616 BOTANICAL INFORMATION, 
and while the large fragments of rock obstruct the way, the 
compressed mass of water bursts foaming forth with redou- 
bled fury. My mind has been so much aceustomed to stir- 
ring scenes, that an incident of this kind sometimes affords a 
welcome stimulant, yet I must confess, that I felt somewhat 
discouraged at surveying such an apparently impracticable 
ascent. The idea seemed one of daring temerity; yet, there 
was no choice, for we could neither return nor stay where we 
were; so, hoping the best, we prepared as well as could be 
done for passing the cataract. All the canoes being pre- 
viously secured, the men went into the Bush to look for the 
natural cordage, afforded by several climbers of uncommon 
tenacity. With the assistance of these, and the combined 
strength of forty individuals, each boat was tugged along 
the shore, and it proved a very hard task to overpower the 
descending stream, and prevent their being engulfed in the 
waters. Having succeeded, the negroes returned to my as- 
sistance. I might, certainly, have quitted the frail bark and 
stepped ashore, but being a stranger to fear, except the fear 
of being thought a coward, I preferred remaining in the canoe, 
along with twelve men, who with long poles, strove to pre- 
vent it from sliding into the main current, where no human 
power could have availed to save us. 
Life, with every one of us, depended on the success of this 
manceuvre, and on the strength of the ropes wherewith the 
boat was dragged by the negroes on the shore. Already we had 
reached the part of the river above the cascades, when the 
steersman, Capt. Arabi, with all the power of voice he could 
command, ordered the men on shore to secure the ropes, and 
not suffer them to slip. t is characteristic of these people, 
and perhaps the effect of their entire liberty, that nobody 
among them knows how to take the lead, and, of conse- 
quence, no one obeys. Regardless of the order now issued 
= him whom they termed their captain, the lines attached 
our canoe were let go, ere the individuals in it had resumed 
Fé paddles, by the aid of which they might guide it along 
the shore ; so, caught by the current, we were instantaneously 
