The river rose during the night, and all that was visible of the worn-out craft next day was about six feet of her two masts.

Most of the property we had on board was saved; and we spent the Christmas of 1860 encamped on the island of Chimba.

Canoes were sent for from Senna; and we reached it on the 27th, to be again hospitably entertained by our friend, Senhor Ferrao.
We reached the Kongone on the 4th of January, 1861.

A flagstaff and a Custom-house had been erected during our absence; a hut, also, for a black lance-corporal and three privates.

By the kind permission of the lance-corporal, who came to see us as soon as he had got into his trousers and shirt, we took up our quarters in the Custom-house, which, like the other buildings, is a small square floorless hut of mangrove stakes overlaid with reeds.