CHAPTER XVI 



OUR FIRST VOYAGE ON LAKE CHAD 



I RODE into camp at Kaddai about eleven o'clock. The four 

 huts which the Shehu had caused to be built for us upon 

 sites that I had previously selected were placed about 

 900 yards from the Lake, to allow for the rise of the water 

 when the wind set in from the east ; for, owing to the 

 shallow nature of the Lake and the level lie of the land, 

 an ordinary wind brought the water up 500 yards over 

 the shore, which all along the western side slopes so 

 gently into the water that there are no containing banks. 



I had selected this as a convenient site for our camp, 

 because there was a Buduma fish baga, or market, that did 

 trade with Kukawa and was connected with that place 

 by a rough bush path. My idea was that by living along- 

 side of these shy lake-dwellers we might gradually gain 

 their confidence and so be able to gather information and 

 perhaps enlist the services of a guide to help us in our 

 exploration of the Lake. But, to my great disappointment 

 I now found on my return that the Budumas had decamped, 

 not on account of the white man's coming, but for fear of 

 the soldiers and carriers, whom all natives distrust and 

 detest, — especially the soldiers, who are a difficult problem 

 to deal with in our colonies, for as soon as the white man's 

 back is turned the native soldier, if he can possibly get a 



