FROM BUSSA TO THE SEA 461 where the current is broken up, and its strength lessened.

It is amongst them that canoes are able to get through, turning the quieter water to account ; but, as I said before, the passes there were too narrow for our boats.

We were soon flung on to a second rapid, less majestic and terrible in appearance, but perhaps more dangerous than the first. To pass it safely, we had to steer to the left to begin with, and then bear to the right as much as possible to avoid the waves driven back in that direction THE RAI'IDS BELX)\V BUSSA.

by a great rock over which the water fell like a huge moustache ; only the utmost care and skill saved the boats from being flung upon a bank of sharp flints near the left bank. In fact, it was an even more delicate manoeuvre to achieve than to describe !

Beyond this rapid the water was boiling and seething as in some huge caldron ; \vhirlpools and waves met and clashed into each other, and even between the rapids, in comparatively calm water, there was such a swell on that the boats were lifted high up and rolled about as if at sea.