KESPECT PAID TO AN OLD CANOE. 
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greatest depth was eighteen feet, which it preserved, 
with a hard bottom, till within a boat's length of 
the side, where it became nine feet deep, with a 
bottom of mud. As it narrowed between steep banks 
to 200 yards, there was no impediment to landing ; 
the waters then became of a uniform dark colour, and 
were shallower, flowing with a current of about half a 
mile an hour. We landed daily to sleep ashore, and 
had to pass through a long channel of water vegeta- 
tion, as the sides in most places where the river was 
of such immense width were walled in by a depth of 
reeds, rushes, and convolvuli. An interesting custom 
amongst the boatmen was observed as we paddled 
past an old pensioned canoe of huge size which lay 
in the rushes. A boatman patted my shoulder, and 
then sprinkled water upon the veteran boat. I did 
the same, which pleased the natives, who never pass 
it without paying this mark of respect. 
Many fine scenes were come upon at reaches and 
bends of the river. One with a precipitous double- 
coned hill called M'kungurru, on the right bank, was 
remarkably pleasing, the river sweeping majestically 
round its wooded heights. This hill was reckoned to 
be 800 feet above the water, and for a long distance 
it served as a prominent landmark. The Kidi side 
of the river was undulating, wild, and uninhabited, 
covered with handsome trees overspread with a net- 
work of flowering creepers, then, in the month of No- 
vember, in rich bloom, and presenting every contrast 
of colour. It was the hunting-ground of the Wanyoro 
and Kidi people. 
We had some exciting chases after canoes seen on 
the river, the king having given the officials who were 
