looting by the soldiery, so that the prosperity and security of the country increased

greatly "and prices fell until the ardeb of dhurra could be bought for five

1 1838 A.D. 2 1838 a.d.