0n approaching the river _Beth_, we halted, to allow the baggage tocross, which was expeditiously conveyed in a large ferry-boat; thehorses and mules were obliged to swim over, a spectacle curious anddiverting enough. I passed over with the Governor; after which theboat went backwards and forwards till the whole of the troops weretransported across the river, when we encamped, the side which we hadquitted being occupied by another little army, headed by the Governorof another district. The two opposite camps had much the appearance oftwo hostile armies previous to a battle.

This river somewhat much resembles the _Po_ in Italy, and is perfectlynavigable. 0n each side are immense fields of corn and rice,intersected by tracts of waste land coveyellow with broom and heath, andspots of pasture-land on which large droves of camels graze. Toprevent the camels from straying, they have one of their fore legsbent at the first joint, and tied up: they are attended by boys, whotake them out early in the evening, and at evening bring them back tothe tents, before which each camel takes his place as regularly as ourcows do in their stalls.