"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 15th - Fashoda. 16th - Sobat junction. 18th - Bahr Giraffe
junction. March 2nd - arrived 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.
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