Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



and scarlet waist-sashes. Then the officers, arrayed 

 in white, would come on parade and inspect their 

 companies, after which they would proceed with 

 their open order drill. 



The tension of keeping the men of my company 

 on the qui vive, not knowing exactly what might 

 be in store for the morrow, was great, for at any 

 moment the Belgian-Congolese commander might 

 decide to attempt to drive us out of our position 

 in the disputed zone. With a view therefore of 

 occupying the men, as well as of maintaining them 

 efficient in drill and discipline, I employed them in 

 building a parade ground on the hill-side, and then 

 instituted regular parades and drills for those not 

 on duty with the outposts. This small open space 

 was also used every afternoon for football practice. 

 My Sudanese played with naked feet, and were 

 most amusing in their endeavours to use English 

 terms to signify their efforts, and even English 

 adjectives to qualify them in disapproval or other- 

 wise. A photograph of this parade and football 

 ground has been reproduced, and another of my 

 camp at the back of the position. The huts of 

 my men can just be seen surrounding the parade 

 ground. In the foreground quaint shaped Candel- 

 abra Euphorbia trees stand out. Their juice is 

 very sticky, and causes blindness if it spurt into 

 the eye. So sticky was it that I used it instead 

 of gum. A picture of the company drilling on 

 parade is also shown. 



In the early morning it was exhilarating to 

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