76 ASCENT OF THE RAPID 
were cut round down to the bone. I dressed it as well 
as I could with lint and carbolic lotion, and kept him 
on board in the hope it might heal. This, however, it 
did not do so rapidly as I expected, and I had, in the 
end, to land him and get another man in his place. 
On March 30 commenced unloading the boat at 
6 a.M., sending everything by coolies to a shed built for 
the purpose at the head of the rapid. The boat then 
had to await her turn to be towed up, and this caused a 
delay of eleven hours. There were thirty men cn the 
tow rope, and even then the progress was made by 
inches. Though the rapid was only about 220 yards 
long the ascent took till 5.30 p.M., so some idea may be 
formed of the violence of the current. As soon as the 
top was reached the reloading commenced, and this 
took till dark. My boat was the first owned by a 
European that had made the ascent, and knowing from 
former experience the feeling of the natives towards 
foreigners, I took especial care in seeing her secured 
for the night. Two anchors were laid out, to one of 
which was secured the chain cable (a thing hardly ever 
seen in native boats), and a watch was kept all night to 
euard against treachery, for they would have had no 
hesitation in cutting us adrift, if possible, and sending 
us down the rapid to destruction. The sandstorm con- 
tinued all day, and the river was at its lowest. 
