688 
THE SUDAN PAST AND PRESENT. 
Abdullah's watchword now became “ ed din mansur 33 ( i.e ., religion is 
victorious), and what prestige the new propaganda had lost by the 
death of the Mahdi was amply compensated for by the rigorous severity 
and tyranny of the new Khalifa's rule. 
His first step was to “ bring into the way of truth 33 a few of the 
tribes who still held aloof from Mahdiism ; this necessitated some 
punitive expeditions, which were little more than wholesale butchery, 
whilst the captured women and children were carried off into slavery. 
But this policy soon brought evil in its train; constant warfare had 
caused a neglect of cultivation, besides a large percentage of the 
fertile districts had, by these severe measures, become depopulated, 
and for almost a year a terrible famine ravaged the land, and in 
Ohrwalder's opinion the population of the Sudan is now between 60 
and 70 per cent, less than it was in 1882. 
The military ardour of the new ruler was not, however, to -be abated, 
and the following account by Ohrwalder of a review of dervish troops 
on the return of a successful expedition shows that Abdullah's power 
was by no means on the wane at that period. He says, “ Then the 
march-past began. Upwards of 31,000 black troops, armed with 
Remington's and formed up in long lines, went by to the sound of 
drums and trumpets, but the latter, on which the players attempted to 
produce some specially dervish music, raised the most discordant 
sounds, which gave an intensely comic aspect to the whole proceeding. 
Each emir with his flag rode at the head of his division. 
When the Jehadieh had passed, the sword and spearmen followed, 
some 20,000 in number, then came the inhabitants of Omdurman in 
countless numbers. There could not have been less than 60,000. 
After the march-past all were formed up again, and then the 
Khalifa, dismounting from his camel, stood on his sheep-skin and con¬ 
ducted prayers. The shout of ‘ f Allahn Akbar," “ Allahn Akbar," 
from 100,000 throats was impressive in the extreme, and, as the sound 
rolled down the immense lines, it was echoed again and again through 
the hills, lasting for over a minute after each shout'. 
On the conclusion of prayers, the guns pealed forth salutes, and 
such wild fanaticism and enthusiasm prevailed that several men dashed 
up to the very muzzles of the guns and were blown to pieces. Of 
course, the Khalifa announced that the souls of these stupid people 
had gone straight to Paradise. The salutes over, the lines were once 
more inspected, and then all the flags were collected in one place, in 
the centre of which stood the Khalifa; this was the signal for the 
whole force to gather round and vie with one another in their shouts 
of loyalty that they would die a hundred times over for him and his 
cause. Khalifa Abdullah became so wildly impressed by the enthu¬ 
siasm of these savag’e hordes that he could scarcely contain himself, 
and it was as much as his body-guard could do to keep the impetuous 
crowds from crushing him to death." 
The annexed rough plan of Omdurman shows the place where such 
reviews are held, and a brief study of the various references will give 
the reader some information concerning the Khalifa's capital which it 
is unnecessary to repeat here. 
