458 REACH THE TEOGE AN ADVENTURE. 



In consequence of. the frail structure of our craft, and the 

 boatmen's tenacity in keeping near the shore, we were two 

 days in getting from the Zouga to the western extremity of 

 the Lake, although, in reality, it is only one good day's voy- 

 age. It was not, therefore, until the third day that we 

 reached the chief entrance of the mouth of the Teoge (for 

 here the river spreads out into several branches), where there 

 is a bar. The water was so low on it that although the 

 stream was fast rising at the time (August), we were forced 

 to draw the canoes across it by main force. It is true we 

 might have avoided the inconvenience by proceeding a mile 

 or two to the westward, where a channel exists that is said 

 to be navigable at all seasons. 



Our voyage across the Lake was attended with no incident 

 worth recording, but, on reaching the point just mentioned, 

 I had a little adventure with a leche, hundreds of which 

 might be seen grazing and sporting among the shallows and 

 the numerous little islets of the Teoge. 



I had gone in advance of my party in the hope of obtain- 

 ing a shot ; but though I met with vast numbers of animals, 

 the openness of the ground prevented me from getting with- 

 in range. Being quite tired by my severe but fruitless ex- 

 ertions, I was resting on the rifle, contemplating the novel 

 and strikino; scene — the Lake, with its broad blue waters- — its 

 finely-wooded shores — the varied and vast herds of animals — 

 the Teoge, with its numerous little channels and sedgy shores 

 — when I saw, a little ahead of me, two magnificent stag 

 leches approaching each other, evidently with no friendly in- 

 tentions. I was right in my conjecture, for in a few sec- 

 onds afterward they were engaged in combat. Taking ad- 

 vantage of this lucky incident, I approached, unperceived, 

 witliin a dozen paces, when I quickly dropped on one knee 

 and took a deliberate aim at the shoulder of the nearest; 

 but, just as I pulled the trigger, he received a violent thrust 

 from his antagonist, which made him swerve to one side, and 



