Wingate retreated from the strong, anti-Mahdist stance he had maintained for decades and sought a rapprochement with the Mahdï's leading supporters, the Ansar, and the Sufi religious orders that continued to attract young Sudanese. … Wingate and the officials of the Sudan government thus exploited the deep anti-Egyptian feeling among many of the Sudanese when they turned their support to the Mahdï's highly politicized son after they had fought for the Mahdïya.

Eve M. Troutt Powell, A Different Shade of Coloni…, loc. 1018