THE RECONOUEST OF THE SOUDAN. 111 regulars established at Shendy. They said that large numbers of their comrades had died of hungerand thirst in the desert. At first they had found it difficult to believe that they would be well treated. They expected that even if their lives weresparedby the victors they would bereduced to slavery. Numbers of them, when theyfound that their services wouldbe accepted, gladly offered themselves as recruits for the Soudanese battalions.

On the Wednesday after thebattlethe Sirdar entered Berber at the head of MacDonald's brigade,Mahmoud beingmarched in before him surrounded by a Soudanese escort, and with a were to pass. The half-battalion left behind, some friendlies,and part of Colonel Broadwood's cavalry kept an open way. A salute of twentyone guns fired by the horse-battery announced the approach of the Sirdar. The cavalry of Colonel Broadwood received him and the staffs, and escortedhim to the grand stand, where he was invited by the local notabilities to alight, and receive their congratulations and thanks, and partake of their hospitality. Sir Herbert and his staffhaving taken up a positionuponthe stand,the troops of MacDonald's brigadeand the cavalry passed in review. Behind the cavalry marched Mahmoud, with his hands tied behind banner carried in front of him on which was written inArabic," Thisis the Emir Mahmoud, the man who came to take Berber." By that time the inhabitants of the place had returned, and they gave the victors of the Atbara an enthusiastic reception, the hero of the day beingSir HerbertKitchener.

"The villagers en route turned out to meet him," writes Mr. Burleigh, "and deputations of natives in hundreds awaited hiscoming to thank him. His formal entry into Berber at the headof MacDonald'sbrigade was the fittingsequel to the victory. It was turned into him, his Soudanese guard, and a long string of fellowcaptives. TheDervishleader was not in the least downcast, but walked with head erect, as a central personage in the parade. He was gibed and hooted in the Oriental way as he passed the crowds " if thosewho had butrecently cowered before him. Mac-Donald's menlookedfit and well as when they set out, and their bands played not only the Khedival march but their more popular Scotch tunes, and among others the 'March of the Men of Harlech.'"

Thus endedthe campaign of the Atbara. Its results UR1GADIER-CENERAL LV' rEI.TON.

(Photo: Elliott &■Fry.)

were that a wholecorps d'armec of the Dervish army, under one of their best generals, had been destroyed, the formidable positions prepared with so much labour near Metemneh had passed into Egyptian hands, all dangerof raids on the outlying garrisons in the north of the Berberprovince or on the advanced posts on the Atbara had passed away, and, further, the success which the Sirdar had won in a fair fight with even numbers had inspired the Khedive's army with new confidence in itself and in its leaders. For Sir Herbert Kitchener him elf there was a further gain of no slight importance. Ever since the onward movement began, there had been in some quarters, and these not the least influential, a kind of quiet igitation for his supersession when the final march on Khartoum would have to be undertaken. A British brigade had fought at the Atbara. There would be a wholeBritish division a triumphalreturn march. Berber was en file. The long main thoroughfare, lined with palm trees, was spanned with flags and banni rets.

Where they came from the Arabs alone knew, but theyare adepts at workingupcalico dr.i and even in those remote parts the whirr and rattle of the sewing machineis daily to be heard. Every dwelling-houseand store was decorated— all of themprettily, and some withexceptionally goodtaste. Of appropriate mottoes,too,inEnglish and Arabic,there wasno lack. A triumphal standhad beenerected nearthecentral openspace. Upona wide banner spanning the roadway was written, 'Godkeep andbless the Sirdar,Hunter Pasha, and General Gatacre.' The head of the column arrived upon the outskirts of the town about 6 a.m. Natives had flocked from far and Bear, and were already, early as the hour was, lining theroute through Berber alongwhichthe Sirdar,his staff, General Hunter and the troops