218 DIFFICULTIES OF PROCEEDING. 



from the town ; so that I found myself obliged to 

 run all risks and get under weigh. I sent a 

 boat out with Kroomen to sound the river, as a 

 part which I had to pass was very shallow, from 

 two trees of an enormous size growing in the mid- 

 dle of the stream, and giving additional strength 

 to the current from their obstructing its course. 



At 3 p. M. we got under weigh and ran a- 

 ground. In a short time we got off, but, from 

 the rapidity of the current, again drifted on a 

 sandbank. Our deck tackle was in a very bad 

 condition, all the ropes being rotten and good for 

 nothing : the hawser and deck tackle parted 

 several times. After making the most persever- 

 ing efforts until 11 p.m. we were obliged to de- 

 sist for the night. 



At 5. 30 A. M. of the 17th, we carried out the 

 anchor on the bows, and at 9 a. m. succeeded in 

 getting off the shoal. At 4 p. m. we got under 

 weigh, one of the king's canoes going ahead of 

 us, whilst we followed in the track. Numbers of 

 individuals were watching our arrival : the tops 

 of the hill of Iddah were covered with natives, 

 who, with their various cotton garments of blue, 

 white, and red, gave an unusually novel ap- 

 pearance to the whole scene. 



