CHAPTER VII.

VAIN EFFORTS TO STEM THE TIDE OF MAHDISM IN DARFUR.

I advance on Shakka--The Battle of Om Waragat--Besieged in the Zariba--My Retreat on Dara through the Enemy's Country--The Illness and Death of Gottfried Rott--I despatch Secret Emissaries to Kordofan--My Difficulties with the El Fasher Garrison--The Revolt of the Mima Arabs--I learn of the Fall of El Obeid--The Death of Sheikh Afifi--My Campaign against the Mima and Khawabir Arabs--Discovery of a Plot amongst the Troops in Dara--My Officers and Men ascribe our Defeats to the Fact that I am a Christian--I decide to nominally adopt the Mohammedan Religion--I decide to send Zogal Bey to El Obeid--My Campaign against the Beni Helba--Beshari Bey seeks Death and finds it--Gravity of the Situation in Darfur 181