— 66 — each of the chief ministers of state to appoint his own son as his representative.

He marched on Dara, which he reached in the forenoon of the fifth day of Ramadan, 1291 (Oct. 16, 1874). Surrounding the wall on all four sides he assaulted me with all the forces at his command : and so vast were their numbers and so close their investment of the town that many guinea fowl and gazelle, and other small game, were driven into our camp, being unable to penetrate the lines of the advancing army : the tongues of the gazelle were hanging out of their mouths, shewing to what sore straits they had been reduced.

We rained fire upon the enemy, but they persisted in their attacks until one hour after sunset. The next day the battle was renewed before sunrise, and it was not until the fourth hour of the day that we drove the enemy back in headlong rout. They rested till the afternoon when they made another fierce onslaught. Our bullets mowed them down like standing corn, and they fell like sheaves from the sickle of the reaper : but the survivors stood their ground, untili night fell upon the opposing forces, and the enemy retired. Great was the slaughter on that day, among the slain being some of the children of the Sultan and his nephews and cousins. That night I received a letter from Ibrahim full of the foulest abuse and vilification, swearing by Almighty God that he would not rest from his attacks upon me, until he had said the Friday