hem,
and the smaller features are covered with rough boulders and angular
stones of volcanic origin, which render the movements of horses and
camels difficult and painful.

The cavalry horses and camels were in the dip between the two ridges;
and the dismounted men of the Camel Corps were deployed along the crest
of the most southerly of the ridges, with their right at the desert end.
Next in order to the Camel Corps, the centre of the ridge was occupied
by the dismounted cavalry. The Horse Artillery were on the left. The
remainder of the cavalry waited in the hollow behind the guns.

The tempestuous advance of Osman soon brought him into contact with the
mounted force. His real intentions are still a matter of conjecture.
Whether he had been ordered to attack the Egyptian brigade, or to drive
back the cavalry, or to disappear behind the Kerreri Hills in conformity
with Ali-Wad-Helu, is impossible to pronounce. His action was, however,
clear. He could not safely assail the Egyptians with a powerful cavalry
force threatening his left rear. He therefore continued his move across
the front of the zeriba. Keeping out of the range of infantry fire,
bringing up his right, and marching along due north, he fell upon
Broadwood. This officer, who had expected to have to deal with small
bodies on the Dervish flank, found himself suddenly exposed to the
attack of nearly 15,000 men, many of whom were riflemen. The Sirdar,
seeing the situation from the zeriba, sent him an order to withdraw
within the lines of infantry. Colonel Broadwood, however, preferred to
retire through the Kerreri Hills to the northward, drawing Osman after
him. He replied to that effect.

The first position had soon to be abandoned. The Dervishes, advancing in
a north-easterly direction, attacked the Kerreri Hills obliquely. They
immediately enveloped the right flank of the mounted troops holding
them. It will be seen from the map that as soon as the Dervish riflemen
gained a point west and in prolongation of the trough between the two
ridges, they not only turned the right flank, but also threatened the
retreat of the defenders of the southerly ridge; for they were able to
sweep the trough from end to end with their fire. As soon as it became
certain that the southerly ridge could not be held any longer, Colonel
Broadwood retired the battery to the east end of the second or northern
ridge. This was scarcely accomplished when the dip was enfiladed, and
the c