22 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



We had some difficulty in obtaining a guide here, 

 as all were afraid of the Nuba Mek (sheikh) to whom 

 we were going. An Arab policeman solved the matter 

 by lassoing the protesting sheikh, who had not noticed 

 the way the former's camel had been edged up behind 

 him. 



That evening we entered the hills. We had but 

 crossed a spur at J. Daier and skirted them, some- 

 times but a blue haze, since. The country was very 

 undulating and correspondingly beautiful. The thorn 

 had been replaced by trees, the bark of which was 

 peeling in big patches, and was the most protective 

 colouring to giraffes, some of which we saw. 



Not far from our destination the going became so 

 bad that Mahon took the mules and a few men, and 

 sent me and the camels back to find a way round. 

 This we did along a watercourse. In places it was 

 so steep that the saddles of the pack and ammunition 

 camels would slip on to the neck of the animal, so 

 that frequent adjustment was necessary. At last we 

 sighted J. Tagoi', and as we marched into camp 

 were saluted by dervish salutes on a bugle from 

 the top of the hill, a sheer 800 feet or so above us. 



We found the Pasha had arrived in camp some 

 minutes before, and in a very short time the Nubas 

 began to come down to it. The Mek, however, 

 remained in his fastness till he was assured that he 

 would not be taken prisoner if he followed their 

 example. 



When he did at last muster courage, he appeared 

 on a small pony, surrounded by well-clad bazingara 



