►** . (4 GORDON AND THE MAHDI.

the oldreligionwasnot good enough for them theymade a new religion, and that God had therefore sent the English to destroy them and the new religion together. He further entreated them to come in and consult with him, in order that further bloodshed might be avoided, but headmitted totheEnglish authoritiesthathe wasnot very sanguine as to the success of these proclamations, since the tribesmenwho were with Osman Digna held themselves tobe betterand holierthan those who fought at El Teb. He therefore recommended an immediate movement against the rebel leader's camp,which had been established some seventeen miles to the east of Suakim,in the valleyof Tamai.

He stated that a great number of Arabs escaped in a woundedcondition. According to this man and others, the rebels alleged that they were deceived by Osman Digna, who told them it was untrue that the English were coming, and assured them that they would only have to meet and defeatanotherEgyptianarmy.

The troops re-embarkedfor Suakimon March 5, after General Grahamhadissued a farewell order at Trinkitat, recording his sense of the gallantly and discipline displayed by all arms, and stating that they deserved well of their country. Two subsequentincidentsinconnection with the expedition may be here recorded. Some few* weeks afterwards, Lieutenant Wilford Lloj'd, who had been engaged at El Teb, attended at Windsor Castle, and presented to the Queen, on behalf of Oeneral Sir Gerald Graham, the Mahdi's standard, captured by the British troops at the relief of Tokar. The standard was abouttwo and a half yards long by two yards wide, and was composedofred andyellow silk, with aninscriptionin Arabic onone side stating that it was presented by theMahdi to the Governor of Tokar, and onthe other the wellknown text from the Koran: "There is no God but God, and Mahoniet is His Prophet. Everyone professes the knowledge of God." The other incident was the decoration at Southsea, of Captain Wilson of Her Majesty's torpedo ship Hecla, with the Victoria Cross for the special act ofbravery performed by him at El Teb, when, as already mentioned, he engaged in a hand to hand fight withseveral of the enemy,continuingit with his fists after hissword had snappedoff at the hilt.

A few tribes sent in deputations,but the rebelleader still held firm, and forwarded a reply to the proclamation to the effect that there was no other settlement butthe sword. The Admiral andGeneralhavingformally stated in a second proclamation, addressed to Osman Digna, that the English army was about to advance against him unless he submitted, it became necessary for them to keep their word. The troops accordingly marched out of Suakim, and on the night of Tuesday, March11, reached the spot known as Baker's zereba. It wasmidnight before the infantrybrigades andartillery arrived and bivouacked, the regiments lying down in squareformation. TheMounted Infantry andAbyssinian scouts weresent out at seven o'clock the nextmorning to beatupthe enemy, and after an earlydinner the whole force fell in and moved out from the zereba towards Tamai, starting about one. Cavalry scouts covered the advance,extending two miles on the front and flanks, the main bod}-, under General Stewart, walking in rearof the infantry, whichmovedin two squares, sideby side, presenting an oblong front and rear. One halfbattalionof the Black Watch was inlinebehind the left rear, the other halfbattalionbeing in column. After an intervalof twentypaces came the York andLancaster,in the same formation,and in rear of both regiments the Marines. The ammunitionand water werein the centre of the square, while the Naval Brigade was on the left corner front; the whole forming the 2ndBrigade under GeneralDavis. Ontheirright,withanintervalof twentyfive paces, came the Royal Irish Fusiliers;then, after anotherintervaloftwentypaces, theGordonHighlanders, in the.same formation as thetwoleading regiments ofthe 2nd Brigade. In rear of the Fusiliers and Highlanders were the King's Royal Rifles. These made up the 1st Brigadeunder General Redvers Buller. In the centre of the 1stBrigadesquarewerealsoammunitionand water. On its left was the nine-pounder battery * on the right the seven-pounder battery; andbehindeachbattery the RoyalEngineers. Theguns weremostlydraggedbymen. The line of march was south-west towards some low dark hills ofredgranite and syenite, thatcould be seen looming up six miles away. The Mounted Infantry having reported that these hills wereclear of the enemy, it was deemed advisable to occupy their vicinity before dark, andif practicable attack the enemyand drive them outof their camp at the wells. A runaway mule gaily led the advance through grass, scrub, and"underbrush, the mimosaand cactus in some places being sevenfeet high. There were few halts, the infantry, cavalry, and artillery, with a front of about 400 yards goingsteadily on, and scouts of the 10th and 19th Hussars, under Lieutenant Fanshawe and Major Gough, searching the bush,but without finding any traces of an enemy, and pushingon at timesa mile in advance of the squares. Generals Graham and Stewart with their staff's rodeon behind the scouts. By half-past three the cavalry CHAPTER XI.

Proclamation by Admiral Hewett andGeneral Graham to the Tribes. — Osman Digna's reply.— Advance of a British force to Tamai.— The enemy sighted.— Night bivouac.— Adaring reconnaissance.— Sharp rifle fire against the British camp.— The next morning's advance.— The Arabs charge the -weak points of the square.— Desper-ate nature of their attack.— Bravery of some men of the Black Watch. — Retreat of the 2nd Brigade with the loss of their guns.— Advance of the 1st Brigade to therescue.— Theirartillery execution upon the rebels.— The captured guns re-taken.— Fresh Arab charge.— Deadly repulse of the rebels.— The wounded Soudanese attack all who approach them.— The troops continue their advance to the Tamai Wells.— British and rebel losses.— The night after thebattle.— Burning of Osman Digna's camp.— Reward offered for Osman Digna dead or alive.— A copy of the proclamation sent to the rebel chief.— Fresh attempt to capture Osman Digna.— Fruitless efforts at parleying with the rebels.— A few shots exchanged.— The troops retire amid the jeers of the Arabs.— A new advance ordered to the village of Tamanieb — It is found to be deserted.— The village is burnt and the troops return to Suakim. After the battle of El Teb and the relief of Tokar General Graham and his troops, with the garrisonand Egyptian inhabitants of the last mentioned place, returnedtoSuakim. Fromhere the followingproclamation was conjointly issued by Admiral Hewett and General Grahamto the tribes:— " Youhavealready been warned that theEnglish forces have come here, not only to relieve the garrison of Tokar, but to redress the wrongs under which you have so long suffered: nevertheless, you have gone on trusting that notorious scoundrel Osman Digna, well known to you all as a bad man, his former life in Suakim having proved that to be the case. He has led you away with the foolish idea that the Mahdi has come on earth. The great God who rules the universe does not send such scoundrels as Osman Digna as His messengers. Your people are brave, and England always respects such men. Awake, then; chase Osman Digna from your country. We promise youthatprotection andpardon shall be granted to all who come in at once;otherwise the fate of those who fell at El Telshall surely overtakeyou."

This proclamationhad been preceded by letters from the Sheikh Morghani, telling the tribesmen that because