18S3.] S. E. Fenl—JSTofes of a trip up the Dihing. 49 



The night was cold and windy with a little rain, the morning cold and 

 foggy till 11 A. M. The men after eating tied a large bambu on each side 

 of the canoe to steady her at the rapids, and we packed up for departure ; 

 some boxes and a tent, by four men, went off by land for Bisa, and were 

 to meet me there three days hence. We then embarked and after shooting 

 several rapids, found that two of the men in the boat were hardly equal 

 to emergencies ; so I landed them and several of the boxes that I desired 

 to keep dry, telling them to meet me at Bisa, and if possible overtake those 

 who had started first and recall the Kamti. 



We therefore had only Thang as steersman, while self and servant were 

 in the bow, several rapids we shot thus, very well, though the pace was no 

 joke now and then, and I donned my swimming belt as precaution. At 

 one rapid we found a second shoot near the bottom, and taking Thang's 

 advice kept to the left side, flying down it at speed, though we bumped 

 here and there. When near the bottom where the river suddenly turned 

 sharply to the right, we saw to our dismay a huge snag right across our 

 path, which he had forgotten, so using all my strength I ran her ashore in 

 a little bay at the side, striking the shingle with such force that the canoe 

 ran a long way upon it and we were all thrown out. The stream, however, 

 had caught the stern, swung her round, ending in a capsize, just as we had 

 jumped up and were pushing her off. Luckily by pushing hard as she 

 rolled over she cleared the snag and was carried down the rapid. Running 

 along the bank we got ahead, waded in and caught her ; but no easy job to 

 hold and bring to shore. The lashings we found intact that had been passed 

 over the boxes tent &c., and the two guns were safe (for a wonder) ; in fact 

 very little was lost though everything was wet. While the other two got 

 some firewood, I opened a cartridge, rubbed some of the powder on piece 

 of the lining of my hat, which was dry, and with about quarter of a dram 

 powder fired it in the air, getting fire at once ; some dry leaves and grass 

 soon were blazing and the logs caught. 



Afterwards we lit several roaring fires and hung everything we could 

 about to dry. My man at once started a kettle of tea and we got on very 

 fairly. Our great anxiety, however, was to dry our clothes ere night, as 

 rain threatened. Thang and I now got in more fuel while the servant got 

 me dinner. 



From what he said there was no possibility of avoiding a spill, and the 

 Singphu's belief whs that if we had held on, the canoe would have jammed 

 under the snag and we should have lost all, and been unable to get her out. 

 Ere dark we had a good many things dry and rain came on at night. Early 

 next day we again got big fires going and about 11 a. m. were surprised to 

 see the old Kamti, Lutak, our guide, and my Asamese " Milbor" turn up. 

 Luckily for us the old. fellow was superstitious, and got quite uncomfort- 

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