162 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

The Iberia was to convey to Suakim 600 men, 26 officers, and 24 horses for infantry officers' mounts. The horse selection committee visited the various horse bazaars, and succeeded in purchasing good useful animals. The question of supplies had anxiously engaged the attention of Mr. F. A. Wright, the minister for viorks, for some time, and he forwarded to Mr. Dalley the following minute on the subject :—" I beg to submit to my honourable colleague, the acting colonial secretary, the following list of supplies required for the expeditionary forces to the Soudan, for both men and horses. The supplies for the troops are for six months, and for the horses 90 days, exclusive of the forage required for the transport. I have given the matter of providing for the men very careful consideration, being guided largely by the experience of our local officers, and by information gathered from the regulations and books issued by the Imperial service and by Lord Wolseley, and I have made, I think, ample provision for both men and horses. The climate is a hot one, and the troops may possibly be called upon to do hard work, and I have therefore dealt with them most liberally, as will be seen from the list inclosed. The daily supplies are in excess of the rations issued to the Imperial troops, but I do not think the scale I have submitted is an excessive one. There will be sufficient to supply the utmost wants of the men, while at the same time it will prevent undue extravagance: Supplies required for the troops for the Soudan—750 men of all ranks, and 220 horses: rations estimated for troops, 180 days' supply; and forage for horses, 90 days' supply, and 40 days on transport. Daily rations: ij lb. bread or i lb. biscuit, and i lb.

flour, lyi lb. fresh meat or i lb. of preserved meat, and oz. tea or coffee per day; 3 oz. sugar, oz. salt, i-36th oz. pepper, and y oz. mustard, 2 oz. rice, i oz. lime-juice, and lb. preserved vegetables ; rum at discretion of officer, not more than one gill per day each. In addition, i lb. flour and 2 oz. currants or raisins per week. There will be thus required 53 tons of flour, 25 tons biscuit, 30 tons preserved meats, 2 tons tea and coffee, 11 tons sugar, 2 tons salt, 2 cwt. pepper, i ton mustard, 8 tons rice, 4 tons lime-juice, 30 tons preserved vegetables, 10 hogsheads rum, and