FINAL ORDERS. 213 Thank God for that, as it might have gone hard with the wounded if they had had to wait till we could reach them on foot.

Parade had been ordered for inspection by the General at four o'clock, so we fell in completely equipped, in case we might have to start before nightfall. This was, however, not the case, and in the evening the whole force received orders to parade at five next morning to commence the retirement.

Now that our line of action had been definitely decided on, the first thing to be done was to see that the column travelled as light as possible, for hardly any camels remained. Accordingly more than half the rations the last convoy had brought up were ruthlessly destroyed and thrown into the Nile. It was doubly irritating seeing these good things thrown, away, since the garrison had been living on very short rations during the last ten days. 19,000 Ib.

of flour, 3,000 Ib. of biscuit, 21,220 Ib. of beef, 900 Ib. of bacon, 1,100 Ib. of tea, oatmeal, preserved vegetables, coffee, and all sorts of stores were pierced and thrown into the river. First of all, certainly,