this were true, Birti was empty at the very time we were reconnoitring for the best way to attack it.

Before starting with me in the morning, Colvile had received a letter from the Vakeel. I must preface what is coming by saying that the Vakeel, when at Korti at New Year, had been promised a very handsome reward if he were instrumental in catching Suleiman Wad Gamr and the blind man, and was very eager to earn it. His letter now was to the effect that last night (30th), Omar, Suleiman's uncle, had come in, and asked the Vakeel to promise him for the remainder of his tribe and Suleiman, that nobody would hurt them. The Vakeel had promised that no harm should happen to them or to Suleiman, whereupon Omar had gone back to bring them. "We shall get them by these means," said the Vakeel, "and then we can do what we like." The Vakeel was in high spirits over this joyful news, which must have been rather damped by Colonel

Colvile's reply: "We will treat Omar and his brothers well if they come in; but the only promise we can make to Suleiman Wad Gamr and Colonel Stewart's murderers is, that we will hang them if we catch them."

Colvile, as soon as he returned to our camp, crossed over and saw the Vakeel, reminded him of his repeated instructions to make no terms with Suleiman Wad Gamr, and said his proposal could not be for a moment entertained. To this he

replied that the only way we could get through our difficulties was by leading Suleiman to believe we were his friends, and killing him afterwards. On Colvile refusing to listen to such a proposal, the Vakeel handed him a letter of remonstrance, saying that if we could bring in Suleiman, the tribes before us would be scattered; if not, we should have great trouble. Colvile then returned to our camp, and in the course of the evening received another letter from the Vakeel,

saying that Omar and. Abu Bekr, Suleiman's uncles, had come into his camp as friends, asserting that they had sent Lekalik and Moussa, with their people, away out of their country, and that they held their own people to be with the Government. This was rather amusing, considering that neither Omar nor Abu Bekr had any authority over the Monassir, and that Lekalik and Moussa had only retired the night before to seek a better position in the Shukook pass.

Colvile was directed to inform the Vakeel immediately that General Earle distinctly refused to acknowledge, and repudiated, any promises made to Suleiman Wad Gamr; and that General Earle had been sent here to punish Suleiman and the other murderers of Colonel Stewart and the English and French Consuls, and to punish those who had made themselves accomplices in the murder by not bringing in Suleiman as a prisoner. Colvile was further instructed to proceed at an early hour

and bring

on the Ist to the Vakeel's camp, him over to see General Earle, bringing over at the same time Omar and Abu Bekr.

Colonel Butler was directed to reconnoitre to Birti with the mounted troops as early as possible in the morning of the Ist; half a battalion of the Black Watch was directed to march towards Birti in support of his reconnaissance; and all troops in rear of Gamra were ordered to advance by boat.

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CHAPTER VII.

BIRTI-HALT, AND ADVANCE OF THE ENEMY.

At the usual early hour on the 1st February, the troops moved as ordered. Colonel

Butler entered Birti, and found it deserted; his scouts, pushing three miles farther, found traces of the enemy's retreat. As soon as his report arrived, the wing of the Black Watch, which had been pushed on in support, was ordered back; and as the leading Staffords arrived at Gamra, the other wing of the Black Watch was pushed on into the Rahami cataract, and a wing of the Cornwalls was ordered on into the rapids to follow the Staffords. The artillery and convoy were ordered up from their position in rear of Mishami to Gamra.