w to us, and others, as the
convolvulus, old acquaintances.

But our attention was quickly called from the charming islands to the
dangerous rapids, down which Tuba might unintentionally shoot us. To
confess the truth, the very ugly aspect of these roaring rapids could
scarcely fail to cause some uneasiness in the minds of new-comers. It is
only when the river is very low, as it was now, that any one durst
venture to the island to which we were bound. If one went during the
period of flood, and fortunately hit the island, he would be obliged to
remain there till the water subsided again, if he lived so long. Both
hippopotami and elephants have been known to be swept over the Falls, and
of course smashed to pulp.

Before entering the race of waters, we were requested not to speak, as
our talking might diminish the virtue of the medicine; and no one with
such boiling eddying rapids before his eyes, would think of disobeying
the orders of a "canoe-smasher." It soon became evident that there was
sound sense in this request of Tuba's, although the reason assigned was
not unlike that of the canoe-man from Sesheke, who begged one of our
party not to whistle, because whistling made the wind come. It was the
duty of the man at the bow to look out ahead for the proper course, and
when he saw a rock or snag, to call out to the steersman. Tuba doubtless
thought that talking on board might divert the attention of his
steersman, at a time when the neglect of an order, or a slight mistake,
would be sure to spill us all into the chafing river. There were places
where the utmost exertions of both men had to be put forth in order to
force the canoe to the only safe part of the rapid, and to prevent it
from sweeping down broadside on, where in a twinkling we should have
found ourselves floundering among the plotuses and cormorants, which were
engaged in diving for their breakfast of small fish. At times it seemed
as if nothing could save us from dashing in our headlong race against the
rocks which, now that the river was low, jutted out of the water; but
just at the very nick of time, Tuba passed the word to the steersman, and
then with ready pole turned the canoe a little aside, and we glided
swiftly past the threatened danger. Never was canoe more admirably
managed: once only did the medicine seem to have lost something of its
efficacy. We were driving swiftly down, a black rock over which the
white foam flew, lay directly i