PLATEAU OF THE PAGANS 411 



the trucks sank here it would be their last sinking 

 spell and we would have to swim from then on. This 

 proved to be an occasion where things appeared worse 

 than they really were, because the ground beneath the 

 water was hard sand and held the weight of the trucks 

 very nicely. The pond averaged about a foot in 

 depth and, as we sped along, the trucks threw water 

 like a racing motor boat. 



For days we had been in a district teeming with 

 wild ducks, geese, and other species of waterfowl. 

 Every pond, no matter how small, was thickly covered 

 with them, and we could always look into the sky and 

 see wedged-shaped flocks in flight. It was indeed a 

 paradise for the bird shooter, but would be quite dif- 

 ficult for the week-end sportsman to reach. 



When passing tlirough the drier parts of the region, 

 we encountered a few antelope, resembhng Thompson's 

 gazelles, and numerous troops of monkeys; one a 

 large, black-faced species and the other a brick-red, 

 medium-sized animal, and, after leaving Dikoa, we 

 observed many thousands of the beautiful golden- 

 crested cranes. 



After hours of splashing through this shallow lake, 

 we gradually ascended to higher ground, and shortly 

 thereafter stopped in front of a large house in Maidu- 

 gari. We selected this place for our first call because 

 from a tall flagpole in front, the Union Jack fluttered 

 to the breeze. It was the home of the EngHsh Resi- 

 dent, who administered this section of Nigeria. 



When my homesick black boys looked upon the 

 British flag, grins spread from one ear to the other, 

 for they thought we had completely encircled the 

 globe and had arrived back in Kenya Colony I They 



