396 ]\Ir. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant on 



with them, and did us a good turn by presci'ibing for 

 Mr. Cheetham, who had got a touch of the sun. We un- 

 loaded onr transport-animals here, and I started oflF inland 

 to have a look at the country. The path led through dense 

 acacia-jungle, and we had to cut our way through it in many 

 places. We camped at a swamp swarming with Ducks, 

 chiefly Garganeys and Shovellers. The water was only 

 about six inches deep, and was filthy Avith green slime and 

 alive with all sorts of insects. 



Next day we marched on and camped at another swamp, 

 on which there were no Ducks at all, though Marabou-Storks 

 were in large flocks. These birds, after drinking in the 

 evening, marched ofi" solemnly to some trees about half a mile 

 distant from the swamp and flopped up into them to roost. 

 The country consisted of a large plain covered with grass 

 interspersed with belts of acacia. As there were very few 

 birds, I returned to Kaka and sailed south, while the trans- 

 port-animals were marched along the banks of the river. 

 We now came in touch with the Dinkas, a fine race of 

 people, who, though they thought clothes unnecessary, were 

 very civil and pleasant. On the 20th we arrived at Fashoda. 

 This place consists of the remains of an old Egyptian fort, 

 to which Captain Marchand added a mud bastion facing 

 the river and named " Bastion des Anglais.^^ It was on 

 a swamp and surrounded by swamps, while some Shilluk 

 villages were built on dry ground near it. The country west 

 of the fort in the dry season is a large plain with belts of 

 acacia. 



On the 27th we started west, and, marching along a khor, 

 camped about 15 miles from Fashoda at an Arab village. 



In the evening I saw some elephants feeding in a swamp, 

 and next day went to get a nearer view of them, but, after 

 much wading and swimming of khors, found that they had 

 left the district. I saw two herds of giraffes, which were very 

 tame and inquisitive, coming within two hundred yards to 

 inspect us while we were sitting under the shade of a tree, 

 and keeping parallel with us for some way when we moved 

 on. The mosquitos in the khor were in clouds^ and directly 



