CHAP. VII SECOND EXPEDITION 159 



men with the donkeys being ready opposite, a Hght cord with 

 a stone at the end (the other being attached to a stronger rope) 

 is thrown from the last boulder and caught by those on the far 

 side with a pole. It is just as much as we can do to get it 

 over. Having got hold of it they haul the rope through till 

 they have enough to make fast to a donkey's neck, we on our 

 side keeping hold of our end. A noose, neither too tight nor 

 too loose, has to be tied, so that it does not choke the animal 

 and yet will not let its head through, while the knot must be 

 one that will not slip and can be readily undone. Then I give 

 the word : the donkey is thrust by main force into the torrent, 

 and, as soon as it is launched out of its depth, we haul away, 

 hand over hand. For the first few yards it swims with its head 

 above water ; but, as soon as it gets fairly into the rapid, the 

 boiling water forces it under, and we pull away might and main 

 to get it through as quickly as possible. In a few seconds it 

 reappears close to our bank and is got out, with all despatch, 

 among the rocks, none the worse for its ducking. So we go 

 on, working hard, until, one after another, we get them all 

 through. In this we succeed without mishap this time ; though 

 on a former occasion, the last donkey, finding himself alone, 

 had plunged in, without the rope, to try and swim over to his 

 companions, and was carried down the rapids to the cataract 

 below and never seen again. Then they had to be got through 

 the other channels, w'hich also entailed much trouble and hard 

 work ; for donkeys unaccustomed to travelling will not face 

 water at all, though they get used to it in time, and after some 

 practice will cross rivers with little trouble. As with oxen, 

 there is generally one among them that usually takes the lead ; 

 and, with a herd of seasoned travellers, on this one being taken 

 through, the others follow. It took us the whole day before 

 we finally got all safely over to the far side and down to 

 our camp. The animals were mostly looking fat and well, 

 though one or two were evidently sick. Two or three had 

 already died, but I had calculated on losing some, as, what 



