"February 15th--Fashoda. 16th--Sobat junction. 18th--Bahr Giraffe junction. March 2nd--arrived at the forest beyond Kutchuk Ali's station. This is the same spot where we overtook Raouf Bey last night, he having left Tewfikeeyah on 11th December. Thus he has been twenty-six days from Tewfikeeyah in reaching the spot this year which he arrived at from the great distance of Khartoum in our former voyage in twenty-two days! Last year the fleet was fourteen days on the voyage from the Sobat to the above spot; this year they have been twenty-six days! I believe thoroughly that they delay purposely, in the hope of thwarting the expedition. "Last year the whole fleet assembled at the dubba in twenty days from Fashoda. "We arrived at the dubba at 5.30 P.M., having been delayed two hours by obstructions and rapids. "January 8.--We cut through a horrid accumulation of floating rafts that have filled the open space of last year between the dubba and the mouth of our old channel. This being completed, I ordered the boats to keep in close line until the arrival of the main body, otherwise the floating rafts would again block up the channel should the boats proceed. "January 9.--Hauled the dingy over the marsh, and explored the old channel for a distance of fifty minutes. Thank goodness, this was clear to that point, a distance of about two miles; but at length we were stopped by vegetation. The latter is of a light character, and can be easily removed. Clouds of mosquitoes; the dew very heavy at night. "Shot a Baleniceps Rex, with rifle. "January 10.--At day-break we distinguished eight sail on the northern horizon. "January 11.--Brisk north wind. Raouf Bey arrived in the evening. "January 12.--Started and passed the choked river with much difficulty, and entered the channel of last year's clearing. "January 13.--We only made about two miles yesterday and to-day, being stopped by vegetation. "January 14.--Cutting partially, but the channel is much improved since last year. Made two and a half miles. "January 15.--Made three-quarters of a mile, and having reached the lake Timsah (crocodile lake) we found the river blocked up; we therefore cut our way into an open but shallow channel which last year was impassable from want of depth. "January 16.-The diahbeeah went ahead, but the steamer and heavy vessels were much delayed by shallows. I went on and determined upon the passage, the open lake being visible about 600 yards distant. "January 17.-Made about 300 yards of heavy cutting through rafts of vegetation. The lake of last year nearly choked up; about 100 acres of rafts having completely destroyed it. "January 18.-Cut about 350 yards, and at 3.30 p.m. we entered the lake. From the mast-head it appears that an unbroken sheet of water now exists for some miles. I trust this may be true, and that no mirage deceives us.