Many tents could be seen there, and great numbers of men moving about.

He felt sure that, among so many, no one would notice that he was a newcomer; and after moving among the throng, he soon sat down among a number of Dervishes who were eating their morning meal.

Taking some dates out of his bag, he munched them quietly.
From the talk going on, he soon perceived that there was a considerable amount of discontent at the long delay.

Some of the men were in favour of moving to Berber, on the ground that they would at least fare better there; but the majority were eager to march north, to drive the infidels from Merawi and Dongola.
"Mahmud would do that, I am sure," one of them said, "if he had but his will; but how could we march without provisions?
It is said that Mahmud has asked for a sufficient supply to cross the Bayuda, and has promised to drive the infidels before him to Assouan; but the Khalifa says no, it would be better to wait till they come in a strong body, and then to exterminate them.

If we are not to fight, why were we sent here?
It would have been better to stay at Omdurman, because there we had plenty of food; or, if it ran short, could march to the villages and take what we wanted.