The Arabs of the desert, who had been accustomed to the rule of the Sultan of Darfur, were now under the sway of the Mahdi. They were a warlike people, and their raids were frequent. The Mahdi, who was a religious leader, had united them under his banner, and they were now a formidable force. The Mahdi's army was composed of men from all parts of the Sudan, and they were all eager to fight for their religion and their leader. The Mahdi's army was well-trained and well-equipped, and they were a match for any army in the world. The Mahdi's army was a force to be reckoned with, and they were a threat to the British Empire.