WAD HAMID TO EL HE/JIR. 103 corps, a transport column, and a numerous following of native servants riding on heavily laden donkeys. The battalion bands played favourite regimental tunes as the men marched away. The pipers of the Camerons gave the “ Earl of Mansfield,” whilst, with fifes and drums, the Seaforths’ pipers skirled ‘Black Donald of Balloch.” News was heliographed into Wad Hamid headquarters before we left that the gunboats had seized Royan Island and established a post there, the natives not disputing possession.

By the end of that week, 27th August, Wad Hamid camp was evacuated. Nasri Island, however, was retained as a depot, and a small force was left there. On Friday, the 26th of August, after a great fantasia and war-dance, Stuart Wortley’s column of armed friendlies moved south. That evening they encountered and drove back a small body of dervish horsemen. On our side of the Nile, part of the cavalry had been scouting up to 10 miles south of El Hejir. Captain Haig, with a squadron of Egyptian horse, fell in with a small body of Baggara under Sheikh Yunis, and had a brush with them, one or two being wounded on either side. The Sirdar and headquarters embarked at 9 a.m., 27th August, on the gunboat “ Fatah,” to steam through Shabluka. I left Wad Hamid the same day with one servant, rode through to El] Hejir, 22 miles, and arrived in the afternoon, having ridden out of my way to sce the narrower gorges of the Cataract. The spaciousness of the previous camp was _ conspicuously absent at El] Hejir. In rather thick bush