ISLAND OF ARKO supposed move was to withdraw his forces from Hafir at about 3 a.m. on September 20th, and he marched with all haste to Dongola in order to be ready to resist the passage of the river by the Egyptians. Within a few hours of their leaving, the Sirdar knew what had happened, and ordered his troops to begin to cross at once to Hafir; this was done, and the whole day was occupied in bringing soldiers, guns and ammunition, transport animals, &c., to the west bank. As the river was high and the steamer stood in tolerably close to the west bank, we were able to see some of the loop-holes in parts of the walls which the Dervishes had held so bravely. It is generally admitted that Wad al-Bishara chose his position with great judgment, and, but for the wound in his head, inflicted by a piece of shell on the '"' day of Hafir," his resistance would have been prolonged.

As the day wore on the heat became great, and natives and Europeans alike found the time hang heavily on their hands, and no matter with what subject a conversation started, it always ended with the war. The correspondents had sufficient information to know that stirring events were taking place "up the river," and they were intensely eager to find out exactly what was doing. For some reason or other they expected news of current events at Dongola, and they awaited our arrival there with impatience.

In the afternoon we began to pass the Island of Arko, which so far back as the Xllth or Xlllth Dynasty must have been the site of a large town, with temples, &c., built according to ancient Egyptian designs. As reference has already been made to the granite statues on this Island, and their measurements by Mr.

Hoskins and others, nothing need be said about them here. The Island is a long one, and the village of Arko is on its western side.

In due course we arrived at Dongola, i.e., New Dongola, known among the natives as Al-Ordi, i.e., " the Camp," to distinguish it from Old Dongola, or more properly " Tunkul," and there the steamer stopped for the night. The newspaper correspondents rushed ashore to find out what news there was to be had; but though rumours were abundant, the amount of fact elicited by their questions was exceedingly small. The natives gave graphic accounts of the capture of Abu Hamed by General 103