The Indian contingent landed in the full expectation of being immediately employed against the enemy.  After a week, when all the stores had been landed, officers and men spent their time speculating when the order to march would come.  It was true that there was no transport in Suakin, but that difficulty was easily overcome by rumours that 5,000 camels were on their way from the Somali coast to enable the force to move on Kassala or Berber.  As these did not arrive, General Egerton sent in a proposed scheme to the Sirdar, in which he undertook to hold all the advanced posts up to the Kokreb range, if he were supplied with 1,000 camels for transport.  A characteristic answer was returned, to the effect that it was not intended to use the Indian contingent as a mobile force.  They had come as a garrison for Suakin, and a garrison for Suakin they should remain.  This information was not, however, communicated to the troops, who continued to hope for orders to advance until the fall of Dongola.

The heat when the contingent arrived was not great, but as the months wore on the temperature rose steadily, until in August and September the thermometer rarely fell below 103 degrees during the night, and often rose to 115 degrees by day.  Dust storms were frequent.  A veritable plague of flies tormented the unhappy soldiers.  The unhealthy climate, the depressing inactivity, and the scantiness of fresh meat or the use of condensed water, provoked an outbreak of scurvy.  At one time nearly all the followers and 50 per cent of the troops were affected.  Several large drafts were invalided to India.  The symptoms were painful and disgusting—­open wounds, loosening of the teeth, curious fungoid growths on the gums and legs.  The cavalry horses and transport animals suffered from bursati, and even a pinprick expanded into a large open sore.  It is doubtful whether the brigade could have been considered fit for active service after September.  All the Europeans suffered acutely from prickly heat.  Malarial fever was common.  There were numerous cases of abscess on the liver.  Twenty-five per cent of the British officers were invalided to England or India, and only six escaped a stay in hospital.  The experiences of the battalion holding Tokar Fort were even worse than those of the troops in Suakin.  At length the longed-for time of departure arrived.  With feelings of relief and delight the Indian contingent shook the dust of Suakin off their feet and returned to India.  It is a satisfaction to pass from the dismal narrative of events in the Eastern Soudan to the successful campaign on the Nile.

By the middle of April the concentration on the frontier was completed.  The communications were cleared of their human freight, and occupied only by supplies and railway material, which continued to pour south at the utmost capacity of the transport.  Eleven thousand troops had been massed at and beyond Wady Halfa.  But no serious operations could take place until a strong reserve of stores had been accumulated at the front.  Meanwhile the army waited, and the railway grew steadily.  The battalions were distributed in three principal fortified camps—­Halfa, Sarras, and Akasha—­and detachments held the chain of small posts which linked them together.