EXTRAORDINARY SPECTACLE ^NARROW ESCAPE. 245 



The bay presented at this time a most extraordinary spec- 

 tacle, the whole being covered with one mass of dead fish. 

 We could only account for so unusual a sight by supposing 

 that an epidemic had occurred among them, more especially 

 as it did not appear to be confined to one or two species of 

 the finny tribe, but to all which are indigenous to the coast, 

 the gigantic shark not excepted. In some of the more shel- 

 tered spots the fish lay so deep that I remember on one occa- 

 sion to have had some difficulty in forcing my way through 

 in a small Mackintosh punt. 



As may well be expected, the effluvium arising from such 

 a mass of decomposed matter was offensive and sickening. 

 Whether all the fish died, or the stench drove the survivors 

 away, I am unable to decide ; but certain it is that hardly a 

 fish was left in the Bay. On our first arrival we captured 

 large quantities by means of a small seine-net, but now all 

 pur attempts proved futile. 



An incident occurred to me one day which might have 

 been attended with fatal consequences. A cutter had lately 

 arrived from the Cape, the object of the captain being to har- 

 poon the " humpback" whale, which at this season of the 

 year abounds in the vicinity of Walfisch Bay. I had paid a 

 visit to the craft in the punt mentioned. On my return it 

 came on to blow hard from the land. In calm weather the 

 punt could be managed with great ease ; but, on account of 

 her flat bottom and light construction, it was impossible to 

 make head against a stiff" breeze. When within a stone's 

 throw of the shore she became unmanageable, and for the 

 space of fully one hour all my efforts to propel her were un- 

 availing. At last, finding my strength failing, I made one 

 more desperate effort, and, having fortunately succeeded in 

 getting her into shallow water, I leaped over the side and 

 ultimately brought her to a place of safety. My arms were 

 quite paralyzed, and for a while I was unable to lift them 

 from my sides. Had the struggle lasted another minute, noth- 



