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UNDER THE AFRICAN SUN 



I had eight Swahili porters and eight Soudanese soldiers, each 

 set taking it in turn to row for an hour. The boat was heavily 

 laden with the bales of cloth, representing the arrears of pay for 

 the Mahaji garrison. 



All went well until about midnight, and it was nearly full 

 moon. I was peacefully slumbering, when all of a sudden a 

 terrific thunder-storm burst over us and covered us with dense 



HER majesty's STEEL-BOAT "ALEXANDRA" OX LAKE ALBERT NYANZA. 



darkness, illumined by fearfully vivid flashes of lightning, the 

 glare of which blinded us. It is usually easy to steer the boat 

 by keeping the opposite mountain-chain in view, but now the 

 man at the helm could only steer according as the fitful lightning 

 disclosed the tops of the distant mountain-range. The waves 

 were tumultuous, and the boat danced like a cork on the top of 

 the billows. Every now and again a big wave washed over us 

 and threatened to engulf us. The boat was steadily filling, and 

 every man toiled for dear life, either rowing, or baling out the 

 water. I was miserably sea-sick. Most of the men were very 



