CAPTAIN TUCKEV'S NARRATIVE. 13.5 



but where there is now not a single hut. I immediately 

 sent Simmons to the Chenoo of Noki, to request he would 

 send me a person acquainted with the river higher up ; but 

 on his return in the evening, I found that nothing could be 

 done without my own presence, and the usual dash of a 

 present of brand3\ 



August 9. I went this morning up the river in the gig, 

 and found the difficulties encrease every mile, from the 

 velocity of the current, and the ledges of rocks ; the 

 barrenness of the hills also became greater, and the only 

 trace of inhabitants was discovered in a few miserable fish- 

 ermen, who take some small fish in scoop nets off the rocks 

 and dry them. 



August 10. There being every prospect that we should 

 not be able to proceed much further in the boats, and find- 

 ing that there were many Mandonzo men at Noki, whose 

 country is situated very far up the river, and whose manners 

 and language were described to me as totally differing from 

 those of Congo, I this day paid a visit to the Chenoo of 

 Noki, to endeavour to ascertain these facts, and to procure 

 guides. AVe were led a two hour's most fatiguing march 

 before we reached the banza; sometimes scrambling up the 

 sides of almost perpendicular hills, and over great masses 

 of quartz and schistus, sometimes getting on pretty smoothly 



