EVACUATION OF AMADI. 479 great hardship. When the chief of Makraka did at last come up with reinforcements, and when men, hastily collected from all the neighbouring stations, appeared before Amadi, they were too late to break through the blockade. I cannot even yet understand why the commandant of Amadi, knowing, as he did, that relieving forces had arrived within two hours’ march of the station, never attempted a sortie. The soldiers before Amadi were again and again led to the attack by their officers, but lost their courage, and at last ran away. ‘The chief of Makraka, instead of sticking to his post, collected his scattered men, and went back to Makraka and his spirits. All was then given up for lost. On March 28, a rumour spread abroad in Lado that the garrison of Amadi had cut its way through to . Makraka. (On the same day I received letters dated March 9, 1885, wherein Dr. Junker’s safe arrival at Chief Anfina’s was announced.)

Three soldiers from Amadi came into Ladéo on March 209. They related that the soldiers had repeatedly urged their officers to make a sortie and cut their way through, but that the latter had always hung back, and probably intended to yield to the enemy. At last the men became desperate, and, led by six brave officers, left the zeriba against the will of their superiors, cut their way through the Danagla, inflicting heavy losses on them, and took the road (at least most of them did) to Makraka. Murjan Aga followed them at last when he found himself deserted. All the soldiers had taken their arms and ammunition with them. There remained behind in Amadi, Hassan Aga, a Sudanese leutenant, ill; Mohammed-es-Sayad Effendi, Egyptian captain, voluntarily—after he had urged the soldiers to surrender, and they had refused; Mustaphael-Arian Effendi, clerk, voluntarily ; also some corporals and soldiers, most of whom were ill. J must add that this account was fully confirmed afterwards; the commandant of Amadi and two of his officers had actually planned a surrender, and had addressed a letter to Keremallah with this intention, but the ereater part of the officers retained their honour amidst many faults, and the soldiers in particular behaved splendidly, though for nineteen days they lived on cow-hides, and at last ate their sandals, while their superiors drank spirits and made themselves comfortable.