18G UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

sides, and thus exposed the defenders to a cross fire ; hut the douhle stockade enabled Gessi to fight in the trenches, the backs of his men being protected from the enemy's rifles. At three points there were raised platforms for the cannon and a rockettube, but, unfortunately, Gessi had only nine shells, liifle-pits were dug all round the stockade ; and within, the place was like a rabbit warren, as it was full of holes, in which the women and children were placed for safety when the fort was shelled by the rebels. Gessi reached Dem Idris in December 1878, and it was April 1879 before he was able to leave. During part of this time Suleiman sent eighteen or twenty shells a day into the fort, and often attacked it with desperate bravery. Gessi was successful in repelling the assaults, but, owing to lack of ammunition, he was unable to follow up the advantage gained, and not until the middle of ]\[arch did a small supply of powder and shot reach him from Lado. Then he determined to act on the ofi'ensive, and choosing a night when the darkness was greatest, he took a small body of men to a point about halfway between Dem Idris and Suleiman's intrenchment, and in the night erected a small fort. The next day, when the enemy turned out to attack Dem Idris, they found themselves between two fires ; and a lucky Congreve rocket, I believe the last in Gessi's possession, set fire to Suleiman's fort and blew up