.
On the fifth day, however, having recovered his own confidence, he
proceeded to the mosque, and after the morning prayer ascended his small
wooden pulpit and addressed the assembled worshippers. After admitting
the retreat of the Dervishes under Wad Bishara, he enlarged on
the losses the 'Turks' had sustained and described their miserable
condition. He deplored the fact that certain of the Jehadia had
surrendered, and reminded his listeners with a grim satisfaction of the
horrible tortures which it was the practice of the English and Egyptians
to inflict upon their captives. He bewailed the lack of faith in God
which had allowed even the meanest of the Ansar to abandon the Jehad
against the infidel, and he condemned the lack of piety which disgraced
the age. But he proclaimed his confidence in the loyalty of his subjects
and his enjoyment of the favour of God and the counsels of the late
Mahdi; and having by his oratory raised the fanatical multitude to a
high pitch of excitement, he thus concluded his long harangue: 'It
is true that our chiefs have retired from Dongola. Yet they are not
defeated. Only they that disobeyed me have perished. I instructed the
faithful to refrain from fighting and return to Metemma. It was by my
command that they have done what they have done. For the angel of the
Lord and the spirit of the Mahdi have warned me in a vision that the
souls of the accursed Egyptians and of the miserable English shall leave
their bodies between Dongola and Omdurman, at some spot which their
bones shall whiten. Thus shall the infidels be conquered.' Then, drawing
his sword, he cried with a loud voice: 'Ed din mansur! The religion is
victorious! Islam shall triumph!' Whereupon the worshippers, who to the
number of 20,000 filled the great quadrangle--although they could not
all hear his voice--saw his sword flashing in the sunlight, and with
one accord imitated him, waving their swords and spears, and raising
a mighty shout of fury and defiance. When the tumult had subsided, the
Khalifa announced that those who did not wish to remain faithful might
go where they liked, but that he for his part would remain, knowing that
God would vindicate the faith. Public confidence was thus restored.

In order that the divine favour might be assisted by human effort,
Abdullah adopted every measure or precaution that energy or prudence
could suggest. At first he seems to have apprehended that the Sirdar's
army would advance at