200 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

destroyed before the entire force marched out. This was all the more difficult from the fact that for some days small outpost skirmishes had been of frequent occurrence. The enemy was receiving guns and reinforcements from Khartum, and the neighbouring tribes had received the commands of the Mahdi to assemble for the purpose of attacking the British force. The enemy's videttes were visible across the river, and the Arabs were gradually closing around our camp. Deserters from Metammeh, some of whom were escaped Egyptian soldiers, reported that the enemy there, on the 8th of February, were reinforced by 500 men from Khartum. They had little food. Their total strength was 4000 men, with three guns.

But our force at Abu-Kru was actively employed, and gave the enemy little peace. Lord Charles Beresford made daily trips up or down the river, going five or ten miles in the steamer Safia to prevent the enemy from fortifying the bank, and to secure supplies. A company of British soldiers and 200 of General Gordon's men accompanied these expeditions. Upon the 7th our men made a successful reconnaissance, and destroyed a well-made unoccupied fort to the north-east of Metammeh. The same day a foraging party secured twenty-five cattle and a number of sheep and goats on the south-west bank. On the 8th, seven miles up, our men saw another fort, and secured several hundred goats, besides wood and supplies.

It was evident, however, that for so small a force to attempt to take and hold Metammeh, or to hold the camp on the Nile bank at Abu-Kru, would be futile now that Khartum had fallen and the Mahdi's followers were swarming down. The total evacuation of the camp and the retirement of the force from Gubat was therefore a necessary as well as a skilful manoeuvre, however disappointing to the men of that desert column which had fought its way to the Nile and had hoped soon to deliver the captives at Khartum. It was something under such adverse circumstances to be able to retire upon Abu-Klea with a feeling of confidence that no force that the Mahdi could bring would be able successfully to resist the return of the column which might have now to fight its way back.