32 FIFTEEN DAYS ON THE DANUBE. 



Apatin itself lies on the left side of the Danube, in 

 a perfectly flat but pleasant district. There are several 

 enormous " au " woods, much intersected with arms of the 

 river, on the right bank opposite the village, above and below 

 which are meadows and pastures generally studded with 

 detached willow-bushes. 



The village itself does not lie quite by the river, but is 

 connected with the landing-stage by an embankment, the 

 ground on both sides of which is subject to inundations and 

 was now quite under water. Apatin is a very large place, 

 but, being composed of one-storied houses, is quite Hungarian- 

 looking. While we were still busy with our preparations for 

 setting out, a crowd of people assembled at the landing-place 

 who greeted us with cheers and fired off salutes, while a band 

 struck up " Gott erhalte," * for here the population consists 

 almost exclusively of Germans descendants of the Swabian 

 immigrants who in the last century were employed to colonize 

 the sparsely-peopled districts of Southern Hungary. 



As soon as Hodek's crew had come on board we got under 

 weigh, followed by the cheers of the inhabitants ; but before 

 I proceed to detail the events of the day, I must say a few 

 words about these men, for we are all much indebted to their 

 skill and pluckiness. 



The whole crew were Swabians of Apatin, who for years 

 have accompanied Hodek on his journeys, and whom he has 

 thoroughly trained in all sorts of work. They are as skilful 

 in skinning as in rowing, in climbing up the trees for nests as 

 in finding them, and in all other occupations useful on such 

 expeditions. The leader of this little band is a certain 

 Ferencz, who, in spite of his Hungarian name, is a true 

 Swabian. He is coxswain of the ' Vienna ' and the best 

 educated and cleverest of the crew. All the others are 



* The Austrian National Anthem. 



