and horrid noise inspired the desire to flee the I
scene. Fearing we should be unable to escape
I doffed coat, shoes, and belt, and motioning to ]
Uledi to keep off, I shouted to the boat’s crew
to do their best or die. Fven had my actions
not been sufficiently significant of our dangerous
position, the stunning uproar would have inform- !
ed them that we had been rash to approach
the terrible scene. Therefore, following the up.
heaved and ejected waters, we retreated from '
the aqueous mound, for in its sudden subsidence
lay danger, but were halted on the verge of the
fatal pit, which had now begun to replace the
mound, and which angrily yawned behind the I
stern of our boat. Desperately we rowed, happily
maintaining our position until a second convulsion
occurred, by the efflux of which we
finally escaped.
The boat was by this time half full of water.
Our repairs were found to have been utterly
insufficient, and we resolved therefore upon
returning to camp to'renew the attempt in 1 the
new Jason, as its swiftness would enable us to
force our way against the current of the eddy,
and reach Massassa. When we returned to
Mowa it was ten o’clock, and the boat-boys
were fatigued with their desperate exertions,
and, probably unwilling to risk the terrors of
the river without fortifying themselves, had
scattered to search for food. But unable to
riune 3, 1877-1 THE BOAT CHANGED FOR THE JASON. X 43 [J Zinga. J
control my anxiety about the reception of the
Expedition b y the Zinga chiefs, I concluded that,
in the absence of Frank, it would be unwise to
delay appearing at the new camp and secure
their good-will while we should be engaged
with the passage of the several falls.
I accordingly delivered my instructions to
Manwa Sera, who had always shown himself a
trustworthy man, saying, “When the boat’s crew
have returned, give them that best light canoe
—the Jason; tie ropes along the sides, with
strong cables at each end. Tell them to keep
close to the Mowa side, and pick their way
carefully down river, until they come to Massassa.
On arriving there Uledi will be able to judge
whether it can be passed in a canoe, or whether
we shall have to take the canoes over the rocks.
Above all things tell him to be careful, and not
to play with the river.”
Turning to Frank, I told him I should hurry
to Zinga, and after arranging with the chiefs
would send him his breakfast and hammock; and
if I found the men still there I would detail six
to carry him; if the men were not there he
might, upon the arrival of the hammock, take
the first men he saw, and follow me overland.
It was high noon when I arrived at our new
camp, which was constructed on Zinga Point,
about a hundred feet above the great cataract.
There were four kings present, and hundreds