36 Stations in the Soudan.

enlighten our hearts that we might love Thee, and be able to teach others how to go unto Thy way.

‘Bless us, O Lord, that we might love each other, and help each other, and to be always righteous before Thee. Bless us, O Lord, that we shall not do things we are commanded not to do, and to do those we are commanded to do. Bless us, O Lord, that we might not be heedless of our duties of humanity and morality, and that we might be always clad in all adornment of righteousness and goodness. Deliver us, O Lord, and have mercy upon us. Bless our school, O Lord, that it might be a depot of virtues which we can use as shields to protect ourselves from vices in future, for Thine is the Kingdom, Power and Glory, for ever and ever. Amen.’

2, OMDURMAN. Omdurman lies opposite Khartoum on the west bank of the Nile. As stated in Chapter III., Messrs. Harpur and Gwynne took up their residence there in December, 1899, and in time medical work was set on foot. This was afterwards carried on by Dr. A. C. Hall, and though everything had to be done quietly and unobtrusively, yet a certain amount of prejudice was overcome. The death of Dr. Hall, who had returned to England early in 1903, caused the station to be left for some years without a British missionary, but it was reoccupied in 1906 by his widow; she opened a girls’ school, now attended by about seventy children, whose parents are HKgyptians in Government service, Soudanese or Jews. The medical mission was reopened in January, 1908. At first the number of patients was very few, for the majority of the Soudanese would rather ‘die in peace’ (as they pleasantly put it) than consult a doctor, but by the end of the year named it had considerably increased.

3. ATBARA.

Atbara is an important railway centre, about 190 miles north of Khartoum, at the junction of the Atbara River with the Nile. In 1907 a number of Egyptian officers and employés in Government offices and the railway works presented a petition that a school similar to that at Omdurman might be opened at Atbara for their daughters; they promised, if an English lady were sent, to pay all the expenses excepting her salary, and suggested that the Bible should be taught to the children. In response to this