and twenty…five vessels； with a good supply of wood。 The troops were in
good health； but one unfortunate man had been carried off by a crocodile
while sitting on the vessel with his legs hanging over the side。
〃March 3。Filling up with wood from the forest。
〃March 4。Sent the steamer back to the station of Kutchuk Ali； the
trader； to procure some cattle for the troops。 In this neighbourhood
there is dry land with many villages； but the entire country has been
pillaged by Kutchuk Ali's peoplethe natives murdered； the women
carried off； &c。
〃Raouf Bey counted the bodies of eighteen natives who had been shot near
the trader's camp。 Yesterday I went to a native village； and made
friends with the people； some of whom came down to our boats； they
complained bitterly that they were subject to pillage and massacre by
the traders。 These so…called traders are the people of Kutchuk Ali； THE
OFFICER EMPLOYED BY THE GOVENOR…GENERAL OF THE SOUDAN to command his
expedition to the Bahr Gazal！
〃Filled up with a large supply of wood ready to start tomorrow。
〃March 5。Great good fortune！ A fine north wind for the first time
during many days。 All the vessels sailing well。 We started at 7 a。m。 Saw
a Baleniceps Rex＇*＇； this is the second of these rare birds that I have
seen。
＇*Footnote： The whale…headed stork； or Baleniceps Rex； is only met with
in the immense swamps of the White Nile。 This bird feeds generally upon
water shellfish； for which nature has provided a most powerful beak
armed with a hook at the extremity。）
〃At 1 p。m。； as we were steaming easily； I happened to be asleep on the
poop…deck； when I was suddenly awakened by a shock； succeeded almost
immediately by the cry； ‘The ship's sinking！' A hippopotamus had charged
the steamer from the bottom； and had smashed several floats off her
starboard paddle。 A few seconds later he charged our diahbeeah； and
striking her bottom about ten feet from the bow； he cut two holes
through the iron plates with his tusks。 There was no time to lose； as
the water was rushing in with great force。 Fortunately； in this land of
marsh and floating grass； there were a few feet of tolerably firm ground
rising from the deep water。 Running alongside； all hands were hard at
work discharging cargo with great rapidity； and baling out with every
conceivable utensil； until we obtained assistance from the steamer；
whose large hand pump and numerous buckets at length so far overcame the
rush of water； that we could discover the leaks。
〃We now found two clean holes punched through the iron as though driven
by a sharp pickaxe。 Some hours were occupied in repairing the damage by
plastering white lead upon some thick felt； this was placed over the
holes； and small pieces of plank being laid over the felt； they were
secured by an upright piece of timber tightened with wedges from a
cross…beam。 The leaks were thus effectually and permanently stopped。
〃By sunset all was completed and the vessel reloaded； but I sent
twenty…eight boxes of snider ammunition on board the tender。 This
miserable wood tender has sprung her yard so that she cannot carry sail。
The day was entirely lost together with a fine north wind。
〃March； 6。Brisk wind from the north。 Started at 5。45 a。m。； but at 7
a。m。 something happened to the engine； and the steamer stopped until
eight。 After frequent stoppages； owing to the sharp bends in the narrow
river； we arrived at the spot where we had formerly opened the dam；
there the current ran like a rapid。
〃March 7。Much difficulty in ascending the river； but upon arrival at
the dry ground （called the 'dubba'）； we found the No。 8 steamer and the
whole fleet assembled； with the exception of six that are in sight。
〃March 8。The other vessels arrived； I have thus thirty…four sail；
including the two steamers。 The entire country is swamp； covered with
immensely high water…grass； beneath which the depth is considerable。 The
reputed main channel of the river is supposed to come from S。W。； this is
only denoted by a stream three or four feet broad； concealed by high
grass； and in places choked by the Pistia Stratiotes。 These surface
plants； which resemble floating cabbages with fine thready roots； like a
human beard of sixteen inches in length； form dense masses which are
very difficult to clear
〃Our guides are useless； as we cannot depend upon their contradictory
statements。 We are in a deplorable positionthe whole fleet in a
cul…de…sac； the river has disappeared； an unknown distance of apparently
boundless marsh lies before us； there is no wood； and there is no
possibility of moving without cutting a channel。
〃I have ordered thirty vessels to form in line； single file； and to cut
a canal。
〃March。 9。The men worked famously； but I much fear they will be laid
up with fever if kept at such an unhealthy task。 To…day a force of 700
men cut about a mile and a half。 They are obliged to slash through with
swords and knives； and then to pull out the greater portion of the grass
and vegetable trash； this is piled like artificial banks on either side
upon the thick floating surface of vegetation。 I took a small boat and
pushed on for a mile and a half。 I found a very narrow stream； like a
small brook； which gave hopes of lighter labour for to…morrow。 I shall
therefore try to force the steamer through。 Thirty…two men reported on
the sick list this evening。
〃March 10。A fine north wind for about half an hour； when it suddenly
chopped round to the S。E。 We cut on far ahead； so that I was able to
push on the steamers and the whole fleet for a distance of about five
miles。 I had a touch of fever。
〃March 11。Frightful stinking morass。 All stopped at a black muddy pond
in the swamp。 The river is altogether lost。 We have to cut a passage
through the morass。 Hard work throughout the day。 One soldier died of
sunstroke。 No ground in which to bury him。
〃It is a curious but most painful fact that the entire White Nile has
ceased to be a navigable river。 The boundless plains of marsh are formed
of floating rafts of vegetation compressed into firm masses by the
pressure of water during floods。 So serious is this obstacle to
navigation； that unless a new channel can be discovered； or the original
Nile be reopened； the centre of Africa will be entirely shut out from
communication； and all my projects for the improvement of the country
will be ruined by this extraordinary impediment。
〃March 12。I think I can trace by telescope the fringe of tall papyrus
rush that should be the border of the White Nile； but this may be a
delusion。 The wind is S。W。； dead against us。 Many men are sick owing to
the daily work of clearing a channel through the poisonous marsh。 This
is the Mahommedan festival of the Hadj； therefore there is little work
to…day。
〃March 13。Measured 460 yards of apparently firm marsh； through which
we plumbed the depth by long poles thrust to the bottom。
〃Flowing water being found beneath； I ordered the entire force to turn
out and cut a channel； which I myself superintended in the advance boat。
〃By 6 p。m。 the canal was completed； and the wind having come round to
the north； we sailed through the channel and entered a fine lake about
half a mile wide； followed by the whole fleet with bugles and drums
sounding the advance； the troops vainly hoping that their work was over。
The steamers are about a mile behind； and I have ordered their paddles
to be dismounted to enable them to be towed through the high grass in
the narrow channel。
〃March 14。At 6 a。m。 I started and surveyed the lake in a small rowing
boat； and found it entirely shut in and separated from another small
lake by a mass of dense rotten vegetation about eighty yards in width。 I
called all hands； and cleared it in fifty…five minutes sufficiently to
allow the fleet to pass through。 Upon an examination of the next lake； I
found； to my intense disappointment； that not only was it closed in； but
there was no outlet visible even from the mast…head。 Not a drop of water
was to be seen ahead； and the entire country was a perfect chaos； where
the spirit of God apparently had not yet moved upon the waters。 There
was neither earth nor clear water； nor any solid resting…place for a
human foot。 Now and then a solitary bittern rose from the marsh； but；
beyond a few water…rails； there were no other birds。 The grass was
swarming with snakes； and also with poisonous ants that attacked the
men； and greatly interfered with the work。
〃It is easier to clear a passage through the green grass than through
the rotten vegetation。 The former can be rolled in heaps so as to form
banks； it is then secured by tying it to the strong grass growing behind
it； the rotten stuff has no adherence； and a channel closes up almost as
fast as it is made； thus our labour does no permanent good。 I am in
great anxiety about Mr。 Higginbotham； it will be impossible for him to
proceed by this route； should he arrive with a comparatively small force
and heavily…laden vessels。
〃As the channel closes so rapidly； I must wait until the steamers can
form a compact line with the fleet。
〃The black troops have more spirit than the Egyptians； but they are not
so useful in clearing channels； as they are bad swimmers。 They
discovered to…day a muddy spot where they had a great hunt for fish； and
succeeded in capturing with their hands about 500 pounds weight of the
Prolypterus； some of which were above four pounds。 We caught for
ourselves a number of very delicious boulti （Perca Nilotica） with a
casting…net。
〃March 15。Having probed the marsh with long poles； I found deep water
beneath； which denoted the course of the sub…vegetal stream。 All hands
at work； and by the evening we had cut a channel 300 yards in length。
The marsh swarms with snakes； one of which managed to enter the cabin
window of the diahbeeah。 The two steamers； now far astern； have become
choked by a general break up and alteration of their portion of the
world。 The small lake in which I left them is no longer open water； but
has become a dense maps of compressed vegetable rafts； in which the
steamers are jammed as though frozen in an ice…drift in the Arctic
regions！ There is much work required to cle