them, had resorted to all modes of defence, and
yet at every curve of this fearful river the yells
of the savages broke loud on our ears, the
snake-like canoes darted forward impetuously
to the attack, while the drums and horns and
shouts raised a fierce and deafening uproar.
We were becoming exhausted. Yet we were
still only on the middle line of the continent t
We were also being weeded out by units and
twos and threes. There were not thirty in
the entire Expedition that had not received a
wound. To continue this fearful life was not
possible. Some day we should lie down
and offer our throats like lambs to the cannibal
butchers.
It was getting near sunset, and, looking round
for a suitable place to camp for the night, I
observed that the river since the accession of
the Aruwimi had spread to an immense width.
Instead of consisting of a right and a left branch,
separated by a single line of islands, there were
now from three to six branches, separated from
each other by series of long islands, densely
clothed with woods, their ends overlapping one
another. Common-sense suggested that where
there was such breadth there could be no cataracts.
.So, when almost inclined to despair, I
pointed out the island channels to the people,
and told them that Allah had provided means
of escape. Near sunset we sheered off towards
rFeb. 2, 1877a t h e “ m e a t ” e s c a p e s . 359 L Bemberri. J
the islands, entered a dark channel about one
hundred yards wide, and after an hour drew our
canoes alongside, and, having fastened them,
prepared to bivouac in the island forest.
Next day we clung to the channel; but as the
islands lay sometimes diagonally across the
stream, we finally emerged in view of the Bemberri,
too late to return. Immediately they
called up their people to war, with a terrible
racket of drums, and about fifteen large canoes
dashed out to meet us. But after the Aruwimi
flotilla this number was contemptible; we
drove them away, followed them to their villages,
and compelled them to seek shelter in the woods.
Then the word was given that every man should
provide himself with bananas and cassava. This
was done, and We re-embarked. Before, however,
we could find another opening amongst the islands,
other villages discovered us, and again a
terrific dinning rose, which inspired even fishing-
boys to acts of ferocious valour. These we
permitted to exhibit for our benefit the utmost
rage they were capable of, except actually to
throw their spears. Whenever they threatened
to launch their weapons, a furious demonstration
with our long oars was sufficient to send them
skimming away. They followed us three or four
miles, sending out every now and then wailing
notes, which from the frequent recurrence of the
word meat we understood to be expressions of