of our crafts, great relief was felt when a steady 

 wind set in, driving us gently before it. Two 

 days later we were fortunate enough to reach 

 the further shore, and, entering the debouchure 

 of a large stream, succeeded in travelling some 

 distance up it with a still favourable wind. 

 Finally, on account of the opposing current, we 

 had to abandon the water and march on land. 

 ^ One morning, just as most of us were rising, 

 a scampering noise was heard without, accom** 

 panied by encouraging shouts of ** Hi yah I hi 

 yah I Stick it, boy I '' Presently one of our eques- 

 trians, who had risen early to take his accus- 

 tomed morning walk, came riding up, mounted 

 on a new species of a monstrous mite. He 

 pulled rein with a ^^ How's this for a specimen, 



Mr. Biologist I" ''Go to T' was the 



answer, which meant that the scientist was 

 not having any. This portion of our journey 

 proved very wearying, as our daily marches 

 were extended as long as possible. The direct 

 tion in which we had been travelling, being 

 across the main topographic features of Bathy- 

 bia, was calculated to yield a maximum of 

 information in a minimum of time. Time, 

 however, was now becoming a serious matter, 

 though new information never failed. Since 

 leaving the great salt basin of the central regions 

 48 . 



