234 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



bed contained a small stream of beautifully clear water. 

 A local inhabitant told me that it is never known to 

 go dry. The bed was full of comb-like ridges of rock, 

 which sloped down from the top of the banks to the 

 middle of it. 



At Kabalosu, a little further on, Sultan Musa Hamed 

 and Sheikh Gurdud met me as old friends. I sent 

 Musa home. His sense of hospitality had brought 

 him up from Ragaa. Sheikh Abdulahi also started for 

 Kossinga. I gave him and his bazingers pay at 

 Jehadia rates for the doubtful advantage of his com- 

 pany. What pleased him most, however, was that I 

 invited him to tea, consisting of tea with sugar and 

 ammunition biscuits. The afternoon of my arrival 

 some carriers came in for me from Kaiiakingi. I had 

 written to say that I would get some from Sheikh 

 Gurdud, so was much surprised to see them. I was 

 more surprised when their headman asked to speak to 

 me alone. What he told me was this : Sultan Murad 

 Ibrahim had taken to the woods, and, joining the 

 outlawed Andal Abdulahi, threatened to attack our 

 post. I asked for the sub-mamur's letter, but was 

 told that when the carriers had left there was no time 

 to write, neither would they have dared to carry a 

 letter. The post was not yet attacked, though all — men, 

 women, and children — were in the fort they had thrown 

 up. I consulted Sheikh Gurdud, who said that, 

 though he knew Murad was as mad as a hatter, he 

 also knew that he was not mad enough to attack us. 



The situation was of sufficient delicacy. Carriers 

 do not volunteer for an immediate return march, so 



