A SCRAMBLE. 
211 
accordance with the general character of the natives of 
this part. On seeing the handkerchiefs in the water, a 
canoe pushed off from the village, wdth a woman 
apparently of some consequence, who picking them up, 
asked if they had been lost by accident, or intended for 
them. She w'as still further rewarded for her disinte- 
restedness. 
At another village, a similar method was taken to save 
time, but here an amusing scene took place. Several 
canoes were immediately launched off after the handker- 
chiefs, some men also dashed into the river, and there 
was an animated and novel scramble on the water, 
between the swimmers and those in the canoes; the 
latter seemed to have the advantage, but lost it by their 
eagerness ; for the canoes were capsized, and thus all 
had fair play. More prizes were thrown overboard, 
enticing more canoes and swimmers ; till the surface of 
the river presented a scene of confusion and, one would 
apprehend, of some danger, but there was no time to 
await the result, which doubtless tenninated in the 
capture of all the articles, without the loss of any of the 
half-amphibious scramblers. 
At a village called Binnemah, the current swept the 
‘Albert’ on a bank. The natives at first came out 
armed, but soon perceiving her predicament, very quickly 
laid their weapons aside, and cheerfully lent assistance to 
shove the vessel off. For this service, Captain Trotter 
threw them some cowries ; which, however, most 
p 2 
unac- 
