48 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

Avhich could be seen by starlight, was succeeded by a rough broken track, full of ruts and tall clinging grass, the starving camels wanted to stop to feed, and were so weak that they began to stumble and stagger about. The men had to halt to permit the baggage camels to close up. For about two hours this continued, and then the way was amidst a thicket of thorny acacias, between which only narrow tracks permitted the troops to pass. Here the confusion was terrible on account of the darkness, and more than once the sudden appearance of the rearguard in front of the column made it seem as though the march had been in a circle. The cavalry got through pretty well, but the guards, who had been dismounted in case of an attack, had some difficulty, and the baggage camels were so jammed and entangled in the thick scrub that some were left behind and others were only released with considerable difficulty. There were frequent halts, and men and beasts Avere weary, hungry, and faint for Avant of water. On reaching open ground again a halt was called. Ali Loda said that they then would have only a straight march to Metammeh, and Sir Herbert Stewart determined to endeavour to reach the Nile without fighting, and to engage the enemy only when our men had the river at their backs and could make sure of water. At about one o'clock in the morning it was calculated that the point (about fifteen miles) at which they were to turn off in order to strike the river bank had been reached.

Ali Loda Avas questioned, and Avas still confident, though the night Avas dark and there were now no tracks to go by. A "bearing" was taken from the map, and the guide, who Avas really doing his work well, was told to take them clear and out of sight of Metammeh. The country was pretty fair for travelling, though there were scattered trees and no path was visible; but the terrible journey through the maze of mimosa scrub had so completely disorganized the column, and men and animals were so worn out with fatigue that it Avas exceedingly difficult to make even slow progress, and all was in confusion. Camel-drivers having fallen asleep the laden brutes got loose and went stumbling on in the darkness, passing the advanced hussars and even the guides,