The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-31

eager 10 cover the distance too rapidly. and un-
less watched were content 10 let the boat drift
with the stream. Such slow progress did not
suit Us, but we had TO put up with good deal
of IL.
On the second day ont we reached the divid-
ing point, where the broad stream is split in
two and its volume compressed between mod
eratey high banks We chose the eastern, or
Ten Kiaug, as 10 would take us toward the
Saigon River.
Upon entering this our trouble began. The
ad vance boat with KrOh ran into a suag in the
night, aud we had TO haul up and make repairs.
Quite a lot Of our provisions were wet and
spoiled. While on the bank one Of the rowers
was bitten by a cobra de capella, aud we buried
him two hours later in the river Jack would
have been another victim but for his big boots.
lie stepped right onto one, which drove hls
fangs through the outer leather.
Half day was wasted before we got of
again. Then Jack succumbed 10 the fever, aud
WAS out Of his head half the time. lie re-
quired a constant watch, aud for fear OF more
snags al night we dragged anchor, aud had
host Of visitors in the shape Of small water
snakes. which, though quite harmless, are not
pleasant sleeping companions.
On the fifth day we had an exciting chase
after big tiger, which we espied crossing the
stream. We got close aud after firing several
shots, which were not over good owing 10 the
rock ing Of the boat succeeded i'm killing the
beast, which, however, sank in the muddy
water, so that we lost the skin and claws.
Strong doses OF qunine aud whisky brought
Jack out Of his worst fever. but he was too i'll
20 enjoy what little fun there was going on.
Tie scenery was the never-ending jungle and
the roasting sunlight. Fortunately we had a
good moon most Of the time 80 we could travel
at night. when il was cooler. s0' 10 S60
We saw no signs Of life until the sixth day,
when we met three boats going M. Our boat
men stopped 70 talk, and we heard that in two
DAYS we would reach Mith0n, large town,
where we left the river and crossed through
canals and small streams 20 the French settle
ment. From Nickong we should he among
villages and so 10 speak, in the world again.
We got four new b0atmcn, our men turning
back, bag Of rice forming the barter price
Of the exchange Of boats. The mended boat
was no good, so they had 10 go on. Our new
men were so glad 10 be going bomeward that
we bad 20 curb their zeal, for they left the pro-
vision boat far behind. Early on The morning
Of tho 9Th day we rounded point. and the
fortified city Of hithOn came IN sight There
were q number OF rude mud forts on the river
bank. on which were no guns; dozen lofty,
sharp spired temples, and q couple Of thou
sand mud. walled matched houses. IL made
quite pretentious showing after our five weeks
Ia the wilderness for though UdOng is larger
and has twice the number Of inhabitants, II is
10 a great extent hidden ia the jungle, while
Mithon shows from the river.
AT FIRST our arrival did not attract any notice
/ but when Phra Sri aud j assembled the bank
4 with Jack leaning on our arms, the news spread
! like wildhre that two
oPoRFray nFvrfeu