298 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

the wood from the nuggar having heen transferred to the steamer, steara was got up, and we started, towing the nuggar and heing piloted by four Kidj (Kitch) natives.

The steamer could hardly make its way through some of the passages, the channel was so narrow and circuitous ; sometimes the way seemed quite blocked up, but a sharp turn would suddenly bring us into a large lake, several of which were two or three miles across. About 10 o'clock we could see the real river that is, the real water channel in the distance ; a most tortuous narrow passage, which we threaded with difficulty, led to it, and at length we managed to get the bow of the steamer into the river, but there we stuck fast; a line was run out and secured, and all hands and passengers pulled away at it, but our efforts were of no avail, for the rope broke. The soldiers then had to work in the water as before, every one on board was obliged to help, and at last the steamer surmounted the obstruction, and the current caught her and carried her down stream with such force that it took us half an hour to get her round.

We steamed back to the nuggar and pulled her into the river, and could hardly believe that we were actually released from our forty days' captivity. On our arrival at Shambil there were great rejoicings, and a large quantity of powder was burnt to celebrate our rescue.