A NOCTURNAL TORMENT 185 culty, and exhibited the butts of their rifles, which had been smashed by the powerful jaws of their assailant. I was told that this large black hyaena may be found in Kordofan, and that he is no mean antagonist. The natives trap the hyaena, and take pleasure in mocking and teasing the prisoner prior to despatching him.

The Chief of the Shilluks is styled the Mek, and is an important individual. His son, a very smart young buck, who had charge of his spear a particularly good example—would come often into Fashoda, being partly attracted, no doubt, by the gift which usually awaited him. His father's predecessor had proved unamenable to enlightened ideas or to reason, and was deposed in favour of the present chief, who has proved rather more satisfactory. I had the honour of seeing some of his ladies, who were in hospital suffering from an unfortunate indisposition.

As is no uncommon occurrence in Fashoda, the weather was warm, and the little brick palace assigned me was stifling at night. Publicity is not embarrassing there, and one's bedstead outside in the big, open space seemed quite en regie and right.

True, if the wind blew beyond zephyrs, the dust was somewhat atrocious, and the scent from the khor was occasionally vile ; but the coolness made up for all limitations save one : to discover this baffled my ingenuity. Night after night I woke up in misery, but the irritant always evaded the most rigorous search. Morning showed nothing ; the