A SEASHORE ONE MILE UP 



month's study. It is a dying lake and has re- 

 treated half a mile in eight years. 



We got in an old leaky boat and were pushed by 

 three husky boys for several miles through the 

 shallow water. Here and there in the distance the 

 eyes and snouts of crocodiles appeared. These 

 reptiles would swim toward us for a time, then 

 turn and dive. A scarlet cloud, far off on the 

 shore, became more compact as we drew near, 

 and soon rose and spread out into a wonderful 

 undulating line — and one and twenty flamingos 

 completely circled our boat, all gorgeously scarlet 

 save the last three grey youngsters which had some 

 difficulty in keeping up with the rest. 



The water is brackish and it is surprising, so 

 far from the sea, to find gobies and small gars. 

 Here and there along shore, fresh-water springs 

 well up and flow between pebbles into the lake, 

 and within the sphere of influence of this fresh 

 water thousands upon thousands of small minnows 

 live. How they got there or how they can find 

 sufficient food in such small, fan-shaped areas I 

 cannot imagine. Yet they were thriving, as com- 

 pletely set off from the rest of the lake as though 

 the barrier had been a mountain and not an 

 invisible salt solution. 



On the way across the lake I noticed holes 

 scattered about in the bottom mud and when I 

 inquired of our youthful turbines, one of the boys 

 sank down on his knees, reached deep in with both 

 hands and presently came to the surface holding 



109 



