FIRST VIEW OF THE ENEMY. 119 rocks. The General saw at once that it would be folly to attempt going straight along the track, as there the enemy had us at their mercy from their position on the hills ; he therefore deployed the fighting force into line of columns, baggage-train immediately in rear, and advanced the whole slowly up the broken hills, immediately above the valley where we had been resting. We shortly came on to an open stretch, and there the brigade was halted, whilst further reconnaissances were being made and the plan of advance settled on. The ground we were on was a brown, rocky slope, cut up into innumerable mounds and small hills, most difficult for manoeuvring on ; we therefore soon received the order to move on again, and advanced up the stony slope to a bit of flat ground which gave on to the plain beyond. There we closed to jammed column, and dismounted, tightly knee-lashing our camels.

The view from this spot was extensive. In the distance the broad sandy valley of Abu Klea, covered with the everlasting tussocks of yellow grass and mimosa trees, and on all sides steep, rocky hills opening out towards the front ; masses of Arabs congre-