100 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



most unwilling to leave it. Sharpies and I had to 

 muster and lead them out ourselves. We were just 

 returning to have our luncheon when the whole party 

 came pell-mell back. Some Agibbas, stalking for view, 

 had frightened them. It was necessary for the two of 

 us alternately to do sentry-go inland of them. Every 

 one but two gunners in charge of the gun and Maxim 

 was at work, even the boys. As it was necessary to 

 keep steam up, the wood-cutting appeared an almost 

 Augean task. That night we moored in mid-stream, 

 and next morning at daybreak were at work again. 

 The sheikh later on brought me the present of a fat- 

 tailed sheep, and during a lull in the work the men 

 bought heads of red dura, cones of native tobacco, and 

 even shields, spears, and armlets from the Agibbas. 

 All were anxious to hear the guns go off, and the 

 old sheikh fired a shot into the river — his bravery 

 being loudly applauded. I gave away some beads 

 and wire, but found I had to persuade them to take 

 some Shilluk spear-heads I had. The sheikh told me 

 that if he did so, the head of the tribe would de- 

 capitate him. My presents were necessarily small. 

 Officially I had been given nothing as such. All I 

 had was what I had brought with me wherewith to 

 buy my breakfast eggs for ten days, and those can be 

 bought for very little. 



I paid a return visit to the sheikh next day. When 

 I reached the first group of houses, I found a body of 

 men there quite evidently determined that I should go 

 no further. I pretended not to notice this, and pre- 

 sently the sheikh turned up. New men had arrived, 



