The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-03-29 00:00:00

THE SOUDAN EXPEDITION.

Under date Souakim, March 23, the correspondent
of the Times writes:

Yesterday General Stewart, with the 19th Hussars
and the Mounted Infantry, went out to reconnoitre
on the Berber road. The force started at 3 a.m.: and
by dawn had reached Otao, the next wells beyond
Handoub. Here no one was visible, though the
traces of recent fires showed that the natives habit-
ually frequented the wells. Proceeding onwards,
after a short halt, the party perceived two or three
natives, scattered on the hill tops, who at once fled.
After a three hours' ride the General reached
Tambouk, where the water was plentiful and good—
perhaps the best we have yet found beyond Souakim.
In the neighbourhood were many of the natives,
who had been watering their camels, but who fled on
our approach. Our guides (the sons of the Sheikh
Mahomet Ali) fetched the natives back, and the
Geneal reassured them, through his interpreters,
telling them that if they came to the camp they
would be well treated and rewarded. These men
appeared to be well-disposed.
As the next wells were in a village nineteen miles
distant from Tambouk it was impossible to proceed
further, and therefore, after an hour's halt, the force
returned to Handoub. On repassing Otao, we found
there a number of the natives, with their women,
children, and flocks of sheep and goats. Their chief,
when questioned, professed an intention of accom-
panying us to the zariba, to visit the Sheikh Morgliani.
Before reaching the camp, we saw more natives, who
however, held aloof from us in fear.

On Friday night a strange caravan reached the
camp at Handoub, consisting of a number of negroes,
among them two women, one with a baby two or
three days old. The leader of this party, who could
speak a little Arabic, stated that they had come from
a place, or country, called Cocotina ; that they had
marched through Kordofan, Darfour, and various
other districts, coming in the last instance from
Berber, and that they had on no occasion been
molested. He added that 200 more of the party were
one day's journey behind. He knew nothing of the
country through which he had passed, and the few
names elicited from him were only obtained with
great difficulty. Whether this man is a dealer with
a band of slaves or the chief of a party of pilgrims
has not yet been determined.
The Sheikh Mahomet Ali, who is still at General
Stewart's zariba, daily prophesies that a great chief,
with numerous followers, will arrive on the morrow
to tender his submission. The promised sheikh of
course never comes, and meanwhile Iviahomet and his
followers are feeding on the best fare and making
daily demands for money and presents. This sheikh,
who is an arrant impostor, has really little or no
power among the tribes, though he formerly possessed
some influence over the other sheikhs. He has shown
himself all along ready to side mg.th the winning party,
while keeping on good terms with both sides.
A new camp was formed to-day at a position
between Handoub and Tamasi, and consequently in
the direction of the village of Tamanieb, where Osman
Digma's camp is situate. The Gordon Highlanders
marched there to-day, accompanied by some men of
the 19th Hussars and the Mounted Infantry, and
formed a new zariba, entrenching the camp. They
were afterwards joined by a company of the Royal
Irish Fusiliers from Souakim. The Engineers are
distributed partly at Souakim and partly at Handoub,
where are stationed Captain Dorward and Wood (both
well).