The Nile 



The euphorbias are very striking in the woods 

 along the west bank ; not the beautiful column- 

 like tree with its candelabra-like branches, but 

 the variety which, owing to its entanglement of 

 leafless branches, looks like a broom turned 

 upside down. 



In all parts of the river, chiefly at the influx 

 of the smaller khors, are to be seen baskets and 

 weirs of wicker-work, indicating an abundance 

 of fish. Large and small fishing boats, made 

 out of hollowed trunks, cross and recross the 

 stream ; their inmates, generally one person, but 

 occasionally two or three, are very black in 

 colour, and handle their single paddle with great 

 dexterity. Sometimes a dusky friend of the 

 engineer's on board will lie to in midstream, 

 hang on to the launch as we pass, and throw on 

 board a good supply of fresh fish of all sizes to 

 gladden our hearts as well as those of our 

 Swahili sailors. 



The river is frequently broken by huge rocks 

 adorned with motionless herons sitting upon 

 them. Enormous masses of vegetation block 

 the access to the river from the shore : these are 

 composed chiefly of papyrus and a variety of 

 tall reeds and river grasses ; pink convolvuluses 

 twine themselves from stem to stem, and pistia, 

 with other small aquatic plants, form a thick turf 

 on the edges of the enormous growth of these 

 impassable masses. Numberless swarms of 



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