So the days went on while they paddled leisurely up the river, Alan employing the time by taking lessons in the Asiki tongue from Jeekie, a language which he had been studying ever since he left England.  The task was not easy, as he had no books and Jeekie himself after some thirty years of absence, was doubtful as to many of its details.  Still being a linguist by nature and education and finding in the tongue similarities to other African dialects which he knew, he was now able to speak it a little, in a halting fashion.

On the fifth day of their ascent of the river, they came to a tributary that flowed into it from the north, up which the Ogula said they must proceed to reach Asiki-land.  The stream was narrow and sluggish, widening out here and there into great swamps through which it was not easy to find a channel.  Also the district was so unhealthy that even several of the Ogula contracted fever, of which Alan cured them by heavy doses of quinine, for fortunately his travelling medicine chest remained to him.  These cures were effected after their chief suggested that they should be thrown overboard, or left to die in the swamp as useless, with the result that the white man’s magical powers were thenceforth established beyond doubt or cavil.  Indeed the poor Ogula now looked on him as a god superior even to Little Bonsa, whose familiar he was supposed to be.

The journey through that swamp was very trying, since in this wet season often they could find no place on which to sleep at night, but must stay in the canoe tormented by mosquitoes, and in constant danger of being upset by the hippopotami that lived there.  Moreover, as no game was now available, they were obliged to live on these beasts, fish when they could catch them, and wildfowl, which sometimes they were unable to cook for lack of fuel.  This did not trouble the Ogula, who ate them raw, as did Jeekie when he was hungry.  But Alan was obliged to starve until they could make a fire.  This it was only possible to do when they found drift or other wood, since at that season the rank vegetation was in full growth.  Also the fearful thunderstorms which broke continually and in a few minutes half filled their canoe with water, made the reeds and the soil on which they grew, sodden with wet.  As Jeekie said: 

“This time of year only fit for duck and crocodile.  Human should remember uncontrollable forces of nature and wait till winter come in due course, when quagmire bear sole of his foot.”

This elaborate remark he made to Alan during the progress of a particularly fearful tempest.  The lightning blazed in the black sky and seemed to strike all about them like stabbing swords of fire, the thunder crashed and bellowed as it may be supposed that it will do on that day when the great earth, worn out at last, shall reel and stagger to its doom.  The rain fell in a straight and solid sheet; the tall reeds waved confusedly like millions of dim arms and while