“Allah Akbar!” cried Idris, astonished. “Did I not see a great many camels and herds of cattle on the steppe?”
“Those belong to the prophet, to the nobles,[9] and the califs. Yes, the Dangalis, from whose tribe come the Mahdi, and the Baggars, whose chieftain is the chief calif Abdullah, still have herds in plenty, but life is harder and harder for the other tribes.”
Here Nur-el-Tadhil tapped his stomach and said:
“In the service of the prophet I have a higher place, more money, and greater power, but in the service of the Khedive I had a larger stomach.”
As he feared he might have said too much, he added:
“But this will all be a thing of the past when the true faith conquers.”
When Idris heard this remark he unconsciously thought of how he, too, when in Fayoum and in the service of the English, had never suffered from hunger, and that he could easily earn money, and he became very sad.
“So to-morrow you will take us to Omdurman?”
“Yes. By order of the prophet, Khartum is to be depopulated, and there are now very few people there. The larger houses are being pulled down, and the material will be taken along with the remaining spoil to Omdurman. The prophet will not live in a town that is tainted by unbelievers.”
“To-morrow I shall fall at his feet, and he will have me supplied with provisions and fodder.”
“Ha! If you really belong to the tribe of Dangali perhaps you may be admitted to his presence. But you must know that his house is guarded night and day by a hundred men armed with scourges, who do not spare their blows on those who attempt to reach the Mahdi without permission. Otherwise the people would not give the holy man a minute’s peace.”
“Allah! I myself have seen Dangalis with bloody stripes on their backs.”
Every minute Idris’ disappointment increased.
“So the believers,” he asked, “can not see the prophet?”
“The believers see him daily at the place of prayer, when he kneels on a sheepskin and raises his hands to God, or when he teaches the people and strengthens them in their faith. But it is very difficult to be admitted to his presence and to talk to him, and whoever is allowed this happiness attracts the jealousy of every one else, for upon him God’s grace descends, blotting out his past sins.”