THE TUBUEI LAKES 73 



For the first few miles our walk was delightfully 

 easy, but as the day advanced the sun became very 

 scorching, and by midday we were glad indeed to rest 

 beneath the sparse shade of some scrub-trees. We were 

 aroused from our siesta by a rustle and stir. Kukaua 

 said it was some " nama " — animal ; but, when he found 

 that his unwary speech was likely to lead him a long 

 journey in Mr Talbot's wake, he hastily corrected him- 

 self to "small, small nama," in the hope that our 

 excitement would abate. It did, but for a different 

 reason. The noise increased, the grass crackled and 

 popped, and clouds of smoke rose in the still air : the 

 carriers were busy firing a track further through the 

 stiff, coarse vegetation. 



Occasionally streams obstructed our way, over which 

 we were carried, and as we neared the Tuburi depres- 

 sion swamps could no longer be avoided. The first one 

 we came to looked short, and, as it did not seem worth 

 getting wet for that little way, we decided to be carried. 

 Mastaba was my bearer, and at first all went well ; but 

 the marsh was a considerable one, and after one 

 hundred yards my perch on his shoulder became in- 

 creasingly precarious. He evidently thought so too, 

 for he gave a heave, which, though meant to be helpful, 

 precipitated my downfall. With an effort I still sat 

 upright, but it was knee-grip and endurance that did 

 it, not balance. After a while the position became un- 

 bearable, and I said I would get down and walk ; but 

 Mastaba's pride was in it and he would not let me, 

 pleading that Mr Talbot had ordered otherwise. The 

 muddy bottom became more slippery and the water 

 increased in depth. It reached to Mastaba's waist, and 

 he hitched up the lowest parts of my person to keep me 



