98 Seven Years in the Soudan.

were from two hundred to two hundred and fift}' women and children.

Meanwhile, the Shilluks, to the number of four or five thousand, advanced menacingly around the village. Under protection of the continued fire of the Ismailia the twenty-four soldiei'S Avere able to come out of the town, dragging with them their cannon towards the boat, but having arrived at a spot where the water was too deep, they could not carry it any further and so left it. The Shilluks then rushed in pursuit of them, giving vent to their ferocity on the women and children, who threw themselves into the river in their terror. Tavo poor children who remained behind fell a prey to the Shilluks. We saw them carried aloft on the point of their lances.

I ordered that the Shilluks should be permitted to advance without firing, and when they Avere at five hundred and fifty feet Ave opened a vigorous fire upon them by Avliich Ave succeeded in routing them. I carried Avith me to Fashoda the families, and the tAventy-four soldiers of the garrison, to consign them to competent authorities.

Arriving on the night of the 17th, I immediately reported all to the Bimbashi. We had burnt all our fuel and found it imi)0ssible to continue. In the town there Avas no fuel to be had, because the population did not venture to come out. The Shilluks always remained hidden in the jungle.

The defeat of the garrison of Khaka and death of Yussuf Bey had thrown cA'erybody into consternation. All Avished to leave, abandoning their property. The Commander himself did not feel too safe. I therefore caused some houses to be pulled down, to procure fuel so as to be able to proceed to Sobat. The Commander, haAnng heard of the attack, wrote me a letter, in which, seeing the danger we were in, he sent me to Khartoum to take some troops for re'nforcement.