CHAPTER XXVIII 



A destitute Arab from] Khartoum — A descendant of emperors — A horse's 

 mausoleum — Curious absence of wells — Canterbi's change of manner 

 — Start for the Soudan — An ill-mannered young ruler — The Emperor's 

 letters treated with disdain — Intimidation and obstruction — The grain 

 supply of Metemmeh — Jokes at England's expense — A cool request — 

 An ineffectual start — I return to the ruler — A stormy interview — I 

 win — Within sight of the Soudan — A fine view — A steep descent — 

 The last village. 



It was long after mid-day before I got back to camp 

 from my first visit to the old castles, to find that there 

 was no wood in camp, and that my men had been 

 unable to procure any, so I made my lunch off bread 

 and jam. While I was eating this frugal meal, an 

 Arab came up and salaamed, who had just arrived with 

 some Abyssinian traders from Khartoum. There he 

 had lived for eight years, and kept a small shop, the 

 Dervishes leaving him in peace, until we started on the 

 final expedition to Omdurman, when they looted his 

 store and tried to sell him as a slave ; but, as there 

 were no bidders, he was turned loose to starve. When 

 the British arrived, he had been given clothes and 

 money and started on his way to Aden, where he said 

 he had a brother. On his arrival at Gondar, hearing 



