The East does not change, and the Dervish raiders were not less brave, less cruel, or less fanatical than their forebears.

They stood in a circle, leaning upon their guns and spears, and looking with exultant eyes at the dishevelled group of captives.

They were clad in some approach to a uniform, red turbans gathered around the neck as well as the head, so that the fierce face looked out of a scarlet frame; yellow, untanned shoes, and white tunics with square brown patches let into them.

All carried rifles, and one had a small discoloured bugle slung over his shoulder.

Half of them were negroes--fine, muscular men, with the limbs of a jet Hercules; and the other half were Baggara Arabs--small, brown, and wiry, with little, vicious eyes, and thin, cruel lips.