CHAPTER XXVII 



PROM THE SHARI TO THE UBANGUI 



August 19 saw us slipping down stream at the rate of 

 four miles an hour, very different to the crawling pace we 

 went up by ! It was indeed pleasant travelling, gliding 

 noiselessly in mid-stream with the paddles stroking the 

 water lazily at times. 



As we drew near our old camping-ground in the weeping 

 wood, it was natural that we should renew our regrets at the 

 memory of poor Jaggra's end, and we were engaged in these 

 sad meditations, when — marvellous to tell ! there ahead of 

 us upon the bank was a vision of gay feathers. All cried, 

 " Jaggra ! " and the boats pulled immediately into the bank, 

 and that incomparable bird, after three nights alone in the 

 wood, hopped into his accustomed place in the bows without 

 showing on the surface more concern for the circumstances 

 than if boats and men had been incidents in a dream. 



Our next objective was a sand-bank at the foot of a prettily 

 wooded knoll where Jose had moved a herd of elephant on 

 our journey up the river. Just before arriving, we were 

 stealing silently down the stream, when we came close upon 

 a party of seven elephants on the low, wooded bank near 

 the water. It was a pretty sight ; one or two stood motion- 

 less while the others were lazily engaged pulling down 

 the higher branches with their trunks and stripping ofE the 



