86 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



At Fashoda I got definite orders to explore the 

 Pibor. My chief explained to me at length what mad- 

 ness and waste of time it was to send me up this river. 

 Five attempts to penetrate its upper reaches had already 

 proved abortive. My true employment was Inspector 

 of Dinkas at Renk, where I had not been a fortnight, 

 &c. As he had a lot of experience in sudd-cutting, 

 I could not but be impressed, more especially as one 

 report spoke of reaching a point where overhanging 

 boughs interlaced across the river. The Mudir was 

 most emphatic that I would be away for ten days, 

 returning baffled, like my predecessors, after reaching 

 the edge of a sudd-covered lake. At his suggestion, 

 therefore, I supplied myself with about twenty days 

 of flour and a couple of pots of jam from a Greek 

 in the market. I had a few tins of meat, and out 

 of his very meagre store my chief, with his usual 

 generosity, gave me what he could. By rare good 

 luck the crew had got two months' rations be- 

 fore starting for Itang, so were moderately well 

 supplied. 



As there was now no reason for delay, we started 

 the day following my return. At Khor Atar, just 

 south of the Sobat, we stopped to take in wood, and 

 there I saw my first bush-buck. 



Arrived at Nasser I organised my force, which 

 consisted of : the gunboat Abu Klca and sandal 

 (barge) for carrying wood ; a small screw launch, the 

 Athara ; a steel Hyslop sailing-boat. 



Personnel: Mr. Sharpies, the engineer-in-charge ; 

 5 Egyptian gunners ; 2 Anuaks (interpreters from 



