A FRESH HAND. 397 



they appeared wofully disappointed at having had 

 all their trouble for nothing ; but a present of a 

 few heads of tobacco and a glass of rum apiece 

 made them more contented; and one of their 

 number, when he heard my project of exploring 

 the river, informed me in pretty fair English that 

 he had been up the Como with Mr. Beecroft some 

 years before, and proposed to accompany me if I 

 would give him a good dash. This opportune 

 meeting was an unlooked-for stroke of luck, of 

 which I immediately resolved to take advantage, 

 and, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the 

 Bekelai, who was evidently jealous of the stranger, 

 I at once closed with his offer, and forthwith in- 

 vested him in the red cap and blue breech-clout 

 which was the distinguishing uniform of all my 

 people. 



Having given him, as an advance of hire, a 

 couple of pieces of satin stripe* to send to his 

 people, and " dashed " each of his companions three 

 fathoms of the same material, we again got under 

 weigh, but every breath of air having died away, 



* A kind of common cotton cloth. 



