286 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

suppose went into Lower Egypt with their ill-gotten gains, and either pursued their callings there, or retired to live in ease for ever after ; but the poorer ones, the peasantry, must have had a hard time of it, as I know the natural river-bank inhabitants do not take kindly to new-comers.

By the time all the inhabitants had left the district, news came that the 42nd had actually left Merawi (the most advanced post of all), and were on their way | down-stream in whalers. The next to move wen the Soudanese at Korti, then the camps at Tani, Kurot and Shabadud in succession, and eventually we were to break up and go, leaving the 5oth West Kent (from Tani) in our places as rear-guard.

On the 30th May the 42nd passed Dongola, aided by a strong south-easterly wind, which came in very much a propos (and as a matter of fact precipitated General Buller's arrangements rather too much for his liking.) At last we got our orders to start in the 50th's whalers directly they arrived : with this wind it would probably be in two days. A great relief it was knowing this for certain, or at all events