172 



EASTERN ETHIOPIA 



.saw the recent footmarks of a lion ; this warned lis not 

 to visit the lake unarmed. 



(_)ne morning the lalve was visited by an enormous 

 fiock of flamingoes. We gradually crept along the edge 

 of the reed-bed to obtain a good view of them. The 

 Inrds were so numerous that they covered about an 

 acre of the lake. (Jn approaching thero a few took 

 wing, and as each rose in the air it had the clumsy 

 appearance of an aeroplane. Suddenly a gun was fired; 



The Heail of a \'\'ai t-Hug. 

 This is the ugliest mammal in Ethiopia. 



this huge Hock of birds rose on the wing and the 

 rustling noise made by the Happing of their huge wings 

 reminded me of wind .suddeidy striking and rushing 

 through the tall trees of a forest: "And when they 

 went I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise 

 of great waters" (Ezek., chap. i. 24). The feast 

 of colour, the magnificent cloud of rose pink which 

 covered the lake as tliese birds sailed across it, defies 

 de.scriptioii. 



