REASONS FOR AN ADVANCE. 239 construct the railway in detachments which would allow complete protection to be afforded to the work as it went on, and strong posts to be established both at the furthest points to which it progressed and at the base of supplies, there were signs that this plan might have to be deferred, and that, though a small portion of the line would be completed, the advance of the troops from the camp at Suakim to engage the forces of Osman Digma would be made without waiting for the concurrent construction of the line to the point where an engagement might take place.

The services of some scouts belonging to friendly tribes were utilized, two of them being at night posted in each redoubt. Their keen sight rendered them valuable assistants to our sentries. Half of the men of each battalion and regiment were kept under arms all night.

There was every reason why an advance should be made at once. It was essential that as a first step Osman Digma—who it was reported was about to be reinforced by 7000 dervishes—should be defeated and his forces dispersed. In the second place, the intended line of the railway must coincide with the line of advance in order that the construction of the line might be protected. In the third place, it was desirable that the troops should be quartered during the summer in a healthy elevated spot well supplied with water. Sinkat or Ariab were regarded as the places best adapted for Sir Gerald Graham's immediate destination. The road to Sinkat passed near the spot where Osman Digma's force was for the most part concentrated, and where, apparently, he meant to accept battle. It v.'as formerly a summer resort of the inhabitants of Suakim, is 3088 feet above the level of the sea, and is in every way fitted for a summer cantonment. Its distance from Suakim is about forty miles. Tamai is not quite half-way.

As we have seen, from Suakim Island the road crosses a causeway to the mainland, leading thence in a south-westerly direction to the wells about a mile inland which supply the town with water, and are the point of departure for the caravan route, which, for eleven miles, in a north-westerly direction crosses a level plain covered with gravel and small boulders.

This plain, rising slightly from the sea, is traversed by the beds of numerous torrents which flow from the mountains during the rains. As the surface is stony and the slope gentle these water-courses are never deep or abrupt, and the only vegetation is that of the small acacia scattered over the plain. On reaching Handoub, 12 j4 miles, the road passes the first point of a high spur which runs out from the main range of the Waratab Mountains towards the coast. The wells of Handoub are in the lower features of the spur; there are five wells, one of sweet water, the others with brackish.

In the bed of the Khor the wells are 18 inches deep and are also brackish.

This is the Hadendowa country; and for five miles further the route continues across the same hard, barren, boulder-strewed plain to a point