3IO SERVICE AND SPORT IN THE SUDAN 



polished pebbles, but Legia is the richest of them all 

 in them. Nature is her own lapidary, polishing all 

 that will polish with the fine sand that almost con- 

 tinually is blowing along. 



There are a few selim trees near Legia, and round 

 the wells, like those at Ein Aga, some halfa grass. Of 

 animal life there is a fair number of gazelle. 



There is also a hill of peculiar interest. It shows 

 unmistakable signs of having been quarried, viz. the 

 holes made by boring. The w^hole hill has been cut 

 round — the work of years — and huge piles near it seem 

 to show that washing was done near it. The stone, 

 which turns brittle, is of the colour of ground haematite 

 used by the ancient Egyptians in their paintings. It 

 has veins of yellow and white in places. 



We had found the recent tracks of only three 

 Bedaiat at the wells, so I sent all but four of my 

 party back to Selima from here. I took the others 

 with me in the hope of capturing the intruders. 



We left Legia by the road to Shemsi, the only 

 practical way out of the depression to the east, passing 

 the quarried mountain on our left. My compass, as 

 before, the guide, led us straight for Delgo. Once we 

 left the Shemsi road we found ourselves in very rocky 

 undulating country. To the north was an endless 

 escarpment which marks the plateau on which runs 

 the Arbai'n road. In the distance to the south-east 

 were two mountains by which runs the road we had 

 left. We crossed a few steep-sided broad depressions. 

 We did most of the journey on foot as the rocky stone- 

 strewn surface demanded. We halted near a valley, 



