In the Bush with a Camera. 253 



clear away. " Here is the best place for the Camera," 

 said my companion, pointing to a particularly inaccessible 

 jungle. "What do you say PRINCE; could you clear 

 that space with the cutlass ?" 



Looking down at his bare feet and then shaking his 

 head, the negro replied, '* No boss ! too much pimpler 

 (thorns)." " Well then," said I, " we must try it from the 

 bateau." 



This was easier said than done. The hard curved 

 sides gave no hold to the legs of the instrument and it 

 was almost impossible to get it to stand. Then the frail 

 craft was rocking in the current, and with the move- 

 ments of the photographer, so that when one leg was 

 fixed the others slipped down. Once, the Camera was 

 nearly overboard ; then its lens cap fell into the water 

 and floated down stream where we had to follow and 

 pick it up. We were however soon back again, with 

 two men holding the bush-ropes, and making another 

 trial. 



" It's no use," said my companion, " we shall never 

 obtain a good piflure. I can't get the Camera to remain 

 steady, and as for focussing, it is impossible." 



" Well," said I, " expose it any way, we have lots of 

 plates,*' and he did so with the result as we afterward 

 found that it was almost worthless. 



On we go again, our ardour somewhat damped by the 

 difficulties of this first plate. Scene after scene passed 

 before us and was left behind on account of similar diffi- 

 culties. Now we came upon an opening on the bank 

 made by some woodcutters, and although the scene in 

 front of this was not up to our expe6lations we resolved 

 to take it. Before us was a tree with its roots over- 



KK 



