Navigation above Sobat. 5

3. Sandbanks are of course more of an obstacle at low Sandbanks.

Nile than at high Nile, and shift about every year ; but, judging from the accounts of numerous travellers, they do not appear to form any considerable obstacle.

Steamers used to take 20 to 40 days up stream from Khartum to Regaf, and 15 to 30 days down stream ; a

good deal depended on the sudd and the season.

The navigation of the river up to the mouth of the Navigation Sobat is at all times easy, occasional islands and sand- banks forming the only difficulties. The deepest channels

lie usually towards the eastern bank.

From the Sobat to Lado the navigation of the river is not in itself difficult, but a perfect and recent knowledge of the route is required, in order not to deviate into one

of the lateral branches that are frequently met with, and

which, varying from year to year, are chiefly in evidence

during and after the rainy season. There are also many sandbanks on this stretch.

Above Lado (according to Colonel Gordon)

:— " The River Nile is navigable for boats at all seasons from Lado to Bedden, and during three parts of the year it is navigable for steamers of moderate draught to a

point within 3 miles of Bedden, but in the dry season steamers cannot proceed higher than Gondokoro.

" The road by land from Lado to Regaf, and from Regaf to Bedden, is through well cultivated undulating country. " From Bedden the river is navigable for boats to Kiri, but the rapids at Bedden necessitate a transhipment at that station. The road between these two points by land

is through an open country, sloping gently down to the

river. Two considerable streams are crossed, one of

which, the Lima, is generally knee-deep, but after storms

is impassable. It has a steady current. The second, the Kya, is a torrential stream, and always dangerous to

cross.

" After passing the Kya, the country becomes more

rugged, and this continues on both sides of the Nile, until near Kiri, where it opens out again, and continues open to near Lahore.

" The river from Kiri to Lahore cannot be termed

impassable. There are some awkward rapids in it, but

they would soon become known, and the river might be