3 OCTOBER 1896, Page 2

Though we have not yet got Khartoum, we have captured

the holy island of the Mahdists,—Captoo, the place where the Mahal was born. The officer of the Intelligence Department who visited it reports that "a small wall of tasteful design" surrounds the house, and that up till a short time ago a guard was left to protect it. Some of the loot taken from the Dervishes was very curious. There were coats of mail and helmets evidently dating from the days of the Crusaders. A sword which was found has an inscription in old French. Another sword bore the motto, " Honi soit qui zeal y pense." There are also a number of double-barrelled sporting guns, and one rifle of immense calibre, firing a one-pound ball and requiring two men to hold it. No doubt the Dervishes set great store b3 that gun, but we doubt its ever having done

any execution. Unless you are an elephant a small bullet. willserve quite as well as a big one.