He was travelling in his own boat.

The first day or two passed without obstacle.

The river flowed smoothly on--leaped, danced, cried out, restless, unending, playful.
On shore, herdsmen were grazing their oxen--one sitting under a tree singing, another smoking, some fighting, others eating.

Inland, husbandmen were driving the plough, beating the oxen, lavishing abuse upon them, in which the owner shared.

The wives of the husbandmen, bearing vessels of water, some carrying a torn quilt, or a dirty mat, wearing a silver amulet round the neck, a ring in the nose, bracelets of brass on the arm, with unwashed garments, their skins blacker than ink, their hair unkempt, formed a chattering crowd.