266 FALLS OF GONYE. 



men, have large, deeply-developed chests and shoulders, with in- 

 different lower extremities. They often engage in loud scolding 

 of each other in order to relieve the tedium of their work. About 

 eleven we land, and eat any meat which may have remained 

 from the previous evening meal, or a biscuit with honey, and drink 

 water. 



After an hour's rest we again embark and cower under an um- 

 brella. The heat is oppressive, and, being weak from the last at- 

 tack of fever, I can not land and keep the camp supplied with 

 flesh. The men, being quite uncovered in the sun, perspire pro- 

 fusely, and in the afternoon begin to stop, as if waiting for the ca- 

 noes which have been left behind. Sometimes we reach a sleep- 

 ing-place two hours before sunset, and, all being troubled with 

 languor, we gladly remain for the night. Coffee again, and a bis- 

 cuit, or a piece of coarse bread made of maize meal, or that of the 

 native corn, make up the bill of fare for the evening, unless we 

 have been fortunate enough to kill something, when we boil a pot- 

 ful of flesh. This is done by cutting it up into long strips and 

 pouring in water till it is covered. When that is boiled dry, the 

 meat is considered ready. 



The people at Gonye carry the canoes over the space requisite 

 to avoid the falls by slinging them on poles tied on diagonally. 

 They place these on their shoulders, and, setting about the work 

 with good humor, soon accomplish the task. They are a merry 

 set of mortals ; a feeble joke sets them off in a fit of laughter. 

 Here, as elsewhere, all petitioned for the magic lantern, and, as it 

 is a good means of conveying instruction, I willingly complied. 



The falls of Gonye have not been made by wearing back, like 

 those of Niagara, but are of a fissure form. For many miles be- 

 low, the river is confined in a narrow space of not more than one 

 hundred yards wide. The water goes boiling along, and gives the 

 idea of great masses of it rolling over and over, so that even the 

 most expert swimmer would find it difficult to keep on the sur- 

 face. Here it is that the river, when in flood, rises fifty or sixty 

 feet in perpendicular height. The islands above the falls are cov- 

 ered with foliage as beautiful as can be seen any where. Viewed 

 from the mass of rock which overhangs the fall, the scenery was 

 the loveliest I had seen. 



Nothing worthy of note occurred on our way up to Nameta. 



