GORDON AND THE MAHDI. 103 and themen, having eventually recovered the ammunition, proceeded on then* way to Dongola.

OnOctober5,Lord Wolseley inhis turn reachedWady Haifa,where menandstores were still constantly arriving. Frequent mention will require to be made of this locality, forit had temporarily become the base of the British operations, and it remained the chief depot of Commissariat and Ordnance stores throughout the expedition. Wady Haifa in ordinary times is but an insignificant village, noteworthy oidy for the frequency and violence of the f north windwhich blows there, andfor its proximity to the second orgreat cataract which extends towards Sarras. At this period, however, it swarmed with soldiers and coolies;the river was covered with craft,and aroundthevillage therestretched a city of whitetents, aud sheds for stores. A military hospital,moreover, had been installedunder canvas on the river bank, with accommodationfor some 300 men; and a number of efficient lady nurses had come out from England to assist MEN OF THE ROYAL ENGINEERS RAILWAY COMPANY.

Brigade-Surgeon Norris andhis coadjutors in tendingthe sufferers, whose ailments were mainly dysentery and enteric fever. Among the earlier patients were several men of the Railway Company of the Royal Engineers, who had been sent up the Nile under the command of Majors Clarke and Scott to repair aud organise the old Egyptian railway line from Wady Haifa to Sarras by which the passage of the second cataract is avoided.

These menhad beenbadly dieted on the road, and fell ill for want ofproper sustenance.

The company,which consistedaltogether of six officers and 125 non-commissioned officers and men, had been specially trained in railway work near Chatham, on a line belonging to the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway Company. The men had not merely learnt the duties of guards, signalmen,and pointsmen BRINGING WOUNDED TO THE HOSPITAL AT WADY HALFA.

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