The times., 1899-04-03
A PRISONER OF THE KHALIFA.
Some of Karl NcufeId's Experiences
in the SOudRn.
(Cairo correspondence OF the London New


(Cairo correspondence OF the London Ncws.)
We have heard good deal of Herr Karl
Neufeld since his rescue from his twelve
years captivity in the Soudan through the
victory of the Anglo Egyptian troops, but
being himself entirely absorbed in writing
book on his experiences in captivity, and
holding all the interyiewers VINO present
themselves as far away from him as pos
sible, most of the news published about
this re 4 arkable man is far fiOm being cor
rect. we have been told, for instance, that
he had broken down completely in mind as
well as in body. Happily. he has done
| nothing of the kind. have seen him re-
peatedly during the last few days, and even
dined with him at his own house. | do
not think l could Imagine a man more
sound in mind as well as in body than my
amiable host. 1t is true he tells us him
self that for some time after his rescue ha
had been in a state of such excitement th5t
sometimes he had hardly known what he
was doing. That may well be. But that
state assuredly he has passed by. He is
certainly quite himself again. manly,
simple modest, yet very energetic and
highly sympathetic character.
AS to his bodily health, he must have a
remarkable constitution to be able u bear
what he has gone through during the last
twelve years. His sutferings have certain
ly told upon him. They are still written in
his face with strong lines but they have
not overcome him. He has already recov-
cred wonderfully. His carriage is erect
again, his hair-quite white what III re
was left of it when he was rescued by Lord
kitchener-has turned fair again; that is
to say, the white hair is falling of and be-
ing replaced by young and more vigorous
growth of a healthy fair color; and also on
the crown of his head, quite bald then. a
rich crop of hair is growing again. That
is the man who defied the tyrant. He felt
certain he had to die, and he preferred
death to a life of shame and suffering. He
believed nothing could save him. His exc
cution was already ordered. his forju-es
had begun. But on his showing that he
neither feared death nor the Khalifa, sle
latter kept him alive. at first very much
against the will of the man in his power
At table two Soudanese servants waited
upon us. They had learned to respect him
even in his captivity, and gladly 70 lowed
him. unbidden. into the strange land of the
unbelievers. Mrs. Neufeld and their only
daughter also dined with us. The former.
a charming English woman, when so sud
denly deprived of her husband and bread
winner, had taken to hospital nursing, AMI
so gained living for herself as well as her
child. who, only little girl when in 1887
tion to trade in the Soudan, Is nov n fully
grown-up young woman, and her fathers
particular pride. 1t was very characters
tic OF the man when, introducing me to his
wife, he said: YES, have suffered good
deal, but the one who has suffered most is
my wife
A point which Mr.. Neufeld is anxious to
repudiate is the statement that he had
manufactured powder for the XIII IA
This, indeed. the tyrant had ordered him
to do, and in order to gain time and also to
| improve his position he had at last put
| together something which he had called q
| model for a powder mill. He showed II to
me- too, q pretty little playthins with
many little wheels and hammers making a
considerable noise. The Khalifa was high
| ly pleased with il, and ordered him to pro-
/ ceed SO Neufeld made some more-moi-
els. But when at last the Kha,ifa declared
one day, very angrily, he did not want any
more models. he wanted cartridges, Nsu-
field found himself in greater difficult 3
| than ever out of which finally ony the
| victory of the invading army had saved
| him.