372 FROM NORTH POLE TO EQUATOR. 



Nimmr give to his lord and master. He begs leave to invite all 

 the officers of the Egyptian army, and receives the Pasha's per- 

 mission. Captains, officers, and staff are gathered to the feast in 

 the king's humble palace. Outside the fence of thorns sounds the 

 tarabuka, the drum of the country which calls to the dance, as also 

 to the battle. The young folk, festively anointed, engage in a 

 merry war-dance. Hurled lances whirr through the air, and are 

 deftly caught on the small shields of the company of dancers ranged 

 opposite. Long swords are whirled dexterously, and as skilfully 

 warded off. Ismael is mightily delighted with the handsome, 

 dusky youths, the graceful movements of their supple limbs, the 

 boldness of their attack, the security of their defence. Thicker 

 and thicker becomes the whirling throng in front of the banquet- 

 hall, more and more sword-dancers appear, more violent and riotous 

 become their movements, and more rapidly beat the drums. Then 

 suddenly the tarabuka changes its tone; it is echoed a hundred-fold 

 in all quarters of Shendy, and not less in the neighbouring villages 

 on this side and on that side of the river. A great cry of rage in 

 the highest notes of women's voices fills the air; and women naked 

 to the loins, with dust and ashes on their oil-soaked hair, bearing 

 firebrands in their hands, rush upon the king's hall, hurling their 

 brands on the walls and on the surrounding heaps of straw. A 

 monstrous sheaf of fire shoots up to heaven, and amid the flames, 

 resounding with cries of horror and woe, of execration and rage, 

 the death-dealing lances of the dancers fly in thousands. Neither 

 Ismael Pasha nor any of his feasting comrades escape a horrible 

 death. 



It was as if champions of the down-trodden people had risen 

 from the ground. Whoever could bear weapons turned against the 

 cruel enemy; women, forgetful of their sex, joined the ranks of 

 the combatants; girls and boys strove with the strength and endur- 

 ance of men towards the common end. Shendy and Metamme 

 were in one night freed of all their foes. Only a few of the 

 Egyptians, quartered in the distant villages, escaped the bath of 

 blood, and brought the gruesome news to the second commander, 

 then stationed in Kordofan. 



