The Times on Wednesday published a curious "find," a translation
of the letters from Wad-el-Bishera, the young Emir commanding in Dongola, to his subordinate Emirs at Firkeh. In all except their religious phraseology, which mainly consists of curses on the "enemies of God," they are the letters of a European Commander-in-Chief who is aware that his weak points are the carelessness of his great officers, and their disposition to postpone the common service to their jealousies of each other. The cause of these jealousies is not suggested, but it is probably, as in all despotic organisations, rivalry in the favour of the Khalifa, the Emir commanding them to abstain from "intrigues." He was horror-struck at the defeat of Firkeb, tore his beard, and refused to be comforted, but ordered an immediate conscription en masse, and will, it is believed, fight to the death for Dongola. It is to be observed that Wad-el-Bishera is a man of sense. He distrusts the black troops, who are compelled by force to serve under his standard, but instead of coercing them by extra severity he orders that first of all they shall be regularly paid. We shall not next time find the carelessness in his officers which he so laments, for they know now that Egyptians dare attack, which, up to the assault on Firkeh, they obviously disbelieved. General Kitchener is equal to his work, but before he reaches Dongola he will find it cut out for him, though he will enjoy all the help he can derive from the goodwill of the population. They loathe the Baggaras, who are as bad as Turkish Irregulars or a swarm of locusts.
Previous page
