CHAPTER XIII 



A TERRIBLE DAY'S MARCH 



To make sure of striking the Osso and Nile junction, I 

 decided to keep close to the Nile, and expected to accom- 

 plish the journey from Wadelai comfortably in five days. 

 On the morning of the second day after leaving Wadelai, 

 instead of taking the path that led in a north-westerly 

 direction, I decided to keep close to the Nile. Our path 

 led us on to the flats opposite Bora. The grass was 

 shoulder high, and gradually we forged ahead through 

 water in places ankle deep, full of insect life and putrid 

 remains of fish and game. It was the beginning of a 

 large stretch of almost impenetrable flat grass country 

 covered in places with water three feet deep. It was 

 dark that night before we again stood on dry land, minus 

 four of the carriers and the mule that was left dead in 

 the middle of the swamp. From about eight a.m. until 

 nine p.m. we had been crawling at a snail's pace, cutting 

 our way through the dense coarse grass and bushes, and 

 horrible stinging plants, and being bitten all over by flies 

 and insects of a thousand varieties. A glaring sun 

 overhead beat down on us unmercifully as we fell into 

 hippo holes and sat down in the slime and mud that lay 

 hidden under the putrid and stagnant water. Boys fell 

 headlong, and loads crashed about, while our bodies 

 were torn and bleeding. About midday the mule, which 

 was carrying a forty-pound load of cloth, fell into one 

 of the holes, dropped forward with a groan, and rolled 

 on its side. I kept its head out of water, while Salem 



146 



