46 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



(a drink composed of wild fruits — mostly nebbuk — 

 fermented with wild honey). They press me to eat 

 and drink, and, as I refuse, take mouthfuls themselves 

 to show that the food is not poisoned. All the time 

 the Nasr's tongue goes like a mill. Nothing was his 

 fault. He has lived in Cairo, saved by us on the 

 battlefield of twenty years before. He was sent here 

 as Nasr by the Government, so how could he so far 

 forget himself as to release a prisoner ? His sons 

 have been servants to British officers and have char- 

 acters from . He knows the Sirdar, and 



Mahomed here knows how to starch English collars, 

 and Ali there can make " hanties " (entrees). Whose 

 blood do I want as long as he is unscathed himself ? 



The village of the man who was released is searched, 

 but drawn blank. In the meantime I have got at the 

 true facts of the case. A corporal's patrol, sent to 

 Carter, obtained a guide at Turda, who, when clear of 

 the village, deserted. The patrol managed to get to 

 their destination, and there got from Carter a note to 

 the Nasr ordering him to hand over the runaway for 

 disposal at El Eddaiya. If guides are not to be relied 

 on, administration would be impossible. The corporal 

 meets the man just outside Turda, captures him, and, 

 fastening his hands by a baggage-rope, loops the loose 

 end to the back of his own saddle and trots into the 

 village, where a "diluka" (native dance) is in full 

 progress, with the man running behind him. 



Some seven hundred well-primed Arabs hear the cries 

 of " Oh, my brothers. Oh ! Ah ! Ahmed — Mahomed 

 — Suliman ! " as the captive addresses each friend by 



