692 
THE SUDAN PAST AND PRESENT. 
continual dissensions between tbem and the rightful owners of the 
soil are no doubt a source of weakness which, in the event of military 
operations on the part of Egypt, might be turned to good account; 
but full allowance must also be made for the fact that, ready as those 
tribes and people hostile to the Baggara rule are to side with any 
movement which would set them free, they are not now in a sufficiently 
strong position to take the initiative in any such movement; and, 
indeed, so completely are they under the thumb of the Baggaras that 
it is fair to assume that, in the event of hostile operations in the 
Sudan, a foreign invading force—Egyptian or other—would have to be 
prepared, not only for the opposition which the Baggara would offer, 
but also for that of, perhaps, 30 per cent, of the local population of 
the district in which operations aro being conducted, who, though 
they have all the desire to throw in their lot with a successful invading 
force, are too much coerced by their present rulers to be able to give 
effect to their wishes. 
Such is very briefly the existing military situation in the Sudan, 
and I now propose to conclude this article with a few remarks on the 
military force and war material at present at the disposal of Khalifa 
Abdullah. 
The nucleus of the Khalifa’s army is composed for the most part, of 
the Jehadieh, or regulars, who are all armed with rifles, and are almost 
entirely blacks, while his spear and swordsmen consist mainly of Arabs 
of some 50 or 60 different tribes ; but of these the most trusted are 
the Taaisha and Habbanieh Arabs. 
The Jehadieh are composed partly of the old Government Sudanese 
troops and partly of men recruited from the southern districts subse¬ 
quent to the abandonment of the Sudan. The latter are gradually 
replacing the Government troops, of whom the proportion is now 
about four to one ; none of the old Egyptian soldiers are admitted 
into the ranks, they are employed for the most part as cooks, servants, 
water carriers, &c. 
The Khalifa has gradually recognised the fighting value of the black 
troops, and has recently issued an order that no able-bodied black is 
to be sold as a slave, but that he will give 30 dollars a head for blacks 
suitable for soldiers. All blacks recently enlisted are branded with 
the word Abdullah on the left hand. 
There is no special uniform, all men are dressed alike, whether 
soldiers or not. The dress consists of:— 
The jebbeh, or marrakaieh, a long shirt made of dammur, 
or native cloth, and covered with patches of various 
colours. 
The sirual, or drawers. 
The sayidan, or sandals. 
The karabah, or girdle of goos (straw). 
The takieh, or white skull cap. 
The immeh, or turban. 
The sibha, or beads. 
The Jehadieh, or regulars, are armed with rifle and bandolier only, 
