In the evening we
all sailed with a light breeze, and found the river open for three and a
half miles ahead. Halted for the night.
"January 21.-The river being closed ahead, I took the dingy, and after
much trouble succeeded in reaching our old channel in the clear river.
Having started at 7 a.m., I returned at 1 p.m. I had sounded the channel
the whole distance, and I have determined to cut a passage through
to-morrow.
"January 22.-Cut 350 yards through heavy sudd. Last year this piece was
600 yards. We at length reached the small lake where we last year buried
the two artillerymen in an ant-hill.
"January 23.-I took the diahbeeah a mile and a quarter up the river,
while the fleet was being squeezed through our spongy channel.
"January 24.-Yesterday the five vessels that were left behind by Raouf
Bey arrived, and the fleet assembled.
"I am in great anxiety about Tayib Agha who has twelve vessels with him,
none of which are yet in sight.
"This black colonel is not clever, and should an accident occur, he will
be at a loss how to act. Julian is unwell with fever, but Higginbotham
is better.
"I went a long way in the dingy, and succeeded in finding the true
channel of the stream by probing with the twelve-foot pole through the
grass.
