AN IMPORTANT EXPEDITION 221 condemned them to. This naturally results in reprisals being made by the Nuers, and Government has to step in to arrange matters.

At the time of my arrival on the Zeraf, the old man Diu had just been visited by the Governor and his Inspector, with the smallest of following. There is much meaning involved in these words. Consistently hostile as the Nuers had been, it was of immense importance from an economic, as distinguished from a political, standpoint to establish relations which would insure safety for the members and work of the Irrigation Department and the telegraph-wire to the Southern Sudan. The situation might have been met by force of arms, the employment of which would have been highly undesirable. Therefore this successful visit to Diu, the first occasion on which he had met his white neighbours, was the vindication of a policy which has secured unhindered opportunity and immunity from danger ever since. A description of the journey makes instructive reading. Owing to the unusual quantity of water, it proved impossible to effect a landing at all at any reasonable distance up-river ; the downstream Sheikhs pronounced all landingplaces impossible, and the friendly Sheikh Toi Thif was unable to join the expedition at all. Returning almost to the mouth of the Zeraf, an inland route of the most trying description was taken. True it is that ignorance of locality and apprehension as to potable water add great mental trials to the severity of a march, and the six days' journey