CHAP. I.] 
THE SOB AT RIVER, 
31 
portable. The Ambatch (. Anemone, mirabilis) is seldom 
larger than a man’s waist, and as it tapers naturally 
to a point, the canoe rafts are quickly formed by lash¬ 
ing the branches parallel to each other, and tying the 
narrow ends together. 
3d Jan .—The “ Clumsy’s ” yard having been lashed 
with rhinoceros hide, fortunately holds together, al¬ 
though sprung. Stopped this morning on the east 
bank, and gathered a supply of wood. On the west 
bank Shillook villages as yesterday during the day’s 
voyage, all within half a mile of each other; one 
village situated among a thick grove of the dolape 
palms close to the river. The natives, afraid of our boats, 
decamped, likewise the fishermen, who were harpooning 
fish from small fishing stations among the reeds. 
The country, as usual, dead flat, and very marshy 
on the east bank, upon which side- I see no signs 
of habitations. Course this morning south. Arrived 
at the river Sobat junction at 12.40 p.m., and anchored 
about half a mile within that river at a spot where the 
Turks had formerly constructed a camp. Not a tree 
to be seen ; but dead flats of prairie and marsh as far 
as the eye can reach. The Sobat is not more than a 
hundred and twenty yards in breadth. 
I measured the stream by a floating gourd, which 
travelled 130 yards in 112 seconds, equal to about 
two miles and a half an hour. The quality of the 
water is very superior to that of the White Nile—this 
would suggest that it is of mountain origin. Upward 
course of Sobat south, 25° east. Upward course of 
the White Nile west, 2° north from the Sobat junction. 
4 th Jan.- —By observation of sun’s meridian altitude, 
I make the latitude of the Sobat junction 9? 21' 14". 
Busy fishing the yard of the “ Clumsy,” and mending 
sails. The camels and donkeys all well—plenty of 
fine grass—made a good stock of hay. My reis and 
boatmen tell me that the Sobat, within a few days’ 
sail of the junction, divides into seven branches, all 
shallow and with a rapid current. The banks are flat, 
