Al-Zubayr Rahma Mansur - Detained in Egypt, His Son Takes Command

Detained in Egypt, His Son Takes Command

Prior to his 1878 departure to Cairo, where he intended to bribe other pashas with approximately £100,000 to recognise his sovereignty, Rahma had gathered his chiefs under a tree between Shaka and Obeid where they agreed that if the plan failed, they would go "to arms! to the road!". He was detained by Egyptian forces for his attempts at bribery, and refused permission to return to the Sudan. He messaged General Gordon, offering £25,000 annually to the Khedive, and to restore order within the Sudan, if only he would be allowed to return. Gordon declined the offer, and Rahma sent a message to his chiefs that they should "obey the orders given under the tree", which resulted in Gordon being met by near-anarchy upon his return to Khartoum.

Rahma was subsequently sentenced to death for his role in the insurrection. Despite this however, he was held in high favour by the Khedival court and entertained as a guest in Cairo, with no attention paid to the sentence.

Intent on dealing with Suleiman while his father was still imprisoned, General Gordon arranged several times to meet peacefully with the young man now leading his father's forces. Referring to him as a "cub", Gordon took an almost fatherly approach towards him, and explained at his camp that he was aware of what revolts the slavers had been provoking, and he was now offering an ultimatum – either Suleiman announce his surrender of the Cave of Adullam or he would attack with an overwhelming force. Feeling sick, and begging time to think on the matter, Suleiman returned to the cave where his forces rumoured that Gordon has served the group poisoned coffee.

Shortly afterwards, Suleiman sent Gordon confirmation of the surrender, and began making his way northwards towards other stations. While in the city of Shaka, he sent a letter referring to himself as Gordon's "son" and asking for a position of government. Gordon responded that he would rather die, than grant any title to the rebel leader unless he had travelled to Cairo and sworn allegiance to the Khedive.

Gordon wrote a few days later, "Suleiman no longer hopes to conquer...he may try to go up to other stations inland, but I do not expect it will last long; a retreating commander is rarely in a good temper, and he will soon disgust his people."

Angered, Suleiman rallied 6,000 of his men in large raids, which were quickly dispelled at Gordon's command by the troops of Yussuf Pasha and Romolo Gessi. Gessi, together with Taha Mahomet had earlier been credited with sacking Dem Sebehr, a reputed stronghold of the slaving clan.

In early September, while travelling through Shaka, Gordon was surprised to be extended an invitation to spend two days in Suleiman's house. He accepted, but spent the following days again rejecting Suleiman's pleas for a title of government, but consoled the young chief by giving him a rifle and teaching him its proper use. Eventually, Suleiman was captured and executed under the command of Romolo Gessi (on Gordon's orders).