TOETURED BY MOSQUITOES 
165 
of a pair of my boots and all the leather straps of the portmanteaux. 
Two canoes during the day met us with some of the Brothers 
Poncet^s men from their station at Lolnum. They had heard from 
the negroes that boats were advancing, and therefore came down 
stream to ascertain to whom they belonged. They reached us in 
eight hours from their station, and they say it will take us a week to 
get there. The country is inundated, they inform us, to a greater 
extent than it has been known for years. They returned to Lolnun 
or Abu Kuka in the afternoon, promising to return in a day or 
two with a towing-line. Three of our men down with fever. The 
reis is anxious that we should return to the Gab a Shambyl, and 
there remain during the rainy season. A plague of large stinging 
flies, very beautiful to look at : the body a bright yellowish brown, 
the head emerald green, the wings delicately tissued, with a black 
spot in the centre. We hear that the horses are suffering tortures 
from these flies and the mosquitoes. 
June 24^A. — A sunny morning; not a breath of wind. Again a 
leak. Five men down with fever. 
June 2hth . — One of my little birds, a paroquet, died. Rain and 
leaks all day. The invalids very ill. 
June 2Qth . — Towing to reeds all day. Heavy rain at sunset. 
June %lth . — Progress very slow; another leak. A little bit of 
ground on the west shore, and on it walked with delight. The new 
moon visible. 
June 28/A. — Still towing : reeds on both sides far into the river. 
