TKAVEL IN THE EASTERN SUDAN 19 



supplemented by leather bands and rings, to prevent 

 the annoying trick of tying the rifle-case on to its 

 load by the handle. I also had a couple of pairs of 

 ordinary leather mule-trunks, seated with tin under- 

 neath, and an iron travelling bath and basket 

 which also served as tool-chest balanced by an odd 

 mule-trunk. These smaller boxes proved very 

 valuable when my hired camels left me in Roseires 

 in June, owing to the fly, and I was reduced to 

 donkey - transport. In the matter of tents I am 

 inclined to think that I incurred excessive expendi- 

 ture, not so much initially, as in the way of transport 

 subsequently. My outfit consisted of a double-fly 

 tent, weighing about 250 lb., and costing about 20, 

 of the pattern known in India as a Swiss cottage, a 

 single-fly tent, weighing 60 lb., and costing about 

 5, known as a native officer's tent, and a single-fly 

 bell-tent, weighing 45 lb., and costing 3, known 

 as a sowar's tent. The sun in India is far more 

 fierce from April to June than in the Sudan, and a 

 250-lb. tent was an unnecessary luxury. I could 

 have done equally well with an 80-lb. double-fly 

 tent, and might then have dispensed with the 60-lb. 

 tent, and saved practically a camel-load of baggage. 

 Nor is there any market in the Sudan for 250-lb. 

 tents, and I finally sent the large tent back to 

 India, whereas I sold my two small tents in 

 Boseires at the close of my trip for almost what I 



