One of these, a very grave man with a gentle face and manner whom I took to be the chief of the party, sat down opposite to me, the other two placing themselves in the bow and stern of the boat which they drove along by means of paddles.

Then we started, followed by three other canoes, and before we had gone a mile utter weariness overpowered me and I fell asleep.
I awoke much refreshed, having slept many hours, for now the sun was setting, and was astonished to find the grave-looking man my companion in the canoe, keeping watch over my sleep and warding the gnats from me with a leafy branch.

His kindness seemed to show that I was in no danger of ill-treatment, and my fears on that point being set at rest, I began to wonder as to what strange land I had come and who its people might be.

Soon, however, I gave over, having nothing to build on, and observed the scenery instead.

Now we were paddling up a smaller river than the one on the banks of which I had been cast away, and were no longer in the midst of marshes.