“A fanatical Arab by the name of Mohammad Achmet, who lived upon an island in the Nile, south of here, by his much fasting and praying, finally got his head turned, and believed that he was a prophet, sent to be a Saviour of the people. He wrote letters all around the country, and soon had a large following. Many flocked around his standard, especially from among those disaffected ones who wished to escape the payment of their taxes. They finally became obnoxious to the government, and a detachment of 120 men was sent against them on the island. These were not properly handled and were slain at once, as fast as they landed. The leader now feared to remain longer on the river, and crossing over with all the men, women and children, who had gathered around him, he retired to a mountain, some distance back, called Jebel Geder. It was the policy of the government now to let them alone, but a new Governor of Fashoda having been appointed, he must needs show his zeal by getting after the rebels. He frequently asked permission to attack them, and finally, contrary to orders, he collected the garrisons from the Sobat Station, from Kaka, and from Fashoda, about 400 regular soldiers, and taking with him 200 Shillooks, and other irregulars, under the king or chief of the Shillooks, he marched against the rebels. “This chief of the Shillooks was a fine young man‒loyal and energetic‒who administered affairs among his people in the interests of the Government. The advance was made by forced marches. They were six days on the way, and when the ‘fool’ reached the mountain, instead of resting his men, he commenced the attack after a two hours march on the seventh day, when the men were worn out and utterly unfit for it. They were all cut to pieces and slain. About 60 were taken prisoners, and only 70 out of about 600 escaped. The Governor of Fashoda was killed, and also the Chief of the Shillooks, which we greatly regret, as we intended to make him a Pasha. He will be a great loss to us. We wanted to send him to Cairo, as he was anxious to see the Khedive.