94 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



I found a narrow channel, and pushed the launch 

 down it, and on landing sent, as is the custom in 

 quasi-civilised Sudan, a couple of men to tell the 

 sheikh that I had arrived, and that he might come to 

 me. My messengers came back to say that they had 

 found a deserted village a hundred yards inland. It 

 was approached by a path running through high dura. 

 I decided, to save time, to go to the village myself. 

 Foolish though it was, it turned out well. To show 

 the temperature in August in the Tropics, I should 

 mention that I was wearing my military greatcoat, and 

 welcomed the walk. I found a group of five hive- 

 shaped huts (in the other parts of the Sudan the huts 

 end in a point often adorned with horns, &c.). Not a 

 living thing appeared, and we wisely did not enter the 

 darkness of a hut in which we heard a slight noise. 

 Instead I poured a lot of beads on the ground and 

 returned to the launch, pushed out and got to the 

 sudd barrier, which we crossed dry -foot to the 

 steamer. 



Elation, if not plenty, reigned supreme that night 

 on the Abu Klea. A good river in front — inhabitants 

 within hail. 



Daybreak saw us at work on the sudd barrier, which 

 five hours later was almost cut through. I then started 

 off in the launch, as I thought it would frighten the 

 natives less than the gunboat, which they probably 

 had not yet seen. Before going further I must de- 

 scribe how a sudd bar is negotiated. If not too solid 

 an easy part is selected and the steamer put at it once 

 or twice at full speed. If the boat merely climbs on 



