A Prisoner of the Khaleefa; Twelve Years’ Captivity at Omdurman. By Charles Neufeld. A PRISONER OF THE KHALEEFA [Illustration: NEUFELD IN CAPTIVITY.] A PRISONER OF · · · · THE KHALEEFA Twelve Years’ Captivity at Omdurman BY CHARLES NEUFELD _WITH NUMEROUS PORTRAITS AND PLANS_ LONDON: CHAPMAN & HALL, LD. 1899 PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED. LONDON AND BECCLES. Dedication TO PUBLIC OPINION CHARLES NEUFELD CONTENTS INTRODUCTION The calumnies of critics—My female slave—Real object of my journey—Preliminary arrangements—General Stephenson’s letter . . . 1–7 CHAPTER I I START FOR KORDOFAN Engagement of guides—A neglected warning—Hasseena accompanies the party—Dervishes reported on the road—Non-arrival of Hogal—Dervishes sighted at Selima Wells . . . 8–14 CHAPTER II BETRAYED BY GUIDES Different routes over the desert—A quarrel amongst the guides—Scouts sent out—Hassan convicted of error—Zigzagging in the desert—A council of war—Surprised by the dervishes—The fight—Taken prisoners . . . 15–28 CHAPTER III IN THE HANDS OF THE DERVISHES Conference of the Emirs Farag and Hamza—Halt for the night—Baggage looted by dervishes—The Emirs confiscate all treasure for the Beit-el-Mal—Cross-questioned on my letters—Called a Government spy—Tortured by dervish guards—Rescued by Hamza and reserved for Wad en Nejoumi . . . 29–40 CHAPTER IV ARRIVAL IN DONGOLA Display of dervish horsemanship—Flogging among the Ansar—Hasseena is searched—Insults of the rabble—I am brought before Nejoumi—I declare myself a merchant—Evidence of a Christian girl-convert against me—Execution of fourteen Arabs of the party—I am re-examined and sent to the Khaleefa . . . 41–52 CHAPTER V THE REAL HISTORY OF THE CAPTURE Extracts from newspaper and official accounts—The antecedents of the guide Gabou—Dissensions in the Kabbabish tribe—Gabou schemes for his own section—Hassan’s part in the matter—Gabou reveals the plot to Nejoumi and enlists Hogal on his side—The Emirs prepare to intercept me—Capture of the caravan—Hogal’s deceit and its excuse . . . 53–63 CHAPTER VI DONGOLA TO OMDURMAN Preparations for the journey—Nejoumi’s friendly disposition to the Government—His loss of faith in the Mahdist movement—Why the guide Amin was executed—Horrible death of an old Arab woman—In the market-place of Omdurman—First meeting with Slatin—I am chained and tortured—I defy the Khaleefa—A mock execution—The Khaleefa is merciful—Slatin intervenes—Letter to Mankarious Effendi—Imprisoned by Slatin’s advice . . . 64–79 CHAPTER VII THROWN INTO PRISON Methods of shackling—My first night in prison—Hasseena sent to the head-gaoler’s hareem—Mahmoud Wad Said—Ajjab Abou Jinn—The three sons of Awad el Kerim—Sheikh Hamad El Nil—Ahmed Abdel Maajid and his bride—Lessons in Mahdieh—I visit Khartoum in chains—Again before the Khaleefa—My chains removed . . . 80–92 CHAPTER VIII PRISON LIFE