XVIII 



BOUND FOR KHARTOUM 

 ONCE MORE 



IT was on a Tuesday, the 4th of August, 

 1908, that I started from Bombo for my last 

 trek through Uganda to join the head- 

 quarters of the Egyptian army at Khartoum. 

 I set out on my journey accompanied by many a 

 wish for good luck in the new land and service 

 I was entering. The season was not propitious, 

 as the rains were at their height. During the 

 greater part of the journey the rain poured in 

 torrents day and night ; soaked us all to the skin, 

 and added considerably in consequence to the 

 weight of the loads on the unfortunate porters' 

 heads. It was impossible to buy flour for them 

 to eat, as by the end of a day's march it would 

 have been converted into an indigestible poultice. 

 But luckily that did not matter to them, as 

 sweet potatoes, which they put down with equal 

 voracity, were to be purchased in any quantity. 

 A small escort of an N.C.O. and three men, with 

 about thirty porters, a cook, and a body-servant 

 for me, completed the party, which started merrily 

 away in the brilliant sunshine of a temporary 

 break in the rains. 



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