24 RISE OF THE RIVER. 



very naturally assigned the cause to the river- 

 gods being angry, and stated that they had 

 carried the anchor away on their heads. 



The morning was cold, although the ther- 

 mometer was at 82°. The river appeared to be 

 rising very rapidly ; yet, though the water was 

 very high, Mr. Lander informed me that it had 

 scarcely attained half its height. If this be true, 

 it must, when it has reached its full size, be a 

 most majestic stream. We were now at anchor 

 in one of the narrowest parts, and this was twelve 

 hundred yards wide. — In four or five days we 

 expected to reach Egga, and to arrive at Kab- 

 bah in seventeen or eighteen more. I sincerely 

 wished we were at Rabbah, and considered it 

 likely that we should remain there for some time 

 should things turn out favourably for trade. 

 The Kong Mountains, terminating at Leylan in 

 a range of low undulating hills running in a west- 

 south-west direction, were again visible, and at 

 this distance had a very pleasing appearance. 



The natives of Kacundah manufacture mats, 

 cloths, and winter hats, with rims nearly a yard 

 wide. They also cultivate a great quantity of 

 yams ; but are rather a stupid-looking race of 



