BATHYBIA.
Already our progress was much impeded by the luxuriance of the vegetation, and as this state of affairs did not show signs of improving, we decided to attempt navigation on a river which lay about three leagues to the north, and appeared to be the main drainage line of this portion of Bathybia.
Some time elapsed before this new method of procedure could be put to the test. Raft building was not without its troubles, as we were unacquainted with the materials available and consequently their floating qualities had to be determined. At length a structure was completed which rode lightly on the water, and was regarded by the seafarers amongst us as distinctly promising. In its construction we employed the dead trunks of huge fungi of a variety capable of resisting water-log. Large sheets of fungus several inches in thickness, found growing over the ground in moist localities, furnished an excellent decking, whilst a spyrogyra like alga was found to answer splendidly as a cord for binding the structure.
Whilst these preparations were in progress, several incidents of special interest occurred. One of these came near proving fatal to one who had gained much in favour by rendering signal service as a mountaineer during our descent. Provisions had become alarmingly
