strum this wretched instrument from morning until
night.”
I was thoroughly tired of Sofi, and I determined
to move my party across the river to camp
on the uninhabited side; the rains had almost
ceased, therefore we should be able to live in the
tent at night, and to form a shady nook beneath
some mimosas by day; accordingly we busily
prepared for a move.
CHAPTER IX.
FORM A RAFT WITH THE SPONGING BATH. •
On the 15th September the entire male population
of Soil turned out to assist us in crossing the river, as
I had promised them a certain sum should the move
be effected, without the loss or destruction of baggage.
I had arranged a very superior raft to that I had
formerly used, as I now had eight inflated skins attached
to the bedstead, upon which I lashed our large
circular sponging bath, which, being three feet eight
inches in diameter, and of the best description, would
be perfectly safe for my wife, and dry and commodious
for the luggage. In a very short time the whole of
our effects were carried to the water’s edge, and the
passage of the river commenced. The rifles were the
first to cross with Bacheet, while the water-tight iron
box that contained the gunpowder was towed like a
pinnace behind the raft. Four hippopotami hunters
were harnessed as tug steamers, while a change of
swimmers waited to relieve them every alternate
voyage. The raft answered admirably, and would
easily support about three hundred pounds. The
power of flotation of the sponging bath alone, .1 had