20S EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

that the ]\Iahdi would not attempt to cross the desert and would hesitate before advancingto engage the English, there was no longer any doubt that a large force of at least 6000 Arabs were marching in the immediate neighbourhood of Abu-Klea, whence from the adjacent hills their column could be plainly seen coming from the direction of Khartum, while their numerous standards and the field-guns that they carried with them showed that they were the expected reinforcements of the Mahdi's troops. This was on the 23d of February, and the preparations which had already been made for the retirement of our troops from Abu-Klea were pushed forward, so that the whole force marched out in the evening—Sunday evening—and under a brilliant moon, and with the cool air of the desert at night, made a by no means unpleasant journey, without halting till they had reached Jebel es Sergain. The next day the march was continued, and from some of the rocky heights of the defile of Abu Sayle the scouts could see at about eight miles' distance signs of the convoy which had started before them.

On the 27th Lord Wolseley telegraphed to the war office that General Buller's column had reached Gakdul on the previous day with all the sick and wounded doing well. The total killed and disabled of the desert force from the time it had left Korti amounted to 30 officers and 450 men out of a force of a little over 2000. The journey from Gakdul to Korti offered no serious difficulties; and thus ended the expedition that was designed to make the first advance towards the junction of our forces at Berber, for the relief of Khartum.

We must now return, to follow, as briefly as may be, the fortunes of the Nile column, which, under the command of General 13rackenbury was with difficulty advancing to Abu-Hamed. We have already seen that the message sent from Lord Wolseley had indicated that though the news of Gordon's death might bt verified, and the original object of the expedition could not therefore be carried out, it was understood to be the intention of the British government to break up the Mahdi's power in the Soudan,