444 



THROUGH JUNGLE AND DESERT 



CHAP. 



completed a capital dug-out, twenty feet in length, with 

 a beam of three feet. Unfortunately the place where 

 the canoe was built was unsuitable for launching it, 

 so we were forced to carry it nearly two miles through 

 a dense undergrowth. As it weighed nearly one thou- 

 sand pounds, the difficulty of this task can be imagined 

 when it is remembered that we had no vehicle. How- 



ever, by constant application we had it ready for launch- 

 ing on December 15. 



On the evening of that day I received the tidings 

 that George had arrived at Daitcho, and at early dawn 

 of the following day I set out to meet him. The 

 story of his trials and sufferings during the rains 

 would fill a volume. On first reaching the Tana, he 

 had with him but four days' food supply. For more 

 than two weeks he remained on the banks of the 

 river, sending back small parties to purchase food 



