334 FROM THE NIGEE TO THE NILE 



the throw. These spears are made so that the head when 

 it , strikes a fish comes away from the shaft. A cord is 

 attached to the head and also to the arm of the- thrower, by 

 which he hauls in the fish. There were feathered fishers as 

 weU upon the scene, and it was a wonderful and extra- 

 ordinary sight to watch the birds at their fishing. Scores 

 and scores of pelicans were swimming about in ordered 

 phalanxes, which shone most beautifully in the sun, for the 

 delicate rosy tinge upon their plumage has the effect at a 

 little distance of making it a most living white. Seemingly 

 upon a signal, they extended in a long line, in formation of 

 twos, and swept a circle to the shore, driving the shoals of 

 fish before them. As they neared their prey they started 

 beating the water with their wings to prevent the fish breaking 

 back past them. Then followed a tremendous commotion 

 like the quick work of a bayonet charge, and right and left 

 the great bills were stabbing the water, which churned and 

 hissed under the strokes of the gigantic wings. 



Solitary long-legged storks, standing stock-still in the 

 shallows, like sentinels, pursued the pelicans when they 

 came within range and made them drop their prey. 



