Moslem Egypt and Christian Abyssinia; or, military service under the Khedive, in his provinces and beyond their borders, as experienced by the American Staff

Front matter

IrCerPT/AN SOLDIER. Z-ABYSSINIAN SOLDICK^-MDHAMMCD AU, 5-IBRAHIM, 6-A KABAB1CH. 7-/4 CALLA. MOSLEM EGYPT AND Christian Abyssinia^ OR, MILITARY SERVICE UNDER THE KHEDIVE, IN HIS PROVINCES AND BEYOND THEIR BOR- DERS, AS EXPERIENCED BY THE AMERICAN STAFF. BY WILLIAM McE. DYE (Formerly of the U. S. Army, and late Colonel of the Egyptian Staff). NEW YORK : ATKIN & PROUT, PRINTERS, la BARCLAY ST. l88o. Copyright, 1880, By WILLIAM McE. DYE. DEDICATED TO MY BELOVED __^N_D AGED MOTHER, From whom I have received more than life. THE AUTHOR.

Preface

Over and above the interest which the reading public, in general, have always taken in the land of classic inspiration, — the cradle of that religion which is to-day the synonym of civilization, — there is — to encourage the offer of this volume — the fact that Americans ever manifested a special interest in all that concerned their countrymen who were sojourning in Egypt as instruments of the first systematic, though inadequate, attempt to utilize the ethnical product of the Great Republic in the military serv ice of a foreign power. This call upon the youngest, freest and most progressive of great nations, to help lift, as was generally supposed, the most enslaved of peoples out of ruts worn with the depths of ages, was in reality, these pages will disclose, an attempt to rejuvenate hoary age by the process of engrafting.

To produce a general idea of the service performed by these officers, as a body, is essayed in the book ; also to portray something of the character, and to depict a little of the life, of the interesting peoples, with whom they came in contact, from Zanzibar to Alexandria in Egypt, and from Alexandria to the Victoria Nyanza, including the Niam-Niam country, Darfour and Kordofan. This service embraces that which was performed by some of them, as members of important armed expeditions, into a land which has, for a decade and a half of centuries, had the honor of remaining the outpost of Christianity, and which enjoys the glorious distinction, quite as rare, of being the African rock that scattered the tidal wave of Mohammedanism. The result of these expeditions into Abyssinia was hardly needed to demonstrate, to the mind of the most visionary or of the most obtuse, the folly of sending children to war ; but even the intelligent reader may need the result to learn that the Egyptian as a soldier is only a child.

The reports which have hitherto appeared in print, respecting these expeditions have been very meagre. Indeed, the battle of -'Gura Plain,'' ending the most important one of the series of expeditions, was, as described in these reports, just near enough the real to be distinguished from a thunder-storm. The desire in my labors has been, above all, to produce true impressions. If I succeed, also, in awakening some interest in the future welfare of the book's central figures — the down-trodden fellah and the imprisoned Abyssinian — it will be pleasant to think that part of the subject matter presented stood high enough in the reader's estimation to beguile one of his leisure hours, and to cast a shadow over some of the many literary faults of the unpracticed hand, which the critical reader will certainly find — the mat ter, in large part, being made up from letters and notes (inserted neces sarily almost verbatim, and without the benefit of editorial pruning) writ- VI

PREFACE.

. ten in the excitement of the field when the'mind was severely taxed with more practical affairs. While these facts account for some of the repeti tions and for much of the crudeness in the volume, they promise also a degree of reality in the descriptions and in the relation of events, little as it may be, which the work would not otherwise have. As to the form of the volume's contents, the existing arrangement of chapters was adopted with the view of bringing relative matter in juxta position, and of presenting at the same time the events as nearly as may be in chronological order. However, before entering upon the main part of the work— that is, upon the description of certain expeditions with which the Americans were identified — it was considered not inap propriate to say a word about Egypt's sovereign during their sojourn, something upon the condition of society in Cairo during his Khedivial reign, and more especially in relation to the fellah and his fitness for a soldier, as well as about the Egyptian army in general.

Many of the incidents of the Abyssinian campaign so attached them selves to me, that the impracticability of hiding my personality is to be regretted. Did they more particularly concern other than myself, they would be related with more pleasure and with less reserve. All the latest available information from the most trustworthy sources has been used in the construction of the general map accompanying the volume. For much of the geographical knowledge contained in the special map of Abyssinia I am indebted to a map by Professor L. H. Mitchell, of the Egyptian service. Names, whether Arabic or Abyssinian, which I have taken the liberty to have changed or inserted in these maps, or which are employed in the work, have the usual spelling when it gives the proper pronunciation, or nearly so.* W. McE.

D. * It should be remembered that Arabic names in most common use by foreigners have, in general, the French spelling— a having (mostly) the sound of a in rat, c having the sound of s, and i the alphabetical sound of e, as in Rachid (Rasheed). Among the exceptions remembered to this rule are: the word Achmed, in which c is hard and h has a guttural sound ; the word syce, in which y has the natural sound of i ; and Nieb, whose French spelling is Naib. Also, the names Sabry, Arraby, Ruchdy, Ruby and Guddy, should each have the letter i (short) instead of y, for the French spelling. CONTENTS Page.

Preface v Chapter I. — Engagement of American Officers- The Manner of their Selection — A Five Years' Contract and Pay of Officers -The Number Employed— The Chief of Staff— General W. T. Sherman in Cairo — Valuable Suggestions 1 Chapter II. — An Oriental Prince — His Friendship for Napoleon III.-— Arranging for an Heir — The Title of Khedive — His Aims and Intentions — At Height of Power — How he Gained Lands 5 ~< Chapter III. — The Ex-Khedive's Manner of Bankrupting his Private Estate and Impoverishing his Country — A Magnificent Oriental Fantasia — Ismail's Entertainments, Palaces and Zoological Gardens—Prince Arthur's Visit — A Motley Throng — A Princely Banquet 8 Chapter IV. — Theatrical Selections— A Profligate Court- The Opera a Non-Paying Venture— The Fire Department — Operatic Talent and the Ballet — Aida — Harem Ladies and Strangers — The Music — The Dance of the Ghawazzi — Horse Racing 14 Chapter V. — Population of Cairo — The Texas of Europe — The Foreigners — Street Beggars — Pancake Peddlers — Small Coin — Women from the Harems — The Natives almost Naked — "Soung Women Bathing — The Cutting of the Khalig — Climatic Effect on Modesty — Staple Articles of Food — Amusements — The Prayer of the Dervish — Honoring Departed Sheiks and Saints — The Great Religious Fast — The Spectacle of the Doseh 19 Chapter VI. — The Egyptian Harem and its Bad Influences — A Heavy Incubus — Contralto Knights — The Mothers of Princes — Divorce made Easy — The Code Koran — Marriage d la Mode — Rich Dresses — Emblem of Immortality — Fond of the Bath — Equestrian Exercise — The Veil of Isis — How a Young Man was Imposed on — A Marriage Ceremony 28 Chapter VII. — The Population of Egypt — Absorption of the Copts -Overflow of the Nile — The Fellahih — No Soul for Music — An Exotic Religion — Egyptian Cruelty— Contrast between Egyptian .\ and Abyssinian — The Former Naturally Averse to War — A Stride in the Regeneration of Egypt 36 Chapter VIII.— Shaping a Man into a Good Soldier — The Fellah without Love for his Officer — Without Hope of Reward — Courage and Fortitude — The Fellah Devoid of such Influences as make a Goocl Soldier— The Altar of Despair CONTENTS.

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Chapter IX.— Fatalism in the Fellah's Religion— Arab Fanaticism— The Slave of the Nile— Evil Effects of his Life Hitherto— A Lack of Important Elements— Ancient Egyptian Soldier's Success in 6,000 Years — Courage, Enthusiasm and Discipline — The Art of War — Under a Foreign Yoke— Campaigns of Ibrahim Pacha against Wahabees — Success over the Greeks — Gold more Successful than Arms ' 48 Chapter X.— Strength of Ismail Pacha's Army — The French System formerly Observed, but now the German — Once a Soldier always a Soldier — How Desertion is Guarded Against — Money-making Pachas, Beys, Mudirs and Sheiks— Schools of Instruction — No Place for Volunteers — Good Artillery — Instruction of Cadets — Bad Eyesight — A Sharp-seeing Man — The Mulish Look of Unconcern — The Influence of Experience and Discipline — Non-commissioned Officers and others — The Commanding Officers Full of Lying, Duplicity and Intrigue — Military Schools — The Bjys Educated — Barracks — Instructors — A Lack of Discipline — The Pacha System 56 Chapter XI. — A Commander's Staff — Harmonious Action Necessary — In Peace Prepare, etc. — Americans Organizing a General Staff — Division of Labor — The Perverseness of Pachas — Staff Cadets — Pachalic Jealousy — The Khedive's Ignorance — General Stone and His Highness — The Minister of War — Orders to the Army — The Suez Canal Trouble 69 Chapter XII. — Barrack and Office Exchanged for the Desert — Explorations and Surveys in Charge of Americans— Commandos Troops — No System of Courts — War Department Bureaus— Mining Operations — Survey of an Egyptian Island in the Grecian Archipelago — Cape Guardafui and Vicinity — Long's Expedition — The Juba River Expedition 76 Chapter XHL — Province of Kordof an Explored by Colston and Prout — The Excellent Work of an Able Officer — Topography of the Country — Land of the Acacias — Effects of War and Dry Seasons — A Nomadic People — Vegetation Buried beneath Drifting Sands — Born only to Die — Villages — A Mixture of Races — Varieties of Face, Form and Color — Bedouin Tribes — Warriors by Occupation — Dress in Kordofan — Fashion and Food — Burials — No Gaiety — t— Night Entertainments — Amorous Songs and Dancing Girls — Marriage Customs — Very Superstitious — The Water Supply — Mountain Homes Q4 Chapter XIV. — Purdy and Mason's Expedition — Joined by Prout Cultivation in Darfour — Massacres and Revolts — Few Forests and r Little Water— Drought and War followed by Famine — The Slave t Trade — Ostrich Feathers, Gum and Ivory — The Expenses of Conquest—Ethnical Questions— An Unhealthful Country — Great Diversity of Dialects gg CONTENTS.

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Chapter XV. — The Abyssinian — Ethnic Movements — Disappearance of Ethiopia's Power — Handsome-featured People — Early Jewish Settlers — Non-Negro Blood — Titles of Rulers — Chronicles kept by Priests — Ancient Ports of Abyssinia — Egypt's Influence — Christianity in Abyssinia — The Royal Succession — Turkish Possession of Red Sea — Portuguese Colonists — Infusion of Galla Blood — Furious Contests a Century Back — Rise of Theodore — The Country Consolidated — Great Diversity of Climate and Soil — A Rich Land — The Need of Ports — Without Literature — No Foreign Commerce — Market Days for Trade — Warriors and Nimrods — General Character of Abyssinians 104 Chapter XVI. — Border Relations— Pushing Egypt's Frontiers — Seizure of Ports — Abyssinia Enveloped by Mohammedanism — Massowah — The English Expedition to Abyssinia — The Khedive's Schemes — The Bogos Province — Lazarist Society of French , Catholics — Munzinger's Movement — Treachery of a Governor— 7- King John's Appearance — General Kirkham sent to Queen Victoria — The Khedive"s Purchase of the Port of Zeilah — The English Ensign Hauled Down 120 Chapter XVIL— Expeditions Fitting Out — Rumors in Cairo — The Author Selected for Important Service — Doubts and Misunderstandings — A Mysterious Expedition — Departure of Arrendrup and Durholz — Major Dennison's Adieu to Friends — Arrendrup and his Personal Staff — Letter to King John — Port of Massowah — Provinces in Constant Turmoil — Ras Area and the King — Marching on the Abyssinian Capital 129 Chapter XVIII. — Dictatorial Spirit of France toward Egypt — Arms for Abyssinians — Moral and Material Support for the King — Disappearance of two Journalists — To Arms I To Arms ! — Opposition to Invading Army — Arrendrup's Force — A Night Skirmish — A Change of Line of Operations — Warfare of Border People — Religious Retaliatory Measures — Both Armies in the Field — An Egyptian Guide Imprisoned — Endeavoring to Anticipate the King— Barbarous Cruelty— A Wfak Position— An Active Night- Attempt to Surprise the King in Camp— Mutual Astonishment and a Precipitate Engagement— Non-effective Artillery— A Terrible Massacre— Attack on another Force of Egyptians— Their almost Total Destruction— Great Bravery— The Enemy's Success 134 Chapter XIX.— Dennison and Ruchdy at the Top of a Mountain- Preparations for Defense— News from the Battle— Rejoicing Enemy— Dennison's Surrender Demanded— An American's Reply to an Abyssinian King— Retreat of Dennison's Force— Sufferings on the March— A Frightful Night— How a Panic was Prevented— Relief at Last— Durholz' s Escape to Massowah— Troops who Lost their Way— The Remains of the Army Out of Danger— The King's Council— Munzinger Defeated— Abyssinian Army Disbanded— Horrible Condition of Count Zichy— The Battle-field— A Humane Frenchman X CONTENTS.

Page. Chapter XX.— Excitement in Cairo— A Much Bewildered Staff- Reading up on Africa— Picking up Hints, etc.— Wild Rumors of Egypt's Success— Information about Arrendrup's Destruction—A Great Secret of State— First News of the Disaster- Beating Official Dispatches— Another Expedition— The Author's Lack of Confidence in Pachas and Beys— A Frank Conversation with the Chief of Staff— A Proffered Honor Declined— Preparing for the Campaign— Foreign Influence and Progress— Nubar Pacha and other Leaders— The General-in-Chief— An Officer Assigned Second in Command— Satisfying Native Clamor— Credit for Organization of Force— Its Numbers— An Anxious Officer— Loring's Boomerang— Tacit Consent to the General Arrangements — The Transportation Department 149 Chapter XXI.— Officers before the Khedive— A Plan of Campaign— The Principal Object Thereof— Nubar Pacha's Concern— A Theatrical Scene— Orders to Depart— Hurried Preparations— Off at Last— Dinner in Suez— Farewell to Friends— The Voyage Down the Red Sea— Massowah— Its Trade— Salt- Water Drinkers— Officers of the General Staff— Ratib's Attempted Suicide— His Elevation to the Command of the Army— The Sphinx 158 Chapter XXU.—Boukra.

Inshalla— Relations of Staff and Line- A Unique Picture — Assignment of Officers — Obstacles in their Way — A Hercules — Lack of Clerical Force — Loring Chafing under Difficulties 169 Chapter XXIII.— General Kirkham— Prisoners from the Arrendrup Expedition— Their Mutilation— Kirkham's Seizure— Stripped of his Ambassadorial Letters— His Imprisonment — His Story— Daughter of Dr. Schimpfner— Kirkham's Graphic Views of Egyptian Expeditions — The Harrar Expedition — Beheading the King and Chiefs — Kirkham's Warnings — Abyssinian Arms — Puerile Arguments for the Retention of Kirkham in Solitary Confinement — His New Quarters and More Liberty — Dinner in his Honor 180 Chapter XXIV. — Prince Hassan's Arrival as Colonel of the Etat- Major — Ratib his Sponsor — His Irksomeness under Restraint — Role of a Prince not that of a Soldier — Attention of the Army toward His Highness — Discrimination between Foreigners and Egyptians — The Chief of Staff Deprived of some of his Prerogatives — Loring's Confidence in the Prince 186 Chapter XXV. — The Governor of Massowah — His Defamation of Gallant Officers — Neglect of the Government to Reward Skillful and Loyal Service — The Mefettish — The Governor Exercising the Functions of an Official of the State, Finance and War Departments — Important Matters in the Hands of a Boy — Prerogative of the Commanding General Assumed — Nubar Pacha Displaced — Native Party more Independent — The Khedive saw Breakers Ahead — Failed to Avoid them CONTENTS.

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Chapter XXVI. — No Transportation for a Movement — Juba River — Ratib Does Not Realize the Problem before him — Pack Animals to go Forty Miles without Removal of Load — Bairam — Council of War — Route Selected — King John among his People — Excommunication — Plan of Advance 201 Chapter XXVII. — Preparations for an Advance — The Move — Exciting Scene — Desertion of Cameliers — Depot at Bahr-Reza — Muddle about Reconnaissance — Confusion at Massowah — Intrigues of Egyptians Against the Chief of Staff— His Resort to the Commanding General — The Baton of Authority — The Prince for Shooting Soldiers — Futile Efforts to Systematize Punishments. . 214 Chapter XXVHL— The Journalists— Were they Spies?— The Chief of Staff in High Dudgeon — Patience in Egypt — Tropical Music — Reorganization of the Transport Department — The Chief Directed to Use the Cudgel — Ratib's Indifference — Loring's Anxiety and Exertions — Sheiks — Krupps— Mohammed Ali Pacha — Sanitary Stores 221 Chapter XXIX. — Rapine on the Border— The King with his People — Headquarter Preparations to Advance — An Egyptian Spectacle through European Glasses— The Royal Cavalcade — Its Dismemberment — Loring's Ride — Yangoos — Fascinating Scenes — Murder — Mockeln's Harem — Mountain Scenery — Dance on the March — Wild Boars — Village of the Dead — Luxuriant Vegetation 227 Chapter XXX. — Preparing to Advance Again — Lieutenant Magdy's Adventure — En Route to Gura — The Defile — Ascent of Mount Bamba — Water-shed — Necropolis — Blasting a Road — Darwinian Inhabitants of Addi-Rasso — Roaring Fires in the Tropics — Scattering Luggage — Fort Outlined — Messengers from the King — Ludicrous Scene — Haala Plain — Valley of Kaya-Khor — Dilemma on a Goat Path — Two Rarities Meet — Magnificent Landscape 236 Chapter XXXI. — The Pass — Preparations to Meet the Enemy — Wrong Road Trc..^herous Banks — An Incident that Led to a Duel— Camp in W_*ong Valley — Watering Herds by Primitive Methods — Trees Growing Underground — Turkish Emblem — An Abyssinian Rebel — Ratib's Scare — Ordering Troops into the Field Without Supplies— The King with Force for Observation— Staff Efforts to Prevent the Collapse of the Campaign 246 Chapter XXXII. — Change of Camp — Rumors of the King's Advance — Transport Animals Unduly Taxed — Cavalry would Hide in the Fort — A 3attalion Surrounds the Prince inside the Intrenchments — The Army Depleted while the King is Advancing — Artillery to Replace Returning Infantry — Elephants — A Battery Joining the Front unceremoniously Seized and Taken to the Rear Work on Roads and Intrenchments — Colonel Locketfs Arrival Abandonment of the Idea of the Defense of the Pass — Fort at Camp — Block-House as a Toy — How to Turn the Tables on the Enemy CONTENTS.

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Chapter XXXIIL— Duplicity and Intrigues— Staff Officers on the Line — Propping up Transport Animals — English Experience — The Destructive Fly— Disabling Transport Service — Something Unusual in the Egyptian Character — Barbarous Cruelty of the Egyptian — Ratib's Indifference — His Search for a Lie — Cavalry Ornamental— The Chief of Staff Disheartened— The Staff— The Market, and Abuse of Abyssinian Hucksters — Killing an Abyssinian — Loring's Servant Whipped — Nieb Mohammed as Chief of Guides and Scouts — Chief of Staff Deprived of Messengers and Mail — The Commanding General and his Second in Command — Not Agreed as to the Route — Nieb Supplanting Loring as Ratib's Adviser — A Mythical Enemy 264 Chapter XXXIV. — Several Lines of Sentinels Posted to Fire into Each Other — Props for the Eyelids — Exploded Way of Treating Disease — A Cow Stampedes the Command — A Stiff Engagement with a Mythical Enemy — Lucky Days of the King — Dedjatch Welda Mikael — Fag Ends of Semi-Barbarous Life — Entertainment — Evil Eye — Dress and Customs of an Abyssinian Prince — His Egyptian Rank of Pacha Proclaimed — Ratib Hobnobbing and Involving himself in the Political Affairs of Abyssinia — Mikael's Intrigues — Leige Berrou — The Efforts of the Priest and Loring — The Priest and Egyptian Rule 280 Chapter XXXV. — Captain Irgens in the Enemy's Lines — Sorcery — The King's Move — His Reinforcements — Only Three Rebels Against him — Pillage and Conflagration — Johannus not a Theodore—Civilization Displayed in Amputating Limbs as Punishment — Barbarous Way of Curing Broken Limbs — -The King's Advance — Anxiety at Egyptian Headquarters — The Talk of Retreat — Demonstrations Against the King's Flank 290 Chapter XXXVI. — Cavalry Reconnaissances — The Enemy Advancing — Ratib Shifts to Loring the Responsibility of a Demonstration — A Disgraceful Stampede — Ratib's Fears — His Strange Moves — The Egyptian Line Closely Menaced — Futility of the Block- House — Troops to Kaya-Khor — Batteries Arrive — Osman Bey Commanding at Kaya-Khor — The King Paralyzed by the Demonstration — Strange Order Delaying Trains — Recoil of the Demonstration Severe — The Desire to Retreat Resisted — The King Recovers from the Blow — Trains Ordered Forward — Bahr-Reza Strengthened — Loring's Anxiety — Pachas and Beys Obstructing — Loshe with Orders to Bring up the Rear Train — Rachid Bey and Soliman Pacha with Orders to Prevent it — Loshe's Escort Departs Secretly with over Seven Hundred of his Animals — He is Left Alone with Six Hundred Animals — Extraordinary Work 296 Chapter XXXVII.— Colonel Field in Command at Bahr-Reza— Trains to Advance — Loring Recommends Troops to Assist them Across Haaia Plain — Ratib Disapproves — The Commanding General's Distress — The Enemy only a few Hours from Kaya-Khor and Addi- CONTENTS.

XIII Page. Rasso — Loring Disheartened — His Threats to Surrender Everything to the Egyptians — Ratib Writes his own Orders— Loring Advises Trains Stopped and the Army to Fall Back — Reconsidered— Council — Loring Excluded — Resulting Plans a Mystery — Loring Working in the Dark — Plan Discovering itself Step by Step— The Enemy only Three Hours Away — He Leaves the Asmara Road and Marches Against the Force near Gura— What Shall be Done ?

Ratib's Duplicity and Subterfuge — The Prince's Interview with Loring— Loring a Convert — Ratib's 'Compromise — The Pickets Withdrawn because cf Danger 007 (Chapter XXXVIII.— Rachid Bey Presumes to Command Field's Force — Ratib's Complicity — His Desire to Stop Convoys by Secret Obstruction — His Open Orders to Break up Addi-Rasso and Secret Orders to Enlarge its Garrison — Field Fortified with another Order as Commander at Bahr-Reza — He is Informed that a Battle is Expected on the Seventh — His Arrangements to Advance — Osman Bey Prevents it 322 Chapter XXXIX.— The Enemy Gathering for Battle— A large Force Retires from a Handful of Egyptians under Derrick — Egyptians' Friends Leaving them — A Ras in Egyptian Lines — Berrou and Welda-Mikael wish to go Against the King — The Wily King Creating the Impression that he would Attack Gura Fort — Ratib Falling into the Snare — Loring Vainly Urging him to Prepare for all Contingencies — Loring Hesitates against Incessant Opposition — Colonel Dye Offers his Aid — Council at Kaya-Khor 327 Chapter XL. — Retrospect of Situation — Military Feast for the King. . 333 Chapter XLI. — Opinions in Council — To Concentrate for Battle — The Rear to Move Forward by Forced Marches — The Troops in Kaya- Khor Valley to Take Post on the Mountain, in the Pass— The Force in the Gura Intrenchments to Join the Force in the Pass — The Commanding General Desires an Opinion in Writing, and Certificate Relieving Him of Responsibility — Loring's Objection to this Extraordinary Demand — Ratib's Oily Words — Seeming Final Agreement — Napoleon's Caustic Views of Commanders who Resort to Councils 339 Chapter XLII. — No Orders to Prepare for a Move, or for Battle — Ratib Ignoring the Kaya-Khor Council — Sound to Arms — Battle without Preliminaries — Battle-line and March— Ratib's Lingering Hope that the King w ould Attack the Fort— The Halt— The March Resumed — Search for a Battle-field — Colonel Derrick's Handful of Men Mistaken for Thirty Thousand Abyssinians — His Narrow Escape — A Courier Announcing the Enem}' — The Enemy Moving on Kaya-Khor — Still Searching for a Battle-field — The Staff Informs the Commanding General of the Enemy's Movements — Description of the Field Xiv 7 CONTENTS. 4 Page.

Chapter" XLIIL— The Enemy Gathering— Their Battle-call— A Battalion on a. Wild-goose Chase— The Army Moves Out to Join Osman Pacha— It is Suddenly Halted— Awaits the King— Vain Efforts for Long-range Guns— The Enemy in Columns Moves Against the Egyptians — Gaudy Appearance of the Chiefs— Stirring Military Bands— Into Battery !— Battery Support— Hurried Preparations—The Battle Opened Along the Line— The Foe Moves on- Flank Exposed— Battery Support Used for its Defense— No Officers— The Colonel Arrives — Demand for Troops — Charge upon Sabry's Battery — A Well-directed Rocket Saves it — Boldness of the Enemy — Driven Away from our Left — Desperate Condition of the Right — The Plain Alive — The Enemy in the Jaws of the Battery — Last Loaded Gun Fired — Cavalry Leader Killed by a Carbine — Charges Repulsed— Charges Renewed — Critical Condition of the Flank— Artillery Posted to Aid— The Flank ' Turned- Prince Hassan Leaves the Field — The Army Follows Him — The Enemy Concentrates— Columns Dashed Against the Egyptians — A Battalion Destroyed — Battery Overthrown 353 Chapter XLIV. — The Farce After the Tragedy — Egyptians Firing into Egyptians— The Abyssinians Close In — No Egyptian Officers to be Seen — Disorganization — A Funeral Procession — Rachid Pacha's Conflict — The Army Blocked in a Gorge — A Slaughter — Demoralization — Firing Unconsciously— A Flanking Force — Prince Hassan Leads the Van — The Prince in a Dilemma — The Prince Escapes — Bewildered Men to the Hills — Words of Praise. 368 Chapter XLV. — Confusion in the Fort — The Wounded Coming In — Ghastly Wounds — No Water — Amputation — Abyssinian Exultation — Field's March — Osman Pacha's Self-congratulations — The Desire to Attack the King — The Fort Besieged — Volleys in Reply to Shots — The Parapet — Negro Superiority — Kaya-Khor Threatened — Spoils of War — Egyptians Fire into their own Animals — Amateur Soldiering by the Prince's Secretary — Spoilers' Incredible Bravery — Sorties — Hand-to-Hand Contest — Wounded Arriving — Badr Effendi's Unique Experience as a Captive — Strange Customs — Sisters of Mercy '. 377 Chapter XLVL— The Fort Savagely Assailed on the Ninth— Murderous Fire Against a Battery — The Enemy's Artillery — Tra verses Constructed—Staff Officers Shouldering Picks and Shovels— The Dead Near the Fort— Brutality of Egyptians — Disinterring Mutilated Bodies — Massacre of Egyptian Prisoners— The King Retires His Camp a Dreadful Sight— Bringing in the Wounded— TMalesh ! —The Wounded among Beasts of Prey— Result of the Battle- Strength of the Enemy — H is Loss 3g~ Chapter XLVII. — Criticisms. — No Unity in the Army — Bad Material — No Cohesion — Undetermined Relations between Line and Staff — Attention of the Army Concentrated on the Prince — Lack of Transportation— Line of Communication Open— Ratib's Neglect CONTENTS.

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Wrong Site for Depot — Lack of Telegraph Line — Neglect to Destroy the Intrenchments — Ratib's Failure to Join Osman Pacha — His Motives — No Seeming Understanding between Ratib and Commanders at Fort and Pass — Failure of Commanders to Assist in Battle — Battle-field not Reconnoitered — No Signal Party on Field— Not Enough Men Taken into Field— Not Taking Steel Battery into Field — Hesitancy of Ratib — Not Following Up his First Success — Neglect of his Flank— Advising Prince Hassan to Fly — The Army Follows — The Prince Takes Wrong Road — Failure of Fort Commander to Use his Guns — Egyptians Firing into their own Animals — Failure to Unite the Forces of Osman and Ratib on the Night of the Seventh, and to Attack the King — Failure to Seize the Hamaseen 399 Chapter XLVIII. — Health of the Command — -Changes of Weather — Code of Egyptian Soldier — Lion Hunting — Care of the Sick — Mohammed Ali Pacha — Egyptian and Foreign Education — A Contribution to the Art of Surgery — Surgeons Horsde Combat — Badr Effendi's Noble Efforts in Care of the Wounded — Graves and Drinking Water — Transport Officer in Charge of Hospital — Yawning Graves — Careless Burial— Neglect of the Slain — Carrion Beasts and Birds — No Humanity 423 Chapter XLIX. — Abyssinian Science and Art of War — Why the King did not Detach a Force to Attack Field — Why the King Retired — He Initiates Peace Negotiations — Abyssinian Commissioner — His Entertainment in the Egyptian Camp — Quixotic Knights — Mohammedan Prayer — His Majesty's Fears — Ammunition Secretly Conveyed Away — The Commissioner's Fears Quieted in Egyptian Style — The Preliminary of Peace — Presents to the Commissioner — Prince Hassan Leaves — Advice to his Father — Hopeful of Peace — Enemy aud Easter Festival — Berrou's Messenger — Stampede — Ludicrous Escapade of an Officer — Welda Mikael and Royal Lions — His Desire to Pounce on the Enemy 431 Chapter L. — Fort Gura Evacuated — The Army Retires — No Water —Pell-mell Retreat — A Blind Man Guided by his Nose — Disappointment — Two Marches in One — Great Suffering — Death by the Roadside — Embarkation — Prisoners' Return — Ransom — The Murder of Mohammed Ali — Dr. Johnson's Sufferings in Captivity — Taken Out for Execution — The Courier in the Distance — Escape from Death — Daily Torture — Entertaining Abyssinians — His Prostration 440 Chapter LI. — Fort Hassan Pacha — Ratib and Peace Negotiations-.