The Battle of Dem Idris.

This success A\'as of vital importance to us, both at Khartoum and Darfour, and, I may saj, throughout the Soudan it was never beHeved that Suleiman would be beaten. He had long since prepared a general rising in the waste territor} between his Dem and Shakka, and he might easily have made other recruits besides his eleven thousand combatants.

The positions he occupied, his practised troops, who had to fight in the European manner at Darfour ; the climate so unfavourable to the Egyptians who opposed him ; his abundant arms and ammunition, obtained from the conquered or revolted seribe — all was in his favour. I had little hope of issuing victorious from the unequal struggle that I had undertaken in deference to the wishes of my chief, Gordon Pasha. But before continuing my narration, permit me to mention the true reason of this war, which is perhaps still unknown in Europe.

Eight years before I undertook to suppress the revolt in the province of the Gazelle, a short and unfortunate eifort had been made to put down a previous and partial rebellion. But Ziber Pasha, Suleiman's father, who commanded the rebels, defeated the Government troops. It happened as follows : — A certain Hillali had been sent by the Viceroy to explore and utilize the rich copper mines near Darfour.

Accompanied by about four hundred irregulars, commanded by Avedisi Aga, and furnished with cannon, Hillali proceeded to the Gazelle, where he commenced operations. He was then nominated Governor, and in this capacity he naturally wished to introduce some order among the numerous seribe, which were frequently in conflict with each other. Ziber who possessed very many and important seribe, foreseeing that in this way the Government would take direct possession of them, and also conquer