78 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



many who choose to spend their lives in missionary 

 effort are actuated by rehgious motives, not by an 

 intense craving for the wilds, &c., I must say that 

 some of these Americans overdo things. For instance, 

 a white man should not work naked (save for a mackin- 

 tosh and straw hat), nor his wife perform the offices of 

 maternity coram publico, especially if it is composed of 

 degraded savages, as I heard from an eye-witness was 

 done. Then, too, to bring a negro Bible-reader, 

 married to a white woman, to such a place was to 

 suggest to the savage the crime that is making the 

 negro problem of such importance elsewhere. 



There was no means of getting at the big game in 

 the vicinity, as the Mudir, who held somewhat 

 exaggerated views on the subject of sport, had removed 

 the launch. Not caring for it himself, and able to fill 

 every moment of his day with interesting work, he did 

 not realise that an officer tied down to the limited 

 rounds of regimental duties, in a swamp-surrounded 

 station like Taufikia, was in absolute need of some 

 form of healthy recreation to keep up his health and 

 spirits. He had no doubt seen things which con- 

 firmed his views. All agree with him in deprecating 

 the conduct of those who allow opportunities for 

 sport to swamp those for work. Who can condone 

 the conduct of the officer who, sent to join some small 

 expedition, allowed his native subordinates to do so, 

 while he himself, sending to say that he had no trans- 

 port facilities, remained where he was and shot seven 

 elephants before he got orders to return whence he 

 came. 



