The Q.M.S. would
appear: "'Tala Henna, Walad. Barrac Henna'" and so forth. A wonderful
flow of British-Arabic, grinningly comprehended by the natives, always
produces the desired result. The camel gets down in a series of bumps
and not without cautious glances at his head, the men unfasten the
complication of ropes and commence the work of unloading. Somebody
shouts: "Mail up!" and this brings out a number of interested faces from
the entrances to "bivvies." After the rations have been sorted out, word
quickly goes round, "Six to a loaf again, and no fresh meat to-day," so
everyone looks gloomily ahead to the prospect of swallowing quantities
of bully beef and biscuits. Other camels have carried up trench and
wiring materials, and when all are off-loaded they get up wearily and
solemnly depart leaving the outpost to its solitary existence. If there
is only one officer he feels his solitude very much, for in spite of the
camaraderie with the men and particularly the senior N.C.O's. there is a
feeling of restraint due to the requirements of military discipline, and
he misses the value of perfectly free intercourse.[1]
[Footnote 1: Quoted from an Officer's Diary]
[Illustration: _PLATE III_
1. Bivouac Shelters on the Desert
2. Making the Railway over the Desert
3. At El Mazar
4. Digging a Well]
It soon became apparent that an advance across the desert in the
direction of El Arish was contemplated, and that the speed of such an
advance would depend upon the rate at which the railway and water pipe
line could be constructed.
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