HUNTERS ASTRAY. 
147 
The river at this place was not wide^ but it was very deep, and 
the current strong. We noticed that several negroes were standing 
on the west shore with empty baskets on their heads ; and, unob- 
served before, a canoe, paddled by one negro, started from the 
reeds near to us, and crossed the river to them. Arrived at the 
bank, several stepped in the canoe ; but by some misadventure it 
was upset, and the negroes scrambled back to the shore. We could 
hear distinctly the reproaches heaped on the unfortunate ferryman. 
Some of our men rowed the small boat across, and offered their 
services to the negroes to ferry them over : reluctantly at first, one 
or two only ventured, their friends, some thirty or more, looking 
on j but seeing that they were safely landed on the east bank, they 
were ready when the boat returned to avail themselves of it. By 
this time the canoe was righted, and the whole party came over in 
safety, singing gaily. They were bound for a two days^ march in 
the interior, where their cattle, which the men were swimming 
over, would be bartered for grain. Most of the women gratified 
their curiosity by visiting me. I find that all the negroes pity me, 
because I have a white skin; even Halima sometimes exclaims. 
Oh ! if you were only black, you would be ^ summach/ ” that 
means ^^nice.^'’ 
At three p.m. our pot hunters had not returned, neither had 
Shotbyl ; and another storm came on : they increase in intensity, 
these storms, always accompanied, now, by lightning and thunder. 
At five o^ clock, the rain and wind abating, we grow anxious 
about the missing ones ; and a cannon is carried on shore, and fired 
at intervals of fifteen minutes, hoping that the sound may guide the 
two hunters back to the boat. Night came on and still they had 
not returned. Our fears for their safety were great — to search for 
them in the darkness would have been impossible. The yard was 
10 — 2 
