SHABADUD. 47 advance as far as Ambukol, the point settled by the Commander-in-Chief for concentration.

After repeated trials, the system of Camel Drill had been more or less perfected by Sir Herbert, and we proceeded to learn it at once. Our other four companies turned up on the 4th December, and for the next five days we were hard at it. The idea was as follows. Since we were on no account to be used as Cavalry, but simply as Infantry transported quickly on camels, the object to be aimed at was freedom of action as Infantry combined with defence of our steeds. Accordingly, the system evolved was to jam the camels into a square mass, and flank them by squares of men at one or two opposite corners ; if necessary to act away from the camels, to leave simply enough men to defend them, and manoeuvre freely as Infantry.* The Mounted Infantry Camel Regiment of course drilled on the same principle. During the time we were at Shabadud, we practised these formations incessantly, and after nine days were as nearly perfect as we ever expected to be.

* See Appendix III. for details.