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



but as I took a series of bearings, and a meridian 

 altitude of a star at Mandji, and was careful in 

 registering my dead reckoning in the journey from 

 the junction of the Ovigui to the Falls, the position 

 can be fixed with tolerable accuracy. This will 

 enable geographers to clear up mucli that was doubt- 

 ful in the cartography of this part of Africa. 



It was nearly dark when we had packed up the 

 camera, and we had a dilficult walk to accomplish be- 

 fore reaching the place where we intended to pass the 

 night, namely, a fishing encampment of Aviia people 

 on the banks of the river. We were still stru<2:2"lino; 

 through the entangled forest when night came on, 

 and through breaks in the foliage we could see the 

 misty moon peering through the light clouds. The 

 loud roar of cataracts and rapids accompanied us 

 every step of the way, and the uncertain track 

 lay over broken and stony ground near the river. 

 Scrambling through thorny bushes, climbing and 

 wading, we at length reached the ebando (encamp- 

 ment) at half-past eight p.m. On the road Igalo, 

 who was just before me, killed a venomous snake 

 which was lying in the path. It had a hideous 

 triangular flat head, and fangs of enormous length. 



To my dismay the ebando was full of people, and 

 there was scarcely room to move under its shelter. I 

 was quite exhausted with fatigue and hunger ; my 

 hands and legs were bloody with the laceration of 

 tliorns, and my clothes wet through. At length I lay 

 down by the side of one of the fires and thus passed 

 the night. My Commi men were greatly discontented, 

 and Macondai cursed the okenda i nialai (the good-for- 



