chap, i.] A USTRIAN MISSION STATION . 53 
at the charming watering-place Aboukooka to obtain 
the news of the country. The current at this point is 
as usual very strong, being upwards of two and a half 
miles per hour; the river is quite bank full although 
not actually flooding, the windings endless; one mo¬ 
ment our course is due north, then east, then again 
north, and as suddenly due south; in fact, we face every 
point of the compass within an hour. Frequently the 
noggors that are far in the rear appear in advance; 
it is a heartbreaking river without a single redeeming 
point; I do not wonder at the failure of all expeditions 
in this wretched country. There is a breeze to-day, 
thus the oppressive heat and stagnated marsh atmo¬ 
sphere is relieved. I have always remarked that when 
the sky is clouded we suffer more from heat and op¬ 
pression than when the day is clear ; there is a weight 
in the atmosphere that would be interesting if tested 
by the barometer. 
The water is excessively bad throughout the White 
Nile, especially between the Shillook and the Kytch 
tribes; that of the Bahr Gazal is even worse. The 
reis Diabb tells me that the north wind always fails 
between the Nuehr and the upper portion of the 
Kytch. I could not believe that so miserable a coun¬ 
try existed as the whole of this land. There is no 
game to be seen at this season, few birds, and not even 
crocodiles show themselves; all the water-animals are 
hidden in the high grass; thus there is absolutely 
nothing living to be. seen, but day after day is passed 
in winding slowly through the labyrinth of endless 
marsh, through clouds of mosquitoes. 
At 4.20 p.m. arrived at the Austrian mission-station 
of St. Croix, and I delivered a letter to the chief of 
the establishment, Herr Moorlang. 
Jan. Zithr —Took observations of the sun, making 
latitude 6° 39'. 
The mission-station consists of about twenty grass 
huts on a patch of dry ground close to the river. The 
church is a small hut, but neatly arranged. Herr 
