4 FROM LADO TO DUFILE.
European wood could withstand the climatic influences or the ravages of the boring beetles. The amount of destruction caused by these beetles (a small brown Bostrichus species with
a strongly developed thorax) is almost incredible, whole trunks of trees being transformed by them into powder in a marvel- lously short space of time.
The country between Bedén and Kiri does not present any remarkable features. Sandy mounds, with here and there scattered trees, rise gradually towards the south. The river- banks, however, were considerably higher than formerly, and literally covered by water-birds. Stately yabirus (MMycteria) and cranes, as well as Nile geese of both species, stood in pairs upon the small sandy islands and at the confluences of the streams, and we saw numbers of tantalus, ibis, vanellus, &c., and the never-failing Hyas egyptiacus.
After a successful journey of six and a half hours, we arrived at Kiri, where I received an extremely warm welcome from Mason Bey, who had just returned from surveying the Albert Lake. According to the friendly account he gave me, the lake was circumnavigated and surveyed on board the steamer Nyanza in five days. Its southern end was found to be 1° 10’ N. lat., its most westerly shore 30° 30’ E. long. There is no outflow towards the west. Mason Bey will send you full par- ticulars as well asa map. Gessi’s river Wadelai was not found. I also sought it in vain last year. I send you the definite latitudes of our stations, for which I have to thank Colonels Mason and Prout :—
Lado, 5 Ol, 335 IN. lata. ; . Col. Mason.
8 5 CO Ab 2. ee : : ; 1.) (Cole ierottts eden, "4° 35°48" 95,9" : : : . Col. Mason. Kiri, HALO (Ll Wars ; 4 5 4 - inet a A fO8! 367 6) oy : ; : . Col Prout: ua bore, 53. 455) 53% <. 4,5» : , . Col. Mason. Duley se 34°35 oy ; : : : " MITC OC; 2A Ae 94, BI STA Hi lones 6
“ Big LAL ae. Gale, : : « Col, Prout,
As I already intimated to you, the sketch map I sent you is in need of many alterations, because the positions on it were obtained by dead reckoning. ‘The corrections are especially