Suakim, where he had been promptly sold as a slave,
and sent to Jiddah. There he spent many years as a
soldier in the body-guard of one of the chief Arabs,
acquiring, as may be supposed, all the habits and manners
of a soldier of fortune.
He eventually made his escape from Jiddah, going to
and settling in Massowah, over which place the Italians
exercised a protectorate. He there learned the trade
of a stone-mason, at which, it was reported, he was an
adept; but his lawlessness and drunkenness were such
that he spent much of his time in prison, and was finally
dismissed from the town by the authorities. He, however,
made himself useful to them by stealing guns from
the Mahdists, who at that time were stationed in the
immediate neighbourhood of Massowah. As can well
be imagined, this was an occupation which required the
utmost daring and address ; for, had he been captured,
his life would have been forfeited. When engaged by
Lieutenant von Hohnel, he had just completed a term
in prison.
He had enlisted with us only for the purpose of getting
the advance money and promptly deserting. This
resolution on his part, I am sorry to say, he was prevented
from carrying into execution. He now longed
to return to Massowah, and spared no pains to cause all
the trouble and discontent possible among the Soudanese,
with such end in view. In appearance, he was
about forty years of age, tall and powerfully built, with
small, ferocious eyes, a straight nose, a fierce moustache
which would have brought pride and credit to any
dragoon, and a sharply pointed beard. His voice was
harsh,, and his manner of speech that of a braggart.
Being voluble in conversation and cheery in manner
towards his companions, he soon established an ascendency
over them.
Among the other Soudanese but two seem worthy of
mention. Herella, a native of Darfertit, a country to
the southward of Wadai, was about twenty-four years of
age. He had served as a Mahdist, and was present at
the defeat and death of Wad el Nejumi, who was one of
Mahdi’s most trusted Ameers. Unlike the rest of the
Soudanese, he made no pretence of being a Mohammedan,
but frankly admitted that the people of his country
ate pig (which means death to the followers of Islam);
and added, with cheerful insistence, that a hungry stomach
knew no law. He was one of the most perfect savages
I had then met. His bearing was at all times that
of a wild animal, and his hatred of discipline was made
manifest at every turn.
Hussein Mahomet was the other; and he, perhaps,
was the most serviceable type of any of my Soudanese.
Born a Hadendowa (a tribe found near Suakim), he had
from the first followed the fortunes of Osman Digna, his
'chief, in the wars of the Mahdi. Until the continued
defeats which Osman Digna suffered at the hands of the
English, and the death of the Mahdi, he had been thoroughly
convinced of the divine mission of the Mahdi,
and the wickedness of all Europeans. When, however,
his tribe was almost destroyed by incessant war, and his
chief a fugitive, he decided to give up his allegiance, and
trust himself to whatever treatment the Italians would
j accord. I found him stupid in the extreme; a fanatical
| Mohammedan, never so happy as when at prayer, but
; obedient and trustworthy to the last degree.