Lake Victoria to Khartoum 



at the landing-place. We arrived about 7 p.m., 

 and, after disembarking, enjoyed an al fresco 

 dinner by the light of the moon. Directly after- 

 wards we got on board again. We were making 

 for a spot in which to spend a couple of days in 

 shooting, and so we couldn't afford to waste a 

 moment more than was needful. 



With fuel replenished, an all-night journey saw 

 us at Wadelai early next morning. This used to 

 be an important civil and military station, till 

 fever and consequent great loss of life caused the 

 authorities to evacuate it. Built at first close to 

 the river, and later at a good distance back, its 

 bad character never improved, till now it is only 

 used as a small intermediate telegraph station. 

 Even that will be given up soon. 



Some five miles on we passed old Belgian 

 Wadelai, a most important Nile post in Emin's 

 day. On, on, past gigantic forest trees, through 

 papyrus and reeds, between down- and swamp- 

 land, grating over the shallow mud-banks, and 

 having an occasional shot at a crocodile, we pur- 

 sued our way in the sweltering heat, till at about 

 3 p.m. we tied up in a little backwater and sallied 

 forth to shoot. 



We divided ourselves into three parties. Mr. 

 Churchill, Mr. Marsh, Lieut. Fishbourne, and 

 Mr. Bennett, the launch's engineer, formed one ; 

 Col. Wilson and Mr. Ormsby another ; whilst 

 the doctor and I went out together. We all 



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