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size of a man's fist； lay scattered over the ground； destroyed and
partially calcined by the late prairie fire。
〃The sun was very hot； and I found crawling so great a distance a
laborious operation； my eyes were nearly blinded with perspiration and
charcoal dust； but every now and then； as I carefully raised my head； I
could distinguish the horns of the antelope in the original position。 At
length I arrived at the base of the last ant…hill from which I must take
my shot。
〃There were a few tufts of low scrub growing on the summit； to these I
climbed； and digging my toes firmly into an inequality in the side of
the hill； I planted my elbows well on the surface； my cap being
concealed by the small bushes and tufts of withered grass。 The antelope
was standing unconsciously about 170 yards； or； as I then considered；
about 180 yards from me； perfectly motionless； and much resembling a
figure fixed upon a pedestal。 The broadside was exposed； thus it would
have been impossible to have had a more perfect opportunity after a long
stalk。 Having waited in a position for a minute or two； to become cool
and to clear my eyes； I aimed at his shoulder。 Almost as I touched the
trigger； the antelope sank suddenly upon its knees； in which position it
remained for some seconds on the summit of the ant…hill； and then rolled
down to the base； dead。 I stepped the exact distance； 169 paces。 I had
fired rather high； as the bullet had broken the spine a little in front
of the shoulder…blade。 It was a very beautiful animal； a fine bull； of
the same kind that I had killed on 1st April。 This antelope was about
thirteen hands high at the shoulder； the head long； the face and ears
black； also the top of the head； the body bright bay； with a stripe of
black about fifteen inches in width extending obliquely across the
shoulder； down both the fore and the hind legs； and meeting at the rump。
The tail was long； with a tuft of long black hair at the extremity。 The
horns were deeply annulated； and curved backwards towards the shoulders。
〃This was a very large animal； that would have weighed quite thirty
stone when gralloched。 My boatman； who had been watching the sport；
immediately despatched a man for assistance to the diahbeeah。 I enjoyed
the beauty of this animal： the hide glistened like the coat of a
well…groomed horse。
〃I did not reach the diahbeeah until 6 p。m。； we then started without
delay； and reached the fleet at midnight； at the junction of the ditch
through which we had previously arrived at the main river。
〃April 4。The vessels are passing with great difficulty over the
shallow entrance of the ditch。
〃April 5。All the vessels have passed。 At 6 p。m。 we succeeded； after
much labour； in getting the last of the steamers through。 This
accomplished； and having the stream in our favour； we passed along in a
compact line for about a mile and a half； the ditch that we had opened
being clear and in good order。
〃April 6。Another soldier died。 This poor man was the companion of him
who； a few days ago； prophesied his own end when he lost his friend。
Curiously enough； he died as he was passing the spot where his friend
was buried； and we had to bury him in the same ant…hill。 The Egyptian
troops are very unhealthy。 When they first joined the expedition； they
were an exceedingly powerful body of men； whose PHYSIQUE I much admired；
although their MORALE was of the worst type。 I think that every man has
lost at least a stone in weight since we commenced this dreadful voyage
in chaos； or the Slough of Despond。
〃The boats reached the small lake； and continued their voyage through
the channel； and anchored for the night at the northern extremity of the
five…mile lake。 We catch delicious fish daily with the casting…net； the
best are the Nile perch； that runs from a pound to four or five pounds；
and a species of carp。 One of my boatmen is a professional fisherman who
understands the casting…net； but he is the only man who can use it。
〃April 7。The channel is again blocked up； all hands clearing into the
next lake。 Another soldier diedmaking a total of nine； with two
sailors and a boytotal twelve。
〃April 8。Passed into lake No。 2； and by the afternoon reached lake No。
3； where we found our old channel blocked up。 I set men to work to open
the passage； but there is no chance of its completion until about noon
to…morrow。 Since we passed this lake a change has taken place； the
obstruction through which we cut a channel has entirely broken up。 Large
rafts of about two acres each have drifted asunder； and have floated to
the end of the lake。 It is thus impossible to predict what the future
may effect。 There can be no doubt that the whole of this country was at
some former period a lake； which has gradually filled up with
vegetation。 The dry land； which is only exposed during the hot season；
is the result of the decay of vegetable matter。 The ashes of the grass
that is annually burnt； by degrees form a soil。 We are even now
witnessing the operation that has formed； and is still increasing； the
vast tract of alluvial soil through which we have passed。 There is not a
stone nor even a small pebble for a distance of two hundred miles； the
country is simple mud。
〃April 9。Passed the old channel at 11。45 a。m。； after much labour； and
we found the long five…mile cutting pretty clear； with the exception of
two or three small obstructions。 At 5。30 p。m。 we reached the Bahr
Giraffe； from which extremely narrow channel we had first commenced our
difficult work of cutting through many miles of country。
〃Who could believe the change？ Some evil spirit appears to rule in this
horrible region of everlasting swamp。 A wave of the demon's wand； and an
incredible change appears！ The narrow and choked Bahr Giraffe has
disappeared； instead of which a river of a hundred yards' width of clear
running water meets us at the junction of our cutting。 As far as the eye
can reach to the E。S。E。； there is a succession of large open sheets of
water where a few days ago we saw nothing but a boundless plain of marsh
grass； without one drop of water visible。 These sheets of water mark the
course of a river； but each lake is separated by a dam of floating
vegetation。 The volume of water is very important； and a stream is
running at the rate of three miles an hour。 Nevertheless； although in
open water； we now find ourselves prisoners in a species of lake； as we
are completely shut in by a serious dam of dense rafts of vegetation
that have been borne forward and tightly compressed by the great force
of this new river。 It is simply ridiculous to suppose that this river
can ever be rendered navigable。 One or two vessels； if alone； would be
utterly helpless； and might be entirely destroyed with their crews by a
sudden change that would break up the country and inclose them in a trap
from which they could never escape。
〃We passed the night at anchor。 Many hippopotami are snorting and
splashing in the new lakes。
〃April 10。After a hard day's labour； a portion of the fleet succeeded
in cutting through the most serious dam； and we descended our old river
to the dubba； or dry mound； where we had first disco