THE GOVERNOR 19 



bearing thorn, with here and there a low precipitous 

 hill or giant baobab, both equally remarkable." 



While the care of camels and the drilling of my 

 recruits was occupying my time, the real work of 

 Empire was going on in the Governor's office. This 

 sheikh was cajoled into submission, that one's head 

 kept straight — and "good hands" are needed for that. 

 The possibility of stern measures becoming necessary 

 was an ever-present factor in so young an administra- 

 tion (three years old). 



When I received an order to hold a patrol in readi- 

 ness I needed but to select my best camels — a poor best 

 indeed just before the rains. Half of the men are to be 

 old soldiers of No. 3 Company (attached to my No. i) 

 and half of mine. So out of the whole 180 camels I 

 am able to choose 80, of which 10 fairly weak ones are 

 to replace casualties — for who has not heard that when 

 Mahon "of Mafeking" moves his pace is "express," 

 not "goods." The motley crowd which accompanies 

 the Mudir (Governor) for the first couple of miles is 

 worth mention. Here and there horsemen on cruelly- 

 bitted prancing steeds wave huge baggara spears on 

 high ; camels, mounted by single men or pairs, are 

 urged to an ungainly gallop. The nucleus to the pro- 

 cession is a body of police preceding and following 

 the Pasha, and bearing the British and Egyptian flags. 

 Around it, mounted on every kind of steed, one sees 

 all the native officers and officials, all the merchants, 

 and several sheikhs who happen to be in town. The 

 Pasha must halt, and his hand must be kissed by this 

 throng before a real start be made. 



