82 RIVERSIDE VILLAGES 
near the banks in the river at this time of the year 
that it seems to be almost a series of rapids. 
On April 7, the weather being bad, a start was not 
made till 7 o'clock, and I found three men missing, 
they having gone across the river without my leave or 
knowledge. The bad rapid I had heard of the night 
before was soon reached, and the water was boiling ; 
with four men at the helm, and the bow sweep in use, 
it was almost impossible to steer the boat, and had it 
not been for a strong, fair wind I doubt if we should 
have got through. The banks are precipitous, with 
many sharp rocks and boulders, and altogether a dan- 
gerous place. Cedars and pines grow sparingly about 
among the rocks, and the scenery is fine, but dark and 
gloomy. 
Near any rapid of importance a village is always 
to be found, the inhabitants making their living by 
tracking, and also by manufacturing and selling bamboo 
rope. They inhabit bamboo-framed huts so constructed 
as to be easily moved, and always live close to the 
water. When the river is low the huts are moved 
down as soon as the ground gets dry, and on its rising 
they are shifted back again. 
On April 8 left at daylight with a fair wind, but 
not much of it. The vegetation seems to change about 
here, and I noticed a sort of banyan tree growing. 
