252 SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



me. As we halted, on the night he disappeared, a 

 lion roared unpleasantly near, but we slept secure in 

 the light of a couple of big fires. It appears that, at 

 about midnight, the man, a quiet fellow and good 

 character, got up, took his rifle and ammunition, and 

 was seen leaving the camp. He never reappeared. 

 Offers of reward failed to gain news of him. I would 

 be more inclined than I am to believe in his de- 

 sertion had he not left even his boots, which are as 

 a knighthood to a native, behind. A man with a 

 rifle, and above all brass cartridge cases, which their 

 armourers refill quite well, is a welcome recruit to any 

 African Sultan. 



I found that Wahbi Eff. had got through a great 

 deal of building, &c., before the rains had started to 

 fall in earnest. As I expected soon to be back again, 

 I left my belongings behind. As 1 said before, a 

 letter reached me here, telling me that there was no 

 need to hurry. I had done the first 230 miles or so 

 in less than eight days, so determined to take the next 

 150 miles at an easy pace, so I halted a day at Dem 

 Zubeir. Over almost level country, 25 miles a day 

 demanded no great efforts. I forgot to say that near 

 the Boru we overtook the special messenger I had 

 sent to announce my approach. He passed through 

 Dem Zubeir thirty-six hours before me after all ! 



We were proud of the growth of our station. With 

 our ;^2o we had built stores and offices of red brick, 

 with a total frontage of about fifty yards. They were 

 certainly the best by far in the province at the time. 

 I would like to say truthfully if I could that there was 



