U6 



A SCRAMBLING ADVENTURE. 



June 1835. 



right track, but each of us was obliged to seek safe footing 

 for himself and his horse, in the defiles among steep ravines 

 and streams, swelled by heavy rains. Passing these streams 

 was dangerous, and there only did the guide hang back. At 

 one brook which seemed by the noise, to be deep and large, 

 he refused to cross, saying his horse would not go on, and 

 that we could not get over in the dark. However, Vogelborg 

 was not to be so stopped. Leaving his own horse stuck fast 

 in a slough, he scrambled through, hauling my horse after 

 him by the bridle. Holding by my horse's long tail, and 

 driving him on, I scrambled after : Vogelborg then went 

 back, and with the guide brought the others over. In several 

 places, while in the ravines, I had recourse to the tail of the 

 guide's horse for my support and dragged my own animal 

 after me, for it was hopeless to remain on his back, so often 

 was he stuck fast or down in the mud. The last man. Fuller, 

 fared the worst, as he had no one behind him to drive his 

 horse on ; and frequently we were obliged to stop and holla 

 to one another, to avoid parting company. At last we emerged 

 from the wood and from those horrible ravines. Before us 

 we could then see that there was space, nothing interfering 

 between our eyes and the clouds ; but while under the trees 

 and in the water courses, utter blackness surrounded us to a 

 degree I never witnessed in any other place. Our eyes were 

 not of the least use, for I could not even see the white poncho 

 of our guide, though close before me. Feeling and hearing 

 alone availed. Heavy rain during the whole time prevented 

 the mud from forming too thick a coat upon us. Another 

 hour brought our small party to an Indian settlement, near 

 the river Leiibu; and as we rode by the huts, our guide 

 talked to those within at the utmost pitch of his voice, as if 

 determined no one should be ignorant of his adventure. 

 Hearing their conversation carried on in the Indian language, 

 was rather an impressive novelty. We continued our route, 

 and at last reached the Leiibu. 



The north side of this river (on which we were), is low and 

 sandy near the sea, but the south side rises to a high, remark- 



