330 FEOM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



grass-covered dunes on each side, which give the river the 



appearance of an estuary. Then, a little farther on, it 



narrows down to twentyyards and becomes quite unnavigable, 



being full of rocks and rapids and presenting the appearance 



of a Scotch burn. We struggled on for several days, and 



once got very nearly smashed up through the* boat being 



carried back with great force broadside on to some rocks. 



At this point I called a halt and pitched camp just below 



another big rapid. I was feeling anything but cheerful 



with rapids behind me cutting off retreat and more in front 



to stay my advance. To make matters worse my guide, a 



miserable fellow, decamped, and we had only four days' 



supply of food left, with no chance of getting game, for the 



grass was too long. It was a serious situation that had to be 



faced. The first thing to do was to reconnoitre and find 



out if the river ahead was navigable, and if villages existed 



where we could get supplies. However, the hostile Mom- 



buttus, who inhabit the south bank beyond the small Arebi 



river, had heard of our approach and we found their villages 



deserted, so the chance of obtaining food and help was a 



remote one. All appeared hopeless ahead of me ; another 



day's rations had been eaten and nothing seemed to have 



been done. It now became a question of either shooting 



the rapids behind or cutting a way through the long grass to 



find the path to N'soro which I knew must pass within five 



miles of the left bank. As I was loth to go back after having 



got the boat so far, I determined to take the latter course, get 



food for the men and then penetrate on foot to explore the 



mountainous country lying to the south of the river before 



returning to N'soro. 



