General Hunter was ordered to move forward, with the whole of the cavalry and a Maxim-gun battery, to discover the exact position of the enemy.
The camp had been well chosen; for, like Abu Hamed, it lay in a depression, and could not be seen until an enemy came within six hundred yards of it.

Thus the superiority of range of the British rifles was neutralized, and their guns could not be brought into play until within reach of the Dervish muskets.

The wood was surrounded by a high zareba, behind which a crowd of Dervishes were assembled.

They had anticipated an attack, and held their fire until the cavalry should come nearer.

This, however, General Hunter had no intention of doing, and he retired with the information he had gained.