he end of
which was a rapid. An island 1,000 m. long was there formed--Bomfin
Island. Dangerous rapids occurred half-way down its length on the right;
then followed a mass of square columnar pillars of rock not unlike
basalt. That was all very beautiful to look at, but we had endless
trouble in extricating our canoe from among the numberless impedimenta
which obstructed navigation.

[Illustration: At the August Falls.]

Another most beautiful island, 520 m. long--Jessica Island--was passed
just before getting to really formidable rapids, down which we had the
greatest difficulty in letting the canoe, even by the judicious use of
ropes. The navigable channel of the river--if navigable it could be
called--swerved from north-west to due north. In a basin of immense size
were a number of islands from 300 to 200 m. in length, and enormous
boulders with cataracts of great height between. The roar made by the
water falling over was so great that it resembled thunder. The difference
of height between the top and the bottom of the rapid was not less than
10 ft. The water in the channel we followed went over a great slope of
lava above which numerous boulders had accumulated.

My men became perplexed when they saw the formidable rush of water, but
before we had time to do anything we were swept away at such a speed that
for one moment I really believed we were lost. My men laughed
hysterically, and in that laugh I joined when we came out at the other
end still alive. We had shaved several rocks so closely that great
patches of the stopping in the side of the canoe had been torn off
altogether, and we were filling fast with water.

Our merriment did not last long, for in a few moments we had drifted on
to another and worse rapid, much more terrific than the one we had just
gone over. We just managed to hold the canoe on the upper edge of the
foaming stream, trying to get the ropes ready in order to let her down.
We were in mid stream, not less than 200 m. away from the right bank. We
unloaded a portion of the baggage on the rocks and proceeded to let the
canoe down with ropes--a most dangerous job in that particular rapid,
because at the end of the rush of water stood up many rocks, which drove
the water back again and eventually switched it off, curling over itself
at a very sharp angle on one side and on the other. A diabolic-looking
whirlpool of great depth formed on the other side of those rocks.

I fully realized that th