256 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

of the enemy's ammunition which were found there, and the huts, including Osman Digma's residence, were burned.

On the 4th of April the force had again reached Suakim, and it was then that attention was turned to the continuation of the railway, the work of which had been stopped on the 2 2d of March for the purpose of advancing against Osman Digma. An advanced seriba was to be established five miles on the road to Handoub to cover the head of tlie railway, which was to be pushed on as fast as possible, and a block-house and another seriba was to be formed at Handoub itself five miles further on, while covering parties were to protect the head of the line as it advanced.

Of course this all meant more convoys with transport of provisions and water. By the 7th of April General Fremantle, with the Coldstreams, Australians, some engineers, and screw-guns, established the first post, and then and afterwards the Australians and the Scots Guards showed remarkable powers of endurance on the hot and exhausting march. The country was open, the Scots Guards were left at the first seriba, the Australians and Coldstreams advanced to Handoub, where the seriba was constructed near an old well, some other wells being scraped or dug in the Khor. The country presented a broad expanse of sand and shingle about ten miles in circumference, encircled by barren hills, and containing some light bushes and scrub with here and there piles of boulders. General Graham visited the station, and the transport camels retired to Suakim under escort A proclamation was issued to the enemy calling on them to submit, but without any obvious result. Osman's force seemed to be broken, and a number of his chief officers had been killed. The weaker tribes were shifty and uncertain. Hasheen was deserted. A week of hard work ensued, when the following telegram was received by Lord Wolseley on the 15th. "Proposed Suakim policy. Construction of railway to any considerable distance to be postponed, pending further consideration. Suakim to be held for present; and any position in neighbourhood necessary for protection from constant attack. Report on point to which railway should proceed, and instruct Graham . . . not to enter into engagements with tribes inconsistent with this policy." This was a reply to a former question of General Graham, whether he might give assurance to wavering sheikhs of protection against Osman Digma, and whether he could state that the English would not go away as they had done on the previous year. Evidently the campaign in the Soudan was approaching the end.

On the 13th a reconnaissance had been made from Handoub to Otao, eight miles further, where two wells were found with a fair supply of water; and on the i6th the Scots Guards, with two guns, a squadron