ENCHANTING SCENERY. 131 



liill. The least depth of water we had was six 

 feet, and the next cast of the lead was four 

 fathoms. The bed of the river appeared to be 

 formed by ridges, as we frequently found ten 

 feet, and the next moment six and seven fathoms. 

 This reach of the river runs north-east by com- 

 pass ; but it was nervous work for a convalescent 

 to navigate a vessel under such circumstances. 



The scenery which we passed to-day was of 

 the most enchanting description. A succession 

 of flat table-hills with perpendicular sides were 

 backed by the Kong Mountains in the distance, 

 appearing to rise to the height of between two 

 and three thousand feet. The summits of all 

 were of a tabular form.* To us who had been 

 for the last two months in a flat, marshy, and 

 monotonous country, no doubt they appeared 

 more interesting than they really are ; but I 

 shall never forget the feelings with which I sur- 

 veyed their hazy outline, though so weak at the 

 time as to require two men to lift me up to 

 behold them. Dr. Briggs continued very un- 

 well, but I gained strength daily. On hailing 

 the Alburkah, I found that Captain Hill and 



* I afterwards found two or three remarkable hills of a 

 sugar-loaf shape . 



k2 



