330 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



depended upon the supply of fuel which I had stored in vessels 

 in tow. 



" At the distance of about 180 miles from the junction the 

 dry land disappeared, and we sailed through endless marsh, 

 where the river narrowed to a width of about 40 yards. It 

 was in a deep, narrow channel that we were nearly wrecked 

 by a savage hippopotamus, which recklessly charged the boats, 

 breaking 3 floats from the steamer's paddle, and then, striking 

 my iron diahbeeak, he cut 2 clean holes through the bottom 

 plates with his sharp tusks, and we should have sunk in 10 

 minutes without the assistance of the steamer's crew and engi- 

 neers. 



" As we drew nearer south the rapidity of the current dimin- 

 ished, the river narrowed to a width that would barely admit the 

 passage of the steamers when rounding the sharp bends. By 

 degrees the channel disappeared, and the flotilla became fixed in 

 a boundless sea of high grass. This was in lat. by observation 

 7 47' 46", and by dead reckoning 272 miles from the junction of 

 the river with the Nile. 



" Our guides, nevertheless, declared that the White Nile could 

 be reached by this route, should we cut a passage for the boats 

 through the floating marsh and swamp grass. The task appeared 

 hopeless, as no sign of open water could be distinguished from the 

 masthead, and the quality of the marsh resembled sugar-cane in 

 thickness and toughness, while the tangled confusion of decaying 

 vegetation for a depth of 5 or 6 feet could only be compared to 

 a mixture of fishing-nets, ropes, mud, sailors' swabs, sponges, and 

 canes, all compressed together in a firm mass, beneath which 

 the water was from 10 to 12 feet deep, while grass about 9 feet 

 high covered the surface to all points of the horizon. 



" With about 1,000 men we worked for 32 davs, and cut about 



> 



8 miles of canal, through which, by dismounting the paddles, we 

 warped the steamers, and with immense labor we succeeded 

 in pushing the flotilla through a chain of small lakes separated 

 from each other by intervals of marsh. These lakes we discov- 

 ered from time to time as the canal progressed, and the interven- 

 ing marshes between them formed a total of 8 miles 1 cutting, 

 which enabled us to traverse a distance of 32 miles. The sight of 

 open water from time to time was cheering to the men, fatigued 

 and sickened by hopeless labor in mud and stench. We at length 

 reached the unmistakable open river ; dry land appeared on either 

 bank, and forests within 2 miles. Herds of antelopes and buffa- 

 loes were on the plains, and the rifles secured a supply of meat 

 which was much needed. The whole force rejoiced in the pros- 

 pect of reaching the Great White Nile, and the flotilla of 34 vessels 

 sailed merrily on. Suddenly the steamer grounded, and one by 

 one the other vessels followed the example. There was no depth 

 of water. 



" My diahbeeak, being of iron, had a light draught, and I pushed 

 on in advance for about 3 miles, carefully sounding the channel. 

 The general depth was only 3 feet. The steamers and heavier 

 vessels required 4 to 6 feet. At length the light diah- 



