CHAPTER IX.

Return and advance of the column Details.

ON the nth of January a convoy arrived under Colonel Stanley Clarke, consisting of stores and ammunition. Luckily, I happened to be on outpost that night, and escaped the fiendish clatter and noise that his 1000 camels made in getting to the wells to drink native drivers jabbering, camels bellowing, Englishmen swearing all night through.

By an elaborate arrangement of pumps, hose, and troughs, the Engineers had contrived to allow thirty camels to water at a time (the original entrance only allowing three or four) ; yet watering 1000 camels took a considerable time far into the night and dawn was breaking by the time they had all finished.

Next day the fighting part of the force arrived, under Sir Herbert, and with great joy did we welcome back