WORLD'S WONDERS. 



work; others were apprenticed to tailors, shoemakers, etc., in 

 the regiment, while the best looking were selected as domestic 

 servants. A nice little girl, of about three years old, without 

 parents, was taken care of by my wife." 



THE EXPEDITION MOVES FORWARD. 



IT was not until December llth that the Nile had risen suffi- 

 ciently to permit a passage of the fleet, on which date the expe- 

 dition again departed for Gondokoro, with a fleet of fifty-nine 

 vessels, including the steamers, and seven small boats. Just as 

 they were about to start, Dr. Gedge took suddenly ill and died, 

 which was a great loss, as he was not only a most excellent phys- 

 ician, but equally well versed in botany and natural history. 



Although the White Nile was very high, it was so full of drift 

 and vegetation that a pathway had almost to be cut through it in 

 scores of places. It was by no means easy sailing at any point, 

 for the men generally were averse to the expedition, and showed 

 neither skill nor energy in handling the boats. At one place the 

 entire fleet grounded, and the vessels had to be pulled away, 

 causing a delay of several days. Through inexcusable careless- 

 ness two boats were sunk, one of which carried a section of the 

 steel cruiser that was intended to be put into service on Albert 

 lake. Thus a bad river and worse boatmen caused very slow 

 progress. 



ATTACKED BY A VICIOUS HIPPOPOTAMUS. 



HIPPOPOTAMI and crocodiles were encountered in great num- 

 bers, affording sport to Baker and meat for the men. Several 

 adventures were met with, but the most interesting is as follows, 

 which we quote in Baker's own language : 



" The night was cold, and the moon clear and bright; every 

 one was wrapped up in warm blankets, and I was so sound 

 asleep that I cannot describe more until I was suddenly awakened 

 by a tremendous splashing quite close to the diahbeeah, accom- 

 panied by the hoarse, wild snorting of a furious hippopotamus. 

 1 jumped up, and immediately perceived a hippo, which was 

 apparently about to attack the vessel. The main-deck being 

 crowded with people sleeping beneath their thick mosquito 



