98 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

it right to take a surgeon or even an assistant surgeon. On the night of the 23d all was ready. The Sussex detachment lay down close to the steamers. Steam was to be up by daylight. Sir Charles was able to see that the convoy and escort, to bring provisions from Gakdul under the command of Colonel Talbot and accompanied by Captain Piggott with his despatches, were oft in the evening, and it may be mentioned that this as well as other convoys to Gakdul and back were guided by Lord Cochrane, who dispensed with any native assistance and at night kept the route by the stars.

It may here be noted that the reports from Korti, dated the 28th (four days afterwards), said: " Our position at Gubat is very strong. The troops have an ample supply of ammunition, and also of provisions. It is believed that the enemy have large stores of grain in Metammeh. They have two Krupp guns there, but no regular earthworks. The houses and walls are, however, loopholed, and the place could not be carried without much loss of life. The general belief is that the enemy will evacuate Metammeh when our infantry, now starting, arrive, and will retire upon Berber.

Upon their way down the party crossed the ground where the fight of Abu-Klea took place. They saw the bodies of a few English dead which had not yet been buried. They had been stripped by the Arabs, but the bodies had been in no way mutilated.

The Royal Irish Regiment started for their march across the desert to Gubat last night. When the men paraded Lord Wolseley addressed them, and complimented them upon the rapid and energetic manner in which they had pushed up the Nile in their boats. Their passage would be nearly, if not quite, the best made in point of time. Lord Wolseley said that he hoped to join them across the desert in a very short time. The regiment is in splendid condition, the men being inured to a hot climate by their recent service in India. They started in the highest spirits, although they have to march on foot, the men carrying their rifles and ammunition. The baggage and water are taken by camels. It is