10 



they performed out-post and patrol duty 

 averaging about 8 miles daily. 



On the return march, the journey between 

 Dongola and Wady Haifa, 250 miles, was 

 performed on an average rate of 16 miles 

 per day, with one two-days' halt. On this 

 march the regiment usually travelled at night 

 for the sake of coolness, but the scanty shade 

 available generally compelled exposure to 

 the hot sun all day. 



Colonel Barrow remarks, " I think it may 

 be considered a most remarkable circum- 

 stance that out of 350 horses, during nine 

 months on a hard campaign, only twelve 

 died from disease." Colonel Biddulph sums 

 up the work of the horses in a few words : 

 "The performance of the small Arab horses, 

 both with the river and desert columns, 

 carrying a heavy weight, on scanty fare and 

 less water, is a marvel of endurance." The 

 former officer attributes the small percentage 

 of loss from disease to the facts (i) that 

 the climate of the Soudan is most suitable 

 for horses, (2) that the Syrian horse has a 

 wonderful constitution, and is admirably 

 suited for warfare in an Eastern climate. 

 Colonel Barrow's opinion on the suitability 

 of the Eastern climate for horses must not 

 be read as meaning for horses of all breeds. 



