62 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



harimat. What a difference in my time in the Hagana. 

 One hundred and fifty men had 350 women in their 

 lines, and I should say more than 500 children. 

 Nearly every woman suckled a child. Colonel Wil- 

 kinson, who raised the Arab Camel Corps, decided 

 that, beyond insisting on their living together in lines, 

 there should be no interference in the home arrange- 

 ments of the men other than in presenting happy 

 fathers with a trifle to help to pay for the birth 

 festivities. 



I should lay myself open to reproof, indeed, if I 

 attacked the value of the Sudanese soldier as a fighting 

 man, or even criticised it on my own authority. They 

 say that the Sudanese is apt to get out of hand in 

 action, though the movement of Macdonald's brigade 

 at Omdurman is a brilliant exception. There have 

 been cases in which he has behaved badly. 



As I said, almost all I know about the Sudanese 

 regulars is second-hand. It would be unfair for me 

 to pose as an authority on the subject. One of the 

 easiest things in the world is to criticise and to fix 

 blame, if the person who is the object of it is asked 

 for no explanation, or if, as is more general, ridiculous 

 stories, accompanied by nods and winks, are told. I 

 have good reason to think that they are not the fine 

 troops they once were, and would be again, if they 

 reverted to their old ideals, " hard work and hard 

 tack." 



First cousins to the above are the irregular Sudanese 

 negroids. First in quality and first in my affection 

 come those who have not been spoiled by contact with 



