CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 209 



owners. The division of the price usually creates a dis- 

 pute, if there should happen to be an odd bead. 



Sept. 6th. After a constant batde with the natives from 

 daylight, and after using every possible means, by threats, 

 persuasions, and promises, I at last, about two o'clock, 

 got the canoes, which I was to have had at daylight, under 

 Ava3', having first paid eight fathoms, and given a present of 

 two fathoms of chintz each to four different gentlemen. 



As the canoes, though promised to carry twenty men 

 each, would barely hold eight, I was obliged to walk along 

 shore with a part of the people. About three miles from 

 the place of departure we passed two small rapids, but the 

 other side of the river was clear. 



We came to a bay in which were ten hippopotami ; as 

 the canoes could not venture to come on until these huge 

 creatures were dispersed, we Avere obliged to fire vollies at 

 them from the shore, and although many shot evidently 

 told, not one of the beasts seemed in the least to be af- 

 fected by them. The noise however, together with the 

 exorcism of our old guide, drove them away. 



The river now, tor the first time, bore a majestic appear- 

 ance, having the land on each side moderately elevated, 

 with little hills of lime-stone further back, but still almost 



without wood. 



Ee 



