Major Wingate, the head of the Egyptian Intelligence Depart- ment,
has succeeded in rescuing Slatin Bey, an Austrian officer, formerly Governor of Darfour, who is the last of the important prisoners in the Mahdi's hands. A Soudanese merchant was employed to give him warning and purchase camels for him, and on February 20th he left Omdurman with two Arab guides. His camels broke down after three days' ride in the desert, but two others were procured which swam the Nile, and after a circuitous ride of twenty days, rendered necessary by a sharp pursuit, during which he traversed nearly one thousand miles of desert, living on dates and hard cakes, Slatin Bey reached Assonan, looking, it is said, as if he had never been a prisoner. He had been held in bondage for twelve years; but Providence has given him an unconquerable cheerfulness, and he is as full of spirits as a boy. He had pretended to turn Mussulman, had been employed by the Mahdi as a sort of orderly at his own gate, had been provided with wives, and had been well treated as to everything except food. He was often nearly starved. He reports that the Mahdi's power is waning, and that he him. self is given up to luxury and indolence, but that he is still supported by the Baggarah tribes, who oppress and pillage all other residents of the Soudan. It is doubtful if he is ready to attack the Italians, but he is alarmed at their neigh- bourhood, and is gathering troops to oppose their advance.
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