naval officers and ten sailors were killed, while a large number of
officers and men of the 42d and 65th were seriously wounded. The
slaughter among the natives had been very great--no less than four
thousand of them strewing the ground in all directions. The British
wounded were sent back to the zareba, and the force again advanced.
Crossing the ravine they made towards three villages in its rear. Here
was Osman Digma's camp, and the Arabs mustering in strength again opened
a heavy fire. They were, however, unable to withstand the British guns
and the heavy volleys of the infantry, and the troops advanced into the
camp.

It was found filled with property of all kinds; for the Arabs had
removed nothing, making perfectly sure that they should be able to repel
the English advance. Bags of money, bundles of clothing, Korans, great
quantities of grain, and plunder of all kinds were found in the huts.
Osman Digma himself had taken no part whatever in the fight. He had
looked on from a distant eminence, and when he saw the repulse of the
Arab attack and the flight of his men he at once made off.

The next day the cavalry went on to a village two or three miles
distant. Here they found a great quantity of ammunition for Krupp
cannon and other loot, which had been captured from the forces of Baker
and Moncrieff. The village was burnt and the ammunition blown up.

The next day the force started on its return march, after burning and
destroying Osman's camp and the three adjoining villages. No attempt was
made to pursue Osman Digma or his Arabs. The country beyond was steep
and mountainous, and there would have been no chance whatever of
overtaking and capturing him, while the troops might have been attacked
in difficult positions and have suffered heavily.

It was supposed that after the two crushing defeats that had been
inflicted on the enemy, and the proof so afforded of the falsehood of
Osman Digma's pretensions, the tribesmen would no longer believe in him,
and that his authority would have been altogether destroyed. The
expectation was not, however, justified by events, for two years later
the Arabs again mustered under him in such formidable numbers, that
another expedition was necessary to protect Suakim against the gathering
of fanatics reassembled under Osman's banner.

The cavalry had suffered no loss during the operations, and as they had
had some share in the fighting, and had materially aided the shattered
b