over some of the rocks, since it descended in minor declivities to a considerable distance below the principal rapid, in the centre of which the boat had struck.  We reached the commencement of these rapids on the 6th, and ascended the first by means of ropes, which were hauled upon by three of the men from the bank; and, as the day was pretty far advanced, we stopped a little above it, that we might attempt the principal rapid before we should be exhausted by previous exertion.  It was fortunate that we took such a precaution.  The morning of the 7th proved extremely dark, and much rain fell.  We commenced our journey in the midst of it, and soon gained the tail of the rapid.  Our attempt to pull up it completely failed.  The boat, as soon as she entered the ripple, spun round like a toy, and away we went with the stream.  As I had anticipated, our ropes were too short; and it only remained for us to get into the water, and haul the boat up by main force.  We managed pretty well at first, and drew her alongside a rock to rest a little.  We then recommenced our efforts, and had got into the middle of the channel.  We were up to our armpits in the water, and only kept our position by means of rocks beside us.  The rain was falling, as if we were in a tropical shower, and the force of the current was such, that if we had relaxed for an instant, we should have lost all the ground we had gained.  Just at this moment, however, without our being aware of their approach, a large tribe of natives, with their spears, lined the bank, and took us most completely by surprise.  At no time during this anxious journey were we ever so completely in their power, or in so defenceless a situation.  It rained so hard, that our firelocks would have been of no use, and had they attacked us, we must necessarily have been slaughtered without committing the least execution upon them.  Nothing, therefore, remained for us but to continue our exertions.  It required only one strong effort to get the boat into still water for a time, but that effort was beyond our strength, and we stood in the stream, powerless and exhausted.

Assisted by the natives.

The natives, in the meanwhile, resting on their spears, watched us with earnest attention.  One of them, who was sitting close to the water, at length called to us, and we immediately recognised the deep voice of him to whose singular interference we were indebted for our escape on the 23rd of January.  I desired Hopkinson to swim over to him, and to explain that we wanted assistance.  This was given without hesitation; and we at length got under the lea of the rock, which I have already described as being in the centre of the river.  The natives launched their bark canoes, the only frail means they possess of crossing the rivers with their children.  These canoes are of the simplest construction and rudest materials, being formed of an oblong piece of bark, the ends of which are stuffed with clay, so as to render them impervious