78 UGANDA AND TEE EGYPTIAN SOUDAN.

caries, and extracted several teeth to tlieir great deliglit. One man had three out one after the other, and then wanted more removed ; but as I found they were so firm that it took all my strength to get them out, I suggested that three were quite enough for one sitting. The natives bear pain wonderfully, in fact I think they cannot possibly feel as acutely as Europeans ; they laughed and joked many times while undergoing severe operations.

The day I spent at Kerrie was very pleasant, although I had not much rest owing to the number of patients. The huts for travellers are very comfortable, and are built about a mile north of the station, on the river's bank.

From Kerrie to Bedden the river is navigable, and there is a small steamer stationed off Bedden ; but I went down in a boat on July 22. The current was so strong that we were only three hours and a half in doing a distance of some thirty miles. The river here is about 400 yards broad, and the banks are high and covered with timber. Gebelel-Kelb on the right is the only mountain of any size, until one comes in sight of the Bedden hills, which are five rounded peaks, forming a good landmark.

Just as these peaks came in view we had a very narrow escape of being upset by a hippopotamus ; we felt a bump under our bow which lifted it up a foot out of the water ; springing up, we seized our