The Dervish position was well chosen and of great defensive strength.  A little to the north of Dakhila the Blue Nile bifurcates—­one rapid but shallow stream flowing fairly straight under the east bank; another very deep stream running in a wide curve under the west bank, cutting into it so that it is precipitous.  These two branches of the river enclose an island a mile and a quarter long by 1,400 yards wide, and on this island, surrounded by a natural moat of swiftly flowing water, was the Dervish dem.  The western side of the island rose into a line of low sandhills covered with scrub and grass, with a steep reverse slope towards the foreshore of the river-bank; and here, in this excellent cover, what eventually proved to be three-quarters of the force of Ahmed Fedil were drawn up.  Backed against the deep arm of the river they had no choice, nor indeed any other wish, but to fight.  Before them stretched a bare slope of heavy shingle, 1,000 yards wide, over which their enemies must advance to the attack, Behind them the high precipitous west bank of the river, which rose in some places to a height of fifty feet, was lined with the 300 riflemen who had already crossed; and from this secure position Ahmed Fedil and four of his Emirs were able to watch, assist, and direct the defence of the island.  The force on the island was under the sole command of the Emir Saadalla, of Gedaref repute; but, besides his own followers, most of the men of the four other Emirs were concentrated there.

The prospect was uninviting.  Colonel Lewis discovered that he had absurdly under-rated the strength and discipline of the Dervish force.  It had been continually reported that the defeats at Gedaref had demoralised them, and that their numbers did not exceed 2,000 men.  Moreover, he had marched to the attack in the belief that they were equally divided on both sides of the river.  Retreat was, however, impossible.  Strong as was the position of the enemy, formidable as was their strength, the direct assault was actually safer than a retirement through the nineteen miles of gloomy forest which lay between the adventurous column and Rosaires.  The British officer immediately determined to engage.  At nine o’clock the two Maxims, which represented the artillery of the little force, came into action in good positions, while the Xth Soudanese and most of the irregulars lined the east bank.  Musketry and Maxim fire was now opened at long range.  The Dervishes replied, and as the smoke of their rifles gradually revealed their position and their numbers, it soon became evident that no long-range fire could dislodge them; and Colonel Lewis resolved, in spite of the great disparity of force and disadvantage of ground, to attack them with the bayonet.  Some time was spent in finding fords across the interposing arm of the river, and it was not until past ten o’clock that Bakr’s men crossed on to the island, and, supported by a company of the Xth Soudanese, advanced towards the enemy’s right and took up a position at about 800 yards from their line, to cover the rest of the passage.