EXPLORATION OF THE RIVER YEI 351 



through, at others, when a passage allowed, we took the 

 risk and shot the rapids. This was most exciting work, 

 and I know of no game of chance to equal it. As the boat 

 shot through the water that surged over rocks where an inch 

 one way or the other would have meant destruction, it was a 

 splendid sight to see Umuru standing calm in the bow, 

 motioning with his hand where the deep water lay to Jose 

 at the rudder. While the rapid lasted the tension on one's 

 nerves was so great that when the boat shot into calm water, 

 the reaction found one trembling from head to foot. 



From where I made my fifth camp the river flows through 

 a well-wooded bush country, and the banks are often lined 

 with fine trees among which are tall mimosas. 



The next day we made three and a half miles, bringing 

 us to the Uttle Kimbi river which is about ten yards wide at 

 the mouth. In this distance there is a visible improvement 

 in the river ; its average width is thirty-five yards and the 

 banks are much higher, 8 to 10 ft., always a sign that the 

 bed is less rocky. 



Where the Kimbi empties itself the banks bulge out, form- 

 ing a deep pool in which hippos plunged and snorted on our 

 approach to make off at once up the small stream. Through- 

 out that night the camp was made restless by two lions and a 

 leopard which at times hung about unpleasantly close to us. 



After leaving the Kimbi there are two formidable rapids 

 to pass, consisting of reefs right across the river that form 

 waterfalls 20 ft. high. These were a new aspect of the river. 

 They divide it into reliefs, where the water is generally very 

 good, with a current of not more than one and a half miles, 

 though there are a few parts where the current becomes 



