130 DIFFICULTIES OF THE NAVIGATION. 



much amused with the fellow's cumiing, and the 

 ingenuity he displayed in varying his lies ; at one 

 time pretending that he was unwell, at another 

 that he was consulting his gods — always ending 

 with " Why won't you take men ?" (instead of 

 ivory.) However, neither he nor his errand had 

 any effect with us. 



On the 7th we were under weigh at noon, in 

 hopes of reaching Bocqua before night ; instead 

 of which we were obliged to come to again about 

 three miles from our last resting-place, having 

 spent the whole afternoon in fruitless endeavours 

 to find the right channel, the river being divided 

 by sandy islets into a number of small channels. 

 By the marks on the bank under which we an- 

 chored, the river appeared to have fallen twenty 

 feet. 



On the following morning I found myself suf- 

 ficiently recovered to take charge again of my 

 own vessel ; and my remnant of crew were gradu- 

 ally and, I hoped, surely recovering. After leav- 

 ing our anchorage, we were obliged to anchor 

 again three times, while the channel was examined 

 by a boat ; and after making good about twelve 

 miles, we came to an anchor opposite a beautiful 

 little town, situated as usual on the top of a small 



