NAVIGATION OF THE RIVER LEONA 199 



So we dragged the reluctant and much-protesting filly down to 

 the riverside, conveyed the boat a few hundred yards up-stream, 

 and then Bernardo and I got aboard and shoved off. I had put a 

 collar round the filly's neck, and by this supported her in the wake 

 of the boat. All would have gone well had not one of the row- 

 locks, worn by weather and worm-eaten, struck work and smashed. 

 Left with but one oar the current took charge of us. Soon the 

 unfortunate filly began to turn over in the water like a catherine- 

 wheel, and I was unable to help her much, as I was holding 

 a rowlock in place with one hand and supporting the filly with 

 the other. Eventually we were obliged to put back, and were 

 lucky enough to make the south bank just in time, for at that part 

 of the shore there is but a small stretch upon which it is 

 possible to land ; immediately below high cliffs descend sheer to 

 the water. 



After this we resolved to drive the troop over before us, but 

 although they had had a long-journey experience of river-crossing, 

 they did not care to face the Santa Cruz, in spite of our efforts 

 they broke back five or six times. Once we nearly had them in 

 the water, when the little Zaino got away and galloped up the 

 bank. At last, however, by dint of bellowing and brandishing oars 

 or anything that came handy, we succeeded in convincing them 

 that the south shore of the Santa Cruz had become unhealthy 

 to remain upon, and so they swam over. We started at once 

 with a boatful of gear, and landed barely in time to defeat the 

 ambitious intentions of the leading spirits of the troop, who on 

 getting out of the water decided to make off and regain a life of 

 freedom. 



As soon as we got the baggage over we saddled-up and rode 

 through a very sandy tract of land, and by evening made our 

 camp under a bare hillside by the River Leona. 



I believe that a German expedition had once encamped there. 

 Both wheat and beans were growing near the long-deserted camp- 

 fire. No doubt the seed had fallen from some of the provision- 

 bags of the Germans. There was also a miniature corral formed 

 of bushes. 



On the next day we made a very long and tiresome march. 



