126 VOYAGE. 



hurried into the midst of the current, where 

 no pole will reach the ground, and rapidly 

 carried down the stream a considerable 

 distance, before the oars can be got out to 

 enable it to regain the bank. This poling 

 work is apparently a great exertion, yet 

 from habit the bogas are enabled to con- 

 tinue it from six in the morning until sun- 

 set, resting only one hour, when they take 

 their meal. At seven in the evening we 

 moored our canoe, and landed our beds on 

 a sandy island. Immediately on our land- 

 ing, I observed a duck, which I shot. From 

 eight to half-past nine, several flocks of 

 ducks flew past the island, out of which we 

 provided a good supper for ourselves and 

 the bogas, which we enjoyed by moonlight. 

 About half-past three in the morning I was 

 awakened by a loud peal of thunder, and 

 looking out from the toldo, observed a tre- 

 mendous black cloud, covering nearly the 

 whole expanse of sky before us, and rapidly 



