go EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

journey to Abu-Klea, and the guides had not the courage to accompany him. He therefore had to wait till a convoy started on the following evening, and to ride with it to Abu-Klea, after which he was to push on alone to Korti. It was known afterwards that he lost his way after parting from the convoy which reached Gakdul before him; but he took up the route there and rode without a moment's loss of time, so that he reached Korti early on the morning of the 28th, and the commander and the forces at Korti then learned the latest news of the now weakened if not crippled desert column, of the departure of Sir Charles Wilson to Khartiim in two steamers Avith a detachment of the Royal Sussex Regiment, and of the starting of the convoy for Gakdul under Colonel Talbot, who would return to Gubat on the 28th, the date of Captain Pigott's arrival at Khartum.

It was then determined that on the following day (the 29th January) Sir Redvers BuUer should start from Korti on a march across the desert with the Royal Irish Regiment, followed by the Royal West Kent.

All this was of course telegraphed to Cairo to Sir Evelyn Baring by Lord Wolseley, who said :—" There has been sharp fighting since the action of the 17th instant, and the men have had extremely hard work and, until the 23d instant, little sleep.

General Stewart, who, I deeply regret, has been severely wounded, has carried out my instructions. We now hold a strongly-fortified post half-way between Berber and Khartum, and we hold the desert route between it and this place. On the large island opposite Gubat there is plenty of green forage for horses and camels. Gubat can be held against any force which the Mahdi can send to attack it.

Four steamers from Khartum under Nusri Pasha arrived at Gubat during a reconnaissance made upon Metammeh on the 21st inst., and the Pasha landed some men and guns and took part in the operations.

Sir C. Wilson left for Khartum on the 24th inst. with two steamers and a detachment of the Royal Sussex Regiment. Metammeh is occupied by about 2000 men, half of them regulars,