214 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

every one was told to help himself to the good things, and was allowed to take as much in his private kit as he liked ; but still it seemed a great pity that these rations, after having been brought at enormous trouble and expense from England, should, after all, only find a resting-place at the bottom of the Nile. There was no help for it, however ; as it was, there were only just sufficient camels to carry three days rations to Abu Klea, besides one camel to every four men'* kits. By seven o'clock that evening all the camel; were watered and their loads ready for the start at daybreak ; so we forgot our sorrows at mess in two bottles of fine old crusted (?) Tarragon port save< from the medical-comfort-boxes, and retired early t< our last night's rest at Gubat.

Long before dawn the whole force was up, loading the camels and having their final meal. As bad luck would have it, the "casual" roster had just come round to my turn, and took me again for baggage guard, which included looking after the camels of the whole G.C.R. with their kits, since every one was to foot it. One advantage I enjoyed, and that was the