CHAPTER XXII 



I relinquish my post to the "real turtle" — And go patrolling — Nile 

 country — The bitter cold — The desert — " Terabil " — Bir el Nakhla — 

 The oasis of Taklis — Good going — Bir el Sheb — A grim joke — 

 Tudway Bey — Terfaui — The ruins at Selima — Sports — An Arab 

 fable. 



Having handed over the duties of Governor to the 

 "real turtle," I at once seized the opportunity of seeing 

 a bit of the country. He wished me to inspect the 

 desert west of Haifa, and visit the police post at the 

 Selima oasis. 



To me the prospect of a patrol was enhanced by the 

 opportunity it presented of seeing country hitherto 

 unexplored and the chance of opening up communi- 

 cations, long closed, to the Kufra oasis. Rolphs 

 indicated routes both to Selima and Wadai from that 

 place, the seat of the Senussi. Should the latter prove 

 a real bogie-man, this route to his stronghold is not 

 without value. I feel convinced that one could march 

 from Tripoli via the Kebabo oasis on the Lybian 

 desert to Haifa without much trouble. In doing so 

 one would prick the Senussi bubble. 



At the beginning of November I left Halfa.^ A few 

 miles brought us beyond the sandy ridge with which 

 all travellers on this part of the Nile are familiar. 



* My party consisted of three Arab (Kababish) police, two camel men, 

 my servant, and kitchen boy. 



289 rr> 



