CAMP AT MERGE Captain Lewin interviewed the black matrons in the village, and having told them that they would be paid for their goods, he made them a few little presents, and left them to consider the matter. A little later in the day one of the Egyptian officers also visited the matrons, and told them that the Sirdar had given orders that the hens were to lay, and that if they did not, he, i.e., the officer, would not be surprised if great trouble fell on the village. The result was satisfactory, whatever may have been the cause, for the very next day six good eggs appeared instead of two, as THE EXCAVATION CAMP AT THE PYRAMIDS OF MEROE IN I903.

was usually the case, and and the supply increased until the last day we were at the pyramids, several weeks later, when the number of eggs brought in the morning was forty-four. The Sudani eggs, like the Egyptian, are, however, very small. The experiment was interesting, as showing that the natives are quite willing to work when ready money is to be obtained.

Fresh meat could generally be obtained by buying a sheep, which cost from fifteen to twenty piastres, and every few days we obtained a basket of vegetables, i.e., the egg plants, mulukhia, tomatoes, 333