AT MAGUNGO. 145 



melons, which grow here in great abundance, small patches 

 of ground covered with a species of Gynandropsis, many 

 sweet potatoes, and sesame. All the huts were divided by a 

 partition into two rooms. After we had persuaded one of the 

 fugitives to return, he promised to call his chief. The language, 

 dress, and arms of these people are exactly identical with those 

 in Wadelai's country. This district is called Faroketo. To 

 Koche is said to be a distance of six or seven hours, to Mahasd 

 eight hours. Next morning Chief Roketo sent us a refusal ; he 

 was offended at our not having gone direct to him. 



We continued our iournev early, hugging the western bank, 

 on which many villages lie scattered, and where euphorbias 

 grow in remarkable quantities. The pressure of the current 

 seems to wear away the eastern bank very rapidly, for on the 

 western bank long: stretches of fresh alluvial soil lie bare, on 

 which vegetation is only just beginning to take root. It is very 

 remarkable that neither geese nor ducks are to be met with in 

 this district : on the other hand, numerous herds of antelope 

 abound (A ntilope eUipsiprymna and A. senegalensis). Over the 

 lake itself, which we soon reached, a little sterna flew, unfor- 

 tunately beyond our reach. The osprey (Halicetus rotifer) is 

 one of the commonest and prettiest birds in this region. 



We reached Magiingo, where we are to make a longer stay, 

 at 2.40 P.M. Our voyage from Dufile to Magiingo occupied 

 thirty-one hours nftv-eig-kt minutes, which tallies well with 

 former journeys of thirty-five hours and thirty-four hours 

 forty-six minutes. If we reckon an average rate of four miles 

 an hour, the distance would be about 128 miles. Four hours 

 twenty-eight minutes were occupied in steaming from Faroketo 

 to Magiingo, on account of the stronsr current. The aneroid read 

 on the lake 27.62 in. (88" Fahr.). on our arrival at Magiingo 

 27.56 in. (90. 5° Fahr.) I devoted my stay at Magiingo as far 

 as possible to making collections, though the want of ammunition 

 and spirit for preserving specimens, as well as other necessary 

 articles — owing* to the block in the river we had been for nearly 

 two years without communication with Khartum — and also 

 the lack of writing-paper, somewhat frustrated my labours : 

 many valuable and beautiful things, however, were brought 

 together. The zerxba placed at my disposal lay outside the 



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