difficulties, we were loth to remain a winter in 

 these regions, for, though in summer the con^ 

 ditions were bearable, there was no guarantee 

 of their remaining so during the long night of 

 the winter months. As soon, therefore, as the 

 raft was completed, we launched out on our 

 down^stream voyage, intending to make the 

 most of our time collecting facts concerning 

 this wonderful land. Oars of a kind had been 

 fashioned, but were mostly serviceable in 

 poling the craft off weed^banks, the current 

 being quite sufficent to take us along at 

 about two miles per hour. ^ Many were the 

 suggestions offered for cooking our new food, 

 but finally the amateurs gave over in favour 

 of the chef, who had the power of making 

 tasteless dishes appetising by attaching names. 

 The concoctions usually served up in Bathybia 

 were purees, which, being translated, simply 

 meant fresh-'gathered this or that, immersed in 

 pure river^water, and brought to a temperature 

 of 212° F. for an hour or more. ^ Naturally 

 more attention was now bestowed upon the 

 denizens of the river, and indeed their abun^ 

 dance and variety surprised us. Minute organs 

 isms belonging to the Rotifers and Tardigrada 

 abounded, whilst larger species occasionally 

 came into view. We spent many an hour 



f 41 



