"March 17. - We cut through the sudd, and all the vessels entered the
broad waters of the lake and anchored in the evening opposite some
native huts, close to the channel that we must open to-morrow. These
huts are the first habitations that we have seen for more than two
months; - they are now deserted by the frightened fishermen who had
occupied them.
"March 18. - The diahbeeah led the way at 7.30 A.M. through the channel
that is closed by grass and the Pistia Stratiotes. At 10.15 we arrived
in the White Nile. There is plenty of water throughout the closed
channel, but there was some heavy work to clear the vegetation.
"March 19. - All the vessels came through into the White Nile, and there
was great rejoicing throughout the fleet. At length the men really
believed that a country of dry land might lie before them, and that they
were delivered from the horrible chaos or 'Slough of Despond' in which
they had now laboured for sixty days.
"I served out new tow-ropes to the fleet, and ordered No. 13 transport
to discharge and divide her cargo among other vessels, and to take on
board thirty soldiers to accompany the steamer to-morrow. We remounted
the steamer's paddles and tautened all the rigging of the diahbeeah;
mended sails, and thoroughly repaired for a start to-morrow. No. 31
being a rotten vessel, I ordered her cargo to be divided among the
lighter boats. I gave stringent orders to the officers to protect all
ammunition and bales of goods with galvanized iron plates in case of
rain.
"March 20. - All the vessels got away by 9 A.M. with a rattling breeze.
The steamer started at 10.8 A.M., but was delayed one hour and twenty
minutes by her stupidly dragging the nogger ashore in rounding a sharp
corner.
"At 5.15 P.M. we arrived at a forest on the west bank. At 6.45 P.M. we
stopped, as I was afraid we might pass the station of Wat-el-Shambi in
the dark.
"March 21. - At 8.25 A.M. we started. Three natives came to the vessel
and reported the zareeba to be close ahead.
"I served out fifteen rounds of snider ammunition per man to the 'Forty
Thieves,' thus filling up their pouches to thirty rounds. The banks are
now dry, and about two feet six inches above the river's level. The
country is as usual flat, but covered with forest on the west.
