60 THE SOUDAN. CHAPTER IV. TOKAR AND SINKAT. Suleiman Pasha—Soudan Fortresses—Defeat of the Egyptians —Mahomed Tahir Pasha—Belief sent to Tokar—Osman Digma’s Claim to Direct Inspiration—Another Egyptian Beverse. The news of the disaster to Hicks Pasha spread like wildfire through all the Soudan, west and east, and in the country about. The road from Suakim to Berber and thence to Khartoum, vid the Nile, which forms the great trade route to Central Africa, became instantly unsafe, commotions ensued everywhere, culminating, in Eastern Soudan, into the rise of the Mahdi’s brother-in-law, Osman Digma, the belea guering of the towns of Sinkat and Tokar, and even of Suakim itself. Suleiman Pasha, having been removed from Khartoum, became the Governor-Gfeneral of Eastern Soudan, a vast district which extends from Suakim to Massowah along the coast of the Red Sea and inland to the Mokran river. To him is principally due that the insurrection round about him took such great proportions. The Pasha is a thorough speci-
