306 
SAVAGE SUDAN 
kingdoms were toppling over in consecutive ruin, found 
the author (with other greybeards) panting to resume the 
interrupted activities of life. Four long years “on the 
chain ”•—practically interned at home—whetted desire, 
and no sooner had Germany surrendered than, on 
November 12th, we started to engineer a new venture 
in the Sudan. The obstacles encountered were appalling 
and the scheme perhaps premature, not to say precipitate; 
but we got there — precisely how, I hardly remember. 
There survives a hazy recollection of being asked by a 
high official, “Are we to understand, Mr Chapman, that 
this expedition of yours to the Sudan is of urgent national 
importance?” My reply—that I had never put it quite 
so high as that, but that (at my age) I regarded it as 
of “urgent zoological importance”—clinched the matter; 
passports were granted. Next came the ocean-passage 
—surely an insuperable obstacle? Some doubt if the 
P. & O. possess a heart; but they do ... for I penetrated 
that organ and am grateful. The rest of the obstacles 
we seemed to take in our stride and finally got through. 
It was, of course, “long-sea” all the way, mine-dodging 
for 3225 miles from the Nore to Port Said—4000 by our 
devious route : and our equipment included “paravanes ” 
rigged from either bow, with a 4-7 quick-firer astern ; boats, 
moreover, swung outboard to provide for all contingencies. 1 
Thus we reached the Sudan ; but should, nevertheless, 
have been finally stranded had not the Sirdar, General 
Sir Lee Stack and gracious Lady Stack [cityos pies beso) 
found time, amidst manifold anxieties, for kindly com¬ 
passion and shelter. It is to their aid and hospitality not 
only that some small zoological results were achieved— 
many of the above notes having been collected in the 
gardens of the Palace—but also that a way home was 
1 The big ocean-liners all retained the fantastic camouflage of the 
war days ; moreover—to record a trifle ( olim meminisse placebit?) —the 
lunch that was served on board the British-India s.s. Ormara , as we steamed 
down the Thames, was the first square meal we had seen for years ! 
