CHAPTER III THE WEEK BEFORE THE BATTLE } E said good-bye to Wad Hamed on 26th August. Cross and I had, with several others, selected to go by river rather than by land, as this would afford us an opportunity of seeing the cataract of Shabluka, -which had become a household word in the army because of the possibility of Dervish resistance at this point. The rest of the correspondents accompanied the two British brigades toward Beled Hagir, our next camping site, just south of the cataract, and opposite Rojan Island. : Ass we were leaving Wad Hamed about forty Gaalins arrived on the bank, and were embarked on the Metemmeh. .These friendlies were wonderfully spick and span, with nice clean clothes. Some of. them were equipped with large Dervish eons. while others