three
o'clock
For an hour the party sat on the deck forward watching the boats coming down the stream and the villages on the opposite shore ; but as the sun gained power they were glad to enter into the cabin . The mats were rolled up now to allow a free passage of air , and as they sat on the cushions they could look out on both sides . Day after day passed quietly and smoothly . The men generally towed the boat from sunrise until eleven o'clock in the day ; then they moored her to the bank , prepared a meal , and after eating it went ashore if there were trees that afforded a shade there , or if not , spread out some mats on poles over the boat and slept in their shade till three o'clock . Then they towed until sunset , moored her for the night , cooked their second meal , talked and sang for an hour or two , and then lay down for the night . Sometimes the wind blew with sufficient strength to enable the boat to stem the stream close inshore by means of the sail alone ; then the boatmen were perfectly happy and spent their day in alternate eating and sleeping . Generally the passengers landed and walked alongside of the boat for an hour or two after they had had their early breakfast , and again when the heat of the day was over ; it made a change , and at the same time kept their muscles in a state of health and activity .