i8o SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



to Dem Zubeir, I saw the tracks left by the merchants 

 (some grains of rice, which luxury only they and 

 sheikhs eat). I did not follow them. My orders were 

 to strictly inspect in the "course" of my patrols. 

 I did not see the necessity of altering my " course " 

 in order to swell my bag by some unfortunate 

 traders. 



I presently inspected every house. I was consider- 

 ably annoyed when later the Sultan was egged on to 

 say that we had routed up his harem. His houses 

 did not contain any women, if I remember rightly. 

 In any case they had full warning from the Sultan 

 himself of the inspection he had invited. 



The road thence to my headquarters was no long 

 one. The Sopo River, the only important one we 

 crossed till reaching the Biri, flowed in a bed formed 

 of stones and boulders. We were not sorry to cross 

 the latter and stay the night at Sh. Matar's village, five 

 miles from Dem Zubeir. Owing to a misunder- 

 standing, we had marched quite thirty to forty miles 

 that day. 



I rode into Dem Zubeir the next morning. The 

 patrol had lasted thirty-nine days, and covered 780 

 miles or so. As I approached, a red brick tower 

 greeted me. This was Wahbi Eff.'s patent grain 

 store. 



This pattern officer had already got everything well 

 in hand. The red bricks looked lovely. A new kiln 

 was just ready to be fired. Work began at dawn 

 and ended at dusk. When the kilns were burning I 

 was sure, no matter what hour I visited them, 1 1 p.m.. 



