SINGULAR CANOES. Ill 
activity, tlie boat and its crew often perish : they^ however, 
more frequently escape the destruction which threatens them, 
Viud often exert themselves for the safety of strangers. But woe 
be to the rash seamen who might dare to attempt without their 
assistance the passage of the bar, as they would infallibly perish. 
Fortunately this passage does not last longer than a quarter of 
an hour ; but it inspires so much dread, that the length of time 
seems insupportable. The first persons who passed this bar 
must have been intrepid sailors. 
When this passage is effected, its horrors are succeeded by a 
calm, as the course of the river then becomes as smooth and 
gentle as its entrance was shocking and difficult. 
It is from twenty to twenty-live feet deep, and of a consi- 
derable width. The exhausted rowers then take breath, drink 
brandy, and dance and rejoice at their success : they of course 
always receive a recompence. When 1 entered, I gave them a 
louis d'or, with which they were so highly satisfied that they 
were a long lime singing my generosity, and afterwards did me 
great honour in the colony. 
The Negroes go through the little passage w'ith much adroit- 
ness, in the canoes which they use either for fishing or to go on 
board the vessels that arrive. These canoes are si)o^etimes 
made of nothing but the trunk of a tree hollowed out; but mure 
frequently the bottom is of a single piece, while the sides are 
fastened together by small cords m.ade of the bark of a tree, 
caulked with beaten straw and clay; those of the Se'ùegal 
in general are caulked in the French manner. The crew of 
these little narrow canoes, which are seldom more thaii 
twelve feet long, is generally composed of live men. One of 
them sits at the poop, and steers with one hand, wlule wïûi the 
other he bales out the water that has leaked into the canoe. 
The other four Negroes, keep erect with their faces towards the 
prow. They use paddles, which they plunge quickly into the 
water, and strike behind them ; the paddies are in the shape of 
a baker's peel, and they cause the boat to move and veer with 
quickness. These canoes have no seats, and are liable to overturn ; 
but at this the crew are little concerned; they hx to the bottom 
or sides such articles as they intend to convey to the ships, and 
when they reach them, they upset the canoe, which remains so 
till they return ; when one of them gets in, and bales out the 
water, while the rest swim alongside, and keep the canoe from 
sinking, till it is ready for them to enter, and continue their 
voyage. When at sea, these boats seem as if they would be lost 
every instant, as the least wave seems to raise them to the 
clouds ; while on descending with it, they disappear^, as if they 
Mere ingulphed by that which foUovvS. 
