Kassala, 1894; Bahr El Ghuzal, 1882—1885. 259 force proceeded eastwards from Kassala (then under the command of Musaid Keidom,* who had superseded Abu Girga in 1891) with that object. The Dervish force of about 12,000, under Ahmed Ali, arrived at Kassala in November, and ''"'' "f pushed forward towards Agordat, an Itahan post more than half-way to Massaua. Here Colonel Arimondi, with a ut'Oecem native force of only a Httle over 2,000 men, with 42 officers, met them and inflicted a severe defeat on them (2l8t ber, 189*"' December, 1893), kiUing Ahmed Ali and routing the force completely.

In the following July, Colonel Baratieri, with 2,510 men, made a fine forced march from Agordat, and surprised and l*-took Kassala on the 17th of that month. He thereupon commenced fortifying it, and the town was successfully held <apt"re "f by the Italians for nearly two and a half years. The KhaUfa was furious, and ordered Ahmed Fedil and Osman Digna ntrjuly to retake it. Nothing, however, was done till the 18th March, 1896, when the Dervishes, in consequence of the severe 1894. defeat of the Itahans by the Abyssinians at Adua on the 1st of that month, attacked Sabderat, and were repulsed. 1895. Subsequently, on the IvA and 3rd April, they fought two severely contested actions at Mokram and Tukruf, just outside 1896. Kassala, but on both occasions they were decisively beaten by the Itahans under Colonel Stevani, and were forced to Mokiam and retreat. T"''-,",'«a<-Apnl, 1896. The only event of importance that took place at Suakin in 1896 was the arrival of an Indian brigade in May, to Indian replace the Egyptian garrison called to the Nile, and to act as a menace to the Khahfa from the Eastern Sudan. No g!,|*''*' opportunity for fighting occurred, and the Indians left for home in December.

In consequence of the occupation of Berber in September, 1897, the Suakin-Berber road was once more opened for 1897. trade and transport, and the 4th Egyptian Battalion passed over it in security in the last days of the year.

On the 25th December, 1897, the town of Kassala was taken over by Egypt, and garrisoned by the 16th Battahon, Ka-ssala re-&c., under Colonel Parsons. The Sheikh Said Ali El Morghani was brought from Suakin to the holy place of his "f'up'ed hy ancestors, the Khatmia, just outside Kassala, and this act had the result of still further aUenating Dervish influence ]l' from the neighbourhood. Successful actions were also fought by the friendUes at Asubri, Goz Regeb, El Fasher, and El Sofeiya. The garrison of Kassala rendered valuable assistance by capturing the Dervish outpost at Abu Deleig and in destroying the remnants of the fugitives from the battle of the Atbara in April, and Osman Digna liimself only just escaped capture by a force of friendlies under the late Major Benson. Ahmed Fedil, at Gedaref, in order to cover the retreat of these fugitives, despatched a force to the Atbara which did not, however, proceed further north than Mogatta.

(c.) BAHR EL GHAZAL AND EQUATORIA.

In the Bahr El Ghazal the first outbreak in favour of Mahdism occurred at Liffi, on the 18th August, 1882. The 1882.

people had been long suffering under the cruelty and injustice of their " Danagla " rulers sent from Khartoum, and part of the Dinka tribe rose steadily under Sheikh Jango to upset the Egyptian Government. Lupton Bey, however, was equal to the occasion, and, advancing from Deim Zubeir (Deim Suleiman), towards the end of 1882, he defeated Jango Lupton with considerable slaughter at Telgona. defeats the Jango returned with some of the Emir Madibbo's men early in 1883, but was beaten again near Liffi. In September, I88;j. however, he attacked Rufai Agha, Lupton's captain, at Dembo, and massacred him and all his men. The Dinkas then revolted en masse, and blocked the road to Meshra El Rek and the north, and Lupton, short of ammunition, retired to Deim Zubeir. The last communication from Khartoum was brought by a steamer, which arrived thence at El Rek on the 15th August, and Lupton was thenceforth isolated.

On Karamalla'sf appointment as Emir of Bahr El Ghazal, he summoned Lupton to surrender, and this the latter, Surrender of after gallantly fighting for 18 months, was obliged, by the defection of his troops, to do (21st April, 1884). He was {qq*""' christened Emir Abdalla, and sent to Omdurman, where he died on the 17th July, 1888.

Thus the last vestige of Egyptian authority disappeared in the Bahr El Ghazal. The Equatorial province, meanwhile, which extended from the Albert Nyanza to Lado (its capital), and included (since 1881) the provinces of Bor and Rohl and the northern part of Unyoro, was under the charge of Emin Bey Etuiii and (Edward Schnitzer, born 1840), who had been placed there by Gordon in 1879. His forces in 1882 consisted of two '"■■* p>"a'''"ce. battalions (about 1,.300) of Egyptian and Sudanese troops, and 3,000 irregulars, distributed amongst 40 to 50 stations. This province was, by the end of 1882, practically the only Egyptian territory south of Khartoum which was not in sympathy with the Mahdi.

Karamalla, in May (27th), 1884, summoned Emin to surrender. The latter, whose men were greatly scattered and, by this time, considerably disaffected, agreed to send a deputation to surrender, but meanwhile held out at Lado and Amadi, hoping for reinforcements. Amadi fell in March, 1885, and on the 18th April Karamalla arrived within 188.'j. three days of Lado, and informed Emin of the fall of Khartoum. Emin thereupon determined to retire south to Wadelai, giving up the more northerly posts.

* Now at Omdurman. + Executed at Fasher by Ali Dinar in 1903. M