The Egyptians apply the rather absurd name of "the Soudan"
to the whole of their dependent Empire, stretching from the Third Cataract for an indefinite distance towards the Lakes, and from the Red Sea to the western border of Darfur. The empire comprises much of Nubia, all Sennaar, all Kordofan, and all Darfur, and though lightly held, is a subject .of great pride to Egyptians. It is really of any length and any breadth that the Pashas can reach ; but if we consider it to be 1,000 miles by 1,000, or as large as India, we shall hardly exaggerate. There are probably 12,000,000 of people within it, most of them Mussul- mans of a sort, with an "upper class" of Arabs, and "mulattoes," that is, descendants of Arabs and negro women, who have a quite exceptional daring and ferocity. They charge in particular, as the rather mythical " Ghazees " are supposed to do, with the intention of earning Paradise. If the Mahdi has any skill, he may make a formidable army of these men, for mus- kets are forwarded to him from the great Mu ssulman monasteries, and he has now secured at least 12,000 Remington rifles and thirty Nordenfeldt guns. His difficulty will not be means of transport, for by using and expending hordes of slaves he can carry all that a moderate army eating only flour will need. His name is Mahommed Ahmed, and though probably a half-caste Arab, he claims to be of the Prophet's direct descendants. He will be held to have proved his claim by victory.
