Thus patiently waiting, each daily duty was accomplished. Then came alarming news from the north. Kerem Allah spread broadcast this proclamation of the Mahdi written in the bombastic style of the Orient: “In the name of God, the all merciful, all pitiful! Glory to God, our gracious Lord and our prayers and submission to our master Mohammed and his own. “This from Mohammed, the Mahdi, Son of Abdallah, to his representative, Kerem Allah, son of the Sheik Mohammed, upon whom may God shine in His goodness and ever protect. Amen! “Receive from me this greeting and the mercy and blessing of God. I desire you to know that in accordance with the unfailing promises of God and His unchanging goodness, the city of Khartoum was captured with the help of the Living and Eternal on Monday, the ninth Rebi Ahir of the current year, early in the morning. The soldiers of the faithful stormed the entrenchments with faith in God, the Lord of the world, and in a quarter of an hour or less the enemies of God fell into their hands. They were destroyed to the very last one and their defences also. Although they were strong they were shattered at the first attack of the army of God and sought safety by rushing into the villages, but our army followed them and slew them all with sword and lance. The others who had closed their doors in their fright were taken prisoners and killed and only a few of the women and children were spared. But Gordon, the enemy of God, whom we have often admonished and warned to desist and surrender to God, has never consented since he was a rebel and leader before. So he met his fate, reaping what he had sowed, and God sent him to the place of His wrath, and thus the house of the unjust was destroyed, thanks be to God, Lord of the world, who chastises those who deserve it with fire and rewards the just with a home in Paradise. God protect thee from the faithless, Amen, with the sanction of the Highest and Greatest, the Sender of good. Only ten of our own followers died the death of faith in this victory and no others were injured. This is the mercy of God and from him is the victory for which we give Him thanks. And do the same and take my greeting. Kerem Allah Representative of the Mahdi in Bahr-el-Ghazal and Hat-el-Estiva January 28, 1885 [Illustration: _A SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO EMIN_]