our position or attack Matammeh. Some, I believe, thought we were not strong enough to attack, and that with 100 wounded we should not run the risk of largely increasing the number. I thought over the whole question, and considered that the political effect of not taking Matammeh would be so bad that its capture ought to be attempted. Besides, as we had seen no signs of the approach of the expected reinforcements to the enemy, I hoped we might be able to take and establish ourselves in the town before they arrived. I had heard that on the north side of the town, and near its centre, there was a large government building; and I determined if possible to attack this, feeling sure that if it were once secured the place would be ours. Arrangements were made to attack as soon after daybreak as possible, and we then lay down to sleep.

Jan. 21st.-Last night we had a fire

ADVANCE ON MATAMMEH.

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alarm. The dry thatched roof of one of the houses caught fire, and flared up in grand style; but Pöe, who commanded the firepicket, was equal to the occasion, and worked hard with his men. I was a little anxious at first, as there was so much ammunition about; but the rafters were soon pulled down, and as there was little wind, the fire was confined to the four mud walls. Luckily the fire was early in the evening, so we got a good sleep afterwards. sleep afterwards. At the first glimmer of dawn we were on parade, formed up. Barrow with his Hussars started first, taking with him one of the slaves we had picked up, who was to be sent into the village with a letter, calling upon the people to surrender without fighting, and promising them that they would not be molested if they did. Then we advanced in double column, with the guns, and the camels with ammunition, cacolets, and water between the two columns. In this

A, Abu Kru; B, Large village; C, House held by R. E. and M.I; D E, Matammeh; D, Battery; F, Hussars; G, Place where Gordon's men landed; H, Farthest point of square.

The force consisted of Guards, Heavies, Mounted Infantry, Naval Brigade with Gardner, R.A. with guns, R.E., and the bearer-company.

A little before eight, Barrow sent in to say that the enemy's cavalry, about 50, had at first advanced, and then retired before his volleys to the north-east, over the hills Our force was then at I, and we could see a row of banners at D, and that the village had no regular openings in its mud walls. The force was now halted, and I went

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out to Barrow and his Hussars at F to reconnoitre. When I got there I found him in a capital position on some gravel swellings of ground which quite commanded the town, and from whence artillery-fire would take the trench at D, with its defenders, in

reverse.

I had made up my mind to move the force to the north and attack from these hills, and was on my way back to give the orders, when, to my great surprise, I saw the troops moving off towards B, and one of the companies open fire. On the way back I met who had been sent by Boscawen with a message to say that he had seen a body of dervishes moving between the force and the Nile in the direction of our camp, and that he had moved to the right to intercept them, as the camp could not stand a rush. I caught up the force at the village B, which was deserted ; thence I could see no dervishes on the low

ground towards the river, but I was told that they had been there, and that they were probably still concealed in the dura, cotton-bushes, &c., on the plain.

From the village we could see the plain down to the river covered with cottonbushes and a few clumps of trees; and as there was a possibility of men passing unseen between us and the river to attack the camp, the force was marched southwards. We passed between the large village B, and the smaller one C, and marched in the direction of H. The Sappers and a company of Mounted Infantry were sent to occupy the house at C nearest to Matammeh, and told to put it in a state of defence.

The enemy had hitherto made no sign; but about this time Mr Burleigh, the 'Daily Telegraph' correspondent, riding towards D, drew their fire. As we went on, now in square in case of a sudden rush of spearmen, the enemy opened a brisk fire