160 The British Campaign in the Soudan.

finally liberated them upon the payment of a ransom by the Austrian Consul at Khartoum. . This signal victory produced an immense effect throughout the Soudan. The Mahdi was now in possession of the capital of Kordofan, the largest city west of the Nile. Darfour and Kordofan were completely in his power, Sennaar nearly so, and the tribes which had wavered in their allegiance now recognized in him the true Madhi sent of God to break the yoke of Turks and infidels. The material results of his success were the ac-. cession of the conquered garrison (some five or six thousand brave and trained soldiers), the capture of a large number of breech-loaders, twelve pieces of artillery, and a large supply of ammunition. El Obeid became his capital and his base of operations until Khartoum fell into his hands. Already the latter city was threatened by Bedouin raids, and numerous secret emissaries were inciting the people to rebellion.

Such was the condition of affairs in the Soudan at the beginning of 1883. The attention of the Khedive and his government had been so concentrated upon the suppression of Arabi’s rebellion that they had overlooked the Mahdi’s. It was only after the capture of El-Obeid that they realized the extreme gravity of the situation. But they were now entirely helpless. The Khedive naturally applied for aid to his self-appointed guardians and protectors, but he was answered that British interests being in no way involved in the Soudan, England would give him no assistance. Yet, at that moment, a little help would probably have checked the rebellion before it became too strong. With the British army of occupation were several Anglo-Indian regiments accustomed to a