204 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



after the arrival of the carriers, and I then went to bed. 

 At sundown I put on some warmer clothing, which 

 the guide carried for me. Our camp was a square. 

 One side my camp bed, with mosquito-curtains (to 

 keep off insects, as mosquitoes are few in the bush). 

 On the opposite side the carriers cut grass and laid it 

 as beds, and built small fires between which warmed 

 them front and back. On the two other sides were 

 the escort. Animals, if any, and baggage were put in 

 the middle. Occasionally I was accompanied by 

 more than one man, but as a rule, Morgan Nasr, 

 " my guide, philosopher, and friend," was the only 

 man of the Jehadia with me. I have already described 

 how he was enlisted in that corps. He was a fine 

 specimen of black, with good copper-coloured features, 

 rather ugly, but merry. About twenty years of age, 

 5 feet 9 inches in height, and well-proportioned, I am 

 indebted to him for a lot of folk-lore. At times, too, 

 he would dive off the path to bring me a bunch of 

 edible berries or a root, and used to amuse me by 

 catechising me later, " Now, what do you recognise ? " 

 he would say, " surely that is the same sort of bush 

 from which I plucked you the fruit yesterday when 

 the sun was so high," He took a great interest in the 

 political situation of Europe ! 



For the next six weeks I was busy sending grain 

 and ivory to Wau, and superintending the building 

 operations in the station. 



I had also to dispose of small cases, and listen to 

 the sultans' complaints against each other. Daily came 

 whispers, alas, too well substantiated, of illicit ivory trade. 



