BEYOND THE SUDD 275 



fined to the Northern Sudan ; but the Upper Nile is 

 bordered for hundreds of miles with black "cotton-soil" 

 that is, the rich alluvial deposit of countless Nile-floods 

 and it is permissible to conjecture that the whole area will, 

 within measurable period, be " irrigated " by British capital 

 and enterprise. Then, when corn and cotton have displaced 

 cane-grass and um-soof, the elephants must perforce retire 

 to more remote fastnesses elsewhere if any remain. 



A typical encounter occurred south of Malek. A 

 group of elephants were sighted on the east bank a mile 

 ahead, and having got out my telescope and arranged a 

 "rest," I lay on top of the wheel-house and watched every 

 movement. There were seven elephants four bulls. 

 Six stood huddled together, quiescent in the midday 

 sun ; the seventh, a cow, a little apart, idly tore up and 

 munched a mouthful of grass. On their broad backs rode 

 as many white egrets as could find standing-room, and 

 truly surprising? the herd was surrounded by native 

 cattle and sheep. It was the single, separated cow that 

 first observed our approach, though not until within 

 200 yards. She moved forward, gave warning to the 

 rest, and all seven slowly strolled along the river-bank, 

 parallel with our course. Within brief space we were 

 alongside, 60 or 70 yards away, and a more superb view 

 of wild elephants could hardly be vouchsafed. After 

 striving for half an hour to commit their weird forms 

 to paper, I gave a little touch on the steam-whistle. 

 Instantly were outspread those enormous ears conch- 

 shaped and ribbed and the seven strode off full-broadside 

 to us, smashing strong canes like matchwood as they ran. 

 There was, however, neither alarm nor violent hurry ; the 

 egrets kept fluttering and balancing on their backs ; and 

 soon, coming to a deep khor, the elephants pulled up, 

 faced round, and stood watching. I verily believe that 

 ere we lost sight, they Had relapsed into slumber. 



A couple of miles beyond was a native village, and the 

 same afternoon we saw other two herds of elephants. 



