THE EGYPTIAN SUDAN the Khalifa knew that the place was of no use to him, since the Egyptian gun-boats, having command of the river, could bombard it at any time. There was a strong Dervish force concentrated at Matamma, and it was rumoured that the Khalifa believed the Sirdar had collected an army at Merawi preparatory to marching across the desert to attack it ; in fact, that he thought the tactics employed in Lord Wolseley's expedition of 1884 would be repeated. As the weeks passed on after the occupation of Merawi, rumours reached our camp from time to time that the Dervishes had decided to rush from Matamma to the Gakdiil Wells, and, having slaughtered the Gaalin Arabs who held them, to march on and engage the Sirdar's force at Sanam Abu Dom. Such rumours were credited in certain quarters, but the responsible authorities, beyond taking care that the " black battalions " were ready to fight at any time of the day or night, paid little attention to them, and possessed their souls in patience.

There was, however, one uncertain element in the situation, and that was whether the Frontier Field Force would be called upon to advance either to Abu Hamed or Matamma, and if so, when ?

It need hardly be said that every man in the camp was eager to push on and to enjoy some of the fighting which was believed to be imminent, but no order to advance came, and when we saw Colonel Wingate depart for Abu Hamed, and leave Slatin PashA behind to watch over the Intelligence Department at Merawi, it seemed tolerably clear that the battalions at Merawi were intended to remain where they were.

Meanwhile day succeeded day, and although each brought its own work in abundance, a feeling of monotony prevailed. The arrival of the mail stern -wheeler from Kerma with letters and newspapers was the great event of the week, for ordinary people at Merawi learned more of what was said to be going on up the river from the newspapers than from the officers in camp. Of course this was as it should be, but thirst for news of the war was great, and it was rarely slaked ! The position of the newspaper correspondents of that time was a very trying one, for the Frontier Field Force was not fighting, in fact it was doing nothing out marching, parading, exercising, and manoeuvring, and there was exceedingly little news to be had which was worth telegraphing to 188 1