284 
TRAVELS IN CENTRAL AFRICA. 
crackling and impulsive rushes of the flames as they leaped upwards 
to devour some dense high reeds^ or scanned the trunks of creeper- 
eovered lofty trees^ to eonsume impetuously the withered foliage^ 
presented sights not unlike artificial fireworks^ and very grand. 
Our position became from minute to minute more eritieal^ as the 
guide hurried us on towards the raging element. A break in the 
bush now explained the eourse adopted by our leader^ as_, taking 
advantage of it^ he Avheeled to the rights and for some time, at the 
top of our speed, we advanced parallel ivith the fast-approaehing 
roaring flames. Deseending rapidly a narrow pathway, eonducting 
us aeross a marshy tract so densely covered with dry reeds, towering- 
high above our heads, that, if attained by the fast- approaching 
flames, escape was hopeless, and doubts of the integrity of my 
guide (to us anew man from Neangara) coursed through my brain. 
I uttered a few impressive words to my wife, urging her to force 
her horse onward on the narrow pathway to a place of safety, and 
leave me in charge of the men and baggage, as also, as far as in my 
power lay, to command the movements of my guide. This, how- 
ever, she passionately declined, declaring that if I insisted upon her 
doing so she would dismount ; and holding in her terrified animal, 
I pushed forward in advance, urging her to follow. By this time 
hot blasts, impelled by the fury of the wind, threatened suffocation ; 
the flames were leaping towards us. No longer able to see from the 
dense volumes of smoke the animals wildly galloping on, my heart 
gave way for a moment, when suddenly we emerged on to an open 
space, which had been previously burnt by the natives, and was 
their oasis in the midst of the flames ; here they had assembled, 
and were startled at our appearance. 
Bapidly our people came to the same haven, all safe ; a few of 
the cattle only had been lost in the fire. The little plot of ground 
