2 54 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

the water and stores to the seriba was arduous and exhausting, but it was done; and the condition of the men was the more precarious, because the tainted atmosphere at the seriba was now even worse than that at Suakim in consequence of the number of dead and the masses of slaughtered beasts, the camels having to be cut open in order that the carcasses might be more readily dried by the intense heat.

The advance to Tamai was ordered for the ist of April, and on Sunday the 29th of March (it is remarkable how many battles have been fought and how many events in warfare have occurred on a Sunday), the whole camp at Suakim was in a state of excitement because of the landing of the Australian contingent. They were received with the utmost enthusiasm, and no wonder, for it would have been difficult to find a finer set of men.

Their robust physique, their evident fitness, and their mature strength elicited the admiration of the officers who received them, and of the men, who gave them a hearty welcome as trusted comrades.

It was an historical event, and as the men landed at Quarantine Island they cordially responded to the cheers of the sailors on the vessels in the harbour.

The troops consisted of 28 officers, 500 privates, 33 men of the ambulance corps, and 30 of the artillery. Colonel Richardson commanding the whole. All the infantry wore scarlet tunics and white helmets, with black valises, and carried converted rifles of Henry's patent. The artillerymen had repeating carbines. The contingent drew up in line two deep on the shore of the island, and was eagerly scanned by the crowd which occupied all the points of vantage on the piles of commissariat stores. Headed by the fife-and-drum bands of the East Surrey Regiment and the King's (Shropshire Light Infantry), the Australians then marched over the causeway to the camp; the whole route being lined with an extraordinary heterogeneous gathering, which was in itself a remarkable sight Indians of the native contingent, privates of English regiments, Arabs of the town, camel-drivers, sailors, camp-followers, and Greeks—all gathered together to witness the arrival of the new-comers. And with almost the same enthusiasm the English soldiers in camp greeted the familiar scarlet.

Scarlet was, however, a rare colour in Suakim. The officers rode out to see the column, the passing camel convoys were halted, and the pickets and guards turned out.

General Graham met the Australians en roiite and introduced himself. On arriving at the outskirts of the camp the men formed line and gave a general salute. Sir G. Graham then rode down the line, front and rear, of the contingent, which afterwards formed three sides of a square, while the general addressed them, saying: " Men of New South Wales,—In the name of the forces under my command I give you a hearty welcome as comrades and brothers in