WILD DOGS 163 



hundred yards wide, deep in parts, with sandbanks 



here and there; there were two pairs of dug-outs 



near the shore, and as our carts went rumbling and 



tumbling down the steep sandy banks I wondered 



very much how these small boats were to get the 



carts and oxen across. Men hung on to the backs 



of the carts and wheels to prevent their weight 



pushing the little bullocks into the river. Then the 



drivers gently led the bullocks into the water about 



knee deep, they were unyoked, and one dug-out was 



pushed under the yoke-pole of a cart, the second 



boat was pushed under the back of it, the wheels 



taken off and the cart rested across the two boats 



and was lashed, and the two boats tied together. 



Another cart coming from the other side brought us 



its pair of dug-outs, and when our three lots were 



ready the bullocks were tied on behind, and the men 



poled across. Sometimes the bullocks were swimming, 



sometimes they floundered along, at other times they 



found their legs on the sand, but they were puffing 



and blowing before we landed. The wheels were 



replaced and we were soon under way again. 



I camped at a place called Maleri under a sacred 

 tree, and under which were arranged the village 

 gods; soon after I arrived there was a procession 

 to visit them. The men forming it were beating 

 tom-toms and they walked several times round the 

 tree ; the centre of attraction in the procession was a 

 man with a very large red and gold crinoline hung 

 round his neck. He spun about in a wonderful 

 way and danced round, salaaming all the time to 

 the gods or, I think, to any one else he could see. 



