x° CONTENTS

PAGE at Wad Hamed—We meet the Sirdar—Types of the War Correspondent—Entomology—lInsect Life in the Sudan—Desert Circulating Library—Fly-fishing in the Nile — Military “ Fatigues” — Fugitives from Omdurman — Our Camp Life at Wad Hamed — Thirst in the Tropics—How we * Dined—Good-bye to to Wad Hamed. . . 56

CHAPTER III

THE WEEK BEFORE THE BATTLE

Embarkation of Friendlies—-The Shabluka Cataract— Our Delay at Rojan Island—First Glimpse of Omdur- man—The Evening Ride from Hagir—The Joys of Good Health—Sudanese Wives—Importance of the “Drink Camel”—An Adventurous Greekling—Mr. Villiers’ Bicycle—Um Teref Camp—Sudanese Music —The First Dervish—Scorpion wv. the “Father of Spiders” — A Cavalry Reconnaissance—A Rainy Night—Within Twenty-five Miles of Omdurman— Deserted Villages—A Disappointing Capture—Seg- et-Taib—The Water Question—Corpses in the River —The Khalifa’s Army in Sight—The Ridge of Kerreri

— Sururab — Gunboats at Work — Troublesome Donkeys—Sniping—A Tropical Downpour spoils our

Rest—Mr. Villiers and Myself stung by Scorpions— Chasing Hares on the March—Cavalry Scouts on Kerreri—Howitzers in Action—Skirmishing with the Khalifa’s Cavalry—Waiting for the Dervish Advance —The Khalifa halts—The Evening before the Battle —The Perils of a Night Attack—False Alarms ~ 105

CHAPTER IV

THE BATTLE OF OMDURMAN

A Comfortable Breakfast—All ready for the Dervishes—

Egyptian Cavalry engage the Enemy—Gunboats to the Rescue—The Joy of Battle—Here they come !—