150 
TRAVELS IN AFRICA 
obliged to halt, and secure themselves as well as 
one small tent enabled them. They found it 
necessary to keep up large fires during the night 
to deter the wild beasts, which infest that country 
in vast numbers, from approaching too near. 
They were not a little disappointed, on the morn- 
ing of the 1st of September, to find that the per- 
son who had gone to the village returned, accom- 
panied by a number of men carrying large cala- 
bashes, intended to serve the purpose of canoes — 
even one of which useful articles those people 
were not provided with. With much difficulty, 
and not without considerable danger, particu- 
larly to those who could not swim, of whom Mr. 
Dochard was one, they effected the passage of 
this river, which was 150 yards wide, and very 
deep and rapid. 
The manner in which this navigation is carried 
on is not at all calculated to inspire confidence. 
One of these large calabashes is placed in the 
water, and filled with whatever articles are to be 
transported, two men then go into the water and 
taking hold of it, one on each side, swim on, 
pushing it or rather dragging it between them. 
When a person who cannot swim is to be taken 
over, he lays hold of the calabash with both hands, 
one on each side ; this supports him from sinking, 
while a man swims with him, and pushes the ca- 
labash forward. In this manner Mr. Dochard and 
