298 WITH THE CAMEL CORPS UP THE NILE.

to supply it with water from the river four miles off In the evening the Egyptians held some athletic sports for our benefit. The great feature of the sports was boxing-matches a la Egyptian. This meant you might hit your adversary anywhere you could, and if you took his wind so much the better it was easier to knock him down so. There was not very much science about it, but the " Gippos " seemed to enjoy the fun immensely, and came up smiling time after time. Leap-frog was another item on the card, and the Egyptians ran about like a lot of boys just let out of school I had no idea there was so much fun in them. At last we turned into the hammocks provided for us, and slept in the blissful consciousness of approaching comforts. The half-battalion of Coldstream and Marines had been sent off in the afternoon to Ambigol Wells and Railhead, twelve miles ahead, so as to get into the train first thing in the morning, and we were to follow them at about twelve hours interval.

Accordingly next morning at 4 a.m. we started, and, arriving at Railhead about ten, we welcomed the