66 PTjSRAK to slim. a 



to upset it, and once in the water you would be food not for one 

 crocodile, but trie disputed prey of many. 



It is a dispensation of Providence that we have got thus farm 

 safety. 



Let alone the boat upsetting, if we went slowly, the smallest 

 flick of a crocodile's tail would suffice to settle the matter. 



Just as we got out of the fens in which the river winds like a 

 snake, the stream divided, and I feel sure we took the wrong 

 channel, not a soul in the boat has ever been here before, so we 

 had to trust to chance. Twice we had all to get out and drag the 

 boat over a tree, which lay completely across the stream. I got 

 my coat and umbrella torn to pieces by trailing thorns. We passed 

 within two yards of an enormous crocodile, lying on the bank, it 

 leapt into the water as we passed, and if we had been close to the 

 bank would have come straight into the boat. There were numbers 

 of what the natives call the " snake bird " here, and especially in 

 the fens, a strange looking bird in keeping with the place. I saw 

 two very fine wild duck also, but had only a rifle and could not get a 

 shot at them. 



After two hours we joined the other branch of the river, and 

 from this point it got wide again. At 4 p.m. we came to a place 

 where the river divided into five large branches ; we took the 

 largest, and at 5.15 p.m., having long given up all hope of finding 

 anything like a house, we got up a high bank, to be as far off the 

 crocodiles as possible, and made another night in the jungle. The 

 mosquitoes and sand-flies were as entertaining as usual. We 

 made at least forty-five miles to-day. 



16th February. 



Started at 6.30 a.m. If we don't come to a house to-night we 

 shall be in a bad way, as our stores, even tobacco, arc exhausted, 

 and we have only rice left. 



The influence of the tide is felt as far up as this point. At 8.30 

 a.m. we met two boats, and the men told us we should soon come 



