32 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 
Apatin itself lies on the left side of the Danube, in 
a perfectly flat but pleasant district. There are several 
“au” woods, much intersected with arms of the 
enormous 
river, on the right bank opposite the village, above and below 
which are meadows and pastures generally studded with 
detached willow-bushes. 
The village itself does not lie quite by the river, but is 
connected with the landing-stage by an embankment, the 
ground on both sides of which is subject to inundations and 
was now quite under water. Apatin is a very large place, 
but, being composed of one-storied houses, is quite Hungarian- 
looking. While we were still busy with our preparations for 
setting out, a crowd of people assembled at the landing-place 
who greeted us with cheers and fired off salutes, while a band 
struck up “ Gott erhalte,”* for here the population consists 
almost exclusively of Germans—descendants of the Swabian 
immigrants who in the last century were employed to colonize 
the sparsely-peopled districts of Southern Hungary. 
As soon as Hodek’s crew had come on board we got under 
weigh, followed by the cheers of the inhabitants ; but before 
I proceed to detail the events of the day, I must say a few 
words about these men, for we are all much indebted to their 
skill and pluckiness. 
The whole crew were Swabians of Apatin, who for years 
have accompanied Hodek on his journeys, and whom he has 
thoroughly trained in all sorts of work. They are as skilful 
in skinning as in rowing, in climbing up the trees for nests as 
in finding them, and in all other occupations useful on such 
expeditions. The leader of this little band is a certain 
Ferencz, who, in spite of his Hungarian name, is a true 
Swabian. He is coxswain of the ‘ Vienna’ and the best 
educated and cleverest of the erew. All the others are 
* The Austrian National Anthem. 
