C H A P . 1 t r a v e l s i n e a s t e r n a f r i c a 21
Upon arriving at Mkonumbi, I had the roll called
and arranged the men in alphabetical order, giving to
each a number. This number I had stamped upon the
outfit given to each man. The outfit consisted of a
Werndl carbine, a belt, cartridge-box, bayonet, and
water-bottle. The Soudanese I armed with Mannlicher
repeating rifles of the latest pattern. Moreover, they
were clad in a species of uniform, which, though it may
sound ridiculous in civilization, was the pride of the
Soudanese, and the envy and admiration of all beholders.
This uniform consisted first of baggy trousers of
Turkish pattern made of white cotton drill; putties,
such as are worn by the Indian army, encasing their
calves; a long, blue, butcher’s jumper, reaching nearly to
the knees, and a bright red fez placed on their heads.
They were particularly pleased with the fez, which
was identical with the headgear of the Egyptian army.
Wearing it once more made them forget that they had
ever revolted against His Highness, the Khedive, and
consider that in some way I was connected with his
government. Most of my twelve Soudanese, as I afterwards
discovered, were ex-Mahdists, some of whom had
taken part in the .battle against General Hicks, while
others boasted of having slain British soldiers at Abu-
klea, and in the fights about Suakim.
The Soudanese were tall, martial-looking men, wildeyed
and savage, to be sure, but in appearance, at least,
accustomed to the discipline of a soldier. In a short
time, however, I learned that their martial bearing was
more the result of a defiant spirit than of any conception
of soldierly obedience. The chief of the Soudanese
gloried in the title, Balook Bashi. He had seen service