ii8 Seven J 'cai's in the Soudan.

of water with high waves presented the aspect of the sea in a storm, and it Avas now too late to think of a refuge. 1. sent astern all the creAV to lighten the prow as much as possible, but the frail vessel shi])ped water continually, and the constant efforts of the men were insufficient tol)ale it out. The rain only ceased at three o'clock on the morning of the 25th ; we were all drenched, Init it Avould have been folly for us to have attempted to change our clothes.

The place where we lost the interpreter not seeming safe from gusts of Avind, and the shore being coA'ered Avith rocks, T decided to leave it. AVe set out at two o'clock, and searched in vain for a place Avhere Ave could land. The Aveather Avas threatening, and constant lightning illuminated the lake.

ToAvards elcA'en o'clock at night Ave found at last an accessible spot where the shore Avas sandy, but at two o'clock the bad weather began again ; the wind, which Avas bloAving from the land, changed all at once to nortli-Avest, great waA'es tossed the boats, and it Avas impossible to get under sail and leaAe the place.

I had a sail hoAveA-er hoisted at the proAv, to hinder as much as possible the AvaA'es from flooding the bark. But the anchor of the Dufile, although all the chain Avas in the Avater, could not hold, and the boat at cAerA' roll Avas driven toAvards the shore. At half-past three the bark Avas stranded, and at the first AvaA-e that broke over it was full of Avater, and disappeared entirely except the stern. We sprang into the Avater, as we were only five or six metres from land, and set to Avork to collect the ship's stores Avliich had fallen overboard. Others Ave picked up afterAvards, but they were quite soaked through. EAeryone had lost a part of his outfit and goods, but the greatest loss of course was mine. What gricAed me most was to be bereft of my compass, Avatch, and telescope, though I Avas also much