A NATAL TROUT 187 



a perfect camping spot on short grass, near 

 some small trees. There we can hear the sub- 

 dued roar of a miniature cataract, caused by 

 a sudden drop of about thirty or forty feet in 

 the rocky channel of the river. Above the fall 

 there is broad, open land covered with short 

 grass ; the stream is bordered with clumps 

 of arum lilies and other rank marsh plants, 

 but there is nothing to interfere with overhead 

 casting. The river has cut for itself a fairly 

 deep channel, constantly meandering in its 

 course and providing about three miles of 

 fishing for every mile of direct advance, in 

 appearance rather like the River Axe as seen 

 from the London and South- Western main line 

 to Exeter. At each turn one bank is steep-to, 

 forming a miniature cliff, the other bank 

 shelving. 



If want of accommodation was a drawback 

 beforehand, because of all the trouble of collect- 

 ing and transporting camp equipment and 

 stores, it is a great advantage when all the pre- 

 liminaries are over. We wake up early in 

 glorious fresh air after a really restful sleep, 

 with the pleasant feeling that there is a long 

 fishing day ahead of us, exploring new water 

 in complete solitude. The scent of a wood 

 fire and the sound of frizzling bacon steal into 



