CHAPTEK XVI. 
GONDOKORO TO KHARTOOM, FROM 26TH FEBRUARY TILL 30TH 
MARCH 1863 — LEAVE GONDOKORO BY BOAT — THE SHIR 
COUNTRY — AUSTRIAN MISSION - STATION AT KITCH— THE 
RIVERS BAHR-EL-GHAZAL, BAHR-GIRAFFE, AND SOBAT — THE 
SHILLOOK COUNTRY — BANKS OF THE NILE — ARAB SETTLE- 
MENT OF EL EIS — ENTRY INTO CIVILISED COUNTRY — ARRIVAL 
AT KHARTOOM. 
Our Seedees were divided among the three return 
boats furnished by Baker to convey us to Khartoom. 
Two were nsegurs or baggage-boats, made roughly of 
the Acacia Arabica or soonud, and having each an un- 
wieldy sail, without awning or cabins. The third was 
a diabeah, which we and our private servants occupied. 
Her build was lower in the water than the others, the 
hold was neatly boarded over, and upon it was built 
a poop-cabin. She drew three feet of water when 
unladen, and had the peculiar Nile rig, with twelve 
rowers, a helmsman, and a captain or "nakhoda" 
named Diab. Two of the other hands were not forth- 
coming, preferring to lead a roving life with their 
former master, Baker ; but at two in the afternoon of 
the 26th, having bade adieu to all, we shoved off, and 
floated down with the current. The oars were rudely 
