Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/184

178 === DIARY. ===

5th Nov. 1884. – 9.45 A.M. Half battalion sailed from Gemai; four companies in order of the alphabet. Thirty-one boats, all told, rationed for the day. One hundred days' stores to be shipped at Sarras.

A fair fallacious wind and flying start: some very pretty, some very clumsy sailing, resolving itself here into a race, there into a collision: boats must learn to keep their distance. Channel unimpeded; reached Sarras, seventeen miles, by 4 P.M. Men very much pleased with themselves. Work of taking in stores at once commenced.

6th Nov. – Shipment of stores continued. Capacity of our 30-feet boats taxed, and the intended hundred days' reduced to eighty days' ration per man: these stores not to be touched till after Dongola is reached, the Commissariat being prepared to supply at various intermediate points. At Sarras eight days' ration per man drawn from this source. Boats look very low in the water: sailed 4 P.M., and with a fair slant of wind, made three miles up-stream before dark.

7th Nov. – Quitted our moorings 7 A.M., in the original order, but with expedient intervals of a quarter of an hour between companies. A hard day; by sundown five miles accomplished. Struck my first rock while tracking to-day, and in heaving boat off got left there for an hour solus. Men's ardour a little damped. At sundown, No. 44, and two boats of another company, on the wrong side of the river, and at foot of Semneh cataract. Made crew comfortable under the boat-tent, and slept.

8th Nov. – All day in Senmeh cataract. Strong rush of water throughout; but the upper gate offers the only serious obstacle. Here boats unloaded for portage of stores, and navigation conducted by the naval people and by natives, who brought each boat through with speed and skill. Not caring to pitch tents, men slept on the ground by their loads.

9th Nov. – Half battalion separated. The two leading companies got off last evening, remainder following this morning. Double companies the best working unit; can keep within hail, and be of mutual assistance. Made eight miles this day. Encamped east bank at sundown; company separated again. A good deal of rough tracking.

10th Nov. – Reached the foot of Ambigol cataract at sundown, and camped in hearing of its rushing water a low perpetual roar, but the noise has been overrated by travellers. My absent boats of last night did not arrive till 9.30 A.M. this day, which has been a fairly prosperous one, the men rowing better together, and accomplishing some fine bits of tracking: pulled off their legs in one place, but all held on to the satisfaction of the two occupants of the boat. At 4 P.M. reached this desolate spot, and halted for remainder of the company: little or no vegetation even at river-bank, but black iron rocks and sand. Navigation intricate, and want of a chart much felt. Only three of my seven boats reached the rendezvous.

12th Nov. – Ambigol is four miles behind us. One of my non-commissioned officers narrowly escaped drowning; fell overboard in mid-stream, but was caught by the man at stroke, – accident occurred poling. At nightfall yesterday had only cleared the lower gate, and that with holes in my own and another boat; both were re-