26 
RIVER VEGETATION. 
[chap. i. 
Kittur bush. Saw a few antelopes. Stopped at a 
horrible swamp to collect firewood. Anchored at 
night in a dead calm, well out in the river to escape 
malaria from the swamped forest. This is a precaution 
that the men would neglect, and my expedition might 
suffer in consequence. Christmas Day ! 
2 6 th Dec. —Good breeze at about 3 a.m. ; made sail. 
I have never seen a fog in this part of Africa ; although 
the neighbourhood of the river is swampy, the air is 
clear both in the morning and evening. Floating 
islands of water-plants are now very numerous. There 
is a plant something like a small cabbage ( Pislia 
Stratiotes L), which floats alone until it meets a com¬ 
rade ; these unite, and recruiting as they float onward, 
they eventually form masses of many thousands, entan¬ 
gling with other species of water-plants and floating 
wood, until they at length form floating islands. Saw 
many hippopotami; the small hill in the Dinka country 
seen from the mast-head at 9.15 a.m. ; breeze light, but 
steadythe banks of the river, high grass and mimosas, 
but not forest as formerly. Water-lilies in full bloom, 
white, but larger than the European variety. In the 
evening the crew and soldiers singing and drumming. 
27 th Dec. —Blowing hard all night. Passed the 
Dinker hill at 3.30 a.m. Obliged to take in sail, as 
it buried the head of the vessel and we shipped much 
water. Staggering along under bare poles at about 
five miles per hour. The true banks of the river are 
about five hundred yards distant from the actual 
stream, this space being a mass of floating water- 
plants, decayed vegetable matter, and a high reedy 
grass much resembling sugar-canes; the latter excel¬ 
lent food for my animals. Many very interesting 
water-plants and large quantities of Ambatch wood 
{Anemone mirabilis) —this wood, of less specific gra¬ 
vity than cork, is generally used for rafts ; at this 
season it is in full bloom, its bright yellow blossoms 
enlivening the dismal swamps. Secured very fine 
specimens of a variety of helix from the floating 
