MY SECOND VOYAGE ON THE LAKE 65 



as sandboys," bathing and throwing themselves about in the 

 water. At this time the harmattan was blowing strong and 

 so the nights were almost free of mosquitoes. None felt more 

 happy for this than did poor httle " Maifoni," for he had had 

 an awful time, and I shall never forget how ceaselessly he 

 scratched and whined throughout the nights on the Lake. 

 Just beyond our camp, in the shelter of the bay a very large 

 number of Buduma canoes had gathered. Several of their 

 headmen came over to me and complained that they had been 

 driven down from the north by the French — probably for 

 their past sins in concert with the Tubus whom the French 

 were fighting. They asked for my protection and wanted 

 me to show them exactly where our part of the Lake com- 

 menced so that they could remain there and not be molested. 

 On March 19, we made preparations to start for our old 

 camp at Kaddai. About eight o'clock a strong breeze from 

 the north sprang up, so the sails were unfurled, and we flew 

 past the islands and reedy headlands. The Lake became 

 like a choppy sea, and at times we shipped water, which the 

 " boys "■ enjoyed immensely. This aspect of the Lake was 

 new to us, but owing to its lack of depth I do not think the 

 water could ever become rough. We were not able to reach 

 Kaddai that night, so encamped on a marshy headland. 

 Here another of my boatmen deserted, which reduced the 

 number to eight. I heard afterwards that this man had gone 

 into Kukawa and spread the most terrible reports about our 

 journey on the Lake — that many men had died of starvation, 

 while others had been lost in the deep mud. The next 

 morning we reached Kaddai, and at sight of the old gras& 

 huts the " boys " gave vent to their spirits with shouts. 



