284 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

who had brought up a printing-press amongst other useful things. It was called the Dongola News, appeared every Saturday, and did a wonderful trade.

The pity was it didn't begin its career soon enough, for it only reached its fourth number.

May was drawing to a close, and, though we did not know it, the day was approaching for going downstream and leaving the charms of Dongola for ever.

The news had got abroad amongst the natives that the English were going to quit, and great was the confusion that ensued. Facilities were offered to the inhabitants in case they wished to go down-stream too, and every one took advantage of the offer. Proclamations were issued that the English Government had decided not to hold Dongola longer than was absolutely necessary, and that in fact all British troops would be withdrawn as far as Wady Haifa or thereabouts. The immediate result of this was that a general exodus of the natives began. Every one bolted as if the Mahdi were at his heels. Streams of niggers and Arabs, men, women, and children of all shades gathered together their goods and chattels