so
plete stand-still. The only bridges which the
natives ever think of making are formed by
cutting down a tree, and letting it fall across;
and over these our bare-legged attendants,
loaded as they were, scrambled with all the
agility of cats or monkeys ; but it was not so
with us: for several times they seated one of
us on the top of their load, and carried him
over. The chief, who accompanied us, made
it his particular business to see me safe
through every difficulty, and many times he
carried me himself over such places as I dared
scarcely venture to look down upon.
In the midst of this wood we met the chief
of this district, Pationi, who, together with all
his family, were employed in planting a small
cleared patch of land. He appeared highly
delighted at beholding strangers; and all his
wives came from their occupations to welcome
us. He told us that, a very few miles farther
on, we should come to a village belonging to
him, where his eldest son was residing, and that
we must there pass the night. We thanked
him for the invitation, rubbed noses with him
(their token of friendship), and parted.
Soon after parting with Pationi, we fell in
with a most beautiful bull, cow, and calf I
was amazed at seeing such fine animals in this
country; but my companions soon cleared up
the mystery, by informing me that they were
gifts from the missionaries, who had orders
from home to distribute these useful animals
amongst such chiefs as they thought would
take care of them : a wise and beneficial measure.
These animals were tabooed, consequently
they could ramble wherever they
found food most to-their liking. About dusk
we arrived at the village Pationi had described
to us. We were most happy to see it, as we
wei'e heartily tired, and dripping wet from a
recent and heavy shower.
The village was situated on the side of a
small picturesque stream, one of the branches
of the E. O. Ke Anga, but continued droughts
had at this time reduced it to a trifling brook.
From its lofty banks, and the large trees lying
athwart it, we conjectured that during heavy
rains it must be a mighty flood. A long
straggling collection of huts composed the
village: a great deal of land in its vicinity