Altogether the donkeys were far more suitable for the country, as they were more easily loaded.

The facility of loading is all-important, and I now had an exemplification of its effect upon both animals and men.

The latter began to abuse the camels and to curse the father of this and the mother of that because they had the trouble of unloading them for the descent into the river's bed, while the donkeys were blessed with the endearing name of "my brother," and alternately whacked with the stick.
For some miles we passed through a magnificent forest of large trees.
The path being remarkably good, the march looked propitious.

This good fortune, however, was doomed to change.

We shortly entered upon thick thorny jungles.