t should anything befall the woman committed to her care.
Njamie was a mild, agreeable woman. She had more modesty of demeanour
and humility of aspect than the most of the women of her tribe whom we
happened to see, so that we felt disposed to believe that Okandaga was
placed in as safe keeping as it was possible for us to provide for her
in our circumstances. Even Makarooroo appeared to be quite at ease in
his mind; and it was evidently with a relieved breast and a light heart
that he bade adieu to his bride, and started along with us on the
following day on our journey into the deeper recesses of the wilderness.
Before entering upon these transactions with the people of this village,
we took care to keep our crew in total ignorance of what passed by
sending them on in advance with the canoe under Jack's care, a few hours
before we brought Okandaga into the village, or even made mention of her
existence; and we secured their ready obedience to our orders, and total
indifference as to our motives in these incomprehensible actions, by
giving them each a few inches of tobacco--a gift which rendered them
supremely happy.
One day, about a week after the events above narrated, we met with an
adventure which well-nigh cost Jack his life, but which ultimately
resulted in an important change in our manner of travelling. We were
traversing an extremely beautiful country with the goods on our
shoulders, having, in consequence of the increasing turbulence of the
river as well as its change of direction, been compelled to abandon our
canoe, and cut across the country in as straight a line as its nature
would permit. But this was not easy, for the grass, which was bright
green, was so long as to reach sometimes higher than our shoulders.
In this species of country Jack's towering height really became of great
use, enabling him frequently to walk along with his head above the
surrounding herbage, while we were compelled to grope along, ignorant of
all that was around us save the tall grass at our sides. Occasionally,
however, we came upon more open ground, where the grass was short, and
then we enjoyed the lovely scenery to the full. We met with a great
variety of new plants and trees in this region. Many of the latter were
festooned with wild vines and other climbing plants. Among others, I
saw several specimens of that curious and interesting tree the banyan,
with its drop-shoots in every state of growth--some beginni
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