90 SAFELY THROUGH. 



toe. " The fellow was tall, being six feet some 

 inches. I mounted upon his shoulders with my 

 gun in my hand, a few birds, and a bundle of 

 plants. He was soon in the water up to his neck; 

 and I was not without some apprehension when I 

 saw myself descend gradually up to my waist ; 

 however, I resigned myself to his skilful guidance, 

 and I let him do as he pleased. He waded through 

 the middle of the marigot with amazing resolution, 

 without being the least daunted, though he was 

 obliged to swallow three large gulps of water, 

 which for some time took away his breath. As 

 soon as I escaped this danger, I espied a plant of a 

 very extraordinary beauty floating on the water, 

 with soft silver leaves. That moment I forgot 

 every other object, and though my Benbara was 

 still up to his chin in water, I ventured to gather 

 the charming plant. Thus I escaped luckily out 

 of the marigot of Qua Soul, which at that time was 

 very nearly 120 fathoms broad that is, about twice 

 the breadth of the Seine at Port-Royal and I 

 overtook the vessel before noon." 



A pleasing night picture follows : " The negroes 

 of this neighbourhood are obliged to lie on very 

 high beds in order to escape from the mosquitoes, 

 of which there are great swarms, especially in this 

 month. These beds are from five to six feet 

 square, and consist of a double texture of sticks 



