488 



THE THREE STARTS. 



siderably diminished the effect of my flea in the 

 ear and threat of the c bakur.' Finally, after the 

 loss of two nights and a day, we fished up our 

 ground-tackle and began our journey. I after- 

 wards learned that in this part of East Africa the 

 traveller must ever be prepared for three distinct 

 departures — the little start, the big start, and the 

 start. 



Amongst our belongings was a life-boat which 

 we determined to tow, and the trouble which it 

 gave was endless. In consequence of a lecture 

 delivered at the United Service Institution (May 

 2, 1856), by Major, now Sir Vincent, Eyre, of the 

 Bengal Artillery, I wrote through him to Mr 

 Joseph Erancis, of New York, whose application 

 of iron had taken the place of the old copper 

 article in which Lieut. Lynch, of the United 

 States navy, descended the Jordan rapids. The 

 total length, 20 feet, was divided into seven sec- 

 tions, each weighing under 40 lbs. The pieces 

 were so numbered that experienced men could 

 put the thing together in one hour, and it was 

 provided with rivets, bolts, nuts, and japanned 

 waterproof awning. A flat keel and a cork 

 fender were proposed by Major Eyre to the 

 manufacturers, Messrs Marshall, Lefferts, and 

 Co., and were rejected : the former would have 



