28o FATIKO TO FAUVERA. 



After a long walk through high grass we reached, at Ras-el- 

 Fil, the road we had previously traversed ; here were some 

 pools of water, being all that was left of Khor Lio, which is 

 said to flow into the larger Khor Tabaru during the rainy 

 season ; the latter, in its turn, pours itself into the Nile near 

 Anfina's island. Francolins abound here. After a long search, 

 we at last discovered some dark stagnant water in a hollow, 

 and by it we encamped, after a march of seven hours and a half. 

 The place is called by the natives Modo, but by the soldiers 

 Ras-el-Maye, because pools of water are said to exist here all 

 the year. The formation of the ground we next passed over was 

 remarkable. Probably there was once an even slope down to 

 the river, but the upper layer has been washed away, and 

 where harder ground has resisted the action of water long 

 ridges remain standing. Their elevation above the level of the 

 country is insignificant, but, following their direction, a number 

 of broad furrows or depressions have been formed, generally 

 containing mud, water, and rank vegetation. 



As the road runs, as a rule, along the top of the ridges, and 

 therefore parallel to these depressions, the general effect is the 

 same as when passing between rows of low hills. The country 

 sinks towards the river. There was no scenery to speak of; 

 high grass and woods alone were visible. After passing the 

 point where the road to Anfina's branches off, we again left the 

 " old road," and, instead of turning towards Khor Kabuli, we 

 took a more southerly direction, passed a Shifalii village hidden 

 in forest, and were informed by the cry of Haliaetus vocifcr 

 that the Nile was near. This bird and Zobivanellus senegalen- 

 sis can be heard at a considerable distance, and their cry is a 

 sure sign of the proximity of water. A quarter of an hour 

 later, the river, divided by large rush islands, lay on our right, 

 and, shortly after, we reached Khor Kabuli and the hill which 

 marks its confluence with the Nile. The former landing-place 

 at the khor was entirely overgrown with rushes and papyrus, 

 so that the water was quite hidden. The river has here also 

 a broad fringe of papyrus, through which boats are pushed with 

 difficulty, and the landing-place at Fauvera alone is free from 

 this obstruction. Fauvera, which we soon reached, was in pro- 

 cess of renovation. It was among the stations abandoned last 



