182 The British Campaign in the Soudan.

portion of the town are built of white coral rock upon a coral island, separated by a channel 200 yards in width from the mainland on which are the suburbs, bazars, etc. A narrow causeway serves as communication between the town and the mainland. The only supply of water is brought on donkeys and camels from very indifferent wells some two miles distant; but since the British established a garrison they have been supplied with condensed water from their steamers. <A line of earthworks has also been erected to cover the wells. The island-town, if defended by a gun-boat on each side of the causeway, is perfectly impregnable to any attack that the Bedouins could make against it, but the suburbs had been continually harassed by Osman-Digma since August, 1883. He had now concentrated his forces at Tamat wells, only eleven miles from Suakim.

On the 12th of March Gen. Graham advanced to attack him. The difficulty of securing a sufficient provision of water for even that short distance rendered his movements very slow. He bivouacked that evening within two miles of the enemy who kept up a desultory fire during the night. The British left their bivouacs at 8 o’clock, marching in two squares of one brigade each, about 900 yards apart. This is a summary of the British accounts of the battle.

‘* They moved in echelon, the Second brigade leading. This brigade was composed of the Forty-second, Sixty-fifth, Royal Marines, and Naval Brigade, with Gardners and Gatlings. The First brigade comprised the Eighty-ninth, Gordon Highlanders, Sixtieth Rifles, with Royal Artillery nine and seven-pounder batteries, and Royal Marines. As the Second brigade moved off to the left or southerly direction, led by General Davis, it was joined by General Graham and his staff. We could plainly see the enemy ranged all along the hills on our front and right. Their black skins stood out boldly against the glare of day. Some were within twelve hundred yards.

‘* Meanwhile the cavalry, which had taken up a position on our left rear, sent