d 117
non-commissioned officers and men wounded, out of a total strength of
511. The rest of the loss was among the irregulars, 495 of whom took
part in the engagement.

CHAPTER XIX: THE END OF THE KHALIFA

By the operations described in the last chapter, the whole of the
regions bordering on the Niles were cleared of hostile forces, dotted
with military posts, and brought back to Egyptian authority. The
Khalifa, however, still remained in Kordofan. After he had made good
his escape from the battlefield of Omdurman, Abdullah had hurried in the
direction of El Obeid, moving by the wells of Shat and Zeregia, which
at that season of the year were full of water after the rains. At Abu
Sherai, having shaken off the pursuit of the friendlies, he halted,
encamped, and busily set to work to reorganise his shattered forces. How
far he succeeded in this will presently be apparent. In the beginning
of November the general drying-up of the country turned the wells at
Abu Sherai into pools of mud, and the Khalifa moved westward to Aigaila.
Here he was joined by the Emir El Khatem with the El Obeid garrison.
This chief and his followers had never been engaged with the 'Turks,'
and were consequently fresh and valiant. Their arrival greatly
encouraged the force which the Khalifa had rallied. A large dem was
formed at Aigaila, and here, since the water was plentiful during
December, Abdullah abode quietly, sending his raiding parties far afield
to collect grain and other supplies.

As soon as the Sirdar, who had returned from England, received the news
of the success at Rosaires he determined to make an attempt to capture
the Khalifa; and on the 29th of December sent for Colonel Kitchener,
to whom as the senior available officer he had decided to entrust this
honourable enterprise. The colonel was directed to take a small
mixed force into Kordofan and to reconnoitre the enemy's position. If
possible, he was to attack and capture Abdullah, whose followers were
believed not to exceed 1,000 ill-armed men. The 'Kordofan Field Force,'
as its officers called it, was formed as follows:

Commanding: COLONEL KITCHENER

Assistant Adjutant-General: LIEUT.-COLONEL MITFORD

Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General: MAJOR WILLIAMS

Troops:

Two squadrons Egyptian Cavalry
2nd Egyptians
XIVth Soudanese
Two galloping Maxims
Two mule guns
One company Camel Corps.

Camel transport was drawn from the Atbara