ious scenes had been enacted, a number of young men,
representing a war party returning victorious from battle, made their
appearance, and brandishing their broad-headed spears, ornamented with
flowing ox-tails. Now they rushed off, as if to pursue an enemy; now
returned, and were welcomed by a chorus from the women.

The scene was highly effective; the glare of the fire being reflected on
the red helmet-like gear and glittering ornaments of the girls, on the
flashing blades and waving ox-tails on the warriors, and the figures of
the spectators, with the huts and groups of cattle in the distance,
while the howling, chanting, shrieking, and barking sounds were kept up
without intermission. We, at last, making signs to the chief that we
were very weary, placing our heads on our hands and closing our eyes,
were led ceremoniously to our hut, into which we were thankful to enter.
Having closed the entrance we lay down and tried to go to sleep. The
noises which reached our ears showed us, however, that the dance was
being kept up with unabated spirit, and I suspect that our hosts formed
but a mean opinion of our tastes in consequence of our disappearing from
the festive scene.

Next morning, having bestowed a few remaining trinkets to delight the
hearts of the black damsels, we wished our hospitable entertainers
farewell and continued our voyage, not an article of our property having
been purloined.

Our raft clung together far better than I should have supposed, but I
suspect, had it struck a rocky bottom, the case would have been very
different. We passed by herds of hippopotami, some with young ones on
their backs, and although they sank as we approached, they soon came to
the surface to breathe. On the trees overhead were numbers of iguanas,
which, on seeing us, splashed into the water. The chief canoeman
carried a light javelin, with which he speared a couple, the flesh
proving to be tender and gelatinous.

Numerous large crocodiles, as we appeared, plunged heavily into the
stream, indeed there was everywhere an abundance of animal life. Had we
not been anxious to join our friends, we should have been contented to
continue the voyage for several days longer.

Another evening was approaching when we espied beneath a huge tree what
looked like a tent and a couple of waggons near it. We fired off our
guns as a signal, and in a short time we saw two white men coming
towards us. We quickly landed in one of the c