and from the Blue Nile. The
troops were conveyed by steamer to Duem, and concentrated there during
the first week in 1899. The camels were collected at Kawa, and, although
several of the convoys had to march as much as 400 miles, the whole
number had arrived by the 10th of January.

The prime difficulty of the operation was the want of water. The
Khalifa's position was nearly 125 miles from the river. The intervening
country is, in the wet season, dotted with shallow lakes, but by January
these are reduced to mud puddles and only occasional pools remain.
All the water needed by the men, horses, and mules of the column must
therefore be carried. The camels must go thirsty until one of the
rare pools--the likely places for which were known to the native
guides--might be found. Now, the capacity of a camel for endurance
without drinking is famous; but it has its limits. If he start
having filled himself with water, he can march for five days without
refreshment. If he then have another long drink, he can continue for
five days more. But this strains his power to the extreme; he suffers
acutely during the journey, and probably dies at its end. In war,
however, the miseries of animals cannot be considered; their capacity
for work alone concerns the commander. It was thought that, partly by
the water carried in skins, partly by the drying-up pools, and partly by
the camel's power of endurance, it might be just possible for a force of
about 1,200 men to strike out 125 miles into the desert, to have
three days to do their business in, and to come back to the Nile. This
operation, which has been called the Shirkela Reconnaissance, occupied
the Kordofan Field Force.

The report of the route from Kohi was considered encouraging. At Gedid
the old wells promised sufficient water to refill the skins, and within
seven miles of the wells were two large pools at which the camels could
be watered. The column, therefore, prepared for the journey. Nothing was
neglected which could increase the water carried or diminish the number
of drinkers. Only twelve cavalry were taken. The horses of the Maxim
guns and the mules of the battery were reduced to the lowest possible
number. Every person, animal, or thing not vitally necessary was
remorselessly excluded. In order to lighten the loads and make room for
more water, even the ammunition was limited to 100 rounds per rifle.
The daily consumption of water was restricted to one pint for men, six