Lake Victoria to Khartoum 



water's edge and about eighty yards apart. There 

 is no cover available for concealment, but that 

 does not appear to make much difference. That 

 day there were eleven guns out on our side of the 

 the river, and I dare say we lined about a mile 

 and a half of the bank. 



Soon the birds appeared flighting to the water, 

 high in the air in small fiocks. In a few minutes 

 the fun became fast and furious, guns popping 

 and banging away all around. The sky was 

 black with the fiocks of sand-grouse as they 

 winged their way from the desert, uttering their 

 curious harsh, metallic cry the while. And then 

 when they settled down to drink it was only for 

 the merest second before they were off again. I 

 shouldn't think it worth while coming so far for 

 such a momentary drink! Our party of five guns 

 succeeded in picking up forty-two birds, whilst 

 the opposition further along, bagged seventy- 

 five to six guns. Not so bad, considering that 

 the shoot only lasted a half-hour or so. Then 

 back we rode to breakfast and the excitements of 

 the coming day. 



I must not forgfet to mention a final scene. 

 On the afternoon before I was compelled to bid 

 adieu to these kindly and hospitable towns there 

 was a lev^e in the palace gardens in honour of 

 the new British Minister in Egypt, who had 

 arrived that morning. All sorts, sizes, and con- 

 ditions of men were present. Governors and 



136 



