M DANGEROUS RAPID 



side of the cabin, this being the only possible means by 

 which they could have been abstracted. During the 

 night I had been awakened by hearing the dog growl, 

 but noticing no further sound went to sleep again. These 

 l:)oat-thieves are fairly common on the river, and usuall}^ 

 are most expert swimmers and divers. If they are dis- 

 covered, they go overboard at once, and being quite 

 unencumbered with clothing, are able to make the 

 best use of their proficiency in the water. The low- 

 ban got some of his things on going back to the village, 

 but none of Mr, KricheldorfF's were recovered. A 

 pagoda was passed during the day, near which was a 

 very bad rapid, one of two we had to ascend. The 

 river is rising and much discoloured, this being pro- 

 bably caused by heavy rain to the westward, as from 

 all I have heard it is yet much too early for the general 

 rise caused by the melting of the snow. 



May 1. — A rise of from 6 to 8 feet had taken 

 place in the river during the night. On starting, the 

 boat was taken over to the other side, and on looking 

 out I found her already in a rapid, and in a most dan- 

 gerous place. Before many minutes we were on a rock 

 forming part of a ledge jutting out into the river. Just 

 before striking it, one of my strongest men fell over- 

 board through the ironshod bamboo pole, which he was 

 trying to fend off with, slipping on the face of the 



