Instead of waiting until we could lend them a hand, they revolted as soon as we took Dongola, and the result was that Mahmud came down and pretty well wiped them out.

They defended themselves stoutly, at Metemmeh, but had no chance against such a host as he brought with him.

The town was taken, and its defenders, between two and three thousand fighting men, were all massacred, together with most of the women and children.
"By the accounts brought down to us, by men who got away, it must have been an even more horrible business than usual; and the Dervishes are past masters in the art of massacre.

However, I think that their course is nearly up.

Of late, a good many fugitives from Kordofan have arrived here, and they say that there will be a general revolt there, when they hear that we have given the Dervishes a heavy thrashing." "And where do you think the great fight is likely to take place ?" Gregory asked.
"Not this side of Metemmeh.