2 6 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

at the time that they were engaged with the enemy in front. " A severe hand-to-hand fight ensued, in which the strength and determination of our men told, and not an Arab escaped ahve. The affair was a matter of moments, and from first to last not more than five minutes elapsed. The fire of the mounted infantry principally and of the Guards Camel Regiment (who faced their rear rank about), of the detachment of the Sussex and of the right wing of the Heavy Camel Regiment, prevented the Arabs from reinforcing their attacking column; but the brunt of the fight, the hand-to-hand encounter, i,was borne by the left wing of the lastnamed regiment. No men could have fought better, and although two detachments lost their officers, their places were at once assumed by the non-commissioned officers. It was an Inkerman on a small scale— a soldiers' battle; strength, determination, steadiness, and unflinching courage alone could have stemmed the onslaught."

The force which formed the column under Sir Herbert Stewart was composed of the flower of the British army. The commander repeatedly said that no more splendid body of men could be found—picked shots—men of stamina and strength; and Lieut.-colonel Talbot declares that in the events that happened no credit belonged to one corps more than another. The brunt of the attack fell upon the left wing of the Heavy Camel Regiment and the Naval Brigade, and they acquitted themselves to the satisfaction of their general, but not a bit better did they acquit themselves than others of the column would have done. They all did their work in the several places in which they found themselves. He also says, " No cavalry soldier ever wishes to be separated from his horse except when honoured by being selected for some exceptional service like the advance across the Bayuda desert. But having been called upon, their general, at all events, was of opinion that no troops could . have done better under the circumstances than those upon whom the shock of the fight fell. Certain it is that no one regiment, either cavalry or infantry, could have supplied an equal number of highly trained, active, strong, efficient men, selected from their regiments for general efficiency and good shooting."