THE GREAT SWAMPY PLAIN 231 even in the far distance, resembles the persistent advance of the tortoise. DeHberation is eminently their characteristic when undisturbed, aided in its effect by their great dimensions.

Two days up the river the vicious seroot flies swarmed to an extent almost unbearable ; their presence or absence seemed to be dependent on no particular condition, except, perhaps, the proximity of bush, and they are never seen north of Gebel Ein, 238 miles south of Khartoum, in the dry season.

We had expected to see much game up the river, but were disappointed. The unusual quantity of water in the district for so late a date made it possible for refreshment to be obtained in many places away from the river ; but, as " hope springeth eternal in the human breast," we trusted to its making appearance on the other side of the great swampy plain of the middle Zeraf. Here only two specimens were seen the entire day, both poor samples of waterbuck. On the western bank, where a few poor deleb palms eked out a miserable existence with a little straggling undergrowth, my companion had wounded a lion at the water's edge, but he unfortunately got away.

In talking imperfect, halting Arabic in the presence of any of one's own countrymen who are entirely unacquainted with the language, a very wrong impression may easily be gained by them. To instruct the pilot to go " straight ahead, O pilot," astonishingly resembles an objurgation in