94 CHIEFS & CITIES OF CENTRAL AFRICA 



and only a narrow angular way was left for boats 

 to pass through. Baskets were placed there too, 

 with necks so narrow that the fish that swam in 

 could not turn to get out again ; and one we passed 

 by was almost full. Our interest in river scenery 

 was on the wane, for it had been a long day and 

 we were eager to reach Pogo. The polers wanted 

 to stop, so as to make a third day's work ; but we 

 were in a hurry and would not let them. Further- 

 more, we did not see why they should be rewarded 

 for laziness, and, as there was a moon, we still had 

 some hours of light before us. The order was given 

 to continue. 



The river was full ; there were many half-concealed 

 snags in it, and great eddies whirled and rushed 

 round some big trees caught in mid - stream. It 

 needed hard work and cautious navigation, yet 

 again and again the boys failed to make a spurt 

 where a spurt was necessary, and we presently 

 found ourselves tightly wedged in the branches of 

 a tree. The second canoe glided past us while we 

 were thus entangled, regardless of the law that we 

 were never to be left. By the time we got free 

 the moon was on the wane, and it was decreed best 

 to land at the nearest bank and pitch camp there ; 

 but we could not, for there was no land. It was 

 all marsh and swamp. The polers said we were 

 still two or three hours from Pogo, and the dangers 

 of the river were certainly too great to be faced in 

 the dark. There was nothing for it but to sleep in 

 the boat, and then it was that we missed the second 

 canoe. We had no bedding with us, no blankets, 



