94 KHARTOUM CAMPAIGN.

sticks, forming very comfortable quarters. The Sirdar’s headquarters tents were always distinguishable by the big waving Egyptian flag, a crescent and star on a red ground, and near it a bigger ‘‘ drapeau rouge ” flaunted the talismanic lettering—“ Intelligence Headquarters.” Before Major-General Gatacre's divisional headquarters flapped Britain’s emblem, a full-sized Union Jack. Major-General A. Hunter's tent had an Egyptian flag dangling from a native spear, and the Brigade-Commanders all had their respective colours planted before their quarters. Colonel H. A. Macdonald, ‘“‘ Fighting Mac,” had a characteristic brigade banner, readily distinguishable. It was an ensign made up of four squares or blocks of different colours, the colours -of the respective battalions of the command.

To descend to particulars, besides the Sirdar’s and the Generals’ flags, there were battalion and company colours, and hospital, artillery, engineer, and various other flags. In the Khedivial army the battalions were known by numerals from 1 to 18. The Arabic numeral of each native battalion was worn by the men on their tall fezes and the khaki covers for the headgear. It was found necessary to devise a headcovering to shield the men from sunstroke. That worn over the fez could be so adjusted as to afford shade for the nape of the neck, and in front a scoop for the eyes, so that the article became transmogrified into something between a kepi and a helmet. The British ‘‘ Tommies’'” khaki helmet-covers were ornamented with ‘coloured cotton patches and regimental badges. Of course the object of the patches was to