348 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



of the last two years' work, I organised a transport under 

 the command of Agoma and John to go the seven days' 

 journey to Gondokoro by way of Redjaf, and there await 

 my arrival on the Nile. The Commandant was most kind 

 in giving me a free transport for this journey. 



At this time poor Quasso had become worse ; his stomach, 

 in addition to his face and legs, was now much swollen. 

 At first I thought it must be sleeping sickness, but 

 the chief indication of this disease, namely, the enlarge- 

 ment of all the glands in the body, especially those of the 

 neck, was absent. The doctor of the station who examined 

 him, said the boy was suffering from " Beri-Beri," a disease 

 very much hke sleeping sickness, and he kindly offered to 

 take him into the hospital and send him on when better to 

 Gondokoro. I felt very sorry for the boy ; it was pitiful 

 to see him now, for he had always been so brave and bright 

 and had set his heart on reaching the Nile ; but now he was 

 dull and sleepy, dragging himself along with difficulty and 

 having to come back to have any order I gave him repeated 

 the moment after. He felt his plight very much, and said 

 he would die if we left him among strangers. The night 

 before leaving, when I went up to the hospital to say good- 

 bye to him, he asked me how long it would be before he saw 

 me again and if theNile was very far off ; and when I said, 

 " Only five days," he replied, " I will follow you quick." 



On October 15 all was ready for my descent of the Yei. 

 It was high time to make a start, as the last few days had 

 been fine with no rain and consequently the river had fallen a 

 great deal. 



The boat was not overburdened with baggage ; the 



