AND THE VICTORIA NYANZA 



7f) 



dangerous storms and rough seas which prevail on the open water, and to 

 the fact that it is not inuch more than a year since the first sea-going 

 steamer was launclied, voyagers, both European and native, have been 

 careful to hug the coast — or, rather, tlie chains of islands — as closely as 

 possible in making journeys fiom one point to another, this being done 

 so that the canoe, steam-launcli, or sailing vessel might be able in rough 

 weather to run for shelter. Consequently the lake has never been 

 deliberately crossed yet over its open waters from north to south or east 

 to west. Europeans and natives, liowever, who have at times been driven 

 far out into tlie centre of the lake by strong winds declare that they 

 have sighted unknown islands, and have found tlieiu inhabited by naked 

 savages of hostile aspect. There are also persistent stories amongst the 

 natives that the waters of the Victoria Nyauza are inhabited by a monster 

 (known to the Baganda as "Lukwata"). This creature, from the native 

 accounts, might either be a small cetacean or a large form of manatee, or. 



AMBATCH-TREES (iX FOREGROLNl i 



more probably, a gigantic fish. So far, however, only one European has 

 caught a gbnipse of this creature.* Some of the natives identify it 



* Sir Clement Hill crossing tlie Xyaiiza in KJOO on a small steam-huuich was 

 nearly capsized by some nK)nstroiis water-creature which seemed to have a large 

 .square-shaped, fish-like head. 



