Chap. XLVII. BATHING IjST THE RIVER. 
301 
direction being from south 20° east. All these large 
and splendid streams with which nature has endowed 
these regions are now scarcely of any use to the 
people living on their banks ; and no traffic, except 
between the nearest places, is kept up.* A wide 
field for improvement is here open to the energy 
of man when these regions have been brought under 
the notice and the influence of Europe. 
Turning our boat, we allowed it to go along with 
the current. The surface of the water was so 
smooth and pleasant, that I was tempted to take 
a bath, and there was a great shouting amongst the 
crowd on the shore when they saw the white man 
jump overboard ; but their surprise was great when, 
after having splashed about for some time in the 
river, the current of which was too strong for my 
weakened frame, they saw me come out empty-handed, 
and they cried out that they had been cheated, — the 
people having told them that I was searching for 
gold. However, when I disembarked, the crowd of 
spectators was so immense, that my companions could 
only open me a passage with their whips ; and I was 
really glad when I again reached the house of the 
Keghainma or Ibalaghwan. 
This little excursion, however, cost me dear; for 
those people of Bagfrmi whom I have mentioned before, 
the principal among whom was called Haj A'hmed, 
seeing me creating such an uproar, felt inclined to 
* I have however to observe that the Kuri sometimes bring 
native corn as far as Bugoman. 
