CHAPTER V.

Leave Shabadud Marketing at Abu Gussi Debbeh Ambukol Korti.

ON the loth December the brigade (composed of a squadron iQth Hussars, the Guards* Camel Regiment, and the Mounted Infantry) packed up and started for Ambukol, which town lay some seventy-five miles up stream, and from whence we fondly hoped we were to go across the Bayuda Desert to Shendy ; this idea arose from our having been served out with maps of that route.

The orders being to start at 1.30 a.m., in order to get the benefit of a waning moon, I was considerably pleased on being sent ahead the previous day at a rational hour in the afternoon, in order to buy koorbashes*and water-skins at a town called Abu Gussi, thirty-five miles off. The reason was that Abu Gussi rejoiced in a fair every Thursday, and some-* Cow-hide whips.