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OUR FIRST VOYAGE ON LAKE CHAD 325 



fish, empty of human souls as a phantom ship, and seeming 

 moved by no earthly power, looms up in the western glow 

 and silently passes, 



soon to fade in the 

 mists behind. With- 

 out foreknowledge one 

 would not discover 

 the small dark dot 

 of the head of the 

 swimmer who is push- 

 ing the canoe from 

 behind. 



Our first night 

 spent upon the Lake 

 was not a happy one, 

 unless by comparison 

 with some that were 

 to follow. Certainly, 

 our discomfort was 

 lessened by the 

 extra sleeping-room 



A BUDUMA SHIELD 



afforded us by the Buduma canoes, and for a while too, 

 the " boys " were happy glutting themselves on the fish, 

 which for the greater part was imperfectly dried and 

 stinking. But with the distraction of supper at an end and 

 sleep the one boon desired by all, the hordes of mosquitoes, 

 which up till now had seemed satisfied with " sniping tactics," 

 concentrated their attack in battalions, and then all things 

 were equal. After the weary hours of torment in the dark 

 the first flush of light on the eastern horizon was welcomed 



