chap, i.] SHILLOOK VILLAGES . 45 
in great numbers on the terra firma to the west. 
Verily it is a pleasant voyage; disgusting naked 
savages, everlasting marshes teeming with mosquitoes, 
and the entire country devoid of anything of either 
common interest or beauty. Course west the whole 
day; saw giraffes and one ostrich on the east bank. 
On the west bank there is a regular line of villages 
throughout the day’s voyage within half a mile of each 
other ; the country very thickly populated. The huts 
are of mud, thatched, having a very small entrance-— 
they resemble button mushrooms. The Shillooks are 
wealthy, immense herds of cattle swarm throughout 
their country. The natives navigate the river in 
two kinds of canoes—one of which is a curious com¬ 
bination of raft and canoe formed of the Ambatch 
wood, which is so light, that the whole affair is 
portable. The Ambatch (Anemone mirabilis) is seldom 
larger than a man’s waist, and as it tapers naturally 
to a point, the canoe rafts are quickly formed by lash¬ 
ing the branches parallel to each other, and tying the 
narrow ends together. 
3 d Jan .—The “ Clumsy’s” yard having been lashed 
with rhinoceros hide, fortunately holds together, al¬ 
though sprung. Stopped this morning on the east 
bank, and gathered a supply of wood. On the west 
bank Shillook villages as yesterday during the days 
