STRANDED IN THE NILE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1944, 20 March 1885, Page 3

STRANDED IN THE NILE.

At daybreak a fairy-like' scene burst upon ua. The broad expanse of the .magnificent river, silvered hy the first rays of the rising sun 'was studded with' islands " in venture clail," which: peeped, forth through.thc rapidly vanishing .purple mist. Far, far away up the winding sheet of water we could discern a long succession of white lateen sails of vessels bound for Khartoum, laden with troops and stores. The scenery of this part of our Nile Voyage was very lovely. The hills gradually approached the banks, and as we neared the cataract, closed in upon us. . The river from this point and throughout the sixth cataract, was dotted with islets.

Happy isles, Like those Hesperian gardens famed of old, Fortunate fields ami groves and flowery vales', Thrice happy isles. jiiltos, HI. 570. The first of these-is of some size, and is • called the island of Mamad. The people call them the Ninety-nine Islands, without having taken the trouble to count them, I suppose. They are covered with magnificent groves of acacias and hollythorn, among which creepers entwine jftemselves. As wo advanced the scene wffdly romantic,'and the Nile channel was narrowed to the proportions of a mountain stream, we neared the last cataract, and passed a steamer deserted and hopelessly stranded. Above us, and almost over us, stood theboldrangeofJebelHazebatasifto dely further progress. We arenow fairly in ■ the cataract; huge boulders rear their heads on all sides, and ominous-looking reefs (shdhs) just out of the current. The' steamer carrying Hick Pasha and a portion of his stall', after stranding once or twice made a dash for it and passed the rapids triumphantly. Not so its com panion, on which 1 was. After trying again and again various passages, we found ourselves fairly grounded/ All sorts of plans were hud. recourse to, especially that of taking the anchor out'of the boat dropping it and trying to wind ourselves up to it by steam power. Away went our consort, thinking no doubt we would quickly follow. We tugged and tugged landing all our fuel, and tugged again till midnight; all in vain. Early next morning we emptied the vessel of everything by boat loads on the sand-bank not far off between the shove and the island; there we squatted underneath the shadow of a pile of boxes, wondering if we had to wait until they missed us at Khartoum, and watching the winding, up. progress being executed with continuous but Snayniling energy. Martin and Warner athed from.the sand bank, a very 1 crocodilish' looking place. For myself having escaped from a shark atSuakim, I did not wish to be reserved for a crocodile. Suddenly we see that the bow has gained half-an-inch, now an inch, now another, another, and another; she is •slowly but surely getting off. Now she ]3 wound up to her anchor, and gaily afloat once more. By nnpn WP arc on lipard. agajn, ( bag and baggage,' and the last cataract is passed. -With Hicks Pasha in tho Soudan. By Colonel the Hon. J. Colborne.