CHAPTER V
THE REAL HISTORY OF THE CAPTURE
(Extracts.)
"He (Nejoumi) captured in the Oasis of Selima a large part if not the whole of the rifles. This was mainly owing to the imprudence of an enterprising German merchant named Charles Neufeld, who had accompanied the convoy, and, desirous of obtaining a supply of water, had descended to the Oasis, where he was captured by the enemy."
". . . Most of them were killed, and a few, including Neufeld, were taken captive to Dongola; there they were beheaded, with the exception of Neufeld, who was sent to Omdurman, where he arrived on March i, 1887."
March 21, 1887. "Sixty Kabbabish have arrived, sent by their chief to take over arms and money."
May 15, 1887. "Mr. Neufeld is reported to have diverged from caravan of Kabbabishes to Sheikh Saleh to Bakah Wells, and to have been taken prisoner by the dervishes, as well as a few Kabbabish letters are said to have been captured; none from this office were entrusted to him" (Blue Book No. 2, 1888 Nos. 50 and 90).
"Neufeld was now free. His release was owing to one of the Emirs representing to Abdullah Khalifa the great service Neufeld had been in enabling arms and ammunition to be taken from the Kabbabishes at the time Neufeld was captured" (Letter to Mrs. Neufeld from War Office. Cairo, 10.3.90).
