246 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAX.

chief, a mere youth, who had approached on a white hygeen (riding camel), which had fallen dead, within thirty yards of the square. The chief was at once made prisoner.

While this party were charging the square, the general, from his position on rising ground, saw a large body of the Arabs, some three thousand strong, lying down in the rear at the •spot whence the advanced party had charged. They were rising to follow up the attack, but the terrible effect of the volleys of the guards on the advanced party checked their advance, and they abstained from the intended onslaught. On the extreme right rear of the main force another party tried to break through in the direction of the redoubts which the 70th were constructing, making way between them and the hillock upon which the general with his staff had taken up their position. The 5th Lancers, 20th Hussars, Mounted Infantry, and a troop of the Indian Lancers swooped down upon them and almost exterminated the band, most of them being shot down by the carbines of the cavalry, who swept over them as they lay on the ground endeavouring to repeat their former successful tactics. Only seven of the whole body made their escape.

This work was not performed without loss. Major Robertson of the Bengal Lancers, and Major Harvey of the 5th Lancers, were both severely wounded, while Sergeant-major Nicholls, who had only that morning been promoted to that rank, was killed. Four privates were killed and seven were wounded. General Ewart had a narrow escape, as his horse was killed under him. While this brilliant charge was being made, the artillery opened a heavy fire upon two large bodies of the enemy, of which one, some two thousand strong, was retreating in front, while the other, of double that strength, was on our left rear, having arrived on the scene of action from Tamai. At about one o'clock the second brigade and the Indian Infantry were ordered to fall back upon the guards, and at two o'clock the whole force began their march back towards the hill occupied by the 70th Regiment. The Indian brigade this time formed the advance. They were followed by the 46th and marines, while the guards, still in square, with the artillery, ambulance, and transport in their centre, brought up the rear. The position was by no means a pleasant one, for the enemy swarmed around, and the square, encumbered with its impedimoita, had to fight its way over ground covered with dense bush, the Arabs closing in on all sides, but chiefly in the rear and left flank. For half an hour the Scots Fusiliers and Coldstreams had to endure a very heavy fire from the almost invisible enemy, halting every two hundred yards to fire volleys into the scrub. The guards were, however, perfectly steady, moving on under the galling firing with admirable coolness, and in three quarters of an hour they emerged from the bushes into a comparatively open country. Captain Dallison, of the Scots Fusiliers, was killed, shot through the heart.