IM Bahr El Ghazal.

Place.

MUes.

i ■§ s «> d 1 I s 't H £ Description.

River Rohl or Khor Deleb Mayyet Eluri Deleb palm 16 Mayyeh Nur Fa|iyriM 18 21 10 31 35 channel 160 to 200 yards in breadth. It forms the outlet for the waters of the River Rohl, coming from the south. In summer no current at all is apparent. The Ghazal River at this point, with a width of some 40 yards, is in appearance a more insignificant stieara than the other. Its depth, however, is greater, averaging 13 feet, as against 6 or 7 feet in the Deleb. The Khoi- Deleb was explored by Major Peake for some 18 miles above this junction. At this point it was blocked by sudd and reeds, with trees on both banks, so that further f)rogresa was impossible. It had, however, a decided .stream coming through the reeds, which eft the Ghazal 33 miles higher up. Tlie transparency of the waters differs in the two chainiels ; that of the Khor Deleb being opaque and of a whitey-grey colour, while that of the liahr El Ghazal is clear and limpid, like that of the White Nile itself. Between the two rivei-s, which run parallel for some distance, is an expanse of low marsh, a foot above lowwater level. This whole area must resemble a large lake when the rivers are in flood, and the aspect of the country is desolate and monotonous to an extreme degree. It is absolutely treeless ; the atmosphere is damp and warm even in the winter months, and the mosquitoes are of a jjeculiarly venomous variety. Proceeding up the Bahr El Gliazal, for a long way there is little change in the landscape. The low banks continue, and the stream winds about through the marshes with a veiy feeble velocity. At 18 miles a large khor joins the Bahr El Ghazal on the left bank. This is known as the Mayyet E16ri, and appears to come from a northwesterly direction. It is this khor which has been supposed to be the junction between the Bahr El Ghazal and the L0II6. From the slope of the country, however, it would seem that water flows fron) the higher land into the Bahr El (Jhazal. It is possible that in flood there may be a spill in the opposite direction. This khor, although 200 yards in width, is very shallow. At 21 miles the Khor Deleb approaches to within 1,2C0 yards of the Bahr El Ghazal. A solitary deleb palm (mentioned by Junker) forms a fine landmark on the right bank. The Khor Deleb deiives its name from this jtalm. The left bank of the river beyond the fringe of swamp is an extensive grass plain covered with ant-hills. These are so close together that they somewhat resemble a gigantic grave-yard. The Nuer villages are now a long way from the bank. As the river is ascended the country becomes more and more hopeless-looking. Flat grass plains extend to the horizon, and a wide band of swamp borders either side of the waterway. The channel narrows, and in places is not more than 2!} yards. The depth is fiom 12 to 16 feet, and the turns and bends, though not as sharp as on the Bahr El Zeraf, are endless. The difference between the Bahr El Zeraf and the Bahr El Ghazal is very striking. The water of the former during the period of low supply is considerably below its banks ; in the latter it is almost level with them. The rise of the former, even in ordinary flood, is not less than G to 6 feet. That of the Bahr El Ghai;;il, on the contrary, must be very small. It is difficult to imagine that even in flood the water can rise more than 3, or at most, 4 feet over its lowest level. Even with such a rise, the area of the country under water would be enormous, and the flooding would extend for a very long distance. A few miles further up the depth of water increases to 19 feet, and in places to 25 feet. For the first time forest appears in the distance on the left, but several thousand yards away from the river. The right bank is now covered with low bu.sh and scrub beyond the flooded line. The country bordering the Bahr El Ghazal does not have the appearance of being under water for any length of time, even in flood. In this respect, again, it diffeis from that traversed by the Bahr El Zeraf. It must, however, be saturated and resemble a sponge in the rainy season. There cannot be more than a very shallow film of water over these plains, (jr the bush and scnib would not flourish as it does ; neither would ant-hills be found in such quantities. The general slope of the country is so low that the water must di ain ofiF extremely slowly. At mile 31 the width is 60 yards, and the reed-belt gets narrower ; a very large " mayyeh," or khor, comes in on the left bank here. This is known as the Mayyeh Nur, or the Mayyeh Mahmud Effendi. Its width near the junction is from 150 to 200 yards, and its general direction appears to be west. It is very shallow. This mayyeh is said to receive the waters of the Keilak River (Mayyeh b'ta KoniHudari (?)), a stream about which little is known, but which is supposed to rise in the hills of Dar Nuba. There is a wooding-statiou on light bank opjwsite the Nur. Up-stream of this junction the Bahr El Ghazal takes a moi-e Eoutlierly direction. The two streams run for some miles parallel to one another, from COO to 7(KJ yards apait. The country between the two is, perhaps, 2 feet over the water. At mile 35, the first papyrus seen since leaving the White Nile is met with. From this point on, for many miles, a band of this reed fringes both edges of the water. It is never so high as on the Bahr El Jebel, nor does it grow here in such dense luxuriance as on that stream. The water surface is very narrow, often not more than 20 yards, but the depth is considerable averaging from 15 to 19 feet. The reed-birds here are an extraordinary sight. They are to