90 VISIT TO THE SAMBA NAGOSHI FALLS. Chap. V. 



wliicli I was determined to take in order to bring 

 away accurate views of the splendid scenery which 

 I expected to behold. Besides three Ashira guides, 

 Arangui, Oyagui, and Ayagui, and two boys to 

 carry the cooking-pots and ammunition, I took with 

 me two Ashira Kamhas, natives of an outlying district 

 of Ashira-land lying along the banks of the Ovigui 

 river near its junction with the Ngouyai. These, 

 with four of my faithful Commi boys, formed my 

 party. I left my guns behind, taking only my 

 revolvers. My boys carried their guns, but left 

 behind their woollen-shirts and blankets, and every- 

 thing that was not indispensible. 



We left Olenda at nine a.m., and pursued a N.-E. 

 direction until we struck the Ovigui river. We 

 had to cross this on a bridge formed of a single 

 tree-trunk lying about fifteen feet above the water. 

 We passed it with some difficulty, nearly losing my 

 camera, owing to the timidity of the carrier when 

 half-way across. From the eastern bank of the river 

 the path led to the foot of a high range of hills, 

 which bounds the Ashira plain on this side. At 

 four p.m. w^e encamped for the night on the banks 

 of a small stream. In tlie evening we had a frightful 

 thunder-storm, and had to lie down for the night in 

 wet clothes. 



December 2nd. Resumed our march at six a.m. 

 The path lay along the western foot of the hilly 

 range, through a dense forest, the rich and varied 

 foliage of which was dripping with moisture. Not 

 a sound was heard, as we trudged steadily along in 

 Indian file. At nine o'clock we came upon a beau- 



