CHAPTER LI.
THE HONGAHREE.
SUNDAY, June 28. We were off early in the morning. The weather was cloudy and threatening rain, with head wind the whole day. We passed into another of those long chutes, making but little headway. Late in the afternoon we reached the main river.
We have been in view during the day of lofty mountains covered with forests, and near night came in view of the loftiest yet seen. They were on the left of the river, to the north of a stream called the Ahl-benn, distant some thirty miles. After a long unsuccessful struggle against wind and tide, in order to reach the main shore on the left, we were compelled to take shelter under the lee of an island at 10  . p. . In order to cheer our desolate bivouac we fired the old dried grass and bushes of the previous year still standing. It soon spread far and wide and lighted up the dark shore for several miles, making our camp more agreeable. The warmth of the fire was not unpleasant, as the evening was cool, with a heavy dew falling. Many birds; either driven from their cover by the fire or attracted by the light, flew over the shore, among which we observed ducks, quail, snipe, and curlew.