— 49 — my most famous warriors had been wounded in the Icff ; I sent to Khartoum in order that those most learned in surgery might be despatched ; four Egyptian doctors came and, as is their way, wished to cut the limb off, saying that otherwise death would be his meed ere the sun should set and rise again. But this counsel was not agreeable to the sufferer, and so I summoned Ahmed who had fingers as long and thin as a kurbag (i) ; with these he swiftly located the position of the bullet and, exclaiming, "in the name ot God," he made one cut and lo ! the bullet was in his hand. He then wrapped the injured limb in cowdung and the leg was speedily restored to its former state.

At this time the Governor at Khartoum was Jaafar Pasha : and to him I announced my victory over Billali, the news of my success spreading all over the Sudan.

1 then began to organise the kingdom that I had won, and my rule was soon known to be just, so that many persons came from different parts, seeking to serve in my army, and to trade in my country nor was it long before I became a very great king.

Theft I suppressed with an iron hand : if anything was stolen, 1 went to the village and demanded the thief : him I hanged, but if the thief was not (i) A native whip.