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Tayib Agha that we had left seventeen days ago； these miserable people
have thus been wasting their time。 The trading vessel of Jules Poncet；
that left the Sobat only six days ago； is in sight ahead； thus she has
in six days passed the boats that have been twenty…four days from the
same starting…point。 I took the sail belonging to the wrecked noggur
from one； and passed ahead of all； except one that I kept back for
repairs while we cut wood at the forest。
〃January 5。Arrived at Kutchuk Ali's station at 10。30 A。M。； and took in
wood。 The country is all flooded； and both the natives and the traders
are without corn； the crops having been destroyed by the extraordinary
rise of the river。 The people have no other grain than the scanty supply
yielded by the seeds of the lotus； which they collect from the river。 I
met several men who had formerly served under Ibrahim； when we
accompanied Khoorshood Agha's party to Unyoro many years ago。
〃January 6。Cutting wood。 I wrote to Colonel Tayib Agha； desiring him
to take in as much fuel as his vessels can stow； as there is no wood
ahead。 The vakeel of the station supplied five cows and six goats。 I
gave him five urdeps of dhurra （22 bushels）。 We started at 4 P。M。
〃January 7。During the night； at 12。40 A。M。； to my intense disgust； we
passed a great number of our vessels with Raouf Bey。 Shortly after； we
passed others； together with the boat of Achmet Effendi； bimbashi。 These
officers and people are incorrigible； they have idled their time on the
road to such an extent that I can only conclude it is done purposely。 We
wasted about an hour during the night in stopping to make inquiries。
〃At 11。30 A。M。； we passed the solitary ambatch bush on the west bank
where the steamer smashed her paddle last year。 The wind is strong from
the north。 Last year we were five hours from the ambatch bush to the
dubba。 We shall therefore arrive to…day at about 4 P。M。 We have been
exactly 19 1/2 hours steaming from Kutchuk Ali's station to the ambatch。
We left Tewfikeeyah at 11 o'clock； we have therefore been twenty…seven
days to the spot at the dubba that we should reach this evening。 Last
year we left Khartoum on 8th February； and we arrived at the station in
the following order：
〃February 15thFashoda。 16thSobat junction。 18thBahr Giraffe
junction。 March 2ndarrived at the forest beyond Kutchuk Ali's station。
This is the same spot where we overtook Raouf Bey last night； he having
left Tewfikeeyah on 11th December。 Thus he has been twenty…six days from
Tewfikeeyah in reaching the spot this year which he arrived at from the
great distance of Khartoum in our former voyage in twenty…two days！ Last
year the fleet was fourteen days on the voyage from the Sobat to the
above spot； this year they have been twenty…six days！ I believe
thoroughly that they delay purposely； in the hope of thwarting the
expedition。
〃Last year the whole fleet assembled at the dubba in twenty days from
Fashoda。
〃We arrived at the dubba at 5。30 P。M。； having been delayed two hours by
obstructions and rapids。
〃January 8。We cut through a horrid accumulation of floating rafts that
have filled the open space of last year between the dubba and the mouth
of our old channel。 This being completed； I ordered the boats to keep in
close line until the arrival of the main body； otherwise the floating
rafts would again block up the channel should the boats proceed。
〃January 9。Hauled the dingy over the marsh； and explored the old
channel for a distance of fifty minutes。 Thank goodness； this was clear
to that point； a distance of about two miles； but at length we were
stopped by vegetation。 The latter is of a light character； and can be
easily removed。 Clouds of mosquitoes； the dew very heavy at night。
〃Shot a Baleniceps Rex； with rifle。
〃January 10。At day…break we distinguished eight sail on the northern
horizon。
〃January 11。Brisk north wind。 Raouf Bey arrived in the evening。
〃January 12。Started and passed the choked river with much difficulty；
and entered the channel of last year's clearing。
〃January 13。We only made about two miles yesterday and to…day； being
stopped by vegetation。
〃January 14。Cutting partially； but the channel is much improved since
last year。 Made two and a half miles。
〃January 15。Made three…quarters of a mile； and having reached the lake
Timsah （crocodile lake） we found the river blocked up； we therefore cut
our way into an open but shallow channel which last year was impassable
from want of depth。
〃January 16。…The diahbeeah went ahead； but the steamer and heavy vessels
were much delayed by shallows。 I went on and determined upon the
passage； the open lake being visible about 600 yards distant。
〃January 17。…Made about 300 yards of heavy cutting through rafts of
vegetation。 The lake of last year nearly choked up； about 100 acres of
rafts having completely destroyed it。
〃January 18。…Cut about 350 yards； and at 3。30 p。m。 we entered the lake。
From the mast…head it appears that an unbroken sheet of water now exists
for some miles。 I trust this may be true； and that no mirage deceives
us。
〃January 19。…Sailed four miles； at which place we found a new channel
coming from the south； while our channel of last year from south…east
appeared to be closed at half a mile distance。 Explored the new channel
for about two miles； in appearance it was a river of 200 or 300 yards
wide。 At length we arrived at a sudd of small dimensions with open water
beyond。 We returned to the junction； and passed the night at a sudd half
a mile up our old channel。
〃January 20。…At 7 a。m。 I took the dingy； and with much difficulty pushed
about a mile through the grass until I found the whole country closed by
vegetation。 I think the river has opened a new channel； and that the
passage of yesterday will take us to nearly the same spot above the sudd
that we reached by another route last year。
〃Many vessels having arrived； I visited the Englishmen and physicked
Ramsall and Mr。 Higginbotham。 At 4。15 p。m。 we started； poling round the
angle to enter the new channel discovered yesterday。 In the evening we
all sailed with a light breeze； and found the river open for three and a
half miles ahead。 Halted for the night。
〃January 21。…The river being closed ahead； I took the dingy； and after
much trouble succeeded in reaching our old channel in the clear river。
Having started at 7 a。m。； I returned at 1 p。m。 I had sounded the channel
the whole distance； and I have determined to cut a passage through
to…morrow。
〃January 22。…Cut 350 yards through heavy sudd。 Last year this piece was
600 yards。 We at length reached the small lake where we last year buried
the two artillerymen in an ant…hill。
〃January 23。…I took the diahbeeah a mile and a quarter up the river；
while the fleet was being squeezed through our spongy channel。
〃January 24。…Yesterday the five vessels that were left behind by Raouf
Bey arrived； and the fleet assembled。
〃I am in great anxiety about Tayib Agha who has twelve vessels with him；
none of which are yet in sight。
〃This black colonel is not clever； and should an accident occur； he will
be at a loss how to act。 Julian