158 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

two of the exploring boats landed crews and repeated the fire: but there appeared to be few rifles with the enemy, who apparently numbered about 200, chiefly armed with spears. The position occupied by the enemy was about two miles from Eyre's camp on Dulka Island, to which the two boats fell back just before sunset.

Colonel Butler retiring to Castle Camp, the enemy following as far as the most advanced position which had been held by his men.

The river was between the position of the Arabs and Eyre's camp, and the Staffords could reach the spot where the rocky knolls had been held in about two hours, and the Black Watch could be brought from Castle Camp to the same spot in six hours.

Colonel Butler proposed that the Staffords should land . next day and that they should be covered with his mounted troops; as the battalion moved to the left bank the Black Watch was to be brought to the same place. He asked for two guns at Castle Camp, as the right and the rear of the enemy were within range of Dulka Island, and guns taken across by boat and carried about two miles along the island could take the position in reverse.

On the morning of the 9th, the mudir's troops crossed and bivouacked opposite their former camp. They were to hold the Monassir country and to forward supplies of cattle and grain. Soon after landing they found the mountain gun that had been taken from Colonel Stewart's steamer, but it was spiked, and most of its appurtenances were missing.

The mounted troops had occupied with their advanced posts the rocky knolls which they had reached the day before. The enemy still retained their position, which General Earle himself reconnoitred from the rocks occupied by the cavalry vedettes about Soo yards distant. This position, which was to be the scene of the battle, was, in fact, the same as that patrolled by Colonel Butler when he ascended the hill to reconnoitre. The rocky hills directly in front of our troops and 50 to 80 feet high were held by the enemy, whose right was directly over the river. Between two of these eminences was the road from Birti to 'These are called "koppies'' in South Africa, and therefore General Brackenbuiy gave them that name in his telegi-am of the fight at Kirbekan, and the name was retained.