MARCH OF THE CAMEL CORPS. 5

On the 30th of December Sir Herbert Stewart had as a

preliminary movement taken the camel corps to occupy the wells

at Gakdul, which were not much less than half of the journey

across the Bayuda. The Guards Camel Corps, which had been

inspected at Dongola by Lord Wolseley, presented a very imposing

appearance. Two hundred stalwart men, wearing their scarlet

tunics, thoroughly equipped, and mounted on camels over which

they had complete control, somewhat astonished the Turkish

officers on the staff of the mudir; and as they filed off in a long

line towards the desert, they were evidently fit for the immediate

service which they were called upon to undertake. The column was preceded by thirty-four men of the 19th Hussars to act as

scouts in advance. These were followed by the Guard Camel

Corps, some 380 men and 650 camels belonging to the light and heavy divisions of the camel corps and artillery. The men

of these divisions having been temporarily dismounted remained

behind, their camels, as well as 500 transport camels, being loaded

with provisions and stores. The mounted infantry, 387 strong,

brought up the rear. The guards were to be dismounted at Gakdul and were to remain in charge of the stores, while their

camels returned to Korti along with those of the other camel corps

and the transport, so that the men of the light and the heavy

camel corps and of the artillery might be remounted, and the

camels of the transport and guards be loaded up again with

provisions and with the stores of the Sussex Regiment, which was

to accompany the second column to Gakdul. Of course the

progress of the expedition from Gakdul to Metammeh would

depend on the situation and intentions of the enemy, and of the

disposition of the Hassan Ayob tribe, through whose country

the column would have to pass. The men who were ordered on

service with the first column were in high spirits, and envied " for

their luck " by those who were left behind. The preparations

kept the camp in commotion, which only subsided as the time

approached for the assembly of the force. The camels once laden

ceased to groan and scream, and stalked off to the ground marked

off for them, presently followed by the guards corps and the