322 FKOM THE XIGER TO THE NILE 



river then does not improve till this range, which is four 

 miles in length, has been passed; after that ten miles of good 

 water brings one into Vankerckhovenville. 



The Andamanza Rapids which are just above N'doromo 

 stretch for a distance of two miles and present a scene 

 of wild grandeur. The river swells out to a width of 

 400 vards and is broken up by small rocky islands covered 

 with tropical growth. Through the narrow waterways the 

 river foams and bounds over hidden rocks and others half 

 submerged, while beautiful cascades falhng over reefs between 

 the islands pour their waters into the main channel where a 

 series of chutes in successive terraces present a grave 

 danger. The gradient of these chutes is so steep that the 

 sterns of the boats in ascending were under water. 



Here we had a narrow escape of being smashed up, for 

 the men, owing to the strong current, could no longer hold 

 on to the chain attached to the bow and the boat was carried 

 back at a terrific speed on to the chute behind. The polers 

 cried and yelled at the fate which was impending, while the 

 poles cracked and broke like matches. Then a wonderful 

 piece of luck happened ; just as the stern of the boat 

 hung over the great chute behind, the chain was held fast 

 between two sunken rocks. But that was not the 

 end of our suspense, and we spent an uncomfortable half- 

 hour not daring to move lest the chain should give 

 way, and fearing every moment that a stopping might 

 loosen. I shouted above the roar of the water to Umuru 

 on the bank to go and get help from a neighbouring 

 village. It seemed a lifetime before he returned but he 

 had got the men. Then Audelai succeeded in chmbing 



