RUOSEVELTS RETURN TO CIVILIZATION 439 



sion, and that General Slatin, who accompanied him to the field, had 

 been captured by the Khalifa and held prisoner for twelve years, 

 finally making a marvelous escape. Colonel Roosevelt was familiar 

 with the book in which Slatin's experience was described and was 

 very glad to have him as guide to the battlefield. 



Crossing the river in the Sirdar's launch, Omdurman was 

 reached at the early hour of 7.30. Here the traveler was met by a 

 group of British of^cials, an escort of Soudanese soldiers, and a group 

 of Arab sheiks, picturesquely attired in gorgeous robes of pink, yellow, 

 purple, saffron and lavender. They saluted him gravely, and held 

 out their hands in some doubt to the vigorous grasp of the American 

 Nimrod. Next the troops of infantry passed in review before him, 

 and he viewed with a soldier's delight the splendid appearance made 

 by these late savage blacks. The troops were admirably drilled, and 

 to Roosevelt's question if they could fight, the reply was: "Fight as 

 good as march." 



Omdurman is the greatest market town in the Soudan, and as 

 Colonel and Mrs. Roosevelt drove through it they were interested to 

 see great piles of gum arable glistening in the sun and stacks of ivory 

 tusks and other African products displayed for sale. Ethel accom- 

 panied them on a mule, which needed constant whipping to induce 

 it to keep up with the procession. Mounted police rode beside the 

 cavalcade, four members of the camel corps following, brilliantly 

 attired in scarlet coats and turbans and snow-white trousers. Four 

 others, similarly dressed, formed the rear guard. 



As they advanced Baron Slatin pointed out and described inter- 

 esting localities, and showed the house in which he had so long been 

 imprisoned and the place in the mosque where he was forced to pray 

 daily. This w^as done to convert him to Mohammedanism, but it failed 

 in its purpose. He showed a well which he had dug and dropped a 

 pebble into the opening to the water below to indicate how deep it was. 



Though Colonel Roosevelt rode behind horses on this occasion, 

 we are told that, with his fondness for new sensations, he did not let 

 the opportunity to try camel riding escape him during his visit to 

 Khartum. One experience was enough. Mounting the ungainly 



