EL OBEID.
463
spondent believed to be true. This man said that Hicks Pasha was misled, he believes purposely, into some brushwood while in search of water, and that while there he heard firing in the direction of half his army, which he had placed under the command of Ala-ed-Deen Pasha. Scouts reporting that the Arabs were attacking, Hicks Pasha closed up the square in which his troops had been marching, with the cavalry and camels in the centre, and the guns placed at proper intervals around. While the brushwood in front of the square was being cut the enemy appeared.
They had no rifles, nor were shots fired at us, except from a gun. They fired shell at us from this, but these fell without exploding. They had now increased rapidly in numbers—some on foot, others on horse—and poured forth from among the bush and over two low mounds. The horses were on their right, the foot scattered all over to our right and front. The mitrailleuse now commenced upon them so heavily that they were unable to advance. We also kept up a tremendous fusillade with our rifles. Being unable to get at us, they wheeled to their left and streamed down upon our right flank. They dashed upon the right angle and right centre; but the Krupp and mitrailleuse there made great havoc with them, upon which they wheeled round again and made straight at the right angle of the rear face, where there was only a muzzle-loader. Here they broke into the square; the right, left, and front faces then turned inwards and commenced pouring in a heavy fire upon them. They got in among the camels. The smoke and dust were now so thick I could not see what was going on; but it seemed to me that fighting was going on for an hour. When all the ammunition was spent the men used their bayonets. I forgot to mention that on sight of the enemy Hicks Pasha ordered his English officers to draw their swords and have their revolvers ready. A hand-to-hand fight continued for an immense time. Seeing all was up, Hicks Pasha gathered his English officers around and other mounted men. They fought to the last with desperation, bringing down many.
