CHAP. I.] 
JOHANN'S SICKNESS. 
27 
islands. In this spot the river is from 1500 yards 
to a mile wide ; the country, flat and uninteresting, 
being the usual scattered thorn bushes and arid 
plains, the only actual timber being confined to the 
borders of the river. Course, always south with few 
turns. My sponging-bath makes a good pinnace for 
going ashore from the vessel. At 4.20 p.m. one of 
the noggors carried away her yard—the same boat 
that met with the accident at our departure; hove to, 
and closed with the bank for repairs. Here is an affair 
of delay; worked with my own hands until 9 p.m. ; 
spliced the yard, bound it with rhinoceros thongs, and 
secured the whole splice with raw bulls hide. Posted 
sentries—two on each boat, and two on shore. 
28 th Dec.—At work at break of day. Completed the 
repair of yard, which is disgracefully faulty. Re-rigged 
the mast. Poor Johann will die, I much fear. His 
constitution appears to be quite broken up; he has 
become deaf, and there is every symptom of decay. 
I have done all I can for him, but his voyage in this 
life is nearly over. Ship in order, and all sailed to¬ 
gether at 2.15 p.m. Strong north wind. Two vessels 
from Khartoum passed us while repairing damages. 
I re-arranged the donkeys, dividing them into stalls 
containing three each, as they were such donkeys that 
they crowded each other unnecessarily. Caught a 
curious fish (Tetrodon phnjsa of Geof.), that distends 
itself with air like a bladder; colour black, and yellow 
stripes ; lungs ; apertures under the fins, which open 
and shut by their movement, their motion being a semi¬ 
revolution. This fish is a close link between fish and 
turtle; the head is precisely that of the latter, having 
no teeth, but cutting jaws of hard bone of immense 
power. Many minutes after the head had been severed 
from the body, the jaws nipped with fury anything that 
was inserted in the mouth, ripping through thin twigs 
and thick straw like a pair of shears. The skin of the 
belly is white, and is armed with prickles. The skin is 
wonderfully tough. I accordingly cut it into a long 
