TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Bold text is denoted by =equal signs=. A superscript is denoted by ^x or ^{xx}. For example, C^o and L^{td} Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources. More detail can be found at the end of the book. THE DOWNFALL OF THE DERVISHES [Illustration: _Art Photogravure C^o. L^{td}._ _Lord Kitchener of Khartoum._ _From a Photograph by Bassano._] THE DOWNFALL OF THE DERVISHES OR THE AVENGING OF GORDON BEING A PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF THE FINAL SOUDAN CAMPAIGN OF 1898 BY ERNEST N. BENNETT, M. A. FELLOW AND LECTURER OF HERTFORD COLLEGE, OXFORD SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT FOR "THE WESTMINSTER GAZETTE" WITH A PORTRAIT, MAP AND PLANS LONDON METHUEN & CO. NEW YORK NEW AMSTERDAM BOOK COMPANY 1899 TO MY FRIEND H. R. H. I DEDICATE THIS LITTLE BOOK PREFACE In the following pages I have aimed at furnishing some account of the interesting experiences which fell to our lot during the recent campaign in the Sudan. My best thanks are due to several friends for the assistance they have rendered me, and I feel especially grateful to H.H. Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein and Major Stuart-Wortley, C.M.G., for their very kind help in supplying me with much additional and interesting information about the work of the Gunboats and the Friendly Tribes. I must also acknowledge the courteous permission accorded me by the Editor of the _Westminster Gazette_ to use in the compilation of this book some of the letters which I had previously contributed to the columns of his newspaper. ERNEST N. BENNETT. HERTFORD COLLEGE, OXFORD, _1st November 1898_. CONTENTS CHAPTER I FROM CAIRO TO THE ATBARA PAGE Correspondents' Permits--Academic Obstacles--Fellow-Passengers to Alexandria--French Animosity in Egypt--Indifferentism of Egyptian Natives--An Interesting Dinner--Preparations for the Campaign--Egyptian Magic--A Native "Medium"--Ali buys a Sword--Departure from Cairo--A Matrimonial Quarrel--Rumours about the Khalifa--Discomforts of the Night Journey--The Luxor Hotel--Malevolent Spiders--Karnak--By Rail to Shellal--Imbecility of Ali's Brother--Hospital Arrangements--Dreariness of a Nile Voyage--Cheerfulness of Tommy Atkins--A Classic Tale of Horror--Death of a Soldier--From Wady Halfa in a Cattle Truck--Abu Ahmed--First Night at the Atbara--Chequered Career of the _El Tahra_--Life at Atbara Camp--The Plagues of Egypt up to Date--Perverse Camels--Failure of our Attempts to overtake Lancers 1 CHAPTER II FROM THE ATBARA TO WAD HAMED