BETWEEN GAKDUL AND ABU-XLEA. I 5 family, after staying with us some days at Gakdul, were allowed to go home." This, of course, refers to the occupation of Gakdul by the first column, which awaited the return of Sir H. Stewart with the main force. The wells of Gakdul are at the head of a large circular plain or amphitheatre, surrounded by steep black rocks 300 feet high, which are in turn commanded by the ranges beyond: a difficult place to defend against an enemy, who might come suddenly down from the distant ridges on all sides at once.

The garrison of Gakdul, consisting of the guards and a detachment of 400 engineers, all under the command of Colonel Boscawen, had their work to do, as we have seen. For defensive purposes three forts were built on the high ground: Fort Stewart on the rocky hill commanding the gorge leading into the basin of Gakdul; Fort Boscawen, just over the wells, commanding the whole ground round the water and the steep gully by which the water pours into the wells or reservoirs in the rainy season; and a third smaller look-out post on a rocky spur flanking the two larger works. Mimosa thorn and scrub were cut down and thrown so as to block up the gullies leading into the basin, and down which a force might have approached without being seen. The fire from the three forts would sweep the whole amphitheatre, but at a later date Sir Evelyn Wood, when he was in command at Gakdul, substituted a chain of small " pepper-boxes" for the two big forts, and so crowned every ridge within range and ensured our occupation of the high ground. We have noted other improvements carried out, especially in the arrangements for watering the camels and horses by means of pumps, hose, and troughs; so that 3000 camels a day could be watered without much difficulty; and on the arrival of Sir Herbert Stewart's column on the 1 2th this work was so effectually done that though the poor beasts had had only eight pounds of grain apiece since leaving Korti, the force was ready to push forward on the following day, leaving behind as garrison at Gakdul Wells 400 of the Sussex under Colonel Vandeleur.

Colonel Stanley Clarke had left early in the morning with the return convoy to Korti, and Major Kitchener went with him — an