72 SPORT IN THE EASTERN SUDAN 



approaching animal never gets a chance of seeing 

 into the aperture of the machan through which the 

 shot will be fired. It is preferable to arrange the 

 machan lengthwise, with the head pointing directly 

 towards the bait, but of course this cannot always be 

 done. In that case, of course, the rifle will be lying 

 ready aligned with the muzzle projecting through the 

 aperture in the direction of the bait, and there will 

 be the minimum of disturbance in making ready to 

 shoot. Even when surrounding branches hide the 

 machan, it is always as well to construct it with 

 screen walls of lattice and leaves raised a couple of 

 feet, and to leave merely an aperture through which 

 to shoot. The body of the machan should be fully 

 6 feet in length and 2| feet in breadth, or it will be 

 impossible to sleep in comfort. I strongly advise a 

 sportsman to carry a portable machan about with 

 him. My own was made of the lids of my khajawahs, 

 or camel boxes, which were made detachable, and 

 carried large rings at each corner, through which I 

 used to slip jointed tent-poles. With the aid of half 

 a dozen ropes two or three men could tie this machan 

 up in a tree with the utmost secrecy and despatch, 

 and I slept as comfortably in it as I ever did in bed. 

 Three khajawah lids in line, each 2| feet, would make 

 an extremely long and comfortable machan, and if 

 the sportsman had two pairs of khajawahs, the fourth 

 lid would be to spare in case of accidents. The 



