188 DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH. 
crocodiles, " ill pleased, or unacquainted with any 
copartners in these watery regions," gave him 
considerable disturbance. On the 23d, he ap- 
pears to be above Barraconda. — -January 14th, he 
begins to extract gold from the sand ; by washing 
he obtains 30 grains out of 10 pounds weight ; 
by mercury 47 grains out of 5 pounds.— January 
S7th, he ascended a craggy rock, and began to 
dig with a pick-axe at a piece of ore, which ap- 
peared to afford great promise of wealth. Here 
he was assaulted by an incredible number of ba- 
boons, who would " listen to no oratory but guns 
and who, he verily believes, but for the use of that 
species of eloquence, would have torn them to 
pieces. Its copious application drove off the as- 
sailants, and he carried off his ore in triumph ; 
but was much mortified, on reaching the boat, to 
find that it consisted merely of spar. — February 
6th, more golden sand. — 15th, a river-horse beat 
through the boat with one of his teeth, which 
suggested the contrivance of hanging a lantern at 
the stern ; as these animals kept always at some 
distance from light shining in the water. Febru- 
ary 24th, he made trial of his tirga divina, or 
divining rod, but without the smallest effect. On 
this occasion he was much ridiculed by his com- 
panions, and seems half ashamed of his trust in 
that potent rod ; yet alleges in its favour, that it 
might have been dried up during its long voyage 
