Market-boats sail along at good speed on their own behalf; ferry-boats creep along at elephantine pace to serve the needs of others only: cargo boats make no progress at all--that is the owners' concern.
On the third day of Nagendra's journey clouds arose and gradually covered the sky.

The river became black, the tree-tops drooped, the paddy birds flew aloft, the water became motionless.

Nagendra ordered the _manji_ (boatman) to run the boat in shore and make it fast.

At that moment the steersman, Rahamat Mullah, was saying his prayers, so he made no answer.

Rahamat knew nothing of his business.