DISTRIBUTION OF PRESENTS TO THE TUAREGS AT BURÉ.
About 109 yards further down stream we doubled the point of the island of Ansongo.
The right arm of the river, which we could now see distinctly, was completely encumbered by rocks and rapids. Our barges could certainly not have got past them.
In front of us eddies and ripples showed that there were also rocks ahead of us. Our guides were brave fellows enough, but I did not believe they were much accustomed to the river, so I decided to make the two big boats anchor here. Baudry and I having removed the canvas sail which would have given purchase to the wind, and having pressed into the service every available oar, started to examine the channel, which, though very tortuous, turned out to be both wide and deep. We then returned on board, and without further incident we went on undaunted amongst the grass close to the left bank.
THE ‘DANTEC’ EXPLORING THE PASS.
The Aube had leaked dreadfully since she struck, and four men with buckets could scarcely bale her out. Our carpenter, Abdulaye, dived beneath her, and discovered that one of the planks of her bottom had got loose, but we managed to patch it up somehow.
To wind up this day, which had been so full of unpleasant excitement, a storm presently overtook us, during which we were soaked to the skin, whilst from the banks rose an odour of musk so strong as to be positively sickening.
Every now and then there were ripples close to the boat, caused by an alligator plunging into the water. It would not do to fall overboard just there.
