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Updated: June 20, 2025
From this elevated point we had a superb view of the surrounding country, and I took the compass bearing of the Latooka mountain Gebel Lafeet, N. 45 degrees east.
The boats being ready, we took leave of the chief of Magungo, leaving him an acceptable present of beads, and descended the hill to the river, thankful at having so far successfully terminated the expedition as to have traced the lake to that important point, Magungo, which had been our clew to the discovery even so far away in time and place as the distant country of Latooka.
He had abundance of sport, and he fed his donkey upon the flesh of antelopes, which he ate with avidity, and throve exceedingly. It is a curious fact that donkeys should under certain circumstances become omnivorous, while horses remain clean feeders. The country in the immediate neighbourhood of Latooka was parched, as there had been no rain for some time.
We had been wet through every day during the journey from Latooka, but the nights had been fine; this was superlative misery to all. At length it ceased morning dawned; we could not procure fire, as everything was saturated, and we started on our march through forest and high reeking grass.
There are three distinct languages the Bari, the Latooka, and the Madi, the latter country extending south of Obbo. A few of the words, most commonly in use, will exemplify them : Obbo. Latooka. Bari. Water. Fee. Cari. Feeum. Fire. Mite. Nyeme. Keemang. The Sun. T'sean. Narlong. Karlong. A Cow. Decang. Nyeten. Kittan. A Goat. Decan. Nyene. Eddeen. Milk. T'sarck. Nalle. Le. A Fowl. Gweno. Nakome.
I recalled to recollection the practical question of Commoro, the chief of Latooka, "Suppose you get to the great lake, what will you do with it? What will be the good of it? If you find that the large river does flow from it, what then?" At length the happy day came when we were to quit this miserable place of Gondokoro.
Instead of travelling as I had arranged, at the head of forty-five well-armed men, I had a miserable fifteen cowardly curs, who were employed in driving the baggage animals; thus they would be helpless in the event of an attack upon the road. I accordingly proposed to make a depot at Latooka, and to travel with only twelve donkeys and the lightest baggage.
We congratulated ourselves upon the termination of this affair, which I trusted would be the last of the mutinies. The country was now lovely; we were at the base of the mountain "Lafeet," which rose abruptly on our left to the height of about 3,000 feet, the highest peak of the eastern chain that formed the broad valley of Latooka.
I have noticed that birds of prey invariably commence their attack upon the eyes, inner portions of the thighs, and beneath the arms, before they devour the coarser portions. In a few hours a well-picked skeleton was all that was left of the Latooka." We were to start on the following day.
Within a mile of the river we determined to bivouac, as the evening had arrived, and in such weather an advance was out of the question. The tent having been left at Latooka, there was no help for it, and we were obliged to rest contented with our position upon about an acre of clean rock plateau upon which we lighted an enormous fire, and crouched shivering round the blaze.
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