The Egyptian campaigns, 1882 to 1885 Part 82

[172] Captain Kenna and Lieutenant De Montmorency received the Victoria Cross for their gallantry on this occasion.

[173] Sir Herbert Kitchener was created Baron Kitchener of Khartoum, and a sum of 30,000 was awarded him.

[174] Sir F. R. Wingate says in his report of 3rd March, 1899:--"Of the 4,000 Dervish black troops who surrendered 1,222 were wounded; there were wounded in almost every house in Omdurman; and, in view of the fact that almost every able-bodied man in the town had been forced to take part in the battle, it is fair to conclude that the number of wounded (16,000) as telegraphed was not over-estimated."

[175] The total number of prisoners eventually set free at Omdurman was no less than 10,854, of whom 8,667 were civil and military employes of the Egyptian Government, taken captive when Khartoum, Obeid, and other places fell into the hands of the Mahdi.

[176] Mr. Bennett in the "Contemporary Review."

[177] See Lord Cromer's despatch to the Marquis of Salisbury, dated 12th March, 1899.

[178] Lord Cromer, as a recognition of his services in Egypt, was created Viscount Cromer in January, 1899.

[179] The Egyptian War Department was signally reticent with regard to this expedition, and for most of the foregoing particulars the author is indebted to a work recently published called "Sudan Campaigns, 1896-1899."

[180] These figures, which include both ordinary and extraordinary receipts, are, with the exception of those relating to the years 1898 and 1899, taken from statistical tables compiled by Sir Elwin Palmer, late Financial Adviser to the Egyptian Government.

It should be added that the Egyptian pound may be regarded as the equivalent of 1 0s. 6d. in English money.

[181] The kantar is equal to 101lbs. 5oz.

[182] These figures are taken from Mr. A. Silva White's lately published work called "The Expansion of Egypt."

[183] The diminution in the telegraph receipts is due to a large reduction in the tariff.

[184] See Memorandum by Sir W. E. Garstin, C.E., dated 19th November, 1897, "Parliamentary Papers, Egypt No. 1, 1898."