72 TRAVELS IN THE 
a bed of sand and gravel. The banks are high, and covered 
with verdure ; the country is open and cultivated ; and the 
rocky hills of Felow and Bambouk, add much to the beauty of 
the landscape. 
December 28. We departed from Samee, and arrived in the 
afternoon at Kayee, a large village, part of which is situated 
on the north, and part on the south side of the river. A little 
above this place is a considerable cataract, where the river flows 
over a ledge of whin-stone rock, with great force : below this, 
the river is remarkably black and deep ; and here it was pro- 
posed to make our cattle swim over. After hollooing, and firing 
some musquets, the people on the Kasson side observed us, and 
brought over a canoe to carry our baggage. I did not, how- 
ever, think it possible to get the cattle down the bank, which 
is here more than forty feet above the water ; but the Negroes 
seized the horses, and launched them one at a time, down a 
sort of trench or gully, that was almost perpendicular, and 
seemed to have been worn smooth by this sort of use. After 
the terrified cattle had been plunged in this manner to the wa- 
ter's edge, every man got down as well as he could. The ferry- 
man then taking hold of the most steady of the horses by a 
rope, led him into the water, and paddled the canoe a little from 
the brink ; upon which a general attack commenced upon the 
other horses, who finding themselves pelted and kicked on all 
sides, unanimously plunged into the river, and followed their 
companion. A few boys swam in after them ; and by laving 
water upon them when they attempted to return, urged them 
onwards ; and we had the satisfaction, in about fifteen minutes, 
