INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 73 
to see them all safe on the other side. It was a matter of 
greater difficulty to manage the asses ; their natural stubborn- 
ness of disposition made them endure a great deal of pelting 
and shoving before they would venture into the water ; and 
when they had reached the middle of the stream, four of them 
turned back, in spite of every exertion to get them forwards. 
Two hours were spent in getting the whole of them over ; an 
hour more was employed in transporting the baggage ; and it 
was near sunset before the canoe returned, when Demba 
Sego and myself embarked in this dangerous passage-boat, 
which the least motion was like to overset. The king's ne- 
phew thought this a proper time to have a peep into a tin 
box of mine, that stood in the fore part of the canoe ; and in 
stretching out his hand for it, he unfortunately destroyed the 
equilibrium, and overset the canoe. Luckily we were not far 
advanced, and got back to the shore without much difficulty ; 
from whence, after wringing the water from our clothes, we 
took a fresh departure, and were soon afterwards safely landed 
in Kasson. 
L 
