7G ASCENT OF THE RAPID 



were cat round down to tlie bone. I dressed it as well 

 as I could with lint and carbolic lotion, and kept him 

 on board in the hope it might heal. This, however, it 

 did not do so rapidly as I expected, and I had, in the 

 end, to land him and get another man in his place. 



On March 30 commenced unloading the boat at 

 6 A.M., sending everj^thing by coolies to a shed built for 

 the purpose at the head of the rapid. The boat then 

 had to await her turn to be towed up, and this caused a 

 delay of eleven hours. There were thirty men on the 

 tow rope, and even then the progress was made by 

 inches. Though the rapid was only about 220 yards 

 lono- the ascent took till 5.30 p.m., so some idea mav be 

 formed of the violence of the current. As soon as the 

 top was reached the reloading commenced, and this 

 took till dark. My boat was the first owned by a 

 European that had made the ascent, and knowing from 

 former experience the feeling of the natives towards 

 foreigners, I took especial care in seeing her secured 

 for the night. Two anchors were laid out, to one of 

 which was secured the chain cable (a thing hardly ever 

 seen in native boats), and a watch was kept all night to 

 guard against treachery, for they would have had no 

 hesitation in cutting us adrift, if possible, and sending 

 us down the rapid to destruction. The sandstorm con- 

 tinued all day, and the river was at its lowest. 



