ThefleetfromGondokorohadleftonthe3rdofNovember，1871：thusitwasnaturaltosupposethatreinforcementshadarrivedfromKhartoum，accordingtomywritteninstructionsonthatdate。InowwrotetoRaoufBeyathead-quarters，tosendup200menunderthecommandofLieutenant-ColonelTayibAgha，oftheSoudaniregiment。Ialsowroteforasupplyofcattle，asmystockhaddwindledtoasmallherdofmilchcows，andthepeopleatFabbehadnomeatexceptthefleshofanygamethatmightbekilled。
AshorttimeafterthedepartureofWat-el-MekandhispartyforGondokoro，SuleimanthevakeelarrivedfromFabbowiththeintelligencethatalargebodyofAbouSaood’sslave-hunters，including3，000
Makkarikacannibals，hadarrivedontheNilefromthefarwest，withtheintentionoftakingtheivoryfromFabbo！
ItappearedthatAbouSaoodhadgonefromGondokorotohisstationattheBohr，upontheWhiteNile；fromthencehehadsentapartywithalettertoAtroosh，thevakeeloftheMakkarikastation，about200milesdistant，withordersthatheshouldsendapowerfulforce，withsufficientcarriers，totaketheivorybyviolencefromFabbo。
AbouSaoodhadnotexpectedthatthepeoplewhomhehadleftatthatstationwouldhaveenlistedunderthegovernmentstandard。Thusheimaginedtheywouldatoncefraternizewiththeinvadingforce。