1 72 EASTERN ETHIOPIA xiv 



saw the recent footmarks of a lion ; this warned us not 

 to visit the lake unarmed. 



One morning the lake was visited by an enormous 

 flock of flamingoes. We gradually crept along the cduv 

 of the reed-bed to obtain a good view of them. The 

 birds were so numerous that they covered about an 

 acre of the lake. On approaching them a few took 

 wing, and as each rose in the air it had the clumsy 

 appearance of an aeroplane. Suddenly a gun was fired; 



The Head of a Wart- Hog. 

 This is the ugliest mammal in Ethiopia. 



this huge flock of birds rose on the wino- and the 



<_> ( i 



rustling noise made by the flapping of their huge wings 

 reminded me of wind suddenly striking and rushing 

 through the tall trees of a forest : " And when they 

 went I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise 

 of great waters" (Ezek., chap. i. 24). The feast 

 of colour, the magnificent cloud of rose pink which 

 covered the lake as these birds sailed across it, defies 

 description. 



