nger to which we were exposed, and called out
to every one to lie flat on his face and hold fast to the
baggage. The branches were so thick it was impossible for all
to escape, and there being barely room to admit the raft under
them, they swept off the two Chinese, the Karaikee, my tin-box
with all my papers and valuables, our soup-kettle, &c. Nothing
now remained but a small tea-kettle, and a few other things
that happened to be tied fast with thongs. The Karaikee and one
of the Chinese seized hold of the branches that swept them off,
and held their heads above water, but the youngest of the
Chinese having floated away with the current, the Cossack and
myself had the greatest difficulty in paddling the raft up to
him. We came just in time to poke our poles down after him as
he sunk for the third time, which he fortunately seized, and we
drew him upon the raft half drowned. As the current was running
at the rate of six or seven miles an hour, we were carried more
than half a verst down before we gained the shore; the other
Chinese and the Karaikee crying out for assistance. I ran up
the shore as quickly as possible, taking a long pole with me,
and leaving the Cossack to take care of the raft and the young
Chinese. When I arrived at the spot, my Chinese cook informed
me he had seized my tin-box with one hand, and was so tired of
holding with the other, that if I did not come soon to his
assistance he must leave it to the mercy of the current. Whilst
I attempted to walk out on the body of the tree whose branches
they were holding, one of the roots broke and very nearly
separated it from the shore; I was therefore obliged to jump
off and stride to one that was nearly two feet under water,
hauling myself along by the branches of the others, and at
length I got near enough to give the Chinese the pole. He
seized fast hold and I pulled him between two branches,
enabling him to get a leg over one and keep his body above
water. Thus placed he tied the tin-box with his handkerchief to
the pole, and I got it safely ashore. I was now obliged to
return and assist the Karaikee, who held by some branches far
out, and where there were no others near enough for him to
reach in order to draw himself in. After half an hour's labour
I got them both on the