MERAWI IN 1897 an abundant supply of materials had been provided, work on it began in earnest. By the end of July the railway reached a point in the desert 115 miles from Haifa, i.e., about half-way to Abu Hamed, and each day brought rail-head nearer to that place, which was actually in possession of the Dervishes. In spite of this, however, the work went on, and the rails were laid at the rate of from one to two miles a day. On August 7th General Hunter took Abu Hamed, and the railway battalion was free to THE NILE AT KASSINGAR. The boat was General Rundle's steam launch.

advance as quickly as it could ; towards the end of October, on a day when every circumstance was favourable, a little over three miles of railway were laid. This was of course the "record " day, and we heard that its work elicted an expression of great satisfaction from the Sirdar. It would have been interesting to have heard the Khalifa's views on the subject, especially as he had begun to realize that the " steam-devil " which ate coal and breathed out fire and smoke, and could carry more baggage than 2,000 camels, was likely to work his downfall. On October 31st the railway reached Abu Hamed; thus in less than three months after the 191