\ LJLTURES AM» MARABOUS 1-K ATl'.KN ISI NCi lOGF/IHER 



VII 



Evening on the Marshes 



E"^\'ENING on the marshes In lujualorial Africa is a 

 > marvellous tiling". To the northerner the sudden 

 disappearance of the sun below the horizon is an ever 

 new surprise. 



With the coming of night, thousands ot glow-worms — 

 the l\imurri-nnirri of the natives — make their appearance, 

 and grasshoppers mingle thc-ir chorus with the curiously 

 wooden, monotonous croaking ot the trogs. 



Then there is th(; Ijuzzing ot the moscjuitoes alsc^ which 

 intest these localities in myriads, swarming otit ot the 

 papyrus-beds in their bloodthirstv search tor prey. It 

 would not be possil;)le to r(_-main here at all without 

 some; {protection again^^t their attacks. The mostjuito-nets 

 we ha\e with us enable us to hokl to our posts, though, 

 we do not esca|)(; some; \er\ pamtul slings through our 

 clothes. 



Livelier and busier tlie\ become ; tlieir bu/zing, louder 

 and Inuder, minglmg now with the \-()ices of the marsh- 

 birds, which are most active during the mght. '1 lierc- is 



1 12 



