Description

Soiled covers. Cracked hinges. Binding tight, text clean. Foxing. Very readable copies.

Volume I – Wear to corners and spine ends, spine ends frayed. Soiling, rubbing, scratches and discoloration to covers. Front hinges cracked and webbing visible. Some foxing to pages and particularly page edges.

Volume II – fold-out map, repaired to many of the creases and to the join with the book. Wear to corners and spine ends – also frayed. Soiling and discoloration to covers. Front hinge cracked. Foxing on pages and page edges. Else, good condition.

Narrative of conditions in the Soudan after the Mahdist rebellion. Includes the account of Hewett’s mission to Abyssinia.  Muhammad Ahmad now called himself Mahdi, i.e. “he who is guided in the right way”.
He proclaimed Jihad, a Holy War against the hated Egyptians. His dervish army was successful. In spite of antiquated weapons and obsolete tactics the fanatic and religious devotion paid off. The Egyptian garrisons were forced to surrender and were captured one after another. Mahdi’s and Abdullah’s Holy War was a struggle for freedom. Their religion was radical Islamic fundamentalism.