CUOSSING THE TUSAGASEGA. 309 



I could not gain access to him : I enquired 

 the cause, and learnt that this was a com- 

 mon freak of his, — in fact, that my friend 

 was at times a little crazy. 



At eleven the heat became so intensely 

 oppressive, that we were compelled to halt 

 at a cottage ; and I lounged in my hammock 

 during the rest of the day, it being impos- 

 sible to proceed along the sandy road, under 

 the broiling sun, without the immediate risk 

 of a coup de soleil. At five, mounted and push- 

 ed on for the river Tusagasega, on the banks 

 of which are several cottages, where poultry 

 and eggs are to be procured. I hung some of 

 the former at my saddle-bow ; and on cross- 

 ing the river, which was so deep as to lift 

 my mule occasionally off her feet, the unfor- 

 tunate turkey and chickens were very nearly 

 drowned. The evening now closed in, and 

 a brilliant moon illuminated the depth of 

 the thickly-wooded forest, through which 



