2l8 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

there were signs of a hasty retreat having been made from Sherri Island, a few native boats and rough rafts were discovered and destroyed, several natives watching our troops from behind distant rocks. The rapids were not passed without the wreck of three boats and much damage to others, which had to be repaired. On the 28th preparations were made for the advance through the Shukook, where it was expected that the boats might be fired upon, but not a single native was seen amidst the rocky cliffs, and though to pass the rapid it was necessary that every boat should be taken down by the voyageurs,—the Gordon Highlanders and headquarters reached Dulka Island the same night, and bivouacked opposite the old camp. There on the ist of March the troops closed up and the advance was continued to Birti, where the vakeel was in camp and prepared to march with the column near the river.

The voyageurs performed their duty admirably. Some of the rapids required a voyageur for each boat, and as there were but sixty-seven of these men and more than two hundred boats, each man had to make from three to four trips, and in some cases, where two were required, each made seven trips. Many boats had been injured, and on the 4th of March, in passing through the tortuous fourth cataract, two wounded men and a sergeant were drowned by the striking of a boat upon a rock; another wounded man also died during the passage, but the journey was made with marvellous skill and despatch; the troops having descended in nine days a distance which it had taken thirty-one days to ascend, reaching Hamdab on the 4th of March. There a telegram from Korti bearing General Buller's name showed that the desert column had accomplished its retreat from Abu-Klea.

This teleeram gave instructions that Colonel Butler should be left in command at Abu-Dom with the Black Watch, a troop of hussars, the Egyptian camel corps, two guns of the Egyptian battery, a detachment of engineers, and a hundred transport camels, with all the rations that could be spared, while General Brackenbury took the rest of the column to Korti. The mudir's troops had been halted at Duaim, and were afterwards sent to hold Dugiyet at the entrance of the Berber road.