THE CAMP AT KORTI. 26 1 all, eight hundred mounted men. At Dongola five companies of the Sussex Regiment, who were preparing to move forward.

On the line between Dongola and Sarras were six sections of the heavy camel corps, six sections of the light camel corps, a battery of artillery, and two squadrons of Hussars. At Wady Haifa three sections of light and four of the heavy camel corps. The marine camel corps was also at Wady Haifa.

The infantry below Dongola were at the following stations: — The Cameron Highlanders (79th) at Korosko; the West Kent (50th) and the Royal Irish (iSth) at Wady Haifa; the Black Watch (42d), the Essex Regiment (56th), the Gordon Highlanders (75th), and the Duke of Cornwall's Regiment (46th) all in boats toiling up the long reaches of cataracts between Sarras and Dal; while, also in boats between Dal and Dongola, were seven companies of the South Staffordshire Regiment (38th). The general impression at Dongola was that the main body of the expedition could hardly arrive at Khartum before the end of March. The mounted troops under General Stewart were, however, to advance in the following week to Ambukol, and by the end of the month the entire camel corps, the Hussars, and two regiments of infantry were to be concentrated at that place. They would then be prepared to stretch a hand across the desert to Shendy to assist General Gordon, should he call urgently for aid, even if the main body had not arrived at the general rendezvous.

The advanced guard of the expedition was fast assembling at Korti, where it had been announced that a Frenchman, a reputed journalist named Olivier Pain, who was in the camp of the Mahdi and had his full confidence, had been in communication with a clique at Cairo, and that the Mahdi had been supplied with full information of the proceedings of the British expedition, and with suggestions as to the best means of opposing the advance.

The camp at Korti was a pleasant place after the long and toilsome journey, and was likely to be appreciated by the men who had worked on the boats. The tents of the camel corps were pitched under spreading groves of trees extending to the banks of the river, which there took a winding course in broad still