His first difficulty was to get vessels or rafts sufficient to carry the people over.

All he could obtain was seven or eight little boats, each capable of holding about six persons, besides the two men who rowed.

Timber there was none of size sufficient to make a raft; and though he sent messengers for leagues, both up and down the river, he could not get a barge.

He put the small boats to work, but the passage of the river was so tedious that it seemed to him that it would be impossible for him to take over all those who crowded on the banks.

The river is broad at St.Florent, and between the marshes which lie on the southern side and the northern bank there is a long island.