Mahdi and Khalifa, A.D. 1885. 24& steamers were both wrecked in the Sixth Cataract on the way back, and Sir C. Wilson and his party were only extricated by Lord C. Beresf ord (on a third steamer) after a hard fight with a shore battery* near the tail of the cataract.

The desert column, now under Sir R. Buller, short in transport and in numbers, retired to Abu Klea (Tleh), at which point they beat off the pursuing enemy (16th February), and eventually reached Korti during March.

The river colunm had meanwhile ascended the 4th Cataract with extreme difficulty, and met the enemy near Kirbekan. Here a decisive action was fought (10th March), in which the Mahdists were thoroughly beaten, but General Kutile of Earie was killed. The command devolved on Brigadier-General H. Brackenbury, and the column reached Huella (or w,'',!"''.i I Hy i-iitil. in:ri"i'<xi"n ql] l]n,;n,, D.Min. KIELD MARSHAL VI8UO0NT WOLSBLEV Khulla), within 30 miles of Abu Hamed, on the 23rd February, having destroyed the village of Stewart's murderers on the way.

Here orders were received to turn back, and the column retired, reaching Merowe on the 5th March When the news of the fall of Khartoum reached England, it was first determined to operate on the Sudan from the Suakin side, and a British expedition was sent there, together with a force of navvies, to construct a railway to Berber (v. p. 257). Preparations were also begun for another Nile campaign in the autunm, and the troops of the late expedition were encamped for the summer along the river.

After some months the Government decided to proceed no further with the Sudan operations, and the whole force Betircment of expedition, June, 1885.

♦ One of whose shots burst the boiler of the steamer.