196 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



are saturated, after which the water is strained and evaporated 

 by boiling. Another, much poorer, quality is made of a peculiar 

 grass, that has a thick, fleshy stem, something like sugar-cane. 

 This is reduced to ashes, which are subjected to a similar process. 

 So precious is English salt in Africa that the natives will eat it 

 by handfuls with the greatest relish, and will barter supplies for 

 it more readily than for beads or other trinkets. 



A SAIL ON ALBERT LAKE. 



VACOVIA is about one hundred and fifty miles, coast-line, from 

 where the lake has its outlet in the Nile river. The season was 

 very late and Baker was exceedingly anxious to get back to Gon- 

 dokoro before the last of April, in time for the annual trading 

 boats from Khartoifm, which, if he missed, he would be delayed 

 another year in reaching England. Traveling by land had become 

 very monotonous and painful, and besides, all the party was sick 

 of fever, so they now prepared to journey in canoes as far as 

 possible. After a stay of eight days in Vacovia, they started in 

 two canoes, the carrying capacity of each being twenty-five men 

 and necessary luggage. The first day's voyage was delightful, 

 the air being bracing, though the temperature was very warm. 

 Hippopotami and crocodiles were numerous, both in and out of 

 the water, lying along the banks or sporting near the shore. At 

 night a camp was made close by a small village, from which a 

 few fowls and one young kid were purchased. In the morning 

 Baker discovered that all the oarsmen, whom Kamrasi had fur- 

 nished him, had absconded. His party was now reduced to his 

 own force of thirteen men, but his progress was not materially 

 affected, for in the evening he secured twenty more oarsmen 

 from the next village. 



On the next day a bay had to be crossed that was eight miles 

 wide, and while nearly in the centre of it a storm arose, which 

 came so near swamping the boats that the most desperate bailing 

 by all hands barely kept them afloat. They steered toward the 

 beach, and just as the canoes struck the sand a large wave over- 

 whelmed them and left them struggling in the water, while all 

 the provisions were destroyed. Fortunately, a village was near 



