42 Bird Himt'mg on the White Nile. 



current carries them to Omdurman, where they get a 

 good price for the wood as fuel, which is exceedingly 

 scarce near the town. 



Besides the sailing boats and rafts, steamers ply up 

 and down the White Nile at least three times a month, 

 to carry passengers, and to take rations and other things 



BOAT-BUILDING ON THE WHITE NILE. 



to the troops stationed at various points. Now that a 

 channel has been cut through the Sudd on the upper 

 White Nile the river is navigable for 1000 miles south 

 of Khartoum. From Cairo to Khartoum is some 1500 

 miles by river. Some day when channels have been cut 

 through the cataracts, by no means a very remote pro- 

 bability, it will be possible to steam 2500 miles up this 

 wonderful river at all times of the year. 



