OSMAN DIGNA’S VISIT TO THE MAHDI.

Kumara Times, Issue 2790, 31 August 1885, Page 2

OSMAN DIGNA’S VISIT TO THE MAHDI.

WRETCHED CONDITION OF THE MAHDI’S ADHERENTS. Recent advices fi'om Suakin state that at the time of the Mahdi’s decease he was staying at Omdurman, on the western side of the Nile opposite Khartoum, where he was engaged raising an army for the invasion of Egypt. In his efforts to carry out this design, however, he had met with great difficulties. The Soudanese were sick of warfare; they were suffering from want of food, as only half the fields usually cultivated were sown last winter, owing to the unsettled state of the country. The exportation of grain had ceased altogether, and whatever money there was was being sent out to Tripoli and Benghadi to purchase arms aud ammunition. Osman Digna was reported to have arrived at Omdurman to congratulate Mahomet Achmed on the capture of Khartoum. The Mahdi sent four Emirs and 150 horsemen to meet him halfway at Kerreri. On the visitors arrival at Omdurman the Mahdi embraced and kissed him, and, after, presented him with 5000 tallaris and with a dagger, which is embossed with silver, and which is reported to have come from the Mahdi’s adherents in Cairo. When the man who brought this news left, the Mahdi’s camp contained 800 camels and 6000 men. Half the troops were clothed only in a shirt and girdle, as all articles of dress were exceedingly scarce. The Mahdi himself usually appeared only in a white coat and trousers, his feet being enveloped in costly gold embroidered sandals.