THE KHEDIVATE OF EGYPT
HIDIVIYET-I MISIR
HUSSEIN KEMAL PASHA
Vienna, Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
3 August 1870
"Ah, perhaps parables aren't something Vienna grasps so well. No matter; Egyptian women are certainly fiery indeed, though that is not the point. These ships were his pet projects, and he poured much soul and heart into building an ironclad fleet worthy of the West. I am sure you will find them the greatest companions a man may have of steel and iron.
"Now that you mention it, perhaps some wine, pinot noir if you have any, would go so excellently with a slice. But before it is served, I pray that you must allow an imam to consecrate it." Hussein cackled in mirth.
"Indeed, indeed. This will do nicely.
"Ah, a blemish on Egypt's long, bloody past. I have the utmost trust of the men we have sent to Algeria, men of excellent calibre and moral fibre. The worst they might do is to instruct some of their prisoners to teach the soldiers how to read and write, as is the Prophet's command.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but the purchasing of the ironclads, and the partitioning of French colonies, those are two separate agreements, am I not mistaken?
"Whatever it is, we have lost enough time chit-chatting, as it were. I assume we have agreed with the core agreement? Indochina, Canton and Senegal in return for French Algeria and 230,000 men?"
As he was speaking, at that moment on the 5th, Egyptian forces were assaulting the city of Lunel.
CHEIKH MOKRANI
Bordj Bou Arréridj, Kabylie Highlands
7 August 1870
By the early morning, the city had surrendered after the governor's quarters were stormed. Arms and ammunitions were distributed around the men strong enough to stand, and food aplenty was given to all. Of the 200 man garrison, only 50 were slain, and the rest were taken prisoner. As for the governor, he had elected to take leave of himself by way of rifle through the throat, leaving behind a lavish bedchamber fit for a Sultan. These furnishings were stripped down and converted into useful things, like firewood, or clean blankets for the cold desert nights.
As all of the soldiers were illiterate, they were all freed almost immediately, escorted by a small guard of twenty mounted men on camels to the nearest city. Meanwhile, telegram lines were cut, teams were dispatched to blow up the railroads that ran from Algiers to nearby cities, and infiltrators were sent around to deliver propaganda to the Berber masses, calling them to arms, citing a fatwa by the Al-Azhar Mosque, and fanning the flames that threatened to burst forth in Berber cities. Furthermore, delegates were sent to discuss a confederation with the rest of the Berber tribe leaders in order to liberate Algeria from French rule.
Leaving a garrison of 1,000 men with Cheikh Mokrani as their governor, the main force, 1,800 Egyptians and 7,200 Berbers strong, marched eastwards to Setif.
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