GORDON AND THE MAHDI. 32
EL OBEID, THE CArlTAL OF KORDOFAN.
Massowah, wasappointed Governor-General in his place, Hussein Pasha succeeding him incommand of the army he had been leading in Senaar. At the same time, General Hicks, an officer of the Anglo-Indian army, arrivedat Khartoumwith several other English officers, and assumedcommand of the forces there.
strong body of troops from Senheit, together with some Shaiquies under Ali Bey Lufti to relieve Bara, butthey
wereassailedby the Arabs and driven back, after losing more than half their number. Kordofan might almost be regarded as lost to the Government, whilst Sheikh
Achmet-elMakashef was again active on both banks of the White Nile between Kawa and Merabieh. The Egyptians, however, in November,achieved a success at Duem. CHAPTER VII. It was now that Abd-el-Kader, with a view to emer- gencies,turnedhisattentiontofortifyingKhartoum. The BlueandWhiteNileswereunitedby acanal, andthe city
was thus transformed into afortified island. In Decem- ber the collapseof Arabi's rebellion enabled the Egyptian government to dispatch fresh troops to the Soudan, and there was a gleam of hope. Fighting,however, went on on the White Nile, and in Senaar, and Mesalamia. At the close of the year Lieut.-Colonel Stewart arrivedat Khartoum for the purpose of reporting on the situation
of the Soudan, and the means requisite for suppressing the rebellion.
Major-GeneralHicks.— Hismilitarycareer.— He assumesthe oommand
of the Soudan army.— Reception at Suakim,— Arrival at Khar- toum.— Engages the Mahdi's followers under Amr-el-Makashef, near Merabieh, and signally defeats them.— Rejoicings over the
victory.— A letter from anadherent of the Mahdicirculates in Khartoum.— Expeditionary force organised against the Mahdi at El Obeid.— Hicks Pasha sets out at the head of his combined
forces. Is beset by spies along the wholeof his route.— Gloomy forebodings onthe part of those belonging to the expedition.—
Last letters of Major Seckendorff, Mr.Evans, andMr. O'Donovan. — Finaltelegram from General Hicks.— Afterlong silencerumours of a victory reach Khartoum, followed by stories of an appalling disaster.— The armyled into anambushby treacherous guides.—
A completemassacre ensues.— Death of flicks Pasha.— The lives of some of theprisoners believed to be spared.■— Triumphal entry of the Mahdi intoEl Obeid.— Retreat of Egyptian garrisons.—
The entire Soudan in arms.— Osman Digna attacks Sinkat.— His antecedents.— Defeat of anexpedition for the relief of Tokar. —
Death of Consul Moncrieff.
In January, 1883, Abd-el-Kader started in person at the headof anexpeditionintended to clear the province of Senaar, whilstalargebody of Egyptianregulars were concentrated at Omderman opposite Khartoum, under Hussein Pasha. Abd-el-Kader did his work well. On the 27th he beat the rebels under Woad Kerif near Maduk,andinMarch gained another victory at Karkodj. But the news fromKordofancontinued disastrous. Bara
fell on January 5, and on the 19th the garrison of El Obeid were compelled by famine to surrender, after
undergoing such privations that it is said the soldiers
were forced to eat the leather straps of their accoutre- ments. The Mahdi entered the place in triumph; soldiers and civilians alike joined the ranks of his followers, the Christianmerchantsof the town embraced Mahomedanism; only the members of the Catholic Mission refused to change their faith, and were placed in close confinement. Ever since this period the Mahdi has been the sovereignruler ofKordofan. In the midstof Abd-el-Kader'ssuccesses in Senaar, he
Major-General W. Hicks, subsequently known as Hicks Pasha, was apensioned officer of the Anglo-Indian army, in whichhehad seen a gooddeal of active service. He enteredthe Bombayarmy as far back as 1849, and served in Bengal during the Indian Mutiny in 1857-9
with the 1st Belooch battalion, and as staff officer to the Punjaub moveablecolumn. He took part in the Rohil- cund campaign with Major-General Penny's forces, and inthecampaignfor thesubjugationof Oude,beingpresent at severalactions,including thatwithFeroze Shah's forces before Bareilly. He subsequently shared with Lord Clyde's forces in the defeat of the enemy under Beni Madho at Dhoondia Keria, and the capture of the fort of Buxar. Later onheserved with LordClyde throughout the operations acrossthe Gogra,andtook part in the cap-
ture of the enemy's guns at Silk Ghaut, for whichhe was mentioned^indespatches. HeaccompaniedLordNapier's expedition to Abyssinia, and waspresent at the taking was suddenly recalledto Cairo, owing to intrigues ther? against him, and Alladeen Pasha, the Mohafa of