RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. 1 65 The cost of the victory at Kirbekan was heavy. General Earle, Colonel Eyre, Colonel Coveney, and nine men killed; four officers and forty-four men wounded, of whom three men of the Staffords died two days afterwards. Captain Lord Avonmore also afterwards succumbed to enteric fever, caused by excessive exertion in the engagement and constant exposure to the sun. To receive his body a fourth grave was made under the palm-tree, and he was laid beside his brother officers, who were buried on the evening of the battle. Sixty-one lost from a force ot twelve hundred.

The fight at Kirbekan had, however, proved that our men could meet the Arabs, not only by forming in square and repelling their furious charges, but in open order and even when the enemy was in a position which might be regarded as almost impregnable when held by a few determined troops. General Brackenbury thought that there were about 800 of the Arabs holding the rocky hills and the ridge when the attack commenced, and that half of these escaped before the attack commenced, and a few more when the fight had commenced; but that the rest fought desperately to the last. Sixty lay dead on the two main hills, sixty-five on the ridge, a number more below, while there must have been more concealed from view, and many were shot in attempting to swim across the river. The total loss was computed at 200. Among them were many of the leaders of the rebellion; Abuhegel, Ali Wad Hussein, Hamid Wad Lekalik, brother of Abdel Megid, and Abou Lekalik being reported to have fallen. Suleiman Wad Gamr was not present at the fight, having gone to Suleiman to collect his belongings and take them into Berber.

In the account sent to Lord Wolseley the general said:—" Our troops having turned them out of these positions must have a great effect on the spirit of the enemy. I sincerely trust it may prevent our having to fight our way to Abu-Hamed, as, if we have many such fights as to-day we shall be seriously embarrassed how to carry on our wounded. If it enables us to pass the Shukook Pass, which is still before us, and to get through the rapids ahead without more fighting, it will, indeed, be a valuable day for us."