306 UGANDA AND THE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

We had been led to expect that we should come across a river of considerable size flowing into the Nile on the west side, in the neighbourhood of Wadelei, but, though we used every care, we failed to discover one.

Early on December 23, before sunrise, we approached the Luta Nzige. A thick fog enshrouded everything, completely obscuring the landscape, so that we could distinguish nothing; but, to our delight, soon after the sun rose a rapid change took place. The fog rolled away, revealing a most charming scene. Numerous islands, covered with brushwood and papyrus, stud the mouth of the Lake and the Victoria Nile, while in the distance could be seen the ranges of mountains which guard its western shore. Herds of antelopes, eland (Oreas LivingstonO) were grazing on the grassy shore, and forty hippopotami were counted marching in single file along the bank. We had been steaming steadily up stream for some time, when the boat began to pitch and roll unpleasantly. In the distance the high waves of the stormy Lake were visible, their white foam-crowned crests reminding us of the ocean. Neither the natives nor the Arabs enjoyed this part of the journey, as unpleasant sensations arise, and only the well-remembered cry of " steward " was wanted to make the illusion complete !

After steaming for about three-quarters of an