186 NIGHT ADVENTURE. 



streams, formerly passed on the survey, had now spread far and 

 wide over the surface of the plain, making a broad marsh with 

 connecting channels, furnishing plenty of water very nearly fresh. 

 Insects of various kinds abounded in great numbers in the shal- ' 

 lows, and had attracted vast flocks of wildfowl from the lake, 

 whose waters afforded them literally nothing either to eat or to 

 drink. We filled up our kegs and commenced our return, when a 

 violent gust arose from the north-west. Fearing the consequences, 

 we hastened our steps ; but upon arriving in sight of the beach, 

 we found, as we had anticipated, that the water had receded before 

 the wind full half a mile, and our boat, which we left afloat, was 

 now high and dry upon the sand. As she was very heavy and flat- 

 bottomed, we found it beyond our strength to move her, and con- 

 sequently made up our minds to spend the night where we were, 

 unless the wind should again change and blow from the south- 

 ward or eastward, and thus cause a reflux of the water, which would 

 set us afloat once more. 



The skiff was despatched with some water to the point agreed 

 upon for the night's encampment, and directed to call at the plat- 

 form for some provisions and blankets for the shore party, while 

 we remained seated in our boat awaiting the movement of the 

 waters. After watching some hours for a change of wind, the 

 men were directed to coil themselves down in the bottom of the 

 boat, and we all tried to get some sleep, which, tired and weary as 

 we were, soon came to our relief. While we were thus unconscious, 

 the wind veered round to the south, and we were driven by the 

 rising waters farther on the shore than ever. It soon ceased, 

 however, and upon rising, at daylight, we were again hard and 

 fast upon the bottom. As the sun rose, a gentle breeze came up 

 from the south, bringing back with it the refluxed waters, which 

 gradually began to deepen around us. It will thus be seen that 

 the rise and fall of the water of any particular locality is de- 

 pendent in great measure upon the force and direction of the 

 wind, making a difference of nearly a foot in a very short period 

 of time. This of course makes a corresponding difference in 

 the extent of the sand-flats, amounting, in many cases, to miles in 

 width. 



The skiff was descried about sunrise coming in search of us ; 

 and when she joined us we succeeded, by the united force of 

 both crews, in dragging the boat into deeper water, and set out on 

 our return to camp, little refreshed, as may readily be believed, by 



