shallow river; shallows; flatboat; river boat
predicament; one's ground; one's position
the year end; end of the year; last days of the year
rapids; shallows of a river
chance; opportunity; lucky break
ship-to-ship cargo transfer; off-shore delivery (into smaller boats)
life has its ups and downs; he who falls today may rise tomorrow
drying up (of the surface of a riverbed)
many torrents; many rapids