FROM FAFA TO SAY 267 I did my best to reassure the messenger, and he promised that the chief himself should come to see us the next day. He did in fact do so, and at last let us have some guides.

Digui had gone to reconnoitre the rapids further down stream, and about noon he returned in a great state of agitation. " We must start at once," he said, " there was A K()( KY HILL NKAR KENDAUJI.

just enough water to float our boats now, but the river was sinking rapidly, and in an hour it would perhaps be too late." What a passage it was ! We pushed on, actually moored, so to speak, to an anchor and a grappling-iron, using first one and then the other, sometimes both according to circumstances. We kept on bumping against rocks, here, there, and everywhere, but fortunately we were going too fast to do the boats much harm. Then we had to fling ourselves into a perfect labyrinth of obstacles, striking against them