If Said Pasha had taken strong measures in dealing with some of the principal townsmen, he might have saved El Obeid. A certain Ahmed Dafallah, a loyal supporter of the Government, urged him to put all the suspected people including himself in chains in the Mudirieh; this would have disposed of Elias Pasha, Mohammed Wad el Areik, Hajji Khaled, Ben en Naga, and Siwar ed Dahab; and their chiefs once away, it is probable their followers would have returned to their former loyalty; but Said Pasha refused to accept the proposal, and instead of trying to win over his sworn enemy, Elias Pasha, he alienated him still further by taking possession of his newly-built house near the Mudirieh and handing it over to Elias's bitterest enemy, Ahmed Dafallah, to live in, thus entirely disregarding Elias Pasha. Now was Elias Pasha's opportunity to revenge himself on his two adversaries, the garrison of El Obeid was unusually weak, insignificant reinforcements had been sent from Khartum under Mohammed Pasha Khabir, but he also, being an enemy of the Mudir, joined the Mahdi, as I shall narrate in the following chapter. FOOTNOTES: [B] The Gezireh or Geziret Meröe is generally applied to the country lying between the Blue and White Niles. [C] In law, the retributive chastisement which it is the duty of a magistrate to inflict for crime and offences against morality and religion. CHAPTER II. FATHER OHRWALDER AND HIS COMPANIONS TAKEN CAPTIVE. The storm rises in Dar Nuba--The Baggara begin to raid--Khojur Kakum of Delen--Mek Omar besieges Delen--The slave guard deserts the Mission--The priests and nuns surrender--They are sent to the Mahdi. Leaving the Mahdi at Birket, I shall now return to the narration of the events which befell us in Jebel Nuba.