560 Voyage of the Nov ar a. 



advancing in proportion as we approached the shore. The 

 fact too that it was ebb-tide served to increase the obstacles 

 that beset our progress. Every moment the gondola touched 

 upon sand-bank or rock. The utmost caution had therefore 

 to be exercised, as we steered for some huts which were visi- 

 ble under the cocoa-palms quite close to the shore. Following 

 the deeper more navigable channels, we reached the mouth of 

 a river running from N.E., the low swampy soil on either 

 side being covered with dense mangrove bushes, but all our 

 efforts to push through the thickets so as to reach the huts 

 proved unavailing, while the whole soil seemed to be beset 

 with the stumps of the mangrove, like so many sharp stakes. 

 After pushing a short distance uj) this mangrove channel, from 

 which on either side smaller channels diverged, we retraced 

 our steps, as there was no appearance of the scene changing, 

 nor any appearance of human habitation, and endeavoured 

 to reach the land near the huts already mentioned, by some 

 of the deeper channels. Just then a white settler came 

 to our assistance, who, standing on the shore, indicated to 

 us by manual signs the clue out of this labyrinth of coral, 

 and enabled us by a less shallow channel to reach one of the 

 few points at which a landing is practicable. For at almost 

 every point of the shore the mangroves, by the tenacity of 

 their roots, prevent, or at any rate impede, the approach of 

 boats, the natives themselves being confined to the use of 

 those few spots where rivers or other natural channels afford 

 means of access. Close to the shore appeared three wooden 



