476 LETTERS TO DR. SCHWEINFURTH. 



letter from Keremallali informing him of the capture of Khar- 

 tum and the entrance of the Mahdi into the town, where a 

 large number of people are said to have died of starvation. 

 Keremallah is in Dem Ziber ; thousands of Arabs and still 

 larger numbers of Bedouins (Bedwan) from Kordofan are with 

 him ; Birinji, Ziber's old slave, will come shortly with about 

 two thousand men to reinforce the attacking army, and then it 

 will be all up with us. Letters from Keremallah himself were 

 also enclosed, with no news, but with copies of the two procla- 

 mations whereby the Mahdi is trying to establish his prophetic 

 mission (setting forth his connexion with God and the Prophet, 

 &c), and a summons to the Bahr-el-Ghazal and this province 

 to join him. These are remarkably interesting documents, and 

 I will give them to Junker. Slatin and Lupton are said to be 

 in close attendance on the new prophet, and to enjoy great 

 honours ; but if that is true, why does not Lupton write ? The 

 same day on which these letters reached Amadi, the station 

 was vigorously attacked, but the Danagla were repulsed and 

 fifty Arabs left dead on the field. Unfortunately, these fellows 

 spring up like mushrooms. 



We must wait and see what happens at Amadi during the 

 next few days. If this affair turns out badly, nothing will be 

 left for us but a retreat to the south, provided we can still 

 accomplish it. There the great chiefs, Anflna, Kabr^ga, and 

 Mtesa, will readily receive me, and from there communication 

 with Egypt by Zanzibar might be possible. 



January 12, 18S5. 



The apothecary who has just returned from Amadi denies 

 the truth of all that I have narrated above. There are, at 

 most, three hundred men before Amadi, and the letters of the 

 clerk, Osman Eflfendi, are intended to mislead us. It may or 

 may not be so : the retreat to the south is decided on. 



Junker goes to-morrow morning to Anflna first of all, and 

 is taking my correspondence with him ; if I overtake him, I 

 will send you further reports. I have faith in my lucky star. 

 God protect you ! — Yours very sincerely, 



Dr. EMIN-BEY. 



