tliis being the cold season, the winged plagues are
absent. The country beyond the inundated mimosa
woods is of the usual sandy character, with thorny
Kittur bush. Saw a few antelopes. Stopped at a
horrible swamp to collect firewood. Anchored at
night in a dead calm, well out in the river to escape
malaria from the swamped forest. This is a precaution
that the men would neglect, and my expedition might
suffer in consequence. Christmas Day !
26th Dec.—Good breeze at about 3 a.m. ; made sail.
I have never seen a fog in this part of Africa; although
the neighbourhood of the river is swampy, the air is
clear both in the morning and evening. Floating
islands of water-plants are now very numerous. There
is a plant something like a small cabbage (Pislia
Stratiotes, L.), which floats alone until it meets a comrade
; these unite, and recruiting as they float onward,
they eventually form masses of many thousands, entangling
with other species of water-plants and floating
wood, until they at length form floating islands. Saw
many hippopotami; the small hill in the Dinka country
seen from the mast-head at 9.15 a.m. ; breeze light, but
steady; the banks of the river, high grass and mimosas,
but not forest as formerly. Water-lilies in full bloom,
white, but larger than the European variety. In the
evening the crew and soldiers singing and drumming.
27th Dec.—Blowing hard all night. Passed the
Dinker hill at 3.30 a.m. Obliged to take in sail, as-
it buried the head of the vessel and we shipped much
water. Staggering along under bare poles at about
five miles per hour. The true banks of the river are-
about five hundred yards distant from the actual
stream, this space being a mass of floating water-
plants, decayed vegetable matter, and* a high reedy
grass much resembling sugar-canes; the latter excellent
food for my animals. Many very interesting:
water-plants and large quantities of Ambatch woocl
(Anemone mirabilis)—this wood, of less specific gravity
than cork, is generally used for rafts; at this -
season it is in full bloom, its bright yellow blossoms
enlivening the dismal swamps. Secured very fine
specimens of a variety of helix from the floating
islands. In this spot the river is from 1500 yards
to a mile wide; the country, flat and uninteresting,,
being the usual scattered thom bushes and arid
plains, the only actual timber being confined to the
borders of the river. Course, always south with few
turns. My sponging-bath makes a good pinnace for
going ashore from the vessel. At 4.20 p.m. one o f
the noggors carried away her yard—the same boat
that met with the accident at our departure; hove tor
and closed with the bank for repairs. Here is an affair