ing drinks were
brought in; then he said:

"Now we will talk about your outfit, and what you had best take up. Of
course, you have got light underclothing, so you need not bother about
that. You want ankle boots--and high ones--to keep out the sand. You
had better take a couple of pairs of slippers, they are of immense
comfort at the end of the day; also a light cap, to slip on when you
are going from one tent to another, after dark. A helmet is a good
thing in many ways, but it is cumbrous; and if there are four or five
men in a tent, and they all take off their helmets, it is difficult to
know where to stow them away.

"Most likely you will get a tent at Dongola, but you can't always
reckon upon that, and you may find it very useful to have a light tente
d'abri made. It should have a fly, which is useful in two ways. In the
first place, it adds to the height and so enlarges the space inside;
and in the next place, you can tie it up in the daytime, and allow
whatever air there is to pass through. Then, with a blanket thrown over
the top, you will find it cooler than a regimental tent.

"Of course, you will want a sword and a revolver, with a case and belt.
Get the regulation size, and a hundred rounds of cartridges; you are
not likely ever to use a quarter of that number, but they will come in
for practice.

"Now, as to food. Of course you get beef, biscuit, or bread, and there
is a certain amount of tea, but nothing like enough for a thirsty
climate, especially when--which is sometimes the case--the water is so
bad that it is not safe to drink, unless it has been boiled; so you had
better take up four or five pounds of tea."

"I don't take sugar, sir."

"All the better. There is no better drink than tea, poured out and left
to cool, and drunk without sugar. You might take a dozen tins of
preserved milk, as many of condensed cocoa and milk, and a couple of
dozen pots of jam. Of course, you could not take all these things on if
you were likely to move, but you may be at Dongola some time, before
there is another advance, and you may as well make yourself as
comfortable as you can; and if, as is probable, you cannot take the
pots up with you, you can hand them over to those who are left behind.
You will have no trouble in getting a fair-sized case taken up, as
there will be water carriage nearly all the way.

"A good many fellows have aerated waters sent up, but hot soda water is
by no means a desirable drink--n