i82 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



province, I got fourteen men of the Jehadia to volun- 

 teer for the regulars. There was a great deal of fuss 

 about this. The military authorities wished to keep 

 the recruits ; the civil ones were determined that they 

 should not. A compromise was arrived at, and about 

 five returned to the irregulars. Recruiting in this 

 province was a farce. The Jehadia was conscripted. 

 Some deserted, but most became good soldiers. No 

 Sultan would voluntarily allow a single man to leave 

 him — least of all to join the regulars. 



The native officer with the Commission was the 

 celebrated Mabruk Eff. Fiki, to whom Major Austin, 

 R.E., says he owes the extrication of his party in 

 his Sobat to Mombasa exploration. A magnificent 

 officer, his weak point was his wish to be thought 

 extravagant. He described with detail his purchase 

 of a rifle his commanding officer had given him. 

 Even the gold watch H.M. the late King gave him 

 (and Dr. Garner !) he stated he had bought. 



I cannot help mentioning that the men who accom- 

 panied Austin say that they were promised a medal, 

 and still look for it. Well they deserved it. The 

 poor pawn, however, is generally forgotten except in 

 after-dinner speeches. 



The recruiting Commission, though a thankless 

 job, had its compensations. As no recruits were 

 forthcoming, most of the time was spent shooting. 

 The amount of game that fell to the president's rifle 

 was so great that obtaining carriers became impossible 

 for the time. Every available man was away carrying 

 the trophies, and gorging himself with meat. 



