OBLIGED TO WALK. 317 



and baggage. The barge was covered with a 

 wooden roof, upon which stood the captain of the 

 steamer directing our course, and two men steer- 

 ing with very long oars. We were dragged along 

 part of the way by a double set of men and two 

 tow-ropes, and afterwards by oxen towing with one 

 rope and men with another. For about a mile up 

 the river, the right bank was lined with boats, and 

 no little delay was caused by the shifting of the 

 tow-ropes from one boat to another to get clear 

 of their masts. In this part the current was 

 not very rapid, but on rounding a point it became 

 more so, indeed quite sufficiently to gratify any 

 person's curiosity. 



Here we were offered to get out and walk if 

 we liked to do so — a gentle hint that it might 

 perhaps be as well if we did, — so, bearing in mind 

 the unfortunate accident I have just alluded to, 

 all the passengers landed excepting a Jew, who 

 had often occasioned considerable merriment by 

 his extraordinary appearance, manner, and way 

 of living. This man would remain on board the 

 barge although the captain strongly recommended 

 him to land ; no, he would not stir from a precious 

 box he had with him nor let it out of his sight, so 



