260 
SAVAGE SUDAN 
later growths of papyrus and other giant aquatic plants, 
many of them 20 feet in visible height, but double that if 
reckoned from their roots. 
By a Sudan Government report, the area of the Sudd 
is estimated approximately at 35,000 square miles—one- 
third that of the British Isles. 
Through this vast vegetable-barrier the waters of the 
great river have to percolate, spill over, stagnate. In 
the result one-half of its effective volume is herein lost by 
lateral distribution and evaporation—the precise wastage 
is calculated by the engineers to a gallon. It is through 
this vicious extravagance of life-giving water that the Sudd 
places itself in stolid opposition to the welfare of millions 
—Nilotic and other. 
After twice traversing its 100-leagues both ways (four 
times in all), the mental impression left by the Sudd is 
one long memory of the most melancholy and featureless 
abomination extant here on earth. Day after day as one 
crawls southwards through it, the narrow channel — 
laboriously kept open for navigation—winds in a ceaseless 
series of bends, twists, and convolutions like the writhings 
of a wounded snake. Far as the eye can reach, stretch 
away to either horizon those drear wastes of grey-green 
papyrus. Rarely, a vision of trees beyond the sky-line, 
or the distant smoke of a grass-fire, may arouse illusory 
promise of a “limit.” No, the slender hope vanishes like 
a mirage—it was, in fact, a mirage—and soon one is 
plunged again into that slough of sightless Sudd. 
The tortuous channel forbids advance through the 
Sudd by sail; steam is necessary to traverse it, and a 
stern-wheeler at that. Locally, Nile navigation differs 
essentially from that art as practised elsewhere. It 
consists in systematic “ cannoning ” off one bank, 
straightening-up on course, then “cannoning” again 
on the other. The plan involves a constant succes¬ 
sion of bumps, violent or otherwise, according as the 
vessel strikes yielding papyrus or solid mud concealed 
