CHAPTER II 



I hunt gazelle — And my camel — Lieutenant Whitlingham— Our day's 

 work — Description of the country — The Governor's unofficial escort 

 — On patrol — My Arabs to the rescue — The hills — J. Tagoi — Tilling 

 with spears — The reconciliation of the Meks — The Nubas — 

 Musketry practice at El Obeid — General Mahon leaves for India — 

 A Mahdi rising — The episode of the candlestick — The march of 

 Mahon's cavalry. 



Lo ! I find that, though I have only just received 

 Wilkinson Bey's instructions to join my Company, I 

 have already dived into a full description of it. 



There was a great difference in the Camel Corps 

 camel I rode out of El Obeid and the hireling I had 

 ridden in. Though I found some difficulty in guiding 

 my fiery mount with the one rein, or " rasan," as it is 

 called, I rejoiced in the change, the rocking-chair 

 motion, and willing gait. 



When about ten miles from Bara next morning I 

 elected to go by myself after some gazelle. The 

 telegraph line would ensure my not losing myself. 

 I left my camel, tying his leg in the approved fashion, 

 as I thought. I had, alas, learnt my lesson ill, for 

 when I was about thirty yards from him on my return, 

 hot, tired, and thirsty, from an unsuccessful stalk, he 

 got up on three legs, which he could not have done 

 had the rope been passed, as it should be, over his 

 neck, and walked away, soon releasing the rein which 



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