ARRIVAL AT SO UAKIM. 1 1 



from the rest of the town by a narrow strip of water, 

 and slightly elevated above the mainland, which extends 

 for miles as a low flat plain, bounded in the distance by 

 ranges of mountains that have been partially obscured 

 from our view by a slight mist. _ 



After seemingly endless confusion and excitement V^ 

 amongst the black-skinned local boatmen, we succeeded 

 at last in getting our apparently enormous stores trans- 

 ferred to their cranky boats, and then, under the guidance 

 of M. Marcopoli, we landed on the island and went to 

 the house of the governor, and in his absence were re- 

 ceived by his representatives, to whom we presented our 

 firmans. He at once, after promising us every assistance 

 in his power, proceeded to show us a piece of ground on 

 the mainland for the storage of our goods until the 

 necessary complement of camels could be obtained, and 

 he gave us every hope of being able to start to-morrow, 

 or next day at latest. The chosen ground is a small 

 square space close to the landing stage, bounded on 

 three sides by piles of iron tubing, marked with the 

 name of an English firm, for telegraph wires, and on the 

 far side by a mosque, which separates us from the ground 

 allotted to the Gondokoro party. Their number has 

 been increased, with their consent, by the addition of 

 two Greek captains, who are on their way to the White 

 Nile to take charge, for the first time, of some steamers 

 running between Khartoum and Gondokoro, and for a 



