IV.] THE MAKATA SWAMP AND EIVEK. 57 



camp, a comparatively dry spot, wliere we found fuel and ma- April, 

 terials for liut-building. 1873. 



It rained hard all the night, but began to clear shortly after 

 day-break ; and at eight o'clock we commenced our march over 

 a level plain, sparsely wooded, and with a few fan-palms, and 

 the mud not nearly so troublesome as on the previous day. 



One hour's distance from camp we crossed a swift little 

 stream, fed by small drains in the soil, which falls into the Ma- 

 kata River, and then came upon another too deep to ford. 



To my vexation, on ordering the india-rubber boat to be 

 made ready to ferry the loads across, I found that a part of the 

 caravan had taken a different road, in order to ford the stream 

 where it was shallower, and, unfortunately, the man carrying 

 the boat had gone with those who did not require his services. 



"We sent after him, but in the mean time decided to cross by 

 swimming, Dillon and myself going backward and forward to 

 tow over those who were unable to swim ; and after most of 

 the men were safely landed on the opposite bank, the boat ap- 

 peared upon the scene, and we used it to transport the bales. 



Finding one of my boxes among the baggage, I took the op- 

 portunity of changing my wet clothes, but could not persuade 

 Dillon to follow my example, and he remained in the water un- 

 til he became thoroughly chilled. 



I observed wrack of grass and twigs in the branches of small 

 trees on the banks of these streams about ten feet above water, 

 showing how high the floods over the country must be at times. 



Another half-hour brought us to the Makata River, a swift, 

 swirling stream, about forty yards wide by eight or nine feet 

 in depth. At this point was a rough bridge, composed of 

 trunks and branches of trees lashed together with creepers and 

 supported by large branches, and in one or two places near the 

 banks by a rough form of trestle. 



According to African ideas, this construction, which was then 

 almost under water, answered very well for bipeds ; but the un- 

 fortunate donkeys were obliged to be hauled across at a clear 

 place farther up the stream, in a manner they did not at ^11 

 relish. 



Each one was brought up in turn and bundled into the river 

 from a high bank, while a dozen men on the opposite side ran 



