AMONG THE DERVISHES 111 CHAPTEK Vni AMONG THE DERVISHES IN the morning Gregory started alone as soon as it was light. As he neared the town he saw that there were several native craft on the river, and that boats were passing to and fro between the town and Shendy on the opposite bank. From the water-side a number of men were carrying what appeared to be bags of grain towards the hills behind the town, while others were straggling down towards the river. Without being questioned Gregory entered Metemmeh, but stopped there for a very few minutes. Everywhere were the bodies of men, women, and children, of donkeys and other animals. All were now shrivelled and dried by the sun, but the stench was almost unbearable, and he was glad to hurry away.

Once beyond the walls he made for the hill. Many tents could be seen there, and great numbers of men moving about. He felt sure that among so many no one would notice that he was a new-comer, and after moving among the throng, he soon sat down among a number of Dervishes who were eating their morning meal. Taking some dates out of his bag he munched them quietly. From the talk going on he soon perceived that there was a considerable amount of discontent at the long delay. Some of the men were in favour of moving to Berber, on the ground that they would at least fare better there, but the majority were eager to march north to drive the infidels from Merawi and Dongola.

‘Mahmud would do that, I am sure,” one of them said, ‘Mf he had but his will; but how could we march without provisions? It is said that Mahmud has asked for a sufiicient supply to cross the Bayuda, and has promised to drive the infidels before him to Assouan ; but the Khalifa says no, it would be better to wait till they come in a strong body