CHAP. XII.] 
THE MURCHISON FALLS . 
363 
every sandbank on the sides of the river ; they lay 
like logs of timber close together, and upon one bank 
we counted twenty-seven, of large size ; every basking 
place was crowded in a similar manner. From the 
time we had fairly entered the river, it had been con¬ 
fined by heights somewhat precipitous on either side, 
rising to about 180 feet. At this point the cliffs 
were still higher, and exceedingly abrupt. From the 
roar of the water, I was sure that the fall would be in 
sight if we turned the corner at the bend of the river; 
accordingly I ordered the boatmen to row as far as 
they could : to this they at first objected, as they 
wished to stop at the deserted fishing village, which 
they explained was to be the limit of the journey, 
further progress being impossible. 
However, I explained that I merely wished to see 
the fall, and they rowed immediately up the stream, 
which was now strong against us. Upon rounding the 
corner, a magnificent sight burst suddenly upon us. 
On either side the river were beautifully wooded cliffs 
rising abruptly to a height of about 300 feet;.rocks 
were jutting out from the intensely green foliage ; and 
rushing through a gap that cleft the rock exactly be¬ 
fore us, the river, contracted from a grand stream, was 
pent up in a narrow gorge of scarcely fifty yards in 
width; roaring furiously through the rock-bound 
pass, it plunged in one leap of about 120 feet per¬ 
pendicular into a dark abyss below. 
The fall of water was snow-white, which had a 
superb effect as it contrasted with the dark cliffs that 
walled the river, while the graceful palms of the tropics 
and wild plantains perfected the beauty of the view. 
This was the greatest waterfall of the Nile, and, in 
honour of the distinguished President of the Royal 
Geographical Society, I named it the Murchison Falls, 
as the most important object throughout the entire 
course of the river. 
The boatmen, having been promised a present of 
beads to induce them to approach the fall as close as 
