OUR SECOND SAFARI 



close season for shooting them which was then in 

 force — duck, divers, pelicans, and many others. 



It was difficult to realise that this lake had once 

 been the crater of a huge volcano ; all the surround- 

 ing country is of volcanic construction, like most of 

 Central Africa. We passed through about a mile 

 of water absolutely covered by lovely blue water- 

 lilies, mauve-blue ones, and others of a soft mauve- 

 pink, having their leaves coloured in many autumnal 

 tints. The island itself was covered with large 

 thorny mimosa trees and a few wild oranges and 

 an everlasting amount of the horrid Bermudas 

 grass, which tripped one up at intervals. I came 

 to the conclusion it was not the place I should 

 choose to live in. I heard some tale about a sub- 

 terranean river carrying off the water of the lake, 

 in which lived a large sea-serpent, but I only repeat 

 it for what it is worth — though several people say 

 they have seen the serpent. 



177 12 



