128 Seven Years in the Soudan.

Towards the shore the waters are turbid from the yellow earth brought down by the drainage of the land. There fish are very abundant, and we saw them making continual leaps out of the water to save themselves from the crocodiles, great numbers of which, of very large size, infest these waters. The hi])|)opotamus on the other hand is very rare.

The weather was again threatening, but I took advantage of the strong wind in our favour, and with a speed of six miles an hour we reached in four hours a small but excellent bay, about seven hundred and fifty feet wide and eight hundred feet deep, and sheltered on all sides, to which T gave the name of Shubra Port.

This little harbour lies, according to my observations, at about the middle of the lake, and would be admirably suited as a refuge and for storing fuel.

I had now traversed fift3'-two miles. I was glad of the eifect produced on the crew, who admitted that if the thunderstorm had overtaken us near the coast our vessels could not have escaped. The tempest could not have been more violent, but the Diiflc and Mniiurujo had proved themselves worthy. I promised the crew and soldiers that they should rest all the next day in reward for the fatigue they had endured the night before.

April 17t/i. — Having found a suitable shore, all landed to dr} their clothes ; the sailors swept the water from the boats, adjusted the sails and cordage, and in this way the whole day passed.

Ajirll 18fh. — Strong south-easterly wind, en route at six a.m., but the lake was so rough that I was obliged to return to the point of departure.

On our way again at nine, the wind having lulled. We coasted by mountains which descended abruptly into the lake. After about twenty miles I observed a large island projecting towards the shore. We hoisted all sail, so as to reach it as soon as possible.