396 Mr. W. K. Ogilvie-Graut on 
with them, and did us a good turn by prescribing for 
Mr. Cheetham, who had got a touch of the sun. We un- 
loaded our transport-animals here, and I started off inland 
to have a look at the country. The path led through dense 
acacia-jungle, and we had to cut our way through it in many 
places. We camped at a swamp swarming with Ducks, 
chiefly Garganeys and Shovellers. The water was only 
about six inches deep, and was filthy with green slime and 
alive with all sorts of insects. 
Next day we marched on and camped at another swamp, 
on which there were no Dacks at all, though Marabou-Storks 
were in large flocks. These birds, after drinking in the 
evening, marched off solemnly to some trees about half a mile 
distant from the swamp and flopped up into them to roost. 
The country consisted of a large plain covered with grass 
interspersed with belts of acacia. As there were very few 
birds, I returned to Kaka and sailed south, while the- trans- 
port-animals were marched along the banks of the river. 
We now came in touch with the Dinkas, a fine race of 
people, who, though they thought clothes unnecessary, were 
very civil and pleasant. On the 20th we arrived at Fashoda. 
This place consists of the remains of an old Egyptian fort, 
to which Captain Marchand added a mud bastion facing 
the river and named "Bastion des Anglais.^^ It was on 
a swamp and surrounded by swamps, while some Shilluk 
villages were built on dry ground near it. The country west 
of the fort in the dry season is a large plain with belts of 
acacia. 
On the 27th we started west, and, marching along a khor, 
camped about 15 miles from Fashoda at an Arab village. 
In the evening I saw some elephants feeding in a swamp, 
and next day went to get a nearer view of them, but, after 
much wading and swimming of khors, found that they had 
left the district. I saw two herds of giraffes, which were very 
tame and inquisitive, coming within two hundred yards to 
inspect us while we were sitting under the shade of a tree, 
and keeping parallel with us for some way when we moved 
on. The mosquitos in the khor were in clouds^ and directly 
