Chapter II

Kind reception in Khartoom—Dyafer Pasha, the Governor-General—
Contract with Ghattas—Herr W. Duisberg—Ivory trade at
Khartoom—Khartoom possessions in the negro countries—Departure
from Khartoom—Manning of the boat—Construction of the
Khartoom boats—First night on the White Nile—Character of
the landscape—Washing away of the east bank—Fertility of
the country on the west—Acacia forests—Herds of the
Hassanieh—Numerous hippopotamuses—Geese and ducks—Beginning
of the wilderness—The Ambatch-wood—First day of ill-luck—
Running over a wild buffalo—Baggara Arabs—Brethren in the
faith—The mountain Nyemati—Evening gossip about pygmies—
Native Egyptian cultivated plants—Buffalos alarming the
Baggara—Mohammed Kher, the robber chief—Impressions on the
first sight of savages—Boat attacked by bees—Frightful
agony—Gadflies—Giant snails—A man carries three
canoes—Repair of the sail-yard—Fashoda the most southern
military station—Fifteen Shillooks at a shot—Gay
temperament of the people—Gun accidents—African giant
snakes 43

CHAPTER III.

Camp of the Mudir—A negro king—Campaigns—Future of the
country—A wise judge—The shrieking priest—Gum-arabic—The
melodious tree—Mohammed Aboo-Sammat—Boats on the
flight—Treachery of the Shillooks—General market—Excuse
for plunder—First papyrus—Cæsar among the pirates—Useless
attempts to proceed—A world of grass—Hippopotamuses in
a fright—The last obstacle—Depreciation of the Gazelle
stream—_Bon-mot_ of the Viceroy—Ghattas’s namesake—The
slipper-shape—Description of the Nueir—Analogy between
man and beast—Cactus-type of Euphorbiæ—The Bahr-el-Arab a
mainstream—Vallisneria meadows—Arrival in Port Rek—True
nature of the Gazelle—Discovery of the Meshera—Deadly climate
and its victims—Le Saint—Features of the scenery—The old
queen and her prince consort—Royal gifts—Fishes and birds 84

CHAPTER IV.

Start for the interior—Flags of the Khartoomers—Comfortable
travelling with bearers—The African elephant—Parting
from Shol and Kurdyook—Disgusting wells in the district
of the Lao—Wide sandflats—Village of Take—Fatal
accident—Arabian protocol—Halt in the village of
Kudy—Description of the Dinka—Peculiarities of the
race—Dyeing of the hair—Nudity—“The Turkish lady”—Iron
age—Weapons of the Dinka—“People of the stick”—Weapons of
defence—Domestic cleanliness—_Cuisine_—Entertainment of the
ladies—Snakes—Tobacco-smoking—Construction of the huts—Dinka
sheep, goats, and dogs—Reverence for cattle—Degeneration
of cows—Intestinal worms—Deficiency of milk—Large
murahs—Capabilities of the Dinka—Warlike spirit—Treatment of
enemies—Instance of parental affection—Forest district of
the Al-Waj—Arrival at Ghattas’s chief Seriba 137