238 
WILD DUCK SHOOTING. 
[chap. V. 
people. There were a series of small marshy pools 
scattered over the country near the stream that ran 
through the valley; these were the resort of numerous 
ducks, which afforded excellent sport. 
The town of Tarrangolle is situated at the foot 
of the mountain, about a mile from the stream, which 
is about eighty yards wide, but shallow. In the 
dry weather, water is obtained by wells dug in the 
sandy bed, but during the rains it is a simple torrent 
not exceeding three feet in depth. The bed being 
sandy, the numerous banks, left dry by the fluctuations 
of the stream, are most inviting spots for ducks; and 
it was only necessary to wait under a tree, on the 
rivers bank, to obtain thirty or forty shots in one 
morning as the ducks flew down the course of the 
stream. I found two varieties : the small brown duck 
with a grey head; and a magnificent variety, as large 
as the Muscovy, having a copper-and-blue coloured 
tinselled back and wings, with a white but speckled 
head and neck. This duck had a curious peculiarity 
in a fleshy protuberance on the beak about as large as 
a half-crown. This stands erect, like a cock's comb. 
Both this, and the smaller variety, were delicious eat¬ 
ing. There were two varieties of geese—the only two 
that I have ever seen on the White Nile—the common 
Egyptian grey goose, and a large black and white bird 
