eerfulness and good-humour here, as
during the Indian Mutiny, rendering the men of the Naval Brigade great
favourites with the soldiers. Their camp was a sort of rendezvous, and
round the fires many a cheerful song was sung, many a joke exchanged,
after the day's work was over.

Theodore had retreated, upon the news of our advance, to Magdala, a
natural fortress of immense strength situate 400 miles from the coast.
At Antalo, half-way up, a halt was made for three weeks, to allow stores
to be accumulated. Here, fortunately, large quantities of provisions
were procured from the natives, and numbers of little cattle hired for
transport; for the want of water upon landing, and a terrible disease
which broke out among the horses in the passes up to the plateau land,
had disorganised the transport train, and immense as was the number of
animals, it proved wholly incapable of transporting the stores for so
large a force. At Senafe, at Adigerat, and at Antalo, strong fortified
camps were erected, and bodies of troops left to overawe the king of
Tigre, who, although professing to be our ally, could not have been
depended upon had misfortune of any kind befallen us.

The march from Antalo led over a mountainous country almost bare of
habitations, and the fatigues endured by the men were very great. The
climate, however, proved exceedingly healthy, and although the heat by
day was great, at night the air was cool and bracing, and in some places
even sharp cold was experienced. From the plateau of Dalanta, some 15
miles from Magdala, a view of the fortress was obtained, and after a
day's halt the advanced column was ordered to move forward. It
consisted of the 4th Regiment, a regiment of Punjaubees, one of
Beloochees, and the Naval Brigade.

The march commenced at daybreak. The road was extremely difficult, and
the men suffered greatly from want of water. The baggage had proceeded
up a valley under the charge of the Beloochees and a baggage guard of
men of the 4th Regiment, the rest of the column marching along the hill,
so as to protect it from a flank attack. It had been intended that the
column of baggage should not emerge from the valley upon the plateau of
Aroge until the troops had arrived there for its protection. Owing to
some misapprehension, however, upon the part of Colonel Phayre, who
commanded it, the Beloochees were marched up on to the plateau before
the covering force arrived there, and while the column