Lake Victoria to Khartoum 



convenient stalking distance of the supposed 

 Mrs. Gray, which, horribile dictu, in our case, 

 invariably turned out to be female white-eared 

 cob. 



Religiously we sat on the roof throughout the 

 livelong day, and as religiously disappeared in a 

 cloud of black dust in pursuit, but we were always 

 doomed to disappointment. 



Now the real reason of my lack of success 

 was this : my attempt was made much too early 

 in the year. I am told that this species of water- 

 buck does not come down to the Nile till all the 

 water inland is dried up — that is to say, about 

 April. Hence the futility of any search on the 

 river bank in the second week in January. 



This being so, I beg to acquit the hon. mem- 

 ber, without a stain on his unflagging energies, 

 from the charge that one part of his excellent 

 programme didn't come off, owing, let it be 

 supposed, to the " pubs " with drink to be con- 

 sumed on the premises being open elsewhere ! 

 Otherwise his entertainment was up to concert 

 pitch, and on all other points I am prepared to 

 praise it sky-high in unmeasured terms. 



I'm afraid my tales have rather left their sheep 

 behind them, or the other way on, but I really 

 know very little about the fickle jade, as I am 

 disposed to call the animal in question, except 

 that the non-attainment of my object gives me 

 additional zest to revisit that part of the Sudan. 



1 66 



