216 
ACCIDENTS IN CROSSING THE RIVER. 
21, 22 May, 
every where covered with large stones. The oxen were more steady 
than the horses, but their bulk exposed them more to the force of the 
current : my horse had in this respect the advantage, but being less 
strong in the legs, he stumbled more frequently ; and at one time, 
when the roughness of the bottom occasioned a false step, he 
providentially fell upwards against the stream. Had he fallen in the 
opposite direction, we must both have been swept away with the 
flood. My men were in not less alarm : all preserved a fearful 
silence as long as they were in the water, which was between ten and 
fifteen minutes ; but the moment we reached the shore, they con- 
gratulated each other on having landed without accident. Old Hans, 
who was near me and had observed my horse stumbling and scarcely 
able to stand against the force of the current, exclaimed very fervently 
when we gained the bank ; * Thank God ! Mynheer is safe.' 
The sheep were with much difficulty compelled to enter the 
stream, and it was only by pelting them with stones, that they were 
afterwards forced to swim over ; they were, however, carried far down 
with the current before they could gain the land. 
I had been careful to preserve the watch which I carried on my 
person, by placing it where the water could not reach it ; but unfor- 
tunately the one which had been packed in the tin box, was now 
rendered utterly useless for the rest of the journey. This box had 
carelessly been placed so low upon the ox, that on coming to land 
it was found full of water ; in consequence of which, I had to sit up 
a great part of the night to dry my journals and papers before the 
fire ; and anxious to save these from damage, the watch was neglected 
till too late, when the springs had already contracted rust. 
It beincp now too dark to drive the oxen back for those who had 
been left behind, we were not till the next morning quite free from 
uneasiness on their account ; as it was not impossible that the river 
might swell during the night, and overflow the island. Jw/i, with his 
wife and child, and Keyser, remained there till morning without any 
bedding or protection from the cold ; but fortunately they found a 
sufficient quantity of wood to keep up a fire till daylight. 
