A XILE BLOCK.

almost rectangular, turn to tlie east. At this point the river became blocked by the floating grass isles on August 28, 1878, and it was with great difficulty that we slowly worked our way through the impediment. As this block took place just at the junction of the Bahr-el-Ghazel with the White Xile, it may be suggested that the volume of water flowing into the Nile from the Bahr-el-Ghazel should have been sufficient to clear away the obstruction. This objection is met by the fact that the gatheringground of the water supply of the Bahr-el-Ghazel system is far north of that of the Victoria Nyanza, and that a large rainfall in the one place does not necessitate a corresponding fall in the other districts.

In point of fact the amount of water contributed by.

the Bahr-el-Ghazel in that year was very inconsiderable, and had very little force, the current being barely half a knot an hour. If the captain of our steamer had been a European instead of an Arab, he would have taken our advice and towed away some of the grass isles which impeded our progress, and by thus clearing the water-channel, the complete block at this place would probably have been prevented ; but Arabs are content to allow events to take their own course, so our captain went on his way, saying " Malesh (never mind) ; the block was not his business, inshallah, it would clear itself away."

But, in fact, this river-channel has never been thoroughly re-opened, although Mr. Lupton with VOL. n. I