(Telegraphic.) No. 145. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received June 9, 2·30 P.M.) SIR B. MAXWELL having insisted, under threat of his own resignation, on the dismissal of Dr. Crookshank, Director-General of Prisons, by to-morrow, the 10th instant, I have, in order to enable the matter to be examined without undue haste, asked Nubar Pasha to defer any decision till I have received an answer from your Lordship. (Telegraphic.) No. 146. Earl Granville to Mr. Egerton. Foreign Office, June 9, 1884, 5 P.M. THE matter referred to in your telegram of to-day is one which ought to be settled on the spot by the exercise of common sense and temper on both sides, and not by threats of resignation. The Procureur ought to have access to prison books, but Dr. Crookshank appears only to have acted under rules already laid down. What cause is there for delay in making Prison Law? No. 147. (Telegraphic.) Consul Baker to Earl Granville.-—(Received June ́9, 6 P.M.) Suakin, June 9, 1884, 1-30 P.M. I HAVE received the following from Chermside, for communication to Her Majesty's Government →→ "Ali Adam, my best scout, the messenger of 13th May, fell sick near Berber, and passed message on by his brother Mahomet Adam and a scout of mine named Hamid Mahomet. Hussein Pasha sent Mahomet Adam in boat to Khartoum. He arrived midday, left at 3 afternoon; Gordon, or another Englishman, came down to boat with him and gave him letter. Hussein gave both a present, and another letter. On road from Berber they were pursued; Hamid advised burying letter and returning. Adam, however, ran with the letter, was caught and killed. Hamid says Gordon's letter was large, and not capable of being swallowed like ours to save death. Hamid says also that steamers work below Berber, and barges up to Khartoum. Road west of Nile fairly safe; provisions cheap at Berber; less danger in environs there and Khartoum than near Suakin." No. 148. Welegraphic.) Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.—(Received June 9, 11 P.M.) Cairo, June 9, 1884, 10 P.M. WITH reference to to-day's telegram sent to London from Suakin, Chermside's messenger was six days from Berber, which was all quiet in hands of Government. Danger far less than at Suakin. This is conclusive respecting Berber. From Kokrib. eastwards only people believe Osman's reports. A spy from Osman's camp reports Mahdi retired inland from Kordofan. No. 149. (Extract.) Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received June 10.) Cairo, June 2, 1884. HAVING heard rumours from travellers, and likewise from the inclosed Report, that there has been some excitement about Ghirgeh, I spoke to General Stephenson, who agreed to send a portion of the British force at Assiout to Ghirgeh and Sohag, where there are barracks. When I announced this to the Khedive, His Highness told me that he thought that public security did not require the dispatch of the troops, and Sir F. Stephenson agreed not to send them, but they remain ready to start at a short notice. His Highness and likewise Nubar Pasha promised me to give the most stringent directions for the arrest and punishment of Ismaïl Abou Rehab, if found guilty of the charges against him. His Highness said he would do so, as he was determined to make a severe example of disturbers of the peace in Upper Egypt. Inclosure in No. 149. Lieutenant-Colonel Harington to the Inspector-General of Police, Cairo. FROM information received I proceeded to Ghirgeh on Saturday, the 17th instant, and returned yesterday, the 19th instant. Besides the business I had in Ghirgeh, I made a very careful inquiry into the state of feeling in the town and province. From all sides I received the same Report, viz., that the people are greatly excited' and inclined to a revolt, the feeling against Europeans, especially English, being very strong. Residents are sending away their families, and in some instances preparing to leave themselves. Some steps should immediately be taken to restore confidence, and I believe that the presence of 300 English troops at Ghirgeh, where camping ground is plentiful, and 100 at Sohag, would be of immense service now. I most strongly advise the arrest of Ismaïl Abou Rehab, of Awlat Hamzi, a village near Ghirgeh. He has arms concealed in his house, has twelve armed negroes: for the defence of his house, and has already fired on the Nazir-el-Kism of Ghirgeh when attempting to collect, taxes from him. The information that I have says that this man is a most determined character, and that he will probably resist the police. I should suggest his arrest by a party of Turkish police, or by men of the Egyptian army-a well-organized party, of the latter being now in Ghirgeh under the command of Major Turner. Should a rising take place, Ismaïl Abou Rehab will be one of the Chiefs, and he has already signed a paper to that purpose, and less than ten days ago he made a highly inflammatory and revolutionary speech in the town of Ghirgeh. A.. HARINGTON, Divisional Inspector-General in charge of Assiout Division. (Signed) Assiout, May 20, 1884. No. 150.. My Lord, Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received June 10.) Cairo, June 3, 1884. WITH reference to my despatch of the 25th ultimo respecting messengers to Khartoum, I learn from Captain Hastings, dated Massowah, the 15th May, that the cypher message for Gordon has been forwarded by three methods: 1. By telegram to Sanhit, and ordering the Governor there to forward it on. 2. By post to Kassala, instructing Governor to forward it. 3. By messenger from Massowah, who undertook to deliver it for the sum of 201.,, half paid in advance. I have, &c.. I HAVE the honour to inclose copies of three telegrams from the Mudir of Dongola, dated Merawe, 29th ultimo, reporting that the Shaïkiehs have submitted and the Province of Dongola is quiet; that Berber is no longer besieged, owing to the defeat of the besiegers; and that Khartoum is still besieged by the rebels, but that General' Gordon still holds out. Inclosure 1 in No. 151. The Mudir of Dongola to the Cabinet of the Khedive. (Télégraphique.) Merawi, le 29 Mai, 1884. GRACE à Dieu, l'insurrection des Chaïkieh est apaisée selon nos souhaits. Le calme et la tranquillité sont revenus parmi les habitants. Dieu a attiré leurs âmes vers la soumission, et ils viennent en masses de tous côtés m'offrir leur soumission. Les autres Chefs qui étaient cachés sont même venus m'offrir spontanément leur soumission. Il ne reste que le Sari des Chaïkieh, et quelques soldats avec eux, et j'espère les prendre. (Translation.) Merawi, May 29, 1884. PRAISE be to God. The insurrection of the Chaïkieh has been quieted as we desired. Calm and tranquillity has returned to the people. God has inclined their souls to submission, and they are coming in masses from every side to offer me their submission. The other Chiefs who were in hiding have even come spontaneously to offer me their submission. There is now only the Sari of Chaïkieh and some soldiers with them, and I hope to capture them. (Télégraphique.) Inclosure 2 in No. 151. The Mudir of Dongola to the Cabinet of the Khedive. Merawi, le 29 Mai, 1884. L'INSURRECTION est apaisée; la tranquillité lui a succédé, et les insurgés ont fait leur soumission. La Moudirieh de Berber n'est plus en état de siège par la défaite de celui qui l'assiégeait. Le Taka (Kassala) est tranquille; grâce à la bénédiction de Seyyid Mohammad Osman; Khartoum est toujours en état de siège, et Gordon Pacha continue ses efforts. J'ai lieu de croire comme je l'ai ouï dire, que les auteurs des troubles et de la révolte ne se relèveront pas. La victoire est à celui qui se confie en Dieu ! (Translation.) Merawi, May 29, 1884. THE insurrection is suppressed, tranquillity has succeeded, and the insurgents have submitted. The Mudirich of Berber is no longer in a state of siege owing to the defeat of the man who was besieging it. Taka (Kassala) is quiet, thanks to the blessing of Seyyid Mohammed Osman; Khartoum is still in a state of siege, and -Gordon Pasha continues his efforts. I have reason to think, as I have heard stated, that the authors of the troubles and of the revolt will not rise again. Victory is to him who trusts in God. (Traduction.) Inclosure 3 in No. 151. The Mudir of Dongola to the Cabinet of the Khedive. Merawi, le 29 Mai, 1884. LA ligne télégraphique depuis Elladous (?), localité près de Debbeh, jusqu'aux frontières, a été complètement détruite par les habitants. Après leur soumission ils ont craint de se voir forcés de payer les dommages et j'ai dû les rassurer. Ils se sont engagés à réparer la ligne susdite, eu y employant du bois ordinaire et ils y mettent de la bonne volonté. Mais je dois faire observer que les pcteaux disponibles sont en petite quantité et qu'il faudra en outre longtemps pour achever les réparations jusqu'aux frontières. En conséquence de ce qui précède, faut-il continuer les travaux dont il s'agit ou les abandonner? J'attends les instructions de la Maïah pour m'y conformer. (Translation.) Merawi, May 29, 1884. THE telegraph line from Elladous (?), a place near Debbeh, has been completely destroyed by the inhabitants up to the frontier. After their submission they feared that they would be forced to pay for the damage, and I was obliged to reassure them. They are engaged in repairing the above-mentioned line, using ordinary wood, and are showing good-will, but it is my duty to remark that the posts obtainable are few, and, moreover, that it will take a long time to complete the repairs up to the frontier. With respect to the above, ought this work to be continued or given up? My Lord, No. 152. Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.-(Received June 10.) Cairo, June 3, 1884. CAPTAIN HASTINGS, under date of Massowah, 15th May, 1884, sent me the inclosed translation of a letter to the Governor of Taka from the Sheikh of the BeniAmer tribe, assuring him of the loyalty to the Government of that tribe; of letters from the Scribe of the same tribe, and from the Mudir of Taka, to the General commanding the English force near Suakin; and extract of a letter which arrived at Massowah on the 15th ultimo, written by M. Marcopoli at Kassala on the 29th April. I have, &c. EDWIN H. EGERTON. (Signed) Inclosure 1 in No. 152. The Sheikh of the Beni-Amer Tribe to the Mudir of Taka (Kassala). (Translation.) April 14, 1884. I HAVE received a letter from the General commanding the English army, dated 5th March, wishing me, the Chieftains, and Notables of the tribe to go and meet him at Suakin, as he did to the Chief of the Hadendoas, who joined Osman Digna in his rebellion. His Excellency the General is not aware that I and my tribe have been, and now are, most faithful to the Government, and ignores the fighting which has taken place between the Beni-Amer and the Gemilab of Tokar, and, moreover, that I and my bravest horsemen and infantry are now in the capital of the province assisting the Government. I beg, then, that you will inform his Excellency the General of all this, and I am also writing to the General to let him know all about me and my tribe. Inclosure 2 in No. 152. The Beni-Amer Tribe (Bakhib Bey) to the General Commanding the English Force. (Translation.) April 15, 1884. I BEG to inform your Excellency that the letter written by you on the 5th March only reached me on the 10th April when at Kassala, and I have been overjoyed since I knew that an English force was coming to crush the rebellion. The greatest pleasure for me and my tribe would have been to go and meet your Excellency, and join ourselves to the English army to fight the rebels in the East; but Osman Digna having appointed Mustapha Hedel to come and get the Hadendoas of the East to rise, in which mission he succeeded thoroughly, and the rebels having come and surrounded the town, the Governor asked for reinforcements from different places, and particularly from Sanhit and Amedib; and when these reinforcements passed through Dega (the residence of the Sheikh and Chieftain of the tribe) I took the bravest of my horsemen and infantry, and proceeded to Kassala with the regular troops, to the assistance of the Government, as the tribe have done whenever it was wanted since the conquest of the place. We have now been more than two months in Kassala, fighting our best for the defence of the town, and in satisfaction of our old feud against the Hadendoas. In the beginning of his false mission, Osman Digna sent the Gemilab Arabs, of Tokar, with some other Hadendoas, to the Beni-Amer tribe, inviting them to recognize the Divine mission of the Mahdi, or otherwise they would plunder us. But the Beni-Amer have defeated them and dispersed them, and from this time Hadendoas have never come to the tribe. Thank God! the frontiers and the route from Kassala to Massowah viâ Beni-Amer is quite safe, as also is the telegraph-line from Balon, and in good working order. I fear that my absence from my tribe having been so long, some bad people might avail themselves of this, and cause trouble, no one of authority being now there; but I hope that your Excellency's arrival will soon put everything right. (Translation.) Inclosure 3 in No. 152. The Mudir of Taka to the General of the English Army. April 15, 1884. I BEG to communicate to your Excellency a letter written by the Sheikh of the Beni-Amer tribe. The contents of the letter are quite true, and Bakhib Bey (the Sheikh) deserves the greatest praise for the fidelity and devotion he has shown towards the Government; and considering the present situation, it would be well for the Sheikh to remain with his tribe. When the rebels came and attacked the town Bakhib Bey was summoned to come to the rescue, and he complied immediately, bringing with him his bravest horsemen and infantry, and since the arrival of the Beni-Amer tribe, two months ago, they have been a very great assistance for the defence of the town. The town is surrounded, and the rebels are only a quarter of an hour distant. The troops are day and night awake, and always ready to resist an attack, as it often happens; the rebels come and kill and plunder near the walls, and open fire at five minutes' distance, and when our guns are fired at them they are repulsed and dispersed. The same thing happens every night; during the day they disperse into the woods. Till this moment they know nothing in Kassala about the approaching army to relieve them, as informed by his Excellency Gordon Pasha. All these details have already been communicated to his Excellency the General by telegraph and by letter, and, considering the straits put upon the town by the rebels, the prompt arrival of troops is urgent for the re-establishment of order and tranquillity, and I beg for an answer to this. Inclosure 4 in No. 152. Extract of a Letter from Kassala dated April 29, 1884. THE population of Ghedarif have joined the rebels; but this has happened quietly, without any murdering. The Chiefs of the rebellion are Mohamed Effendi, a son, and Sheikh Abdallah, a brother of Abd-el-Kerim Pasha. Five Christian merchants who were yet there have been obliged to turn Moslems. The property of some others who had escaped has been destroyed; the tobacco in store at Ghedarif and neighbourhood was burnt. In Kassala there is no change. Friday and Saturday last we had to repulse the furious attacks. I do not believe there is any serious danger of the rebels taking the place by assault. The merchants, in order to prevent any trouble caused by the non-payment of the troops, have placed at the disposal of the Mudir all the necessary amount of money he might want. The Mudir declined the offer, not having received any order for it. The three companies in Gheera have written to ask for an escort of 400 horsemen and 400 soldiers for the safety of the route, if the Mudir was wanting them at Kassala. The rebels came to-night at 150 yards from the walls, and opened a heavy fire upon the town. We had to fire a good deal till we could drive them off. Now their camp is in Takrook, three-quarters of an hour from the town. The officers and soldiers beg of the Mudir to allow them to go and fight them, but the Governor does not think it convenient. Bakhib Bey, the Chief of the Beni-Amer, now at Hatmia, came to tell the Mudir that if there was not any fighting he would prefer to go home to Daga. The Mudir told him that he was going to consider the matter and see if it was possible to go out for a battle, and begged of him to wait for two days more. No. 153. My Lord, Mr. Egerton to Earl Granville.—(Received June 10.) Cairo, June 3, 1884. UP to the last news received the number of Soudanese refugees that have passed Korosko is about 2,000. |