THE LAST IMPORTANT ENGAGEMENT. 253 Cavalry, and hearing the firing behind them turned and hastened back, so that they met a number of the baggage animals, drivers, camp-followers, and a few English soldiers and native infantry in flight towards Suakim, pursued by Arabs who were cutting them down without resistance. Half the cavalry, therefore, dismounted, and fired volleys to check the Arabs' pursuit, then mounted and drove them before them, and being afterwards joined by a squadron of the 5th Lancers, were able to prevent the attempt of the enemy to creep round by the sea-coast and turn their flank, and to push the Arabs back towards the seriba, where, being enfiladed by the fire of our men, they dispersed towards the sea.

There were a great many wounded on our side, and the work of the doctors was very arduous. They saw to their patients under shelter of the telegraph wagon, while the intelligence was being wired to headquarters and the special correspondents and artists were scribbling and sketching as the horrible turmoil raged around. A message was sent back from Suakim, that the guards were coming out to aid the force at the seriba, and General M'Neill telegraphed that the enemy had been repulsed. At 11.30 A.M. on the 22d General Graham himself arrived with the guards with fresh stores and water. At 2 P.M. the Indians and grenadier guards moved off on their return, forming a large square inclosing the camels and the dhoolies with the wounded.

This battle may be said to have been the last important engagement which was fought by our troops in the Suakim expedition. It virtually closed the campaign, for it was discovered that it had, for the time, completely discomfited Osman Digma, and scattered, if it had not altogether shattered his forces. As Sir Michael Hicks Beach afterwards said when proposing the vote of thanks to the army: " It is not too much to say that the power of Osman Digma had been absolutely crushed."

The seriba having been left in the occupation of such a considerable force it was determined to push on preparations for the further advance on Tamai, and convoys were sent from Suakim with large supplies of water and provisions, that the forces might be well able to proceed from Tofrek, the place where the seriba was established. The enemy, notwithstanding the crushing defeat which they had experienced, continued to carry on desultory hostilities, and the convoys had some sharp tussles with parties of Arabs, who swarmed in the thick bushes and scrub. The captive warballoon, made of gold-beater's skin, was now of service for surveying the surrounding country. It was filled at the water fort from tubes of compressed gas, which had been brought from Chatham. It weighed only go lbs., and contained 7000 cubic feet of gas. Its diameter was 23 feet, the basket being large enough to hold one man conveniently. When inflated it was attached by a fine wire-rope to a wagon, and communication was maintained by means of notes attached to a string. The work of conveying