EXCAVATIONS AT MERGE formed a dense black cloud in the sunlight, and showed us the direction in which to ride. Lieutenant Lord's inspection coach proved to be a most welcome haven of rest, and we were in need of the tea which his servant brought quickly ; for having sent our baggage camels on before we left the well, we had no other food nor drink with us on the way. Food we could not get because the said baggage camels had not arrived. Whilst we were waiting for these we heard the beat of an engine in the distance, and a few minutes later we rejoiced to see the dark bulk of a locomotive emerge from the thick vegetation, and advance until it stopped close by our coach. Presently from the " cab " of the locomotive descended a grimy giant who turned out to be Mr. Stenning, one of the civilian officials in the Shendi workshops. He was taking one of the large engines on a trial trip, and his duty, fortunately for us, brought him to Wad Ba Nagaa; after a little delay he backed on to the siding where we were, and coupled on the inspection coach, and we left for Shendi, which we reached about half an hour after sunset.

We stayed the night in the railway mess, which thanks to its large and commodious quarters, built by the Royal Engineer officer?, is the most comfortable in the Sudan, and the following day I went to Khartum to meet Sir R. Wingate. In a brief interview he explained the arrangements he had made for the excavations at the Pyramids of Bagrawiya. He had decided to form a camp of exercise at the pyramids, and about one hundred and eighty artillerymen, under the command of two British officers. Captain W. H. Drake, R.F.A., and Captain H. F. F. Lewin, R.F.A., were to do the digging. The performance of some manoeuvres and a review to be held at Mutmir, in which these officers and men were to take part, would prevent our beginning the work for a few days, but as soon as these were over the men would be drafted to Bagrawiya, near which they would encamp. The camp was to be as near the pyramids as possible, so that the men might march out to them in the morning, and return in the evening. A few days later accordingly we went to Kabushia, the station on the railway nearest the pyramids we intended to excavate, and rode from there to the place which Captain Lewin had chosen for the camp. This spot was close to the railway, on the west side of it, and was, as 331 I