128 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



swimming about in it for some time, or rather being carried 

 down by the current, we managed to find a ford. Here, 

 most of us joined hands to make a hne across the river, and 

 by holding to this human barrier, the women and loads were 

 passed over. Before we found the ford, my boy had suc- 

 ceeding in getting more than half way across, carrying the 

 clothes which I had had to discard. . Even when he at length 

 went down he still bravely held these above the water, though 

 his head was underneath. G-oing to his assistance we both 

 went under, and this time the clothes went with us. To 

 show the great variation in volume of these rivers, it may be 

 well to mention that, when Alexander crossed it two or 

 three days later, he found a more or less placid stream only 

 up to his knees. 



About four o'clock we reached the foot of the hill and 

 camped for the night, fortunately finding water in puddles. 

 Next morning we started to cUmb. About half way I feared 

 that the carriers would be falling with their loads and perhaps 

 breaking their necks, and that it would be necessary to send 

 everything back except the theodoUte. They all got up, 

 however, telhng me that they were strong because they 

 had had " plenty chop." 



From the side facing me the hill looked hke a flattened 

 cone, rising almost sheer to the summit, symmetrically ribbed 

 from top to bottom with bevelled lava ridges, separated 

 from one another by regularly placed ravines ; much Hke 

 the ribs of a half-opened Japanese sunshade. The lava 

 stream had evidently weUed over the hp of the crater, at 

 about equal intervals. The ridge itself was so sharp that 

 there was only about 10 ft. between my tent and a precipice 



