40 EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN.

were friends following to back up the Egyptian army. On the sixth or seventh day General Hicks sent back a small body; they were fired upon by the Arabs; and then General Hicks again insisted that these men should be dispersed. Alladeen refused, and General Hicks then drew his sword and threw it on the ground, saying that he resigned, and would no longer be responsible if the governor-general did not permit his orders to be obeyed. General Hicks said that from the time he left Duem Alladeen caused his orders to be disobeyed. After some time he was persuaded to resume the command; but things went on as before, the body of Arabs in rear always growing larger. After some small engagements Kashgil was reached. Here an ambuscade had been formed for days, and the guide told to lead the army thither. When the Arabs opened fire from behind rocks and trees they were wholly concealed, and the guns in position could fire with impunity. The shells and bullets of the Egyptians were harmless, so thick were the rocks and trees. General Hicks wheeled his army to gain the open, but found the defile blocked by Alladeen's so-called friends the Arabs, who had been following him for days. These had got into cover and opened fire on the army. The Arabs from behind their cover kept up a fire for three days, and in the whole affair lost no more than from 270 to 300 men. The Egyptian soldiers were then lying on the ground dying or in convulsions from thirst, and the Arabs found them in groups of twenty or so unable to rise. They were all speared on the ground. General Hicks's staff and escort had water, and were in a group on horseback. When the Arabs came out of cover General Hicks charged, leading his staff and shooting down all the rebels in his way. They galloped past towards a sheikh supposed by the Egyptians to be the Mahdi. General Hicks rushed on him with his sword and cut his face and arm; the man had on a Darfur steel mail-shirt. Just then a club thrown struck General Hicks on the head, and unhorsed him; the horses of the staff were speared, but the officers fought on foot till all were killed. General Hicks was the last to die. The Mahdi was not in the battle, but came to see General Hicks's body. As each