146 DOWN THE VICTORIA NILE 



that it was dead-water for a considerable distance from the junction 

 with the lake, but that a great waterfall rushed down from the 

 mountain, and that beyond that fall the river was merely a succession 

 of cataracts throughout the entire distance of about six days' march 

 to Karuma Falls. 



Having resolved to explore the Victoria Nile as far as those falls, 

 and the boats being ready, Baker took leave of the chief, leaving him 

 an acceptable present of beads, and descended the hill to the river, 

 thankful at having so far successfully terminated the expedition as to 

 have traced the lake to the important point of Magungo, which had 

 been his clue to the discovery even so far away in time and place as the 

 distant country of Latooka. Both Baker and his wife were very weak 

 and ill, he endeavoring to assist his wife, and she doing her best to 

 assist him. Reaching the boats they started at once and made good 

 progress till the evening. The river seemed to be entirely devoid of 

 current, and had an average breadth of about five hundred yards. 

 Before halting for the night, he had a severe attack of fever, and was 

 carried on shore on a litter, perfectly unconscious, to a village in the 

 neighborhood of their landing-place. At daybreak, he was too weak 

 to stand, and both he and his wife were carried down to the canoes. 

 Many of the men were also suffering from fever, the malaria of the 

 dense masses of floating vegetation being most poisonous. 



At about ten miles from Magungo the river rapidly narrowed to 

 two hundred and fifty yards. The great flats of rush banks were left 

 behind them, and they entered a channel between high ground on both 

 sides, the hills being covered with forest. There was not even yet, 

 however, any perceptible stream. The water was clear and very deep. 

 They halted and slept on a mud-bank close to the shore. On waking 

 next morning, the river was covered with a thick fog; and as, before 

 arousing his men, Baker lay watching the fog as it was slowly being 

 lifted from the water, he was struck by the fact that the little green 

 water-plants, like floating cabbages, were certainly moving, although 

 very slowly, to the west. He immediately jumped up and examined 

 them more carefully ; there was no doubt about it ; they were traveling 

 towards the Albert Lake. They were now about eighteen miles in a 

 direct line from Magungo, and there was a current in the river, which. 



