The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-18

Retvs1n the sixth and ninth parallels OIL
north latitude, the Nile traVefses SEi4es
of marshes in extent probably the laEseSl
in the world Their actual limits arS %
vet unknown. Their area can. CONSEQUENT
Is. only be guessed at, put II canine aiitioc 10
much under twelve thousand S4us'ie iii'.e-
They originate in an immense depression
which was evidently once & lake. 1t IS
now \ reedy swamp which forms vast
nursery Tor the production OF aquatic
plants. Throughout its extent, only oc-
caSional glmpseS of open water are TO De
ss.:n. The water-plants most commonly
met with are the papyrus, Cyperus papS
rus. and the Vossia procera, ttll reef
called by the Arabs, I'm soof, or ,1Motne-
OF WOOL on account OF the prlchlS ia'i
with which it is covered. IntersDersed
with the above are patches OF ambatch,
uerminiera elaphoxylon, a tree-like shrub
which is lighter than cork. Numerous
Towering creepers twinc themselves
through the reeds and add TO the tansle
Of tht, mass. This whole tract of country
is called by the Arabs, the ''sudd. or the
.barrier,'' on account Of the obstruction
which it causes to the course Oh the river.
\ DkEARY REGION.
4 more dreary region it is impossible
to imagine, and it is difficult 10 depict
its melancholy desolation in words. In
every direction, as far as the eye can
reach a sea. of reeds extends. NOT q Tree
breaks the line OF the horizon. Inc solnpfe
colour of the papyrus contrasts, it is true,
with the more vivid green Of the reeds,
but the general tone of the landscape IL
monotonous to an extreme degree, and
the Teatherv tops of the papyrus plant
lend a funereal aspect to the scene. lew
persons can spend much time i'll these
swa1nps without suffering from depression
and low spirits. The climate does not
tend to improve matters. The heat. even
in the winter months, is intense, ana the.
atmosphere is, at all times. saturated
with humidity Malaria is rife, and from
April to Octoter the rainfall is practically
continuous Except in a few isolated
sspots. where the land rises some inches:
above the marsh. no sign OF human lie is
visible. The only Inhabitants are q few
negroes, Of the Dinlla and Nuer tribes,
who alle out a miserable existence by
fishing Even the hippopotamus whichis
common in other parts of the Nile, appears
to find the ''sudd'' region Uninhabitable,
as it is but rarely seen within its limits.
The setting sun nightly heralds the APP
pearance of mosquitoes in countless
mvriads. At this hour the hum OF thes"
pests produces such 81 volume of sound as
almost to resemble the low notes OF an
organ. Their ferocity continues unap-
peased throughout the night.
Sir Samuel Baker has we'll described this
pestilential region as "a heaven for mos
quitoes and a damp hell for men,
4 LOST RIVER.
Through these huge marshes the Me
forces its way from south TO north,
changing its character completely dur
ng its passage. It enters them u broad
and majestic river. It passes through
them split up into several channels OF
narrow section, which wind through the
swamps in a series Of bewllderng loops.
The velocity of the stream III these
branches is sluggish, and the color OF the
water resembles that which, has pissed
through a peat-bog. For more than TWO
hundred miles the river is practically lost,
but at Lake No. north latitude nine de-
grees tWeuty-nire minutes. 1t WORKS ciedt
of the swamps, and the different channeis
reualite. forming what is known rs tfe
.'Bahr- el-Abiad' or White Nile.
The most important of~the branches IN
the '.sudd' region is the "Bahr-el-Gehel'
or Mountain River and the batlf-el-
Zaraf' or '.Giraffe River. The former
trayerses the centre Of the sWanps, Vine
tl. latter follows their eastern Liin.t. fe-
joining the main stream noftH u lASihe
No Some ninety-six miles down stream
OF this last the sobat River brings .s d iarse
volume OF water from the AoyssiAah
hiehlands to swell the discharge of the
White Nile.
or1be aifferent Branches. the Bahr-el~
Gebel is undoubtedly the most important.
and may be considered Ia ne lie true
Nile. 1t forms the means OF conmunica-
ton between the White Nile and the Up
per. or Victoria Nile. .a
WHAr THE asUDD" rs COMPOSED OF.
More often than. not the Bahr-el-Gebei
70 conDlste!y blocked. by vegetation which
forms a serious impediment to its course.
s,Ich a block constitutes what IS techni-
caIlys known as The sud- It is formed
IS follows:
Before ana after the annual rainy season
stormy wen thor prey ais. The strong winds
cause large masses Of paryrl,s and reeds,