92 WITH KITCHEN-ER IN’ THE SOUDAH the purchases. For both animals, although in poor condition from their journey from Kordofan, a fortnight’s rest and good feeding did wonders. Zaki had not much to do, but Gregory was well satisfied with the selection he had made. He looked after and groomed the horse, saw that the native with the camel took care of it, and went down regularly to the river to water it every evening, while he himself did the same with the horse. He always had a jug of cold tea ready for Gregory whenever he came in, and the floor of the tent was kept scrupulously clean. Zaki’s only regret was that he could not do more for his master, but he was consoled by being told that the time would soon come when he would be more actively engaged.

From the first day of his arrival Gregory was kept fully employed. Sometimes he assisted the officer of the Intelligence Department in interviewing fugitives who had arrived from Berber and other points on the river, from Kordofan, or from villages on the White Kile. Sometimes he carried messages from the General to the officers in command of the two Egyptian brigades. He had to listen to disputes between natives returning to their homes from which they had been driven by the Dervishes and those they found in possession of their land. He took notes of the arguments on both sides, and submitted them to the General for his decision. The work would have been trifling in any other climate, but was exhausting in the sweltering heat of the day, and he was not sorry when the sun sank and he could take off his khaki tunic and go down to the river for a swim.

One evening, as they were sitting after dinner. General Hunter said : “ It is very annoying that while these natives making their way down the country are able to tell us a good deal of what is taking place on the Kile from Omdurman down to Metemmeh, and while we also get news of the state of things at Berber and Abu Hamed, we know nothing whatever of Mahmud’s intentions, nor indeed anything of what is doing at Metemmeh itself since it was captured by the Der-