NASR ANDAL 157 



whisky neat. He has made all his brothers (those he 

 has not murdered) and sons, whose name is legion, learn 

 to read and write, though illiterate himself. He is 

 mad for money — really mad. He is a very able 

 man. 



His father began life as favoured boy and later 

 mukdum or viceroy of the great Ferogei Sultan Hamed. 

 He succeeded his father, watched Sultan Hamed wast- 

 ing his ammunition in the petty wars in which ulti- 

 mately he was killed, while he, Nasr, husbanded his 

 by pretending to keep the Dinkas in check. When 

 Musa Hamed, then a lad of eighteen, succeeded his 

 father and ordered him to acknowledge him as para- 

 mount Sultan, he told him to go to Jericho. Before 

 Musa was ready to assert himself the French arrived, 

 and Nasr Andal threw himself into their arms. Their 

 principle is to raise up the insignificant as buffers for 

 themselves. We followed the French lead. 



Nasr Andal annoyed me greatly by comparing his 

 present position and that he held when Marchand was 

 in possession. Then his monthly allowance was ^3, 

 two dozen cognac, besides occasional rifles and 

 ammunition, and a proportionate amount of wine and 

 spirits for his relations. When I pointed out that he 

 had an extra-special " robe of honour," he held up a 

 corner and said, " It is very tawdry ; the stuff is poor 

 and wearing out already," which unfortunately was 

 true and admitted of no reply, as he was wearing a 

 heavy silk gallabia underneath it. The Mandalla 

 always speak of him as " the viceroy." So do the 

 other Sultans. 



