TRAVEL IN THE EASTERN SUDAN 29 



contract a chill on the stomach from below than from 

 above. There is not much chance of rain from 

 November to March, but from April onwards heavy 

 showers are to be expected, and a waterproof sheet 

 and a couple of eight-feet tarpaulins are essential. 

 Of these, if proof against white ants, one serves for 

 the floor of a tent, or reposes by one's bed in the open, 

 and in the Sudan I never slept in a tent, except on 

 account of rain. 



Two thicknesses of pyjamas are undoubtedly 

 indicated, warm for the cool months and thin for the 

 hot ones ; both should, if possible, be of a colour 

 that becomes invisible in the twilight, which will be 

 useful for machan work, and also in case any attempt 

 is made to " snipe " the sportsman not an impossible 

 contingency in the wilder parts of the country, though 

 I am glad to say that I met with no trouble of this 

 nature. An overcoat is superfluous, but a waterproof 

 cape is useful when marching, and one or two decent 

 suits of clothes, to be reserved for the head-quarters 

 of districts. About a score of small cotton bags 

 should be taken to carry the coinage of the country, 

 which is entirely of silver and nickel. Notes and 

 sovereigns exist, but I doubt whether they would be 

 of the least use away from the shops of the Greek 

 merchants, which are only to be found in the largest 

 towns, such as Kassala, Gedarif, Gallabat, Roseires, 

 Singa, Sennar, and Wad Medani. The Egyptian 



