MOUTH OF THE LEKUE. 147 



that part of the lake where the shore is clad with long 

 reeds to the water's edge, the wind failed us, and it 

 became a dead calm. After a long pull, and vainly 

 endeavouring to find a beach for the night, we were 

 compelled to bivouac on the marsh. Mr. Young, 

 Reid, Stacy, and myself slept in the boat, but the 

 Makololos and boys had to sleep ashore, as we could 

 not well manage with twenty-one on board. 



The mosquitoes here were nearly as bad as on the 

 Shire, so we hauled off a little for the night, to get 

 away from the reeds ; but even at that distance from 

 the shore they were almost intolerable. There were 

 several shoals of hippopotami round us, making a 

 hideous row all night, evidently at a loss to know 

 who and what we were who thus rudely intruded on 

 their usually quiet resort. The night was calm, and 

 the beating of drums might be heard in the distance 

 till an early hour in the morning, when we got under 

 weigh. 



Determined to have another try to find the Lekue, 

 we sailed up and down the marsh, but without suc- 

 cess. At last a solitary canoe appeared in sight. 

 Aided by my glasses I discovered that there were six 

 men in it, and Mr. Young ordered Reid to bear down 

 on it. The men did not seem alarmed at our ap- 

 proach, and were civil. . In answer to our inquiries 

 they pointed out the direction of Marenga, and thither 

 we steered our course. On our way I perceived the 

 mouth of the Lekue, for which we had been looking 

 too much to the northward. 



Shortly after passing that river a large village ap- 

 peared a little distance in from the shore, and we 



L 2 



