apparent, not only amongst the besieged troops, but especially amongst
the Egyptian officers.
Military matters in Lower Egypt were pressed forward with all possible
despatch. Portable steamers and whale-boats manned by Canadians,
accustomed to their own rapids, were launched upon the Nile. The
expeditionary forces, composed of picked troops and a volunteer camel
corps, were not long in starting, and Lord Wolseley, with his staff,
arrived at Wady Halfa on the 5th of October. The first cataract was
passed, and by the beginning of December the advanced guard reached
Debbah, forty miles from Dongola.
By the end of the month an entrenched camp was formed at Korti, and
from thence were despatched two columns--one, under General Earle along
the river, to entice the enemy towards Berber; the other, under General
Sir H. Stewart, across the desert straight for Khartoum, in order to
assist Gordon to hold out until the main body of the troops should
arrive.
So opened the fatal year 1885. The situation at Khartoum had become
desperate.
On the 17th of January Stewart first fell in with the Arabs, and
gave battle at the wells of Abu-Klea, which were defended by 7000
of the Mahdi’s men, against 1350 under the English general. At the
outset the engagement was indecisive, but ultimately the Arabs were
out-manœuvred, and the column proceeded on its march. The next day
a second battle took place at Metammeh, where Stewart was killed,
with several of his leading officers, as well as Messrs. Herbert and
Cameron, the correspondents respectively of the _Morning Post_ and
_Standard_ newspapers.