The  Danagla  then  fell  under  the  influence  of  the  Shaikiyeh.  Shaikiyeh
About  a  year  later  the  Sultan  of  Fertit  in  Jebel  Nuba,  grand-  ender^'^
father  of  Said  Agha,  left  his  country  for  some  unknown  cause,
and  came  down  to  Dongola  with  about  5000  slaves.  He  made
an  arrangement  with  the  Danagla  that,  if  he  should  deliver
them  from  the  Shaikiyeh,  they  would  recognise  him  as  their
supreme  king.  He  then  went  to  work,  and  after  six  months'
fighting  retook  Hetani  and  drove  the  Shaikiyeh  back  into  their


138


LIFE  OF  LORD  KITCHENER


The

Turkish

occupation.
Scheme
for  re-
organising
Dongola
Province.
Three
Vakils.
One  Mudir.
own  country.  Then  he  ruled  the  country  as  supreme  king
from  Mahass  to  near  Korti.
Then  came  the  time  of  the  Turkish  occupation.  The  Melek
of  Berber  made  all  the  arrangements  for  the  Turkish  advance,
so  that  Mohammed  Ali  Pasha  was  unopposed  in  the  Danagla
and  Shaikiyeh  countries.  It  is  surprising  to  me  that  in  the
rebel  ranks  under  the  Mahdi,  where  one  would  have  expected
to  see  men  ranging  themselves  under  the  banners  of  their
former  kings,  they  have  not  done  so.  I  presume  that  it  is
religious  fervour  that  marks  as  leaders  men  unknown  before.
I  think,  however,  that  the  only  chance  of  a  Government  being
established  is  by  taking  the  descendants,  where  fit,  of  the
former  ruling  houses  of  the  country.
With  this  view,  I  would  divide  the  province  into  three
Vakilates — (1)  the  Shaikiyeh,  (2)  South  Dongola,  (3)  North
Dongola.  The  Vakils  to  be,  respectively,  (1)  Mohammed  Bey
Abud,  son  of  Ibrahim  Abud,  and  grandson  of  the  former  Prime
Minister  of  the  Shaikiyeh,  who  conquered  the  Dongolawi.
