138 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



by sending us such messages as, " Prepare to die. I 

 am coming. — Senussi." Now be it said, the local 

 Sultans were in the habit of forging such a letter, 

 when, for instance, the movement of an illicit caravan 

 necessitated the anchoring of the inspector at his 

 headquarters. 



Such a message arrived one day, and straightway a 

 fort, designed from the " Manual of Military Engineer- 

 ing," was started to take the place of the one of green 

 brick built by the French. The ground was dis- 

 integrated rock, and had to be moistened with water 

 from one of the innumerable delicious wells left by 

 Zubeir before pick or shovel could be used with effect. 

 A perimeter of 500 yards, a ditch 4 feet deep by 6 

 wide (jumping which was the usual means of entry 

 into the place), and a parapet (to resist shell-fire !) 

 5 feet high by 8 or more thick, unprovided with loop- 

 holes, remained a monument to the industry of those 

 that built it. Any one with the smallest military 

 knowledge will gauge its value when it is known that 

 its garrison could never exceed 120 rifles — in my time 

 50 only. Inside the fort were a number of straw 

 sheds, in which were kept the grain, ivory, and trade 

 goods of the district. 



The day after my arrival I held a levee. Some of 

 the bigger Sultans had halted at the place on their 

 return from Wau to greet me. The local ones came 

 in to see me. 



I was the bearer of unpleasant news, both to them 

 and to the Jehadia. To the former I was to give the 

 Mudir's order that grain should be sent in to Wau 



