232 Er.YPT AND THE SOUDAN.

The news that a large British force was on its way to Suakim and that an advance was to be made to Berber caused much excitement, and the news was circulated as much as possible among the tribesmen of the surrounding country in order to induce those who were wavering to throw in their lot with us. At Suakim itself the Royal Engineers had carried out some very useful work after the arrival of General Fremantle. At Quarantine Island piers or landing-stages had been erected where large steamers could discharge cargo with great facility. The rebels, who used to creep up towards Suakim and conceal themselves in a kind of plantation of palm-trees and shrubs called Osman Digma's gardens, just outside the town, could no longer find permanent shelter there, as the electric light at one of the forts could be thrown upon the place, which presented a beautiful appearance under the brilliant illumination. This enabled the gunners to direct their fire upon any spot where the enemy might endeavour to assemble. Before the arrival of any part of the new expedition Osman Digma was concentrating his troops at Tamai, where he was said to have from ten to twelve thousand men, while an advanced body of rebels two thousand strong occupied Hassein (or Hasheen). The news of the fall of Khartum had reached the rebels in the camp, and had filled them with exultation and with a determination to resist our advance by digging trenches, forming rifle-pits, throwing up breast-works, and making shelters along the sides of the nullahs.

It will be seen that the construction of a railway from Suakim to Berber, even though it was to be completed only by five-mile sections, protected as it progressed by sand-bag or other batteries and a sufficient force, v/as likely to be a difficult enterprise; but the first instalment of railway plant and material was already prepared, the well-known firm of Messrs. Lucas and Aird having been chosen as contractors, or rather as "ao-ents," who according to the actual reading of the minute issued by the o-overnment were to construct " for the war department for the purposes of the expeditionary force sent out to Suakim, and, according to the orders and under the control of the general officer for the time being in command of the same force, a 4 ft. 85 in. gauge single line of railway from Suakim, and thence in sections to so far towards Berber as may from time to time be ordered in writing by the secretary of state, and also an i8-in.

"aurre single line of railway in or about Suakim as may from time to time be ordered by the secretary of state. The war department engages to keep the way clear and the working-staff protected." The agents were to supply plant and working-staff, and with regard to the latter were at liberty, with the consent of the war secretary, to employ natives as labourers. The staff was to be paid by the government, and rationed and clothed by the war department. If any of the working staff should be killed by the enemy in the Soudan, or die from wounds, or from the effect of the climate, his