194 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 



island of irregular shape, and came to a point 

 where I had to cross about ten or fifteen yards of 

 water. The island was in the middle of the lake, 

 and far away from town or village, and without 

 thinking of consequences I took my boots off and 

 started to wade across. The first step or two was 

 on the shallow shelly shore, but three or four feet 

 and I sank into mud, and as at each step I lifted 

 my feet I let loose ten thousand legions of ancient 

 stinks, the water bubbled and fizzled with them, 

 and even slimy, blear-eyed, unwholesome fish slunk 

 hurriedly away. Reaching the other side, I looked 

 for some clean water to wash my feet, and did so ; 

 but it was awkward, as I had to hold my boots and 

 socks in one hand and my nose in the other ; 

 but wash as I would the atrocious smell would not 

 go, and I declined to put those evil-smelling things 

 into my boots, and I couldn't take my feet off; so 

 there I was — the whole island was a swamp, couldn't 

 sit down anywhere, all puddles and wet, and the 

 more I dabbled and washed the more it seemed 

 to stir up new combinations of flavours never before 

 conceived. So I shouted and shouted, and at last 

 one of the crew heard, and brought out the small 

 boat and rescued me ; most mercifully I had car- 

 bolic soap with me, and so managed to at last 



