The Dolores star., 1907-01-11
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toum. and sit down at rose-decked
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's
favorite.
Amongst the community at large,
picnics are perhaps the most usual
form Of amusement, and one in which
good deal of variety can be obtained.
Water-picnics are the chief favorites,
start being made early in the morn
ing on one of the Nile steam-launches,
the destination being some village or
ruined temple not too far distant
The scenery is in parts exceedingly
picturesque, owing its beauty to the
striking coloring patches Of vividly
green herbage, alternating with strips
Of golden yellow sand, and over all
the glorious azure of the cloudless
sky, whilst string Of camels or a
family of crocodiles basking in the
sun add a finishing touch to the pic
ture. When passing by village, the
natives eagerly flock to the banks to
see the English people. to whom
they will freely offer handfuls of
luscious dates or bowls Of frothing
goats milk, the dark faces sometimes
strikingly handsome, alive with ami
nation and interest.
Moonlight picnics, too, are extreme
ly popular, enhanced by the joys of
scampering over the desert on the
back of a sturdy donkey, the almost
inevitable means of locomotion, 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 a picnic is usually attended by a
little excitement, accompanied by
much gesticalation and vociferation
on the part of the donkey boys. A
runaway has to be captured and ig-
ANONYMOUSLY brought back and some
obstinate asinine spirits have to be
coerced, but eventually all is ready,
anu IhO PlOSCooloh mdhOo I'D way W
some rendezvous where the servants,
sent on ahead, have prepared a meal
in readiness for their masters arrival.
AS regards home life in Khartoum,
for those whose duties lie in the Sou
dan, there are, of course, manifold
difficulties and discomforts to be sur
mounted; yet, for at least six months
in the year life may be at least endur-
able, not to say pleasant. Houses are
large and fairly well-built, with good
sized lofty rooms and sleeping out on
the fiat roofs is habit frequently If
not usually INDUCED in, in spite of
such minor drawbacks as the possibil-
ity of the sudden descent of a swarm
of locusts.
Servants are obtainable in the
shape Of Soudanese men, black as
sloes, who are usually attired in spot
less white garments with colored
sashes. They are absolutely honest
and wonderfully economical, making
excellent cooks, who will contrive to
set forth quite an astonishing variety
of dishes manufactured from the
slightest materials. They are curious
ly child-like in intellect and exceeding
ly quarrelsome amongst themselves,
getting carried away to such an ex-
tent by anger over some trifing detail
that they will fling half dozen of
ones most cherished dinner-plates at
one another. The crash brings the
mistress upon the scene, and her
anger efectually cools the choler of
the servants, which is succeeded by
abject penitence and promises of good
behavior in the future.