128 SAM DARLING'S REMINISCENCES 



tins to prevent them sinking — over fifty boats in 

 all were lost. There can be no doubt as to the 

 constant manual labour mentioned by Lord 

 Wolseley. The men arrived in deplorable plight 

 (at Korti), many of them without either boots or 

 trousers.' 



" There is nothing new under the sun, and I read 

 further in the same book (page 404) : 



" * It is said that at this time (February 9, 1885) 

 the Mudir of Dongola, being asked if there was any 

 prospect of good camels being obtained, answered 

 that " he did not see why not, as the English had 

 already bought up all the bad ones." 



