34 
DIFFICULTIES OF NAVIGATION. 
[chap. I. 
for observations. Had the “ Clumsy’s ” yard lowered 
and examined—cut a supply of grass for the animals. 
Jan. 6th .—Overhauled the stores. My stock of 
liquor will last to G-ondokoro ; after that spot “ vive la 
misere.” It is curious in African travel to mark the 
degrees of luxury and misery; how, one by one, the 
wine, spirits, bread, sugar, tea, &c., are dropped like 
the feathers of a moulting bird, and nevertheless we 
go ahead contented. 
My men busy cutting grass, washing, fishing, &c. 
Latitude, by meridian altitude of sun, 9° 29'. Differ¬ 
ence of time by observation between this point and 
the Sobat junction 4 min. 26 secs., 1° 6' 30" distance. 
Caught some perch, but without the red fin of the 
European species ; also some boulti with the net. The 
latter is a variety of perch growing to about four 
pounds’ weight, and is excellent eating. 
Sailed at 3 p.m. Masses of the beautiful but gloomy 
Papyrus rush, growing in dense thickets about eighteen 
feet above the water. I measured the diameter of one 
head, or crown, four feet one inch. 
Jan. 7th .—Started at 6 a.m. ; course E. 10° S.; 
wind dead against us; the “ Clumsy ” not in sight. 
Obliged to haul along by fastening long ropes to the 
grass about a hundred yards ahead. This is frightful 
work; the men must swim that distance to secure the 
rope, and those on board hauling it in gradually, pull 
the vessel against the stream. Nothing can exceed 
the labour and tediousness of this operation. From 
constant work in the water many of my men are 
suffering from fever. The temperature is much higher 
than when we left Khartoum ; the country, as usual, 
one vast marsh. At night the hoarse music of hippo¬ 
potami snorting and playing among the high-flooded 
reeds, and the singing of countless myriads of mos¬ 
quitoes—the nightingales of the White Nile. My black 
fellow, Richarn, whom I had appointed corporal, will 
soon be reduced to the ranks; the animal is spoiled 
by sheer drink. Having been drunk every day in 
