AT MAGUNGO. 145 melons, which grow here in great abundance, small patches of ground covered with a species of Gynandropsis, many sweet potatoes, and sesame. All the huts were divided by a partition into two rooms. After we had persuaded one of the fugitives to return, he promised to call his chief. The language, dress, and arms of these people are exactly identical with those in Wadelai’s country. This district is called Farokéto. To Koche is said to be a distance of six or seven hours, to Mahagi eight hours. Next morning Chief Rokéto sent us a refusal; he was offended at our not having gone direct to him, We continued our journey early, hugging the western bank, on which many villages lie scattered, and where euphorbias grow in remarkable quantities. The pressure of the current ~ seems to wear away the eastern bank very rapidly, for on the western bank long stretches of fresh alluvial soil lie bare, on which vegetation is only just beginning to take root. It is very remarkable that neither geese nor ducks are to be met with in this district; on the other hand, numerous herds of antelope abound (Antilope ellipsiprymna and A. senegalensis). Over the lake itself, which we soon reached, a little sterna flew, unfortunately beyond our reach. The osprey (Halietus vocifer) is one of the commonest and prettiest birds in this region.

We reached Magungo, where we are to make a longer stay, at 2.40 P.M. Our voyage from Dufilé to Magungo occupied thirty-one hours fifty-eight minutes, which tallies well with former journeys of thirty-five hours and thirty-four hours forty-six minutes. If we reckon an average rate of four miles an hour, the distance would be about 128 miles. Four hours twenty-eight minutes were occupied in steaming from Farokéto to Magungo, on account of the strong current. The aneroid read on the lake 27.62 in. (88° Fahr.), on our arrival at Magungo 27.56 in. (90.5° Fahr.) I devoted my stay at Magungo as far as possible to making collections, though the want of ammunition and spirit for preserving specimens, as well as other necessary articles—owing to the block in the river we had been for nearly two years without communication with Khartum—and also the lack of writing-paper, somewhat frustrated my labours ; many valuable and beautiful things, however, were brought ‘together. The zeriba placed at my disposal lay outside the K