244 FALLS OP GONYE. Chap. XIV. 



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

 indifferent lower extremities. They often engage in loud scold- 

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

 About eleven we land, and eat any meat which may have re- 

 mained 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 

 umbrella. The heat is oppressive, and, being weak from the 

 last attack of fever, I cannot land, and keep the camp supplied 

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

 profusely, and in the afternoon begin to stop, as if waiting for 

 the canoes which have been left behind. Sometimes we reach a 

 sleeping-place two hours before sunset, and, all being troubled 

 with languor, we gladly remain for the night. Coffee again, and 

 a biscuit, 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 potful of flesh. Tins 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 humour, 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 below, 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 diffi- 

 cult to keep on the surface. Here it is that the river when in 

 flood rises fifty or sixty feet in perpendicular height. The 

 islands above the falls are covered with foliage as beautiful as 

 can be seen anywhere. 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. 



