74 Lake No — Bor.

tUoh.

Miles. Kilometres.

Description.

Di=Kharge (1.4.01) 362 cm. per sec 10 2 deleib palin.s. (W.) 3 lieleib palms. (E.) Trees HeUetElNuer Captain Gage's channel North end* of false and true channels and block 15 Series of lakes., 10 5 12 14 92 148 108 113 125 139 233 143 2S0 150 it. It is reasonable to suppose that, unless cleared, it will, in course of time, disappear and be transformed into a series of " mayas " or lagoons. These "mayas" are constantly changing their shape. New channels burst into the river and others fill up and disappear. The average level of the marshes, in March and April, 1901, was from 7 inches to 1 foot above the river water surface. Between mile 65 and Hellet-el-Nuer, tlie width of the river is very variable ; in many places it is only 60 yards and in others as much as 150 yards. The general average may lie taken iis fi'om 75 to 80 yards, and the mean velocity of the stream at 2 miles an hour, at low water. The depth ranges from 15 to 22 feet, but in places is as much as 28 feet. The sndd blocks 9 to 14 were met with between miles 65 and 82. At block 14, what may be termed the first series of sudd obstruction ended, and with its removal, in April, 1900, through navigation between Khartoum and Gondokoro was restored. The worst place in the river, in the way of giving trouble, was block No. 10, at mile 67. From this point land approaches the river on both banks, that to the east being less extensive. Trees 5 miles to east. At mile 139 from Lake No, Hellet El Nuer (or Aliab Dok) is reached. It is rather a pretty landing-place with stretches of short turf ; no huts or inhabitants. The latitude at this place is 8' 4' 36" North, and at this point the high land touches the west bank of the Jebel and stretches in a broad ex])anse to the hoiizon. The bank here is 3 feet above the water, but the land rises at a short distance from the river. This plain is evidently never swamped, even in flood. It is covered with a growth of deleib palms, Euphorbia, and bush. It commences at mile 131, and continues along the river as far as mile 144, with swampy intervals at the loops.

At Hellet El Nuer itself, a branch of some size takes ofi" the Bahr El Jebel. This channel is not shown upon any existing maps, and was first mentioned by Captain Gage, of the 7th Dragoon Guards, in his report upon his journey through the sudd in the winter of 1899-ISKX). It has a width of 70 yards, of which 10 yards on either side are filled by the swamp gi'assea. Its average depth, at low water, is 3 feet, and its mean velocity is 2 feet per second. Its discharge, as measured in March, 19lil, was 2r74 cubic metres per second. Captain Gage's channel leaves the Bahr El Jebel at a right angle, but some 500 yards downstream it turns in a north-westerly direction. (Captain Gage followed its course for some 40 miles, but was then stopped by sudd. It seems not improbable that this channel forms a junction between the waters of the Bahr El Jebel and those of the River Naara, which discharges into the Bahr El Ghazal, through the Khor Deleib. A few miles down-stream its banks are lined by a succession of Nuer villages, and its width increases to 200 yards. It must carry a large quantity of water when in flood. At other periods of the year (January) it appears to flow into, not out of, tlie Bahr El Jebel. Four miles further on the channel widens into a small lake, and from here* the true river is blocked V)V sudd for some 20 miles. This is termed block 15, and lepeated eflbrts to clear it out (1901-02), owing to the total absence of current, resulted in failure. The expedition under Lieutenant Drury, 1903- 04, very nearly succeeded in clearing the whole of the true channel. Both Lieutenant Drury ar.d Sir W. Garstin later passed right through this block in 1904, the only remaining piece near the southern end of the block being fairly easily navigable. The true channel is from 16 to 20 feet deep, whilst the false channel to the west is only 4 feet to 6 feet in depth. One of the Dervish steamers, with boats containing ivory, was sunk in this part of the river, and was discovered by the 1903-04 expedition. At present navigation of the false channel is attended with considerable difficulty, and the services of a com|)etent pilot are indispensable. The river is separated into many branches, and these cross and recross one another, forming a bewildering labyrinth of islands. At the south end of the small lake before mentioned, channels converge from all points of the compass. These are separated by low flats, covered with dense growth of papyru9. After steaming for some 7 or 8 miles through a wilderness of jjapyrus, a series of lakes is reached, at mile 150 from Ijake No. Stiff current here. These lakes have a depth of about 4 feet at the deejiest point, but shoal rajjidly towards the shore. A feeble but distinct current i)asses through them to the north. Their breadth varies largely. Their shores are surrounded by high papyrus and their surfaces are dotted by countless small sudd islands. There are, however, indications on both sides that the high land is not very far distant. It has already been explained that the true channel, which lies to the east of these lakes, is At Ihii point wa> the " Box " or " Sanduk," on a pole, erected ai a landmark and for letter*.