BRIDGES. 



197 



Tongwe. Cocoas and tall trees concealed the 

 Rufu, whicli above its junction with the Luan- 

 gera becomes a mere mountain-torrent, roaring 

 down a rocky, tortuous bed, and forming green, 

 tufted islets, which are favourite sites for settle- 

 ments. We can hardly, however, call them, with 

 Boteler, an archipelago. Our guides presently 

 ,took leave, alleging a blood-feud with the neigh- 

 bouring villagers. The people, as we passed by, 

 flocked over then rude bridges, which extend up 

 coast to Brava, floors of narrow planks laid hori- 

 zontally upon rough piers of cocoa-trunks, forked 

 to receive cross-pieces, and planted a few feet 

 apart. The structure is parapeted with coarse 

 basket-work, and sometimes supplied with fibrous 

 creepers, jungle-ropes, knotted in 20 places, by 

 way of hand-rail. These the number and daring 

 of the crocodiles render necessary. I was once 

 innocently sitting upon a slab of stone surrounded 

 by the water, and greatly enjoying the damp and 

 the coolth, when, with a rush and a roar, as if it 

 had been an attack, my men fell upon me, and 

 hurried me to the bank. All here believe that 

 the crocodile sweeps off its prey with a blow of the 

 powerful tail, and once in the water, man is help- 

 less against the big lizard. These constructions 

 are at least more artful than the Pinsrela or 



