120 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

rifle fire on the left bank of the river. It was there that the seriba was formed, chiefly by the Soudanese, who cut large branches of the thorny mimosa and interlaced them in such a way that they would frustrate any attempt of the enemy to make a sudden rush.

Inside the wall was a shallow ditch just wide enough for a man to lie down in. There was one gap in the thicket at a place where the bank was rather less steep, and this was made. the landingplace where the guns and stores were carried up. Close to the path going down to the water Sir Charles Wilson with Khashm and his personal followers took up their quarters at the foot of a large bush, part of which the men cut away so as to form a small bower or shelter from the sun. From that point Sir Charles could see round the seriba and across the island. The bush was to be a rallying point in case of treachery, where the Englishmen and Khashm and his loyal followers might make a fight for their lives, or whence they might reach the boats. Trafford and his men of the Sussex were close by, then a few of Khashm's Shagiyehs reaching to the entrance of the seriba. A Sussex sentry was constantly pacing to and from the gate and the point at which Sir Charles Wilson was posted.

Even after these arrangements were made. Sir Charles was anxious to attempt to gain the right bank of the river and march down it, for though steamers were expected to come to the rescue from Gubat, it was by no means certain that they would do so, or that they would be able to pass the fire from the batteries without being disabled. Sir Charles sent for the chief officers, one by one, to tell them that steamers would be up in two or three days, but also talked over the possibility of crossing to the right bank and marching down, a plan which they believed would be practicable, as the great influence of Khashm-el-Mus Avith the Shagiyeh and the fear with which the Jalin regarded him, would keep the natives on the border of the river from making an attack.

But some of these Shagiyeh soon crossed over to the island with a pacific message, and as it was impossible to prevent the natives who were not hostile from communicating with those outside the seriba, they were admitted. Sir Charles Wilson and Ibrahim