Lake Victoria to Khartoum 



to keep the embers of the watch-fire going ; he 

 piles fresh wood upon them, and the bright blaze 

 shoots up amongst the trees, and throws a dull, 

 ruddy glow on to the bare rocks. Morning comes 

 at length, ushered in before night has yet departed, 

 by the strong shrill cry of the great fish eagle as 

 he sits on the topmost bough of some forest tree, 

 and, at measured periods, repeats his quivering 

 and unearthly yell, like an evil spirit calling. 



A more cheeringf sound charms the ear as the 

 grey tints of the morning make the stars grow 

 pale : clear rich notes, now prolonged and full, 

 now plaintive and low, set the example to the 

 other singing birds, as the bulbul, first to awake, 

 proclaims the morning. The birds indulge in 

 wild jungle-bred songs, charming in their quaint- 

 ness, not like those of our humdrum thrushes in 

 old England. 



The jungle partridge wakes up, and with his 

 loud cry subdues all other sounds. And now the 

 distant hill-tops far below struggle through the 

 snowy sheet of mist, like islands in a fairy sea— 

 a solemnly beautiful scene ; the dewdrops fall 

 heavily from the trees as the light breeze stirs 

 them from an apparent sleep ; a golden tint 

 spreads over the sea of mist below ; the sun's 

 rays dart lightning-like from the eastern sky ; the 

 mighty orb rises in all the fullness of his majesty, re- 

 calling the Almighty's words, " Let there be light ! " 



The sun has risen ! The mighty sea below 



1 88 



