APPENDIX A. 
119 
of towing, sleepless nights, and the depressing effeets of malaria 
and its consequent fevers, in addition to the most serious obstacle 
of all, the utter worthlessness of our entire stock of cordage for 
the purpose of towing, further progress by water became utterly 
impossible. 
With a determination to vanquish every obstacle, and keep my 
appointment with Speke at whatever hazard, 1 decided to abandon 
my boats and proceed to Gondokoro by land. In order to carry 
out this determination, it was a primary object to place stores at 
Gondokoro, in anticipation of the requirements of Speke or myself. 
With this view I re-shipped a cargo, consisting of a variety of 
necessaries, into the least damaged of the boats, and stripped the 
three others of their standing rigging to serve as towing-lines, to 
enable the former to proceed to the Shyr, where I knew a capital 
material for rope-making was available from the leaf of the delaeb 
trees, that abound in the vicinity. 
On the 25th July this boat, assisted by a spurt of wind occasioned 
by a thunder-storm, set sail ; and the rets was ordered to proceed 
to Gondokoro, and remain there until the arrival of myself or 
Captain Speke. In the event of their meeting, the reis and store- 
keeper were particularly instructed. not, only to supply my country- 
men with everything available that liiight be required, but the reis 
was to place himself, crew, and boat, at the absolute disposal of 
Speke. The three other boats, being perfectly useless, were, after 
being temporarily caulked and refitted, to return to Khartoum. In 
the meantime, by instalments in proportion as negro porters pre- 
sented themselves, our stores were forwarded along the route we 
intended to take. 
In order to reconnoitre the route leading to the interior, I had 
several times proceeded on horseback, many miles distant, up to 
