434 ROOSEVELT'S RETURN TO CIVILIZATION 



him lustily as he walked toward the boat, escorted by all the officials 

 and by the dignified black bugle band, playing its best, while the 

 steamer's whistle screamed a shrill accompaniment. When the lines 

 were cast off and the small river craft began to move, the farewell 

 shouts of the whole community filled the air. 



At every settlement along the stream the inhabitants were ready 

 to do honor to the famous American. As the steamer drew into Lado, 

 a few miles from Gondokoro, the Americans were delighted to see a 

 huge example of the Stars and Stripes waving above the landing, while 

 a guard of honor of ninety native soldiers stood ready to escort them 

 to the official mansion of jNIajor Remke, the Belgian commandant, 

 where a luncheon awaited them. 



At Mongalla, a river station farther north, a more elaborate 

 reception was prepared. Here two hundred Soudanese soldiers 

 escorted them to the residence of Colonel Conly, the Governor, who 

 entertained the party at dinner. After this function a wild band of 

 a thousand natives, armed with spear and shield, gave a barbaric 

 dance in their honor. A tree w^as planted by the chief guest in the 

 center of the town in memory of their visit. It will doubtless long 

 be known as the Roosevelt tree. 



On March 2 the boat put off again for Lake No, a body of water 

 so overgrown with weeds that no one knows its area. Its interest 

 to the visitors lay in the fact that it is thick with game, some rare 

 animals living in the vicinity. This was a strong inducement to the 

 hunters of the party to try their hand at these choice creat^ires, 

 which they did not fail to improve. Here the river divides, one 

 channel running nearly due north, the other trending slightly to the 

 west. They flow onward, not far apart, through a region of low 

 swamp which is inundated for miles around in the rainy season. Tall 

 reeds and papyrus line the banks, the abode of numerous water birds 

 and the haunt of swarms of insect plagues. For many years both 

 these channels have at times been rendered impassable by being 

 choked by vast accumulations of floating weeds, the sudd of the Nile, 

 through which channels have to be cut. 



On the nth they reached Renk, and here a new sensation awaited 

 the tropic-bronzed hunters, they being met by the vanguard band of 



