VARIOUS WAYS OF CROSSING A FORD. 
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salt beef and pork, sour wheat-bread, and an abundant 
supply of fine strong coftee. This latter seemed more 
grateful to them than any thing else; and, as we still 
had a fair amount on hand, we gave the priest several 
pounds to remember us hy. lie was almost as delighted 
as the headman of the coal-mine had been when promised 
his cap full of powder. The people of Taousk were 
similar to those of Armen and Ola, with probably a 
little more of Ee-a-coute blood in their veins. The priest 
himself was a Eussian, and seemed to possess great 
control over them. 
We had no sooner seen our guests safely started for 
the shore than the anchor was again weighed and the 
survey continued. We were now gradually working 
our way to the southward, stopping every few days to 
till up with drift-wood from the beach, and meeting 
with adventures without number. I will relate two of 
these by way of varying the narrative, but, before com- 
mencing, must indulge in a few remarks in regard to 
several ways of fording a river. 
There is more than one mode of crossing a ford. One 
may accomplish the feat with great dignity on a sure- 
footed horse ; or he may wade quietly from one bank to 
the other; and then again he may, like the mountain-goat, 
“leap from rock to rock, to the imminent terror of all 
beholders.” But there is_yet another mode, — an im- 
promptu one, if I may so express myself, — which is 
characterized by any thing but dignity, and which taxes 
a man with unpleasant suddenness to the utmost extent 
of his resources, both mental and physical. I allude to 
the only mode which one hods at his disposal when, 
