226 THE TASK OF ADMINISTRATION landed at Kodni, where I had once gone ashore, and marched inland. The matter to be settled was the old story. The Ol Dinkas, from their asylum amongst the Twis, had raided Gaweir and carried off cattle—an insult the proud JMachar declined to undergo tamely. With a party of twenty men only, he entered Twi country, burnt a village, and killed several men, retiring then to Gaweir.

It became evident in the early days of the journey, that, while old Diu had been impressed by the previous visit, his people had not. Messages came from Machar Diu, describing in harrowing detail the methods he intended to adopt when he had the white men in his power. " My men vill arrive casually, in parties of two or three, until there are sufficient to surround and rush you." This promised an interesting situation, but there could be no drawing back.

On arrival, the Gaweir Nuers commenced to put in an appearance in precisely the manner forewarned by Machar, but increasing in numbers, so that by the time the Sheikh appeared on the scene there were fully 400 armed men in evidence, surrounding the party. The Governor intimated that an essential preliminary to parley was that all of the Nuers should be ranged in a semicircle fronting him, which was immediately acceded to.

The day brought a turn for the better, and, after hours of discussion and argument, Machar Diu was prevailed on to pay " blood-fines " for the killing of the Dinkas, preferring to give 250 pounds of ivory in