Ruins of a British-Egyptian military camp in the background, Aswan, Egypt

"In the spring of 1896, a British-Egyptian military force under Lord Kitchener commenced operations against the Mahdists of Khartoum, and Aswan became the base for these operations. Two years later the Mahdist army was defeated. Sudan was reunited with Egypt under a special Anglo-Egyptian administration and the Egyptian government gave Lord Kitchener an island north of Elephantine, today known as Plantation Island in return for his successful campaigns." [Kamil Jill, 1993: Aswan and Abu Simbel, History and Guide. The American University in Cairo Press]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for American Institute of Architects, directing the Egyptian portion of the documentary on Ancient Egypt, March 1965 and September 1965.