234 Seven Years in the Soudan.

Suleiman's vanguard was already at Jur Gattas, but was obliged to retreat because of the flood, which still rendered communication impracticable.

When I finally left Rumbek on the 17th Xovember, 1878, I was able Avith great trouble to reach the bank of the river Ajel. The march was fatiguing beyond measure, as we were obliged for the greater part of the way to walk with the water up to our breasts. There were no boats. We made rafts of cane and in this way succeeded in crossing. As soon as two companies had crossed, I hastened to the seriba of El-Hassan, being doubtful of its fidelity. I arrived at the village at dawn of day, so that the inhabitants were greatly surprised. I was in a hurry to cross three other rivers that lay before me, and to occupy Wau, a capital strategical position, as all the roads towards the seriba cross at that point. Wau was also the only post at which I could find sufficient grain for the troops. Everyone knows what a defence a river is, and how difficult it is to cross one, especially when boats are wanting.

I only stopped a few hours in the village of El-Hassan, being anxious to cross the river El-Tangi, on the opposite bank of Avhich a certain Babeker had made a foi'tified camp, which was later to serve as a magazine and depot for Suleiman's troops when he came to attack Rohl. We therefore set forth, but after a few minutes' march we had to cross a swamp. The water only reached to our belts, but the mud was as tenacious as glue and we could hardly draw out our feet. This swamp is only two hours long during the good season, but we took five hours to cross it. The people cursed in their idiom, and said they were not buffaloes, and that this was no season for travelling over this marsh, which in summer was dry, but in winter almost impossible to cross. They called our march " The devil's walk."

I have been obliged to wait all day for the ammunition and cannon to arrive. Every cannon had