The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-02-25

tOum, and sit down at rOse-deckeo
tables to be waited on by dark-skinned
Arabs In their picturesque attire, the
repast being followed by an informal
dance or by parlor games. amongst
which musical chairs, In which every
body joins with zest, is the Sirdar'i
favorite.
Amongst the community at large
picpics are perhaps the most usual
form Of amusement, and one In which
good deal Of variety can be obtained
Water-picnics are the chief fayorites,
a start being made early In the morn
ing cr one Of the Nile steam-launches.
the destination being some village or
ruined temple not too far distant
The scenery IL in parts exceedingly
picturesque. owing its beauty to the
striking coIoring patches Of wildly
green herbage, alternating with strips
Of golden yellow sand, and over all
the glorious azure Of the cloudless
sky, whilst q string Of camels or a
family OF crocodiles basking Ia the
sun add finishing touch to the pic
ture. When passing by a village, the
natives eagerly flock to the banks to
see the English people. to whom
they win freely offer handfuls Of
luscious dates or bowls Of frothing
goats milk, the dark faces sometimes
Strlkingly handsome, alive with ami
nation and interest
Moonlight picnics, too, are extreme
iy popular. enhanced BY the Joys Of
scampering over the desert on the
back Of a sturdy donkey. the almost
inevitable means OF loc0motion, walk
Ing being practically an' impossibility
The motion Is swift, not UNPLEASANT
albeit somewhat jerky. the donkey
being continually stimulated to fresh
efforts by the shrill cries Of the Sou
danese boys who run alongside. The
! setting forth OF donkey cavalcade
for picnic Is usually attended By
little excitement, accompanied BY
much gesticulation and yociferatiCr
on the part OF the donkey boys. A
runaway has to be captured ano ig
ANONYMOUSLY brought back and some
obstinate aslnine spirits have to b
coerced, but eventually AL is ready
and the procession makes It's way t
some rendezvous where the servants
sent on ahead. have prepared = mea
IN readiness for their masters arrival
AS regards home life in Khartoum
for those whose duties lie In the Sou
dan, there ara. Of course. manifold
difficulties and discomforts 70 be sur
mounted; Jet, for at least six month";
in the year life may be ct least endur
sable, not to say pleasant. Houses ar
large and fairly well-built, with good
sized lofty rooms and sleeping out OF
the fat roofs Is a habit frequently
not usgally INDUCED in. In spite 0
such minor drawbacks As the possibil
lty Of the sudden descent Of q swarm
OF locusts.
Servants arc OuA&AAaDAc IN ~
shape Of Soudanese men, black =
sloes. Who are usually attired in spoi
less white garments with coloFe
aashes. They are absolutely homes
and wonderfully economical. maxim
excellent cooks. who will contrive :
set forth quite an astonishing variet
OF dishes manufactured from tn
slightest materials, They are curious
" child-like In intellect and exceeding
Iy Quarrelsome amongst themselves
getting carried away to such an 81
tent b. anger over some tTihing deta
that they will fling half a dozen I
ones most cherished dinner-pIates a
one another The crash brings n
mistress upon the scene. and he
anger effectually cools the choler {
the servants, which Is succeeded b
:. abject penitence and promises Of goo
behavior 10 the future.