With Flashli-ht and kiilc -^ 



{^Li})nwcorax niger) are to Ix- heard chirpino- away, the 

 quarrelsome crested coot i^h^iilica ci'islata) \viii_n-s its 

 wav over the surlace, nunilxTs ot moorhens [(nil/iuii/a 

 c/i/oropus), single dwart waterhens [^Ortygoiiicl ra pitsil/a 

 ohscura) and the long-leg'^ed jiarra {.■lc/o/>/n//is 17/ rwainis) 

 displax- themseK'es hetore our eyes. 



1 he sun hangs hea\il\' over the ex])anse of water, 

 covered bv its carpet ol plants, and the atmosphere is 

 stifling. These plants are delusixe in their islanddike 

 aspect, and it is with dithciilty that we make our way 

 through them cautiously step by step. Here and there, 

 upon islands upon which acaciadnishes grow, flocks ot 

 cormorants have settled and are drying their feathers 

 with their wdngs outstretched ; but these enemies ot flsh, 

 backed up by all the other members ot the world ot 

 beasts and birds, have never been able to decimate the; in- 

 habitcUits of these lakes which swarm with lish Wdierever 

 we tLU'n our steps, we see in tront ot us little eddies and 

 whirlpools which tell us of t'ish pursuing their pre\-. 

 '1 hrow a line, and in halt' an hour you liaxe caught such 

 a !uimber of fish weighing live pounds and more that 

 tour m(;n will And it difficult to carr\ the burden back 

 to camp. 



Up to the arms in water, hidden by the reeds, it is 

 very enjoxable to remain here watching the birds. It it 

 were not lor the mos(|uiloes and another kind ol small 

 flv, wdiich creeps into the eyes and nose and ears and 

 stings viciously, one could remain thus occupied tor da\s 

 together. 



A W(jnderl"ull\ beaulil'ul liule bird glides sutldenl)' on 



102 



