104 AGAIN IN THE SHIRE. 



place where the river flowed into the lake, we were 

 unable to hear their replies. Wind and sea were in- 

 creasing rapidly, and beginning to fear our anchor 

 would not hold, we determined to beat back without 

 further delay. Heavy rollers were every now and 

 then coming in, and the lake presented a very dirty 

 appearance to windward. Two canoes put off and 

 attempted to reach us, but were compelled to 

 return half full of water before they had got half 

 way. 



We had just commenced getting up the anchor, when 

 we perceived that a large canoe had been procured, and 

 that two men were coming off in her. The seas broke 

 over the little craft, and I thought she must go down ; 

 but while one of these plucky fellows shoved her along, 

 the other kept baling her out, and they ultimately suc- 

 ceeded in reaching us. Having then made fast along- 

 side, they pointed out a mountain under which they said 

 we should find the mouth of the river. This hill bore 

 east by south. A small quantity of cloth was given 

 as a reward to these men, and they seemed grateful. 



Sail was made, and after a long beat back against 

 quite as much wind as we could stand with two 

 reefs, and being thoroughly drenched by the seas, we 

 entered the Shire once more, having found its conflu- 

 ence with the lake about a hundred yards to the east 

 of where we had first changed our course to the west- 

 ward. It was provoking to find that we had been 

 within that distance of the river some hours ago. Once 

 in the Shire, reefs were shaken out, and we flew along 

 with a fair wind and smooth water towards Lake Ny- 

 assa. When nearing that inland sea we met two tribes 



