214 WITH KITCHENER IN THE SOUDAN addition to their assistance in carrying their effects, they cooked their rations, and looked after them generally. The Sirdar, therefore, did not discourage their presence in the field, and even supplied them with rations when it was impossible for them to obtain them elsewhere. In the afternoon the two white brigades also moved forward. At nine o’clock they arrived at their camping-ground, and the whole army was again collected together.

hJ'ext morning the four squadrons of Egyptian horse, with a portion of the cavalry, went forward to reconnoitre, and one of the gun-boats proceeded a few miles up the river.

Neither saw anything of the enemy. There had been heavy rain during the night; this had ceased at daybreak, and a strong wind speedily dried the sands, raising such clouds of dust that it was difiicult to see above a few yards. The storm had also the effect of hindering the flotilla. On the other side of the river Stuart-Wortley’s friendlies had a sharp brush with some Dervishes, whom they had come upon raiding a village whose inhabitants had not obeyed the Khalifa’s orders to move into Omdurman. As the rain-storms continued, it was decided by a council of war that the health of the troops would suffer by a longer stay.

On the 29th, therefore, the army set out in order of battle, ready to encounter the Khalifa’s attack, but arrived without molestation at Dm Teref, a short distance from Kerreri, where it was expected the enemy would give battle. The camp was smaller than those hitherto made, and was protected by a strong zareba. The sentries were doubled and patrols thrown out. Heavy rain set in after sunset, and almost a deluge poured down. The tents had been left behind, and as the little blanket-shelters were soon soaked through, their occupants were speedily wet to the skin. It was still raining when at. half-past five the force again started. As before, the army was marching in fighting order. The day was cool and cloudy, and at one o’clock they halted at a village called Merreh or Seg. The cavalry had come