102 SWIM IN THE RIVER. 



were the most sociable and friendly we had yet 

 met, and the most willing to give any information. 

 They said they knew nothing of the white man re- 

 ported at Mapoonda. The river here is broad and 

 deep, and there is an extensive sandy beach under the 

 village, where numbers of fish are caught daily in nets. 

 Seeing the natives walking in and out of the water, I 

 asked, ^' Are there no alligators ?" The reply was, 

 '^ Plenty, but they have so much fish here they won't 

 touch men." In a few minutes I was enjoying a swim, 

 accompanied by Reid, but none of the other men 

 would venture in. Here, as in most places, the cor- 

 nopean was a great source of amusement, and I played 

 up at the village after dinner. 



