94 ; DANGEROUS RAPID 
side of the cabin, this being the only possible means by 
which they could have been abstracted. During the 
night I had been awakened by hearing the dog growl, 
but noticing no further sound went to sleep again. These 
boat-thieves are fairly common on the river, and usually 
are most expert swimmers and divers. If they are dis- 
covered, they go overboard at once, and being quite 
unencumbered with clothing, are able to make the 
best use of their proficiency in the water.. The low- 
ban got some of his things on going back to the village, 
but none of Mr. Kricheldorff’s: were recovered. A 
pagoda was passed during the day, near which was a 
very bad rapid, one of two we had to ascend. The 
river is rising and much discoloured, this being pro- 
bably caused by heavy rain to the westward, as from 
all I have heard it is yet much too early for the general 
rise caused by the melting of the snow. 
May 1.—A rise of from 6 to 8 feet had taken 
place in the river during the night. On starting, the 
‘boat was taken over to the other side, and on looking 
out.I found her already in a rapid, and in a most dan- 
gerous place. Before many minutes we were on a‘rock 
forming part of a ledge jutting out into the river. Just 
before striking it, one of my strongest men fell over- 
board through the ironshod bamboo pole, which he was 
trying to fend off with, slipping on the. face of the 
