The water is generally about four feet deep, and fifteen or twenty yards broad.

Before reaching it, we passed five or six gullies; but beyond it the country, for two or three miles from the river, was comparatively smooth.

The long grass was overrunning all the native paths, and one species (_sanu_), which has a sharp barbed seed a quarter of an inch in length, enters every pore of woollen clothing and highly irritates the skin.

From its hard, sharp point a series of minute barbs are laid back, and give the seed a hold wherever it enters: the slightest touch gives it an entering motion, and the little hooks prevent its working out.

These seeds are so abundant in some spots, that the inside of the stocking becomes worse than the roughest hair shirt.