12 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



Tlie bottom is taken out of the story by grammarians, 

 who point out that the name of the place and the 

 adjective have no real resemblance. 



My commanding officer, Colonel Wilkinson (Lin- 

 colnshire Regiment), was on patrol when I arrived, but 

 a few days after his return sent me to take command 

 of my Company at Bara. Dear old No. i Company — 

 first of the Camel Corps, and first indeed in the 

 affections of your first Bimbashi. Captain Sorel- 

 Cameron (Cameron Highlanders) had superintended 

 the pay, &c., of the nucleus of the Company, which 

 was attached to his, No. 3 (Sudanese) Company, when 

 first raised. 



My three native officers were capital fellows. 

 Yusbashi (Captain) Mahomed Eff. Shukri was short 

 and stout, with the concomitant failings thereof, and, 

 unfortunately, like most Egyptians, given to nagging 

 the men. Mulazim Awal (Lieutenant) Mahomed Eff. 

 Fuad was a very fine fellow, who had distinguished 

 himself in the '98 campaign. His Islamism was his 

 weak point, for he loved his peg — as a European might 

 — no more. He had been known to fast the first 

 couple of days of Ramadan ! Hamza Eff. Nasr, the 

 Mulazim Tani (2nd Lieutenant), was a Shagia Arab. 

 In appearance slight, of medium height, very brown, 

 with a large moustache, and three large horizontal 

 scars on either cheek (his tribe mark), he was the 

 best type of native officer I have ever met. To him 

 the " mush mumkin " (it is not possible) of the 

 Egyptian (and my two senior officers were of that 

 race) was an unknown phrase. He was the son of 



