58 
ARRIVAL AT GONDOKORO. 
[chap, j. 
porridge. The women of the Shir tribe are very 
clever at manufacturing baskets and mats from the 
leaf of the dome palm. They also make girdles and 
necklaces of minute pieces of river mussel shells 
threaded upon the hair of the giraffe's tail. This is 
a work of great time, and the effect is about equal 
to a string of mother-of-pearl buttons. 
Jan. 3 Is A—At 1.15 p.m. sighted G-ebel Lardo, bear¬ 
ing S. 30° west. This is the first mountain we have 
seen, and we are at last near our destination, Gondo- 
koro. I observed to-day a common sand-piper sitting 
on the head of a hippopotamus; when he disappeared 
under water the bird skimmed over the surface, hover¬ 
ing near the spot until the animal reappeared, when 
he again settled. 
Feb. ls£.—The character of the river has changed. 
The marshes have given place to dry ground ; the 
banks are about four feet above the water-level, and 
well wooded; the country having the appearance of 
an orchard, and being thickly populated. The natives 
thronged to the boats, being astonished at the camels. 
At one village during the voyage the natives examined 
the donkeys with great curiosity, thinking that they 
were the oxen of our country, and that we were bring¬ 
ing them to exchange for ivory. 
Feb. 2d .—The mountain Lardo is about twelve 
miles west of the river. At daybreak we sighted the 
mountains near Gondokoro, bearing due south. As 
yet I have seen no symptoms of hostility in this 
country. I cannot help thinking that the conduct of 
the natives depends much upon that of the traveller. 
Arrived at Grondokoro. 
By astronomical observation I determined the lati¬ 
tude 4° 55' north. Longitude E. 31° 46' 
Gondokoro is a great improvement upon the inter¬ 
minable marshes ; the soil is firm and raised about 
twenty feet above the river level. Distant mountains 
relieve the eye accustomed to the dreary flats of the 
White Nile ; and evergreen trees scattered over the 
