212 Seven Years in the Sondan.

an hour. We were obliged to cross it in boats made of hollow trunks, and during the crossing three inexpert boatmen capsized their craft and were droAvned. The opposite shore was an inundated island, and only at sunset were we able to reach a place slightly elevated above the shore of the river. The second branch is about one hundred and ten feet wide and seven deep ; this we crossed like the other.

For three consecutive days Ave continued on our Avay, and at length arrived at the village of Agar, Avhich contains about two thousand inhabitants, dependent on the Mudirieh of Rhol.

In this village the huts are built on platforms like those at Laoo, with the difference that two huts are built on the same platform, which is very large, so that tlie place beneath serves as a magazine and meetiug -place. Here, too, are the straAV couch and the slaves' dAvelliugs. For the first time since our departure from Sliambc aac have passed the nights sheltered from the rain, and alloAved our troops a little rest. The next morning Ave crossed another river, the passing being rendered easy by means of an immense boat containing thirty men. The country is the same in aspect, high grass, AA'oods, and Ioav inundated lands. On September 7th we a])proached Rumbek. An hornbefore our ai'riA'al a detachment came to Avelcome us.