THE WEEK BEFORE THE BATTLE 115 domesticity into the rough camp life. The husbands seemed to be very kind to their wives and children, and the Sudanese portion of the camp was dotted with little family groups, each of them formed under a tree and. surrounded by a miniature zeriba. In fact, domestic life has such charms in the eyes of the Sudanese warriors, that they become quite depressed and morose if their women-folk are left behind. The recent revolt in Uganda seems, without doubt, to have been largely caused by the refusal of Major Macdonald to allow the wives of the soldiers to accompany them—a refusal which, whether it was based on Scotch prejudice or not, most certainly ran counter to the military traditions of the Sudan.

During the earlier part of the day’s march Mr. Scudamore’s ‘drink camel,” 2.¢e. the animal which carried his stores of alcohol and soda water, occasionally came to a sudden halt and toyed with the branches of a nebek or mimosa thorn. At such times his master showed great kindness and forbearance; he did not urge on the hesitating beast with gibes and blows, but calling several of us