ARRIVAL AT LADO. 299 On October 8 we left Shambil, and late tlie same evening met a steamer from Lado, having on board Dr. Emm Bey, the accomplished Governor of the Equatorial Provinces, who proved a good friend to me, and who did much for us on the journey from Lado to Mruli, the most southern station of his jurisdiction.

News of our difficulities had reached Lado, and he was on his way with a large number of men to try and assist us ; fortunately we had been already released, and so he turned back with us, and we arrived at Lado on October 9, 1878.

We stayed there for three weeks, the time being occupied in arranging our loads, which should all have been made up into 40 Ib. packets before leaving England. We were six days in going from Lado to Dufli. Having had occasion to traverse this part of the route on my return journey, in this place I will only describe the ascent of the Beclden Eapids.

We started from Eegiaf at half-past 7 in the morning of November 18, in two nuggars towed by natives, who, in this district, belong to the Bari tribe. The current was very strong, but we went at a better rate than I had expected, and at 10 o'clock changed the twelve natives who were pulling the boats, the number being increased to twenty-five. The rapids at times made the journey most exciting. The men had to walk through the water, the banks being all flooded ; the poor fellows were often up to