The _nuggars_, or native boats, were bought near Assouan, and were then brought up to Wady Halfa, whence they were hauled through the Cataract, then loaded with stores and {230} sent on up river. It was of the utmost importance that they should be dispatched as quickly as possible; for an army moves on its stomach, and the _nuggars_ carried the wherewithal. Their sails, being invariably rotten, were blown to pieces in the Cataracts. They were constantly crashing into the rocks, which made holes in them, when they were hauled by main force to the shore, where a dock was excavated in the sand to receive them. Here they were repaired and thence dispatched up river. A _nuggar_ would come sailing along, when there was a sudden crash, the bluejacket at the helm was pitched headlong into the bottom of the boat, while the sail split into ribbons, and the native crew embraced the mast crying that Allah was great! [Illustration: THE AUTHOR'S METHOD OF HAULING BOATS THROUGH THE BAB-EL-KEBIR. AA. HAWSER: BB. HAULING LINE; C. GIBGUY; J. AND I. MEN HAULING; H. FIXED POINT; G. PURCHASE FOR SETTING TAUT. AFTER A DRAWING MADE ON THE SPOT BY THE AUTHOR] When the whale-boats came along, their passage was so arranged that a regiment, or part of a regiment, was kept together; the distribution being maintained all up the river, so that a homogeneous body could be landed at any moment for attack or defence if necessary. So furious was the torrent, that whoso fell into it seldom rose again, unless he were one of the expert Dongola divers. The men coming up in the boats, who had done and suffered much before reaching Wady Halfa, had repaired their trousers with biscuit tins. I overheard the following dialogue between one of these tin-bottomed weary heroes and a comrade on the bank: "Hullo, Bill, 'ow are you getting on?" "Me? I've been pulling on this here ruddy river for about two years. 'Ow far is it to Gemai?" "About fifteen miles, mate." "O my Gawd! Is there an 'orspital there?" Late in October, the _voyageurs_ arrived, a fine body of men, 380 strong. Being acquainted with rapids and understanding their navigation, the _voyageurs_ were invaluable in bringing the boats through the long and difficult reaches of the Nile up to Wady Halfa, and from Wady Halfa up to Korti. The {231} task could never have been accomplished in the time, and the losses of boats would have been heavier, had it not been for the _voyageurs_. As the boats came through the Bab or across the portage, the _voyageurs_ took charge of them and sailed them up to Gemai. Here they were overhauled and fully equipped, the soldiers were embarked, and away they went up river.