264 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

here and there grassy islands divided the current, and a solitary palm reared its lofty crown like a silent sentinel watching the mighty river. Crocodiles lay floating on the surface of the water, and the snort of the hippopotami could be- heard in the reeds lining the shore. On we floated, hour after hour, down the broad stream, every turn revealing new scenes of surpassing loveliness. Night fell at length, the full moon rising just as the sun set, and throwing over all a soft veil of silvery light, while the tall papyrus beds were lit up with the lamps of myriads of fireflies, and a gentle breeze sprang up cool and refreshing after the sultry heat of the day, bearing with it the sweet scents of a thousand flowers and all the strange sounds of insect life peculiar to night in a tropical forest. At length, some three hours after sunset, we suddenly heard a bugle-call about a quarter of a mile ahead, and in a few minutes had reached the station of Kodj, where we remained for the night. This is a small station of the Egyptians, close to the village of Eionga, the brother of Kamrasi, the former king of Unyoro, whose name will be familiar to readers of Speke's, Grant's, and Baker's books. He came to see me next morning, and seemed a mild, intelligent man, and kindly dispositioned. On the llth I went on to Foweira, distant some three hours' journey from Kodj. It is well situated on the steep bank of the Nile, just at the point where it bends away west to the Albert