A PATROL ON THE ATBARA. 
47 
or four days away) when he heard of our presence. I was, however, 
sceptical about this also, as though I knew him to be an enterprising 
man for an Arab, yet the information we had by our intelligence 
patrols at Kassala was that he had not sufficient transport to enable 
him to move a large force in the hot weather. Nevertheless, I decided 
to carry on a change of camp to a spot half-a-mile further back where 
the ground was clearer, my first position being taken up more for 
concealment than defence. This change was carried out on the even¬ 
ing of 18th, a guard being left concealed above the old khor to entrap 
small parties of Dervishes coming to drink, and a fresh outpost line 
taken up. On that evening, I assembled all the Sheikhs with Adlan 
and Kurrar and impressed on them the necessity of sending me news 
at once of any large body of Dervishes which they might see 
when out on patrol. I told them that as Osman Digna and most of 
his party were said to be mounted, our only chance of getting at him 
was to surprise him either at night or at his midday halt, except in the 
unlikely event of his attacking us. I sent out Kurrar with a small 
patrol to stay out and watch the desert track during the night, and 
ordered Adlan and party to go out for the same purpose in the early 
morning, warning them especially to send news by their fastest camel. 
I satisfied myself that they all perfectly understood. 
Previous to this, I had had prepared at Mustapha’s suggestion, a 
letter to some Hadendowa sheikhs supposed to be in Osman Digna’s 
retinue, promising Government pardon and perhaps reward, if they 
could communicate with me and act so as to deliver Osman Digna 
into my hands, telling them it was hopeless to escape to Gedarif owing 
to the intervening country being full of Government troops. I proposed 
sending it by a Dervish prisoner, should more certain news be gleaned 
as to the favourable dispositions of those accompanying Osman. 
However, the chance of delivery never occurred and as it turned out 
there were very few Hadendowas with Osman. 
The bag on the 18th was about fifteen Dervishes killed and twenty- 
five prisoners together with several horses and donkeys. Even when 
there were only two or three Dervishes together, they would not sur¬ 
render till one of their number was killed. This obstinacy was 
invariable throughout and resulted in a considerable butcher’s bill. 
On that afternoon I heard from Colonel Parsons approving of my 
action and saying he would send me some men when he could get 
transport, in the meantime sending twenty-five who came in useful as 
escort for prisoners. Curiously enough, he had heard from the Intelli¬ 
gence Department on the Nile that Osman Digna had returned to 
Omdurman via Abu Delek. I believe this had been Osman’s original 
intention. 
Early on the 19th a prisoner was captured, who stated that Osman 
Digna with a large party including his or some other sheikh’s hareemat 
had watered some miles north of us and had started to march round 
us during the night, also that Ali Senoussi hearing of our presence 
had returned northwards en route for Abu Delek or Rera. Although 
no news had been received from Adlan, in whom I placed the great- 
