170 Bahr El GMzal.

Mile:).

Place.

•S a •a a 12 Description.

Navignbility Meslim El lU-k 25 153 8° 44' 50" north. The water at the time was so shallow that it was impossible for the steamer to ascend the channel, the width of which was from 600 to 700 yards, with a depth of 3 feet. The water coming down this stream was of a dark amber colour, and was evidently the drainage of the mai-shes. A slight current was visible. The general direction of the Kit is south or south-west. Captaiu Sanders, who visited this place in September, 1900, found the Kit completely blocked by sudd ; but Lieutenant Fell, R.N., ascended it in November of the same year, and reports that the water near the Meshra was " foul, stagnant, and very shallow." In March, 1900, the sudd was very light, mostly floating, and easily removed. Above this junction, the expanse of water into which the Jur discharges itself has a width of 400 yards, a depth of 10 feet, and a fair velocity, even in the month of March. The mai-shes here are bewildering in their extent. After 3 years' experience, it is found to be impossible for a steamer to reach the mouth of the Jur River, and, therefore, of course, Meshra-el-Rek, from the middle of April till the middle of July. In May a steamer cannot get within 15, and in June within Sft, miles of the Jur mouth. Even wheu free of sudd, the Jur is unnavigable, owing to its shallowness, from the first week of December to the end of July. After strenuous exertions during 2 years on the part of Lieutenant Fell and others, the Jur has hiis now been cleared of sudd and a channel made for steamers up to Wau, a distance of 160 miles. This enables stores. Sec, to reach headquarters by water during 4 months of the year (August to November, inclusive). The sudd is, however, quick-growing and grows from the bottom. Sudd-cutting parties have, therefore, to be annunlly employed during the low river time to clear a channel for the flood-time. The average difference between high and low Jur is as much as 15 feet ; in flood-time the current is swift and the river deep, whiLst the reed beds on either side make towing impossible. Luckily a north wind helps boats along up-stream. (Junker made the total distance by river from Luke No to here, after 1,781 angular measurements, to be about 135 miles ; but it is difficult to make out his exact point of starting.) Meshra-el-Rek lies on a small island in a backwater — the river itself apparently starting in marsh land, and not yet having been defined. Island about a mile long and varies from 200 to 400 yards in breadth. On either side of the river marshes extend for 2 or 3 miles. Mosquitoes swarm, and, owii g to the stagnant condition of the river, the water supply is very indifferent during the dry season. No natives live witliiu about 7 or 8 miles. The station consists of straw tukls —the hospital standing on the one bit of high ground. Great difficulty in building huts, as there is no wood suitable within several miles ; on the Avhole a mott unhealthy place. High ground lies quite 5 miles beyond the marali. The French had a fort near our present post in an even worse position.