THE EGYPTIAN SUDAN returned to Cairo, for he thought that he was entitled to arrears of pay, or a pension, or both. This I did, but I do not know whether his expectations were reahzed or not. In February, 1905, on the occasion of the visit of T.R.H. the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and their daughters. Princesses Margaret and Patricia, this shekh came to the Pyramids of Meroe arrayed in a bright scarlet " robe of honour," \<ith which he had been recently invested by Sir F. R. Wingate, Governor-General of the Sudan, VIFAV OF THE PYRAMIDS OK MEROE (EASTERN SIOES).

and it was good to see that he had not been forgotten by the authorities.

From talking of the past we went on to the present, and I asked the shekh if he could hire a donkey to ride to the pyramids ; he said that he would send that night the native who lived with him in the clearing to a family he knew of to try to borrow one, but thought it very doubtful if it would be lent. This family lived some miles away, and his messenger unwillingly prepared to go there, for he was greatly afraid of the dark, and nothing less than 272