CHAP. VII 
SECOND EXPEDITION 
159 
men with the donkeys being ready opposite, a light cord with 
a stone at the end (the other being attached to a stronger rope) 
is thrown from the last boulder and caught by those on the far 
side with a pole. It is just as much as we can do to get it 
over. Having got hold of it they haul the rope through till 
they have enough to make fast to a donkey’s neck, we on our 
side keeping hold of our end. A noose, neither too tight nor 
too loose, has to be tied, so that it does not choke the animal 
and yet will not let its head through, while the knot must be 
one that will not slip and can be readily undone. Then I give 
the word : the donkey is thrust by main force into the torrent, 
and, as soon as it is launched out of its depth, we haul away, 
hand over hand. For the first few yards it swims with its head 
above water ; but, as soon as it gets fairly into the rapid, the 
boiling water forces it under, and we pull away might and main 
to get it through as quickly as possible. In a few seconds it 
reappears close to our bank and is got out, with all despatch, 
among the rocks, none the worse for its ducking. So we go 
on, working hard, until, one after another, we get them all 
through. In this we succeed without mishap this time ; though 
on a former occasion, the last donkey, finding himself alone, 
had plunged in, without the rope, to try and swim over to his 
companions, and was carried down the rapids to the cataract 
below and never seen again. Then they had to be got through 
the other channels, which also entailed much trouble and hard 
work ; for donkeys unaccustomed to travelling will not face 
water at all, though they get used to it in time, and after some 
practice will cross rivers with little trouble. As with oxen, 
there is generally one among them that usually takes the lead ; 
and, with a herd of seasoned travellers, on this one being taken 
through, the others follow. It took us the whole day before 
we finally got all safely over to the far side and down to 
our camp. The animals were mostly looking fat and well, 
though one or two were evidently sick. Two or three had 
already died, but I had calculated on losing some, as, what 
