the country so called.  On our asking where was the city or town of Dongola, they pointed to a large village in the distance on the west bank of the river, and told us that village was called “New Dongola,” and that Old Dongola was farther up the river.  They informed us that the Pasha had left a guard of twenty-four soldiers here, and had proceeded with the army three days’ march farther up the river, where we should find him.  We determined to proceed to his encampment.  We saw to-day, for the first time, a small sail boat, constructed by the people of the country; it was very clumsy, resembling a log canoe.  The river, in some places which we passed to-day, appeared to be about three miles from bank to bank, but shallow; the islands and shores presenting the same spectacle of luxuriant vegetation that we saw yesterday.

We bought a lamb of three weeks old, this evening, whose mother was as tall as a calf of two months old.  This species of sheep is hairy, and has no wool.  The kidneys of this lamb were large enough to cover the palm of my hand, though the animal was undoubtedly undiseased.

23d of Safa.  Got under way shortly after sunrise, and proceeded up the river with a fine wind, which lasted during the day, and carried us probably thirty miles on our way.  The country through which we passed to-day is not so good as that we saw yesterday; the desert comes down to the banks of the river in several places.  We saw many villages, but for the last two days have observed none of those castles so frequent in the lower country.  About an hour and a half after we quitted the land, passed a fortified town on the west bank of the river, which appeared to be mostly in ruins.  On our landing, at night, we endeavored to purchase some provisions, but the people of the country could only spare us some milk and vegetables, for which they would not take money, but demanded flour.  On our consenting to this proposition, they brought us an abundance of the articles above mentioned.  They informed us that there was a town called Dongola, containing about three hundred houses, at the distance of two days’ sail from this place, and that the Pasha was encamped three days’ march in advance of Dongola.

24th of Safa.  Left the shore this morning shortly after sunrise, and proceeded on our voyage.  The country we passed through this day was, on the west bank of the river, fine, but on the east bank the desert was visible at a little distance from the river almost all the day.  Passed two considerable fortified towns, situated on the left bank of the river; they were almost in ruins.  An hour before sunset we put to shore on the west bank, where we found a fertile and cultivated country.  The people who occupied it, said that they had settled here a year ago; the island they had occupied before having been overflowed by the river, and their plantations destroyed.

25th of Safa.  This day made but little progress, there having been a calm for more than half the day; what country we saw resembled that passed yesterday.