OUR FIRST VOYAGE ON LAKE CHAD 331 



nearly twice as lono- as we had intended, so we thought it 

 high time to bring our trip to a close. We therefore changed 

 our course to west, and, after a few tedious hours of winding 



BUPUMAS IN THEIR GRASS CANOES 



through the shallows in a network of small islands, we 

 emerged into open water with a depth of 2 ft. This 

 continued for a distance of twenty miles till the mouth of the 

 Yo was reached. We made good going all the way, for we 

 had the wind now behind us, so were able to make use of 

 the sail, which took us merrily along. Towards the after- 

 noon we came into 3 ft. of water, and along the horizon 

 there appeared the low line of land. Presently we sighted 

 a large Buduma fleet, heading in our direction, so we at once 

 hastened our pace with poling. As soon as the Budumas 

 became aware of us they put about and fled. But the sail 



