A SURVIVOR OF HICKS' ARMY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXII, Issue 7413, 2 December 1884, Page 5

A SURVIVOR OF HICKS' ARMY.

The Cairo correspondent of the London Standard says. —“ I have had a long conversation jrith the first man who bam arrived at Cairo claiming to have been present at General Hicks’ defeat and General Gordon’s arrival in Khartoum, as well as at the taking of Berber by the Arabs. He is a young Greek merchant, aged twenty-three, and went up to the Soudan with his brother-in-law six years ago. He was then named Costi Muskoe, but was re-named Abdallah by the Mahdi when he, with twenty- seven other Europeans, exclusive of pnesta and sisters, embraced the faith of Islam. He was present when the Mahdi first took Khartoum from Mohamed Said. On that occasion the Mahdi's first attack was repuked with severe ie«s; but he withdrew, and finally starved out the garrison. When the Mahdi heard that Hicks Pasha was coming he sent Abdul Halim instructions to follow closely in his track, under pretence of being friendly. General Hicks more than once wished to attack this band, which was following him, sleeping in his last night’s encampment, and intercepting his communications, kit Ala, iddia refused. The account Mnskos gives of the battle of Kashgil coincides fairly well with those alreadv received. The fight began on Saturday evening with heavy firing by Hicks’ force on Halim's men. who were amlmshed in the wood. The rebels lost but lew men, but their fixe on the Egyptian army in the open was deadly. The firing continued throughout Sunday and during the night, and the general assault was made on Monday morning. The Egyptian troops, starved and thirsty, had no tight left in them, and were simply massacred. The massacre was over by noon. My informant say* that no European escaped except Fleets, who was gathering beans in the neighbourhood, and who is now called Mustapha. He saw the dead bodies of Hicks and other officers. None were buried ; but the Mahdi buried hi* own men as quickly as they were killed. It was impossible to estimate his loss. The Mahdi went out without cannon, and with about

15,000 irregulars, but was joined by ::nny more in the course of the sight. The Mahdi has torn up ail documents of which he has become possessed. The narrator staved a short time at Obeid as the Mahdi’a servant, and he still wears a very curious pitchwork livery of the Mabdi's under his white dress. He obtained permission to go on leave, and reached Khartoum in 13 days, just four days before Cordon’s arrival. When General Gordon came in the town was illuminated in his honour, and he and his friends gave an entertainment, to which Mr Prank Power came, and at which he danced and sang. Muskos says he often spoke to General Gordon, who went about talking to everybody—and also to Colonel Stewart. He left fifteen days after Gene-

ral uoruun s arrival. auu leu-grapueu wick from Shundy and Berber that the road was then free, but dangerous. He gives a ghastly description of the massacres that took place on the capture of Berber, the rebels sparing very few. They have, he says, fortified the bank of the river with four guns from Semakim, manned by old Egyptian gunners. The merchant left Berber in August, and came down by way of Ueawe. where ho met an old friend, with whom he stayed. There be beard that General Gordon had blown up the rebels repeatedly with his mine*, and was patrolling the river in a steamer, on the bow of which bo had fixed an effigy of himself, Inspiring great awe. Mmkos had also heard of the victories won by the Hudir of Dtmgola. who was early law feared than Gordon himself. The man has repeated this story to Lord Wtdseiey ami Sir Evelyn Baring."