Kind reception in Khartoom—Dyafer Pasha, the Governor-General— Contract with Ghattas—Herr W. Duisberg—Ivory trade at Khartoom—Khartoom possessions in the negro countries—Departure from Khartoom—Manning of the boat—Construction of the Khartoom boats—First night on the White Nile—Character of the landscape—Washing away of the east bank—Fertility of the country on the west—Acacia forests—Herds of the Hassanieh—Numerous hippopotamuses—Geese and ducks—Beginning of the wilderness—The Ambatch-wood—First day of ill-luck— Running over a wild buffalo—Baggara Arabs—Brethren in the faith—The mountain Nyemati—Evening gossip about pygmies— Native Egyptian cultivated plants—Buffalos alarming the Baggara—Mohammed Kher, the robber chief—Impressions on the first sight of savages—Boat attacked by bees—Frightful agony—Gadflies—Giant snails—A man carries three canoes—Repair of the sail-yard—Fashoda the most southern military station—Fifteen Shillooks at a shot—Gay temperament of the people—Gun accidents—African giant snakes 43 CHAPTER III. Camp of the Mudir—A negro king—Campaigns—Future of the country—A wise judge—The shrieking priest—Gum-arabic—The melodious tree—Mohammed Aboo-Sammat—Boats on the flight—Treachery of the Shillooks—General market—Excuse for plunder—First papyrus—Cæsar among the pirates—Useless attempts to proceed—A world of grass—Hippopotamuses in a fright—The last obstacle—Depreciation of the Gazelle stream—_Bon-mot_ of the Viceroy—Ghattas’s namesake—The slipper-shape—Description of the Nueir—Analogy between man and beast—Cactus-type of Euphorbiæ—The Bahr-el-Arab a mainstream—Vallisneria meadows—Arrival in Port Rek—True nature of the Gazelle—Discovery of the Meshera—Deadly climate and its victims—Le Saint—Features of the scenery—The old queen and her prince consort—Royal gifts—Fishes and birds 84 CHAPTER IV.