CONTENTS. Vll Proposal to send Indian Troops to Suakim, 131 Advance of the Nile Column— Reaches Dulka Island— News of the Battle at Kirbekan and Death of General Earle Heavy Losses—The Mahdi's Letter about the Fall of Khartflm, .... 133 Collection of Supplies—A New-year's Dinner in a Hut, 136 General Earle arrives in the Camp—Preparations for an Advance, . . 138 The Nile Column concentrated at Handab The Supply of Food—Intelligence from Berber, Abu-Hamed, and Birti, . . 140 The Column starts from Handab—The Fort at Kabenat—News about the Enemy, . 146 Proposed Seizure of Suleiman Wad Gamr Colonel Butler enters Birti — Articles found belonging to Colonel Stewart, . 150 Difficultiesof the Nile Passage—The Column reaches Birti— News from Lord Wolseley of the Fall of Khartflm—A Halt called Speculations as to the Future—Advance to Abu-Hamed ordered, . . . 152 The Camp on Dulka Island—Position of the Enemy at Kirbekan — The Enemy attacked—General Earle and Colonel Eyre killed—The Arabs routed—Our Losses, . 157 CHAPTER IX.

A Force to be sent to Suakim—Supplementary War Estimates, .... 168 Offers of Assistance from Canada and Australia—Enthusiasm in the Colonies, . 170 Sir Edward Strickland's Letter in the Sydney Morning Herald— Mr. Dalley's Cablegram—Offers of large Subscriptions, . 173 Enrolment and Equipment of the Australian Force—Arrangements for its Despatch Rate of Pay and Number of Men—Outfit and Uniform—Food Supplies, . -177 Excitement in New South Wales— "Called to the Front ! "—Loyalty to Britain, . 183 The Mustering at Sydney—Signs of Opposition—Great Patriotic Meeting—Chiefjustice Martin's Resolution carried, . 185 Sunday in Sydney before the Embarkation —The Muster of the Men—The March to the Quay—The Governor's Parting Address—On board the Iberia and Australasian—Telegram to the Queen, . . iSS Telegram from Lord Derby to Sir W.

Robinson—Meeting at the War Office, . 194 A Force to be sent to Suakim against Osman Digma — General Sir Gerald Graham receives the Command—The Queen inspects the Grenadier Guards, . 195 General BuUer retires from Gubat—General Brackenbury with the Nile Column is recalled—Colonel Talbot's March to Abu-Klea—He is attacked by the Arabs— Is reinforced by Col. S. Clarke—Arrives at Abu- Klea, and starts for Gakdul, . . 197 Death of General Sir H. Stewart — His Early History and Career as a Soldier, . 201 General Buller's Column at Abu-Klea Tactics of the Enemy— Their Treachery —The Force recalled to Gakdul, . . 204 A Visit to the Field of Abu-Klea, . . 206 The March to Gakdul—Harassed by the Enemy—Major Wardrop's ingenious Device—Arrival at Gakdul and at Korti, . 207 Fortunes of the Nile Column—Its Difficulties in the Shukook Pass—Arrives at Salamat, 208 Suleiman Wad Gamr's House searched and destroyed—Relics of Colonel Stewart, .211 General Brackenbury crosses the Nile Reaches Hebbeh, where Colonel Stewart and his Party were murdered—A Visit to the wrecked Steamer—Relics of the murdered Men, . . . . . .212 A Despatch from Lord Wolseley recalls General Brackenbury — The Retuni Journey down the Nile— Farewell Parade of the River Column— General Brackenbury reaches Korti, .... 216 Accounts by Natives of the fall of Khartum and Death of Gordon—The Greek's Story — Characteristic Description of the Massacre by two Refugees—Miserable End of Faragh Pasha, 219