106 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
sandal approaches,, is thrown into it ; then the small boat goes on, 
as before, in advance to the reeds; and, in due time, the weary 
hauling-in process again commences. Able to communicate with 
the doctors. They suffer, as we do, indescribably from mos- 
quitoes and large stinging flies, not unlike a horse-fly, but larger : 
no clothing is stout enough to afford protection from their painful 
attacks ; and as to the donkeys, they in their agonies from the 
common foe attempt to throw themselves overboard. 
April IQth . — Still towing, the crew making great efforts to reach 
the Bahar il Gazal. It is now a week since we left the Sobat. 
Petherick from that river has on previous journeys reached the lake 
in one day. Few birds seen; there are swarms of dragon-flies. 
The usual anchor at sunset. 
April \7th . — A breeze at sunrise. Vast quantities of floating 
plants were carried down stream ; they looked so compact that it 
appeared as if a green held had launched itself into the river. An 
hour^s sail brought us to the entrance of the Bahar il Gazal, which 
was then free of reeds, and the stream was running with force. 
With much interest I looked towards the lake, which had been 
explored by Petherick, and listened to many an anecdote of his 
adventures when so engaged. This dahahyeh was the one he sailed 
in, but the reis was not the same. 
When Petherick had been for upwards of a week in the Bahar il 
Gazal, and not discovering an outlet, and unable to land in conse- 
quence of the density of reeds, the reis one day entered the cabin, 
and declared his intention of turning the helm and returning to 
the entrance of the lake. For a short time Petherick expostulated 
with him ; but flnding that kind words were of no avail, and that 
