ii6 Seven Years in the Soudan.

rises gradually, and o\\ this kind of peninsula were several scribe. From information obtained from a native of the place, Ave learned that mortality is very great here among Kaba Kega's subjects. Reduced to live on fish, deprived of bananas, poor in cattle, and congregated by thousands on a narroAv strip of ground, these natives must needs be subject to all kinds of disease AVe continued our voyage to the south. At three o'clock in the afternoon the southern sky gre dark, and we took refuge beneath a small hill, expecting a great hurricane and a deluge of rain. But fortunately the storm passed off in another direction, and for this time we were spared.

The inhabitants of a neighbouring village fled to the mountains ; others, who Avere armed, looked at us from a distance ; but, seeing that we took no notice of them, they ventured as far as the shore, signing to us to go away, and at the same time unfastened the cable by which our boat was tied. The} gesticulated a great deal, threatening to attack us, and at last attempted to cut off a piece of our cable with their lances, but as I threatened them with my rifle they desisted, and went awa}-, repeating their signs that we should leave the place.

Marcli 2Srd. — We took several hours in adjusting the rigging, and then resumed our voyage at dawn, after a dark night, disturbed by several hippopotami, which did not leave us a moment in peace.

The mountains round about offer no possibility of procuring fuel, but some might be got, at the expense of much labour, from the southern shore of the lake.

A strong south wind prevented ns fi'om proceeding, and we had to anchor at two o'clock.