BOAT FOR LAKE NYASSA. 325 



Stacy, the man whom we got from the Petrel^ was a 

 wilhng and honest fellow. The boat, though very 

 well in the river, was not fit for the lake. None but 

 a decked boat would be safe, in consequence of the 

 sudden and heavy storms which sweep constantly 

 over Nyassa, raising its waters mountains high in a 

 few minutes ; unless one went coasting along with a 

 fleet of -small gigs, that might be easily beached at 

 any moment, and even then one could not always be 

 sure of a favourable shore. The climate on the lake 

 is delightful. 



I must ever regret that we left the country without 

 visiting Mataka and Makata, and that the north end 

 of the lake, which I so longed to see, was not reach- 

 ed. 1 had during this trip a fair opportunity of 

 testing the value of an old opinion of mine, viz., that 

 every sportsman should be provided with shooting- 

 irons by Rigby. I have tried most good gun- 

 makers du^-ing the last ten years, and most unhesitat- 

 ingly do I give the laurels to that clever and pains- 

 taking man. His heavy guns are perfection — this I 

 have proved ; and so much is known of his match 

 and express rifles, that there is no need of my en- 

 larging on the subject. 



THE END. 



LONDON : PRINTED BY MACDONALD AND TUGWELL, BLENHEIM HOUSE. 



